Line #123 Fanfic/SAOTheEroge


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4fdeec04_ac13_49c1_8fde_a285f53024e8.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Congratulations! You have become "The Protagonist"! Let's start raising Flags!]]
3	->''"The Omniverse". An infinite construct formed by infinite Multiverses, which are, at the same time, formed by infinite Universes. On it, everything can happen…\
4	And yet, sometimes, things that are beyond all understanding and that are so horrifying they should never happen, do so.\
5	Like in this case, something that, every time it happened, brought headaches of Cosmic proportions…[LIFE] and [DEATH] made a bet."''
6	-->--'''Opening Statement'''
7
8	''[=SAO: The Eroge=]'' is a ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'' {{Fanfic}} by Creator/SaintInfernalNeos.
9
10	Lots of people wish their lives could become a videogame...thing is, though, few actually bother specifying WHICH type of game. Kirigaya Kazuto is about to realize it's not as obvious as it should be when he wakes up one morning with the 'power' to raise "Flags", unlock "Routes" and gain "Affection Points". Will his Sanity survive what's about to come his way?
11
12	It was written for AprilFoolsDay 2018. Although not being a joke; seems to be a sort of tradition as ''Fanfic/LususNaturae'' was launched the same day the previous year.
13
14	According to Creator/SaintInfernalNeos:
15	->''"It has become, surprisingly, the most popular prologue of mine ever, and most of it in less than 24 hours of it being published."''
16	%% Source Is a PM between Me(Pikanet128) and Saint
17
18	It can be read [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12887197/1/SAO-The-Eroge here]].
19
20	'''Any spoiler regarding Chapters 1-2 will be unmarked. Proceed with caution.'''
21
22	-----
23	!! ''[=SAO: The Eroge=]'' provides examples of:
24	* AdaptationalBadass: Downplayed with Diavel, who after surviving against Illfang ends up becoming Second-in-Command of the Knights of the Blood Oath since Asuna stuck around with Kirito.
25	** Argo and Kizmel permanently join up with Kirito and Asuna for longer and thus reach Clearer level.
26	** [[spoiler:Sachi who gains a [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Stand]] and joins the Front Liners as part of Kirito's harem.]]
27	** Yuna gets a moment in Chapter 5; [[spoiler:while captured by Laughing Coffin, tricks them into letting her use her Chant Skill to Stun most of them so she can try and get away, even putting up a bit of a fight against Xaxa where she manages to score a few blows on the bastard.]]
28	* AdaptationalDumbass: [[spoiler:As an indirect result of Kirito's "To Protect that Smile" skill having caused 'Errors' in the system, Yui lost 90% of her knowledge and common sense and became an airhead when the Cardinal system tried to delete her.]]
29	* AdaptationalHeroism: As a result of [[spoiler:Kirito saving Yuna's life]], Nautilus (Eiji) doesn't turn as villainous as his canon self from Ordinal Scale and even befriends Klein and Fuurinkazan (Who he hated in canon).
30	* AlliterativeName: One of Argo's past relationship status names was Best Beta Buddies.
31	* ArgumentOfContradictions: Amusingly [LIFE] and [DEATH] get into an argument of this type over which of their Gifts, living beings like more, at least when simplified into a context anyone 'normal' could understand.
32	* AssholeVictim:
33	** [[spoiler:Considering Rosalia's actions towards Silica in canon, as well as here in the story where she came close to killing her, its not that hard to be ''not'' affected by her death in Chapter 5.]]
34	** [[spoiler:Kibaou's death at the hands of "The Fatal Scythe" in Chapter 7 didn't really affect Kirito and the others considering the former's attitude.]]
35	* BareFistedMonk: As in canon, Kirito gains the Martial Arts skill, though this time he uses it more often as his DualWielding became synonymous with his SecretIdentity instead.
36	** He also gains a ragged grey cloak, the 'Cloak of Effort', that boosts his SPD and Martial Arts' effectiveness [[spoiler:which becomes the 'Cloak of Champions', tripling his Martial Arts' power and effectiveness, while trying to save Lisbeth]].
37	%%* BattleHarem: Considering this is ''Creator/SaintInfernalNeos'' we're talking about, Kirito is bound to have this once you get through Chapter 1.
38	* BigDamnHeroes: Klein and the Fuurinkazan guild, who always show up with their 'Fuurin-mobile' to provide backup against whatever threat there is.
39	* BoringButPractical: At the end of Aincrad, Kirito might not have flashy 'super abilities' like his wives, but he's ''way'' above the curve in Level alone, not to mention the Passive Boosts, Passive Skills, Active Buffs, and Damage Bonuses he gained from the Hollow Area.
40	* TheCasanova: PlayedForLaughs. As Kirito's dating sim powers are an endless cause of hilarious mishaps with the heroines.
41	* CassandraTruth: While fighting Kayaba in Chapter 8, Kirito admits to the man the circumstances of his powers. Naturally, Kayaba, who was already at a VillainousBreakdown prior to the fight, assumes Kirito is lying and [[GivingUpOnLogic flatly tries to kill him.]]
42	* ContinuityNod: Quite a few for [[Fanfic/OnePunchGamer Chains of Fate]].
