Another interesting crossover could be with a post - apocalyptic setting. Gai's sword - fighting abilities would be crucial in a world full of danger. He could meet other survivors and form alliances to survive.
A crossover with a fantasy world where Gai has to adapt to magic. Maybe he could learn magic spells and combine them with his sword skills. This would open up new storylines and character developments.
Maybe a fanfiction where Lee gets injured during a battle, and Gai is extremely worried. Gai then takes it upon himself to nurse Lee back to health, all while sharing his own past experiences of getting through tough times. This could show the deep care and respect they have for each other.
One idea could be a crossover with "Harry Potter". Picture the SAO characters in Hogwarts, dealing with magic and the challenges of the wizarding world while still having their sword - fighting skills. Another could be a crossover with "Attack on Titan", where they have to fight Titans in the virtual world of SAO. And a third idea might be a crossover with "My Hero Academia", with SAO players having quirks while trying to clear the game.
A fanfiction could revolve around a dream Naruto has where Gai's eyebrows come to life. In the dream, the eyebrows start talking to Naruto and giving him advice on how to be a better ninja. When Naruto wakes up, he starts to notice things about Gai's eyebrows in real life that he didn't before. He then tries to apply the advice he got in the dream, like using the confidence that Gai's eyebrows seem to exude in his own battles. This leads to some self - discovery for Naruto as he explores the connection between Gai's eyebrows and his own ninja path.
First, decide on the other universe or story you want to crossover with. Then, think about how Gai would fit into that world. For example, if it's a superhero universe, what kind of superhero would Gai be? After that, start with a simple plot idea like Gai arriving in the new world and facing an initial challenge.
One idea could be to cross over with another popular anime like Naruto. Picture Kirito and his friends from SAO Alicization suddenly finding themselves in the world of Naruto, having to deal with ninjas and chakra while still relying on their own sword skills and VR abilities. Another plot could involve a crossover with a magical girl anime. The female characters from SAO Alicization could gain magical girl powers and have to fight a new type of enemy in their virtual world. Or perhaps a crossover with a post - apocalyptic anime, where they have to survive in a desolate world outside of the virtual one they're used to, using their gaming skills to their advantage.
One idea could be that Ichigo and his friends from Bleach get trapped in the Sword Art Online world. They have to adapt to the virtual reality rules while also using their unique Bleach powers. For example, Ichigo's Zanpakuto could be translated into a unique in - game sword with special abilities. Another plot could involve the SAO players getting pulled into the Bleach universe and having to fight Hollows. They might learn new combat techniques from the Soul Reapers.
One interesting idea could be a crossover with "Moana". Elsa's ice powers and Moana's connection to the ocean could create a really cool dynamic. Maybe Elsa accidentally freezes part of Moana's ocean and they have to work together to fix it. Another could be with "Tangled". Rapunzel's long hair and her adventurous spirit combined with Elsa and Anna's journey in Frozen 2 would be exciting. Rapunzel could use her hair to help them climb mountains or cross chasms. A third idea is a crossover with "Beauty and the Beast". Belle's love for books and knowledge could help Elsa understand more about her powers and the history of magic in the Frozen world.
Perhaps the technology from Sword Art Online somehow gets integrated into the Accel World, and characters have to adapt to new rules. For example, the SAO players' combat skills might be translated into new abilities in the Accel World. This could lead to some really interesting power - up and training sequences as the characters figure out how to use their newfound skills. Also, the social aspects of both worlds colliding would create a lot of drama and interesting character interactions.
One idea could be that the characters from Sword Art Online find themselves in the world of Log Horizon. They could be confused by the different rules of the game world in Log Horizon, especially the unique economic and social systems. For example, Shiroe's knowledge of the game mechanics could either be a great help or a source of conflict when dealing with the SAO characters who are used to a more combat - centered gameplay.
I'm not familiar with this specific 'sword gai novel', so I can't say for sure. It could be a fantasy or adventure genre considering the word'sword' is often associated with such genres.