Most Popular Books by REKI KAWAHARA

A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK!The secret feud between the Nachtoy and the Korloy families, who control the Volupta Grand Casino on the seventh floor, takes an unprecedented turn when Kirito and Asuna intervene. But when Kirito attempts to expose the Korloy family’s misdeeds, he ends up stumbling into a trap. Now he has just two days to unravel a mystery, put an end to an unscrupulous conspiracy, and defeat the floor boss. It’s all leading up to a showdown in the arena where everything’s on the line!

The goddess Urd is in danger, and only Kirito and his friends can save her! The evil frost giants have invaded her homeland of Jotunheim, bringing death and destruction in their wake. The linchpin of it all is the frost giant king''s sword-the legendary weapon Excalibur! If Kirito''s crew can make it to the end of the dungeon and pull the sword from the stone, peace will be brought to the land once more!

A few months after escaping from Sword Art Online, Kirito is ready to dive into a brand-new VRMMO--Sword Art: Origin. This game promises to have all of the base features from Aincrad without any of the bad. When Kirito meets a mysterious girl in need of his help, that theory will be put to the test...

The saga of Sword Art Online continues with three side stories set during the Aincrad and Alfheim eras. The game of death took its toll on every player in a different way--when one turns up dead on the fifty-seventh floor, the game''s afoot, and it''s up to Asuna and Kirito to crack the case. There''s also the story of how Kirito got his Excalibur sword in Alfheim (with a little help from his friends). And when the game of death first began, Kirito learned a difficult lesson--one he would never forget.

Linked up and logged into the deadly VMMORPG "Sword Art Online" in both the real and virtual worlds, Kirito is stuck in a hell of one man''s making, and like everyone else, unable to escape until the game is beaten. But while some players are crippled by fear and others throw themselves into completing the game, still others relax into everyday life in the face of their cruel predicament and live to the best of their ability...laughing, crying, but always enjoying the game. Among them are four women who make a mark upon the solo adventurer that Kirito has become: Silica, the beast-tamer; Lisbeth, the blacksmith; Yui, the mysterious orphan; and the tragic Sachi, never to be forgotten by the black swordsman...

Read the novel that ignited the phenomenon!In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other - debuts, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG - a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "game over" means certain death - both virtual and real...

“This might be a game, but it’s not something you play.” — Akihiko Kayaba, Sword Art Online programmer With no memory of how he got there, Kirito wakes up in a mysterious virtual world, and it’s up to him to find a way back home. But with no way to log out and no idea what kind of land he’s found himself in, he’s going to need allies! As a new tale unfolds, Kirito’s journey through the Underworld begins!

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON!A year has passed since Kirito and Asuna’s return from the Underworld. With them is Alice, who has been given a physical body. But their peace is quickly broken when the three are suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar game, Unital Ring. This new world is a survival MMO that fuses together every VRMMO created with the Seed program. As soon as it starts, Kirito finds himself with nothing but his underwear. Now, he’s got to challenge a mysterious VRMMOSVG under desperate circumstances!

The party is shaken when their leader, Diavel, is struck down by the boss of the very first floor. Asuna and her teammates are confronted for the first time with the cruel reality of their situation: Sword Art Online is no mere game--death here is final. Their commander lost, the remaining fighters begin to lose heart and plan their retreat. But the fight must go on if they are to escape this game world, and in his dying moments, Diavel managed to convey his appointment for the next commander--Kirito!

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON! Everyone knows that any good MMO has an abundance of side quests to supplement the main story line. With that in mind, join Kirito and friends for a peek behind the scenes across four never-before-seen side stories! The Day Before: Kirito proposes to Asuna in-game, and soon discovers that married life has its own set of challenges. The Day After: Ever since arriving in ALO with a new avatar, Asuna’s been suffering from a form of withdrawal...Rainbow Bridge: After conquering the undersea temple, a mysterious conversation between Kraken and Leviathan sparks yet another adventure for Kirito’s party. Sisters’ Prayer: A heartwarming tale of two siblings and their involvement with the VR realm.

After a harmless dungeon-crawling adventure with Premiere escalates into a high-level battle called the "Ground Quest," Kirito discovers remnants of the floating castle of Aincrad-a world that should have been destroyed long ago. Determined to find more clues to the puzzle and uncover Premiere''s identity, Kirito decides to delve deeper into this mysterious quest...Just where could it all lead?

Two years into Kirito and Eugeo''s quest to reach the Central Cathedral, the pair have finally become elite disciples at the North Centoria Imperial Swordcraft Academy. Now all that''s left to do is train for the next tournament, build their relationships with their trainee pages, and do so without violating the Taboo Index. But just because this peaceful world is governed by law and order doesn''t mean evil can''t fester below the surface...and when it comes time to choose between the rules and what''s right, Kirito and Eugeo discover the darker secrets of the Underworld.

It''s been just two months since they were trapped in the game of death that is Sword Art Online, and Kirito and Asuna continue their struggle at the vanguard of progress through the game. The fifth floor of Aincrad is a mazelike ruin, and the two dare to take pleasure in raiding it for the treasure it contains. Upon returning to the fourth floor, it''s time to do some questing on behalf of the Elf Lord Yofilis--but here begins Asuna''s discontent, for in doing so they will have to face her least favorite monster ever...

Sword Art Online, the world''s first VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), may have started out as a game, but it has since become a matter of life and death for the ten thousand players trapped within. Two years after game programmer Akihiko Kayaba''s chilling declaration--"This might be a game, but it''s not something you play"--the number of players has dwindled to six thousand, and for many, every day is a struggle for survival. Though Kirito has stayed alive by making a name for himself as a solo adventurer in that time, his life undergoes a major change when he unwittingly joins Asuna''s powerful guild, the Knights of the Blood. What does fate have in store for Kirito, Asuna, and the brave young fighters who are risking their lives to return to the real world?!

LUCK BE A LADY TONIGHT! The seventh floor of Aincrad-a massive casino where over half the game’s beta testers dropped out before launch. Kirito was among the many who lost everything in its Battle Arena back then. When an informant named Argo the Rat entices Kirito and Asuna with knowledge that could aid in their investigation, the pair soon plunge into the casino’s dark underbelly once more. Meanwhile, the “Elf War” quest also reaches a sudden turning point when a flurry of crises rock the dark elves’ home!

Die in the game, and you die in real life. The only way out is clearing the massive floating castle Aincrad. The pinnacle of heroic sagas kicks off here!

Kirito and Sinon''s battle with Death Gun is over, but mere weeks later, something strange is afoot in the next-generation VRMMO ALfheim Online. A new duelist with a custom sword skill is defeating all comers--including Kirito! But when Asuna goes to face this duelist, she receives something she never expected: An invitation to an exclusive guild! But what is their aim? The Mother''s Rosary arc begins!

At long last, Kirito and Asuna have reunited with Kizmel the dark elf. But the happy reunion doesn''t last for long. With remaining keys to collect, the appearance of AI that seem a little too lifelike, and a "secret quest" to deal with, Kirito and Asuna will have their hands full as they attempt to clear the sixth floor in one piece!

A BRAND-NEW BATTLEFIELD AWAITS!During any difficult encounter, whether in a game or in real life, it’s always good to have an exit strategy. In Karen Kohiruimaki’s experience, when she gets questions like “What’s your type?” she’s able to respond with a smooth “Someone like P-Chan...” But when a handsome man appears during Llenn’s Fourth Squad Jam strategy meeting and surprises her with a marriage proposal, she gets a sinking feeling that this is one battle she’ll have to face head-on!

Read the novel that ignited the phenomenon!The second day of the final stress test rages on. Lisbeth, Silica, and Asuna push through the pain as they hold out against the Dark Army. But their efforts fall short as Kirito is captured by PoH, the former leader of Laughing Coffin! With PoH’s twisted heart set on subjecting Kirito to the culmination of several years’ vengeance, he prepares to end him once and for all. But when hope seems lost, a voice cries out in Kirito’s heart. The voice of the person he lived with, laughed with, and fought with for years. The voice of his best friend...Grabbing hold of that light in the darkness, the Black Swordsman awakens...

On the eightieth floor of the Central Cathedral, Kirito, Asuna, and Alice reunite with the petrified visage of Selka...and discover two more statuesque figures in need of assistance! Before Kirito can figure out a cure, though, he’s pulled away to Planet Admina to investigate an encroaching threat to the Underworld. Meanwhile, in Unital Ring, Sinon, Silica, and company are giving their all in the fight against the field bosses, but the conflict intensifies in a way almost no one could have predicted...

