SAO: I replaced him?

The moment the first floor of Aincrad was cleared, everything changed.

Before that, fear gripped the hearts of thousands of players. Many refused to leave the safety of the Town of Beginnings, resigning themselves to fate. But once the first boss was slain and the path to the second floor opened, everything flipped.

Hope.

That was all people needed. A glimmer of possibility, a tangible reason to push forward. And once that hope caught fire, it spread like wildfire.

Even Morin, who knew the original timeline, was stunned by the speed of their progress.

In just over a year, the front lines had reached... Floor 78!

Considering how the first month had been spent paralyzed in fear, the pace of their advance was staggering. News of floor bosses being defeated became almost routine, announced every few days like clockwork. It was a stark contrast to the early days when death loomed over every battle like an unshakable curse.

Players no longer sat around waiting for a miracle. They became the miracle.

Morin's original suggestion—to form a voluntary strategy group of elite players—had worked beyond his expectations. The number of dedicated raiders never exceeded 500, but they were the best of the best, armed with top-tier equipment and absolute determination. Unlike in the original timeline, there was no rift between beta testers and newcomers. Instead of infighting, there was unity.

The result?

A strategy team larger, stronger, and more cohesive than anything SAO had originally seen.

And naturally, among these warriors, certain names became legendary.

Asuna, the Black Sword Princess.

Kirito, the Phantom Swordsman.

Heathcliff, the Unbreakable Knight.

Each of them had gained fame not only in Aincrad but also in the real world, where their exploits were being reported on with fascination. Even Morin himself had become a well-known figure, though he found the attention more of an annoyance than anything else.

But fame wasn't the only thing that changed. The landscape of power among the guilds had shifted dramatically.

At the top of the food chain was [Star Flame], the guild founded by Morin and Asuna.

Originally just a loose coalition of elite raiders, it had evolved into the strongest guild in Aincrad. Not only did it house powerful fighters, but it also took in non-combatants—crafters, merchants, and support players—ensuring a well-balanced ecosystem. Unlike other guilds, [Star Flame] didn't seek numbers. It sought quality.

Second in rank was the Blood Knights, led by Heathcliff—who, unbeknownst to most, was actually Akihiko Kayaba, the very creator of this twisted death game.

With his godlike reaction speed and seemingly impenetrable defense, Heathcliff had soloed multiple bosses and earned his place as a war hero. Morin, of course, knew the truth. But for now, he let Kayaba play his role. The man was enjoying himself far too much.

Third place went to the Divine Dragon Alliance, a guild once notorious for its corruption in the original timeline. But thanks to Morin's butterfly effect, it was now led by Diavel, the once-doomed knight who had miraculously survived. With his leadership, the guild had actually become respectable. A miracle in itself.

Next was Fuurinkazan, led by Klein. A solid mid-tier guild with great teamwork and an easygoing attitude. It wasn't the strongest, but it was reliable. Plus, it had Kirito, who—despite his lone-wolf tendencies—had officially joined Klein's group.

(Though if you asked him, he'd say it was just temporary.)

And then... there was "Aincrad Liberation Force."

The largest guild in Aincrad, but also the weakest among the big five. Originally founded on ideals of unity and fairness, it had become bloated and ineffective. Worse, after a disastrous attempt to solo a boss on the 50th floor, their best fighters were wiped out. Now, they were mostly a bureaucratic mess, still pretending to be relevant.

Lastly, there were the independent players and small guilds, who formed an unpredictable but powerful wild card. Lone wolves, mercenaries, and specialists—most of them refused to bow to the major guilds. While they had no centralized power, when the big guilds got too pushy, they were more than capable of banding together in self-defense.

Morin's presence in SAO had done more than just change the strategy. It had rewritten the entire power structure.

More players survived. More players fought back. The frontlines advanced at an unprecedented speed.

And yet... despite all of this progress, the truth remained.

They were still trapped in a game where death was real.

Morin knew better than anyone that the final battle was still waiting for them at the top.

And Kayaba Akihiko?

Somewhere in the shadows, the game's creator was watching.

Amused.

Waiting.

And undoubtedly, planning his next move.

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