SAO: I replaced him?

With Kayaba Akihiko's departure, an eerie silence hung over the square like a thick fog.

For a few moments, no one spoke. No one moved. Every player stood frozen, trying to process the horrifying reality that had just been dumped on them like a truckload of bricks.

The world's first full-dive VR game had just become a death trap.

If they died in the game, they died in real life. No respawns. No second chances. And the only way out? Clear all 100 floors of Aincrad.

Panic set in.

"No… No… I can't be stuck here! This has to be a joke!"

"Let me out! LET ME OUT RIGHT NOW!"

"Kayaba's lost his mind! He's trying to kill us!"

"Dad… Mom…"

The square erupted into chaos. Some players screamed, some broke down crying, and others desperately tried to log out despite Kayaba making it very clear that it was impossible. The sheer volume of voices blended into a cacophony of fear, anger, and despair.

It was complete and utter mayhem.

Then—

"…Klein, follow me!"

At the edge of the square, a young man with sharp eyes clenched his fists. He had made up his mind.

"Kirito?"

Klein, a red-haired swordsman, turned to his new friend with a dazed look. His brain was still struggling to catch up to reality.

"Come with me. We need to—"

"QUIET!!!"

A loud, commanding voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

The noise died instantly. Every single player turned toward the source of the voice, surprised and—perhaps—slightly hopeful.

Standing in the center of the square was a lone figure.

Morin.

Unlike most players, he hadn't immediately bolted after Kayaba's dramatic exit. Instead, he had chosen to step forward and take control of the situation. His confidence was unnerving, considering how everyone else looked like they were one bad moment away from a total breakdown.

With hundreds of eyes locked onto him, Morin didn't falter. He stood tall, scanning the crowd before finally speaking in a steady, clear voice.

"Everyone, listen up! I have something important to say."

The weight of the moment pressed down on the square. Players exchanged glances, unsure what to expect. Some still held onto the desperate hope that he had figured out a way to log out.

(Spoiler: He hadn't.)

Morin took a breath, then—without hesitation—pulled back his hood, revealing his face.

"Does anyone here know me?"

A beat of silence.

Then—

"What?"

"…Huh?"

"Who the hell does this guy think he is?"

The confusion was immediate. Several players squinted, trying to place his face. Others just looked outright annoyed. One particularly grumpy swordsman muttered, "Great, we're trapped in a death game, and now we have to deal with some guy's existential crisis."

Morin ignored the skepticism and pressed on.

"In all honesty, I hope no one here recognizes me. That would mean none of my friends are trapped in this nightmare."

That got people's attention. The murmurs quieted.

"But unfortunately, that's not the case." Morin's expression darkened. "Over 200 players have already died. That means 200 real people are gone. And I don't know if any of them were people I knew."

Silence.

Then, he took a deep breath and shouted:

"Yuuki Koichiro! If you're here, show yourself! I'm in SAO too!"

A ripple passed through the crowd.

On the outskirts of the square, Klein's eyes widened in realization. "Kirito, that guy's looking for his friends!"

Kirito didn't respond immediately. He just stared at Morin, something unreadable in his expression.

Because, truthfully, Kirito was alone.

He had entered SAO without friends or family. His sister, Suguha, wasn't a gamer. His mother barely understood the concept of VR. And now… they were probably panicking in the real world, unable to reach him.

As Kirito's mind wandered, a small figure suddenly emerged from the crowd, dashing toward Morin.

"Oh?" Klein smirked. "Guess someone heard him."

Morin and the hooded player exchanged a few words before leaving together. But then, something interesting happened.

Another player—one Kirito didn't recognize—stepped forward.

"Hey! My name's Dierberu! If my party members are here, speak up!"

One by one, more players followed.

"I'm looking for a friend who was in the beta!"

"Has anyone seen a girl with pink hair? We were supposed to start together!"

"My cousin was playing—anyone seen a guy named Shun?"

It was a strange mix of relief and dread. On one hand, finding a familiar face in this mess was reassuring. On the other… it meant someone you cared about was also trapped in a death game.

At the very least, no one was alone.

Kirito let out a quiet breath.

This whole situation was a nightmare.

But maybe—just maybe—they wouldn't have to face it alone.