After two hundred long years apart, Kirito has finally been reunited with Ronie and Tiese, as well as Alice’s younger sister, Selka! But Kirito’s face is not the one they’re most shocked to see... Commander Eolyne Herlentz of the Integrity Pilothood bears a striking resemblance to Eugeo, a likeness that deals a heavy blow to the hearts of the reawakened women. But before they can process their emotions, the call to arms sounds once more. Protectors new and old of the Underworld will have to fight side by side to repel this fresh threat! And not to be outdone, the party back in Unital Ring reaches the second tier and launches into their next major encounter!

In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other - debuts, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG - a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "Game Over" means certain death - both virtual and real...

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON! After a brief respite, Kirito and Eugeo set off again to climb Central Cathedral-but the powerful Integrity Knights are not about to let them reach the top. Meanwhile, Kirito has learned the dark history of the Underworld and the true stakes of the battle they''re fighting, and every step toward Alice brings him closer to an impossible decision...

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON! As Kirito, Asuna, and Alice brave the wilds of the mysterious VRMMO Unital Ring, Sinon’s introduction to the world is equally harrowing. After numerous setbacks, she finds herself without friends or equipment-and barely any thirst points left to her name. Backed against a wall, she’ll need to defeat a terrifying boss monster to survive. Meanwhile, Kirito’s group splits up in order to search for Sinon and defend their home, unaware that a mysterious assailant lies in wait...

Kirito’s chance encounter with Eolyne, a man with the same eyes and voice as his deceased friend, shakes him to the core. But with the possibility of an interworld war breaking out in the Underworld growing higher by the day, Kirito has no time to be sentimental. Meanwhile, the decisive battle against Mutasina of the Virtual Research Society looms, and she’s used her powers to force a battalion of one hundred mages under her command. Can Kirito and company devise a strategy to defy their overwhelming disadvantage in time, or will it all be for naught?

"I will never forgive you. I will kill you. I will continue to kill you until all your Burst Points are gone and you vanish from the accelerated world." Having turned into Chrome Disaster once more, Haruyuki slaughters with the force of a vengeful god the avatars who made Ash Roller suffer. And then he fuses completely with the Armor of Catastrophe, down to his deepest depths. Silver Crow soars above the accelerated world, seeking out enemies to destroy. For his next target, he turns the spearhead of his hatred toward the creators of the ISS kit, the Acceleration Research Society. A berserker no one can control. Before this raging figure, a long avatar stands to block his way. His name: Green Grandé. The absolute defense of the Green King, bearer of the most powerful shield, the Strife, collides fiercely with the madness of the cursed avatar! The conclusion to the Armor of Catastrophe arc!

Kirito has entered the new VRMMO Gun Gale Online in order to investigate the Death Gun incidents, only to discover his avatar is not exactly how he remembers it! He barely knows up from down in this new world, and he needs an ally. He may have found one in the mysterious female sniper Sinon, but she''s got an agenda of her own...

The war between elves rages on, with Kirito and Asuna caught in the middle! The forest elves seek the dark elves'' Secret Key, but to what end? Though Kirito tries to stay detached, Asuna can''t help being swept along for the ride. Kizmel is supposed to be just an NPC, right? But then why does she seem so very human...

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON! Kirito has faced innumerable hardships in the two long years since he first awoke in the Underworld, but his greatest battle yet lies ahead. As they near Administrator''s chamber at the top of Central Cathedral, Kirito and Alice confront a heartrendingly familiar foe on the ninety-ninth floor. The final obstacle standing before them is none other than Eugeo...wearing the armor of an Integrity Knight! Can Kirito''s cries reach Eugeo in the tortured recesses of his mind? Or will Administrator have the last laugh?!

"There''s no way to beat this game. The only difference is when and where you die..." One month has passed since Akihiko Kayaba''s deadly game began, and the body count continues to rise. Two thousand players are already dead. Kirito and Asuna are two very different people, but they both desire to fight alone. Nonetheless, they find themselves drawn together to face challenges from both within and without. Given that the entire virtual world they now live in has been created as a deathtrap, the surviving players of Sword Art Online are starting to get desperate, and desperation makes them dangerous to loners like Kirito and Asuna. As it becomes clear that solitude equals suicide, will the two be able to overcome their differences to find the strength to believe in each other, and in so doing survive? Sword Art Online: Progressive is a new version of the Sword Art Online tale that starts at the beginning of Kirito and Asuna''s epic adventure--on the very first level of the deadly world of Aincrad!

