Bab 251: -247- [ Anneal Blade +8 ]
This is something Rozen heard about later.
It's said that after Kayaba Akihiko declared the start of the death game, apart from a very small group of players, the rest of the players were in extreme panic, even descending into madness.
Some were constantly yelling, others were sobbing uncontrollably, and a few even directed their anger towards each other, resulting in conflicts and even physical altercations with the NPCs in the towns.
Fortunately, within the game's limitations, direct criminal activities were not allowed. Despite the players engaging in various unruly actions, they couldn't cause substantial harm. After a period of chaos, they finally calmed down.
Without the prohibition against criminal actions, the town of beginnings would have turned into a chaotic and dangerous area where panicked and crazed players would do all sorts of despicable things. It's just human nature.
Thanks to the restriction against criminal actions, players couldn't act out in extreme ways, and they were forced to come to terms with the reality.
Of course, after coming to terms with reality, players split into different factions.
Specifically, due to different approaches to action, they adopted polarized strategies.
Firstly, due to fear of death, some players stayed within the starting town, neither leveling up nor taking on quests, just waiting for outside rescue.
In the real world, it was almost certain that the government and relevant individuals were making their utmost efforts to save the ten thousand players who were trapped in the game world, their bodies lying comatose while wearing NerveGear.
As long as they continued to stay here and waited for some time, people from the outside world would undoubtedly rescue them.
"After all, this is just a game. The country can't be incapable of solving a mere game, right?"
Most players held this kind of thought, or rather, expectation and hope, as they remained within the safe zone, having no intentions of venturing outside.
Unfortunately, this kind of mindset was completely shattered not long afterward.
This wasn't just due to the prolonged lack of rescue, but also because of a more practical issue: money was running out.
Even in this world, players still had two basic physiological needs.
One was sleep.
The other was food.
Although their bodies were virtual, their brains were still active. Other physiological needs didn't manifest, but mental fatigue couldn't be dispelled. Feeling sleepy was only natural.
Despite in-game food not being able to nourish the real-world body, consuming imaginary food in the game would eliminate the sensation of hunger and induce a feeling of fullness.
On the flip side, if they didn't eat, the feeling of an empty stomach wouldn't disappear. Even though they wouldn't experience a decrease in HP due to not eating, the constant torment of hunger could drive one mad. Hence, players had to spend a certain amount of Col each day to purchase food from street vendors or NPCs who ran restaurants.
Both needs required spending money to fulfill.
In this scenario, players had no choice but to rely on the initial capital fund they received at the start of the game to get by. Only after spending all their money were they finally compelled to take action.
This forced action led players onto divergent paths.
Some were afraid of the monsters outside the main streets and didn't dare to venture out to fight monsters and earn experience points and money. They could only undertake low-profit quests within the starting town or find other means to scrape by.
Others mustered the courage to step outside, finally leaving the streets and beginning to fight monsters.
And then there were those who took the irreversible path, engaging in illegal activities like fraud, coercion, or even attacking players outside the safe zone to earn money by any means necessary.
This is the current situation of SAO players.
Only a very small group of players from the beginning had a clear goal in mind.
Their goal was to fully conquer Aincrad according to Kayaba Akihiko's declaration.
"As long as we clear the game, we'll achieve liberation."
A small portion of players who recognized this condition picked up their weapons, just like Rozen and Kirito, and began to explore the world to level up.
Of course, there were also beta testers who, for their own reasons, took the lead, snatching up the limited resources.
Thanks to this...
"You guys really want to do something like this?"
Rozen looked around with a lack of motivation.
This is the wilderness training area of Aincrad's 1st Floor.
The time is around 5 in the afternoon, approaching evening.
At this moment, Rozen is on his way to the nearest town.
Until just a moment ago, he was diligently leveling up by defeating monsters and hadn't even had lunch yet. He checked his loot around this time as the sky darkened, preparing to head to town to have a proper meal and treat his growling stomach.
However, on Rozen's way to the nearby town, a group of people intercepted him.
"With a Butterfly that can scatter phosphorescent powder, a one-handed sword wielder without a shield, you must be Rozen, right?"
This was said by a man who appeared fierce and held a curved sword. He was glaring at Rozen as if they had some deep-seated grudge.
Several teammates accompanied the man, all of them eyeing Rozen with hostile expressions while holding various weapons.
Their words were equally harsh.
"Don't even think about denying it!"
"You're one of those beta testers, aren't you!?"
"Damn you!"
"It's all because of you selfish beta testers that we've ended up in this situation!"
Player after player shouted angrily.
To this, Rozen could only sigh inwardly.
This wasn't his first time encountering such a situation.
In the days following SAO's transformation into a death game, many players finally left the safe zone and ventured into the outside world.
As Kirito had predicted, Rozen was eventually recognized when he appeared in the main district. From that point on, things spiraled out of control.
Those players who held resentment against the beta testers but couldn't find other testers to target began to focus on Rozen.
Now, nearly a month had passed since the game's start, and Rozen was still being harassed repeatedly.
"You guys are the seventh group to block my path in this wilderness training area."
Rozen spoke impatiently.
"I don't have that much time to entertain you all. If you don't move away, don't blame me for being impolite."
Saying this, Rozen placed his hand on his waist.
There, a sword with a red sheath was stored.
However, compared to a month ago, this sword had undergone noticeable changes. Even the hilt emitted a faint glow, very eye-catching.
This phenomenon only appeared after thorough enhancement.
Thus, it couldn't be called the Anneal Blade anymore.
Anneal Blade +8.
This was Rozen's current main weapon.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone