SAO: I replaced him?

Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, more than twenty days had passed in the blink of an eye.

The world outside Sword Art Online remained unknown, but inside the game, things had taken a slightly different turn from the original timeline.

In the Starting Town, a good number of players had managed to swap out their basic starter gear for slightly better equipment. But for every player braving the world outside, countless others were still cowering in town, clutching their default swords like security blankets. They refused to take the risk of stepping beyond the safe zone, placing all their hopes on rescue efforts from the outside world.

Unfortunately for them, rescue wasn't coming.

As expected, many players soon ran into a serious problem—money. SAO might have been a game, but it was still built like reality. Hunger and fatigue existed, meaning players needed food and water to keep their strength up. Water was free in Starting Town, but the cheapest food—rock-hard black bread that tasted like sawdust—still cost one Col per piece. Aside from the occasional handout from the temple, players had to buy their own meals.

And here's the kicker: while starvation wouldn't kill anyone in SAO, going too long without food triggered a [Hunger] debuff, cutting all stats by 10%. This was a nightmare for already timid players, making them even more reluctant to step outside town. Some even resorted to begging from other players—only to be met with cold stares. Turns out, no one had spare cash to throw around in a game where survival wasn't guaranteed.

A Monument of Death

Yet, the biggest change from the original SAO story wasn't the struggling economy—it was the black metal monument now standing tall in the center of Starting Town.

It had appeared the day after the first player committed suicide. His name was the first to be engraved on the cold, dark surface, along with his cause of death: [Fell from a great height].

This eerie monument continued to update in real time, listing the names of the dead.

In the original timeline, over 2,000 players died within the first month. But thanks to one key change—Morin—the numbers were dramatically lower. As of now, just over 700 players had perished. Nearly half of them had taken their own lives, unable to handle the pressure. The rest had died fighting monsters, mostly in the chaotic first ten days.

But in the last ten days? The death count had slowed significantly.

And that was because of Morin's warning.

The day after SAO officially became a death game, he had gathered as many players as he could and announced a critical truth—the game had been altered from its beta version. Monsters had changed. Quests had changed. Any knowledge from the beta test was now unreliable.

His warning saved lives. Former beta testers stopped recklessly charging into fights, and new players were more cautious. People started forming proper parties instead of soloing like maniacs, and they learned from each other.

And then there was [Star Flame], the guild Morin had established. They weren't the strongest or the biggest, but they had earned a solid reputation for guiding new players and keeping reckless idiots from getting themselves killed.

Even so, a heavy shadow still loomed over Starting Town. Nearly a month had passed…

And the first floor still hadn't been cleared.

---

The First Floor Labyrinth

Deep within the maze-like ruins of Aincrad's first floor, a joint raid team scouted the twisting corridors. The place was massive, easily the size of a small city. And the monsters? Way stronger than anyone wanted them to be.

Even with careful mapping, progress was painfully slow. But today, something changed.

A player wielding a massive sword cut down a goblin and gasped as the battlefield opened into a clearing. His eyes widened as he pointed ahead, practically bouncing on his heels.

"Look! Over there! Is that… the boss room?!"

The rest of the team froze, their gazes snapping to the grand stone palace rising in the distance.

"Holy crap, it is!"

"We found the damn boss!"

"Finally! Let's go kill it!"

Some players nearly sprinted toward the doors, their blood pumping with excitement.

But before anyone could do something stupid, a sharp voice cut through the noise.

"STOP!"

Asuna's command was swift and firm.

The fiery redhead—dressed in sleek, light armor trimmed with red—fixed the team with a deadly serious stare. "First, we clear the monsters around us."

The excitement died instantly.

"Ah… right. Got it."

"Good point. We'd get mobbed if we just ran in…"

Grumbling, the players refocused on the battle at hand. Asuna herself was engaged in a fierce duel with an Elite Goblin Captain. Despite its higher level, she danced around its attacks, delivering precise, needle-sharp strikes. Her health bar barely dipped while the goblin's HP was plummeting.

Morin, meanwhile, was at the center of the formation, effortlessly handling three goblin warriors at once. His movements were sharp, almost effortless, as if he weren't even trying.

His gaze flicked to the looming boss room.

Finally… we found it.

---

Back at Star Flame's Camp

Hours later, the team had returned to their temporary camp outside the labyrinth. It was nothing fancy—just two large tents, but enough to serve as a rest stop and supply depot.

Asuna approached Morin, arms crossed. "So, why didn't we go in?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "We finally found the boss, and you ordered a retreat. Are we… not ready?"

Not just Asuna. The rest of the [Star Flame] players also looked puzzled.

Morin sighed and turned to her with a knowing smirk.

"Asuna, how much do you think it'll cost to fight the boss and its guards?"

She blinked. "The cost? I mean… if we screw up, people could die—"

Her words died in her throat as realization dawned on her.

Morin chuckled. "Got it now?"

Clearing a floor boss wasn't just about skill. It required planning, coordination, and numbers. Rushing in without preparation was suicide.

Before Asuna could reply, Morin's gaze suddenly shifted to a nearby bush. His smirk widened.

"Well, well… Argo the Rat, eavesdropping isn't very polite. Wanna come out?"

There was a rustle.

Then, from behind the bush, a petite hooded figure emerged, arms crossed. Her voice was light and teasing. "Tch. You're sharp, huh? What's this about a job?"

Argo, the famous info broker of SAO, eyed Morin curiously.

"Simple," Morin said smoothly. "I need you to spread the word. In two days, at noon, I'm hosting a strategy meeting at the ruined arena in the nearest village."

Argo raised an eyebrow. "A meeting? For what?"

Morin grinned.

"For anyone brave enough to help take down the first floor boss."