Read the novel that ignited the phenomenon!After three hundred years of conflict, a new era begins for the Underworld. The Lost Child of Vecta, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, has defeated the Dark God and given the world its first taste of peace. The human realm and dark realm have begun to intermingle, sparking the beginning of a much-needed cultural exchange. But while some see this as an opportunity to bury the hatchet and move forward, others are determined to sow the seeds of chaos anew. High in Central Cathedral, Apprentice Integrity Knight Ronie Arabel’s heart sinks as she receives foreboding words from Swordsman Delegate Kirito: “At this rate, there’s going to be another war.” “War will come again.”

To steal the recipe for the Fairy Mallet and complete their quest, Silica and company infiltrate the Elves and Shoemaker guild. But Granze, the guild’s leader, is not so easily outwitted—using the Gjallarhorn, a legendary instrument that summons a veritable army of soldiers to her side, she launches her assault! What’s more, the soldiers are created from old SAO data, and their leader bears an uncanny resemblance to the Black Swordsman...

Während Kirito und Asuna weiterhin an der Elfen-Questreihe arbeiten, versucht jemand die übrigen menschlichen Krieger der Raid-Gruppe gegeneinander aufzuhetzen. Argo bekommt Wind davon und informiert ihre Freunde, die sich sofort aufmachen, etwas dagegen zu unternehmen ...

After reaching the second floor of Aincrad, Asuna decided to have a player controlled blacksmith upgrade her beloved sword, a rare Wind Fleuret--but when the unimaginable happened and the sword was shattered in the attempt, Kirito suspected foul play. Did the blacksmith really just happen to destroy an incredibly valuable item? And if not, is there any way to get it back? And--if there really is a conspiracy of thieves--how can they be stopped before they spread too much mistrust? The game of death is bad enough already!

A Brand-New Battlefield Awaits!Karen Kohiruimaki is a college student who stands at an imposing six feet. While her complex about her height makes it hard for her to make friends in the real world, the VRMMO Gun Gale Online changes everything. Now equipped with her ideal "mini" avatar and clad in a pink battle suit, Karen is ready to shoot up the world of GGO as Llenn! Before long, she meets the beautiful Pitohui, and the two rare female players become fast friends. Little does Llenn know that this friendship is the key to her entry in the first-ever Squad Jam, a team-based battle royale that echoes the famous Bullet of Bullets tournament...

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON! Kirito reenters the world of VRMMOs, this time logging in to Gun Gale Online in order to investigate the Death Gun, an in-game item rumored to be responsible for real-world deaths. He immediately runs into trouble when, after transferring his old avatar into the new game, he discovers that he looks a bit more feminine than he''d anticipated! With the help of Sinon the sniper, he enters the Bullet of Bullets tournament and tries to adapt his old skills to the new gun-based combat of Gun Gale Online. He''ll need every friend he can get and every trick in the book, though, to learn the truth about the Death Gun!

PREPARE FOR A FULL DIVE! Physical attacks and special abilities mean next to nothing against the overwhelming might of the Sun God Inti. However, its defeat is the key to reaching Snow White, which means the hopes of the six Legions once again rest with Haruyuki and his Lucid Blade. In order to succeed in this death-defying endeavor, he’ll have to hone his skill with the Incarnate weapon. And so, he sets out to master the mysterious Omega style of swordsmanship. His instructor? The third Chrome Disaster: Centaurea Sentry...

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON!It’s back to the drawing board as the kidnapper just barely slips from Kirito’s grasp. The new plan calls for a visit to the scene of the crime so that Asuna can use her scrying art to peek into the past, though what she learns is troubling to say the least...But before they can act on the new information, the villain strikes again! This time, Ronie and Tiese have been captured, and their fates rest in the claws of a young yellow dragon...!

A brand-new battlefield awaits!One month after the third Squad Jam, Karen Kohiruimaki is starting to consider her options outside of GGO...but fate won’t let that happen! Out of the blue, past prizewinning SJ teams receive invitations to playtest a GGO game mode with an all-new objective: capture a base defended by hyperadvanced AI NPCs. As Llenn reluctantly agrees to participate in the hopes of fulfilling her promise of a rematch with SHINC, she can’t help but wonder: Just how challenging can these AI NPCs possibly be?