43	** We see a glimpse of [DESTINY] with his literal CosmicChessGame.
44	** [FATE] ignores [LIFE] & [DEATH] and goes back to 'play with his Chains'.
45	* ContrivedCoincidence: Basically how the "To Protect that Smile" Skill works. When it activates, coincidences happen that somehow make a Heroine happy.
46	* CosmicPlaything: As usual Kirito seems to be the [[SentientCosmicForce "The Absolute]] [[PowersThatBe Ones"]] goto choice. This time [LIFE] and [DEATH] make a bet and use a Kirito to determine the winner.
47	* CurbStompBattle: Surprisingly, [[spoiler:Skull Reaper, the 75th Floor Boss, who gets destroyed in a matter of minutes without causing an injury to the raid party.]]
48	* CutScene: Basically what happens after choosing a Choice, to execute that choice. Complete with a CutSceneDrop.
49	%%* DatingSim: What Kirito's life becomes a part of the bet between [LIFE] & [DEATH].
50	* DCupDistress: Downplayed with Suguha in Chapter 5, as she felt annoyed that she'll have to stop wearing a bra underneath her pajamas if her breasts kept growing.
51	* DeathByAdaptation:
52	** [[spoiler:Rosalia in Chapter 5 when a Boss shows up and kills her as a result of "To Protect that Smile" triggering in response to Kirito's rage when she nearly kills Silica.]]
53	** [[spoiler:Kibaou in Chapter 7 when "The Fatal Scythe" appears and kills him instantly when the former tried to head straight for the Admin. Console.]]
54	* DidYouJustHaveSex: DefiedTrope. [[spoiler:Kirito took his time to school his expression before joining his party after TheirFirstTime with Argo just to avoid this trope.]] A wasted effort because Argo got breakfast earlier and, well...
55	-->At that moment, as if summoned by their words... Aincrad's most famous info broker skipped down the stairs.\
56	Yes, that's right. She didn't just walk down the stairs. [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness She]] ''[[OOCIsSeriousBusiness skipped]]''. '''[[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Argo]]'''.
57	** [[spoiler:It later becomes a RunningGag that the girls who did 'it' with Kirito are in a ''very'' happy mood the next morning.]]
58	* TheDogBitesBack: With some help from Kirito, Lux manages to work up the courage to fight back against the rest of Laughing Coffin, and help the Clearers raid their base earlier than in Canon. She even manages to get a few blows in on Xaxa.
59	* DynamicEntry: The Fuurin-mobile enjoys quite a few instances of this, being used against all sorts of monsters. [[spoiler:Including Kayaba.]]
60	* EmbarrassingNickname: [[spoiler:In chapter 4, Kirito learns from Ducker that his constant traveling with only Asuna, Argo, and Kizmel have resulted in him gaining the moniker of [[TheCasanova 'The Ladies' Man Swordsman'.]] He's less than enthused by it, and part of his agreement to help stick around to train Sachi and the Black Cats alone is in hopes that spending some time away from his [[BattleHarem Party]] will result in the rumors and nickname dying down.]]
61	* ExoticExtendedMarriage: Kirito and his harem partake in a Dark Elf Ceremony that acted as one in Chapter 8.
62	* FamedInStory: Despite avoiding his Beater title, Kirito still gains fame (or infamy) as '[[TheCasanova The Ladies' Man Swordsman]]' and the '[[KnightInShiningArmor Nameless Knight]]'. [[LampshadeHanging Lisbeth lampshades this.]]
63	--> '''Lisbeth:''' "You're both the arguably [[HeroWithBadPublicity most hated non-Orange player]] and [[HundredPercentHeroismRating the more famous and respected by most of the population]]? (chuckles) Somehow, that seems to perfectly fit you."
64	* FirstKiss: [[spoiler:With Sachi after surviving the floor trap in Chapter 4. Asuna and Argo are ''not'' happy about that, though Kizmel apparently took it in stride.]]
65	* FluffyTheTerrible:
66	** Sachi calls [[spoiler:her terrifyingly powerful spirit]] "Night Kitty".
67	** [[spoiler: Philia names the [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Fellbeast]] she gains 'Mochi', which Kirito [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]].]]
68	* GenreSavvy: [[spoiler:Kirito knows well enough that a DeclarationOfProtection would do more harm than good for Sachi in the long run as it does nothing to solve her problems. Instead, he chooses to encourage her to confront her issues head on, and as a result, she becomes much stronger than she ever was.]]
69	* HeadDesk: Kirito's response to Kayaba's Death Game announcement.
70	** He does it again once he realizes the original of Sinon's power; [[spoiler:specifically that she is a literal expy of Archer from Fate Stay Night (the original erogame version) in Kuro's Stripperiffic version of his costume.]]
71	* HeroWithBadPublicity: [[DefiedTrope Defied]]. By [[ShutUpHannibal rebuking]] against Kibaou's accusations and angrily throwing the "Coat of Midnight" at Diavel, Kirito avoided the whole fiasco of his 'Beater' status in canon.
72	** [[spoiler:Played straight after Chapter 3, but [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]]. While Kibaou and most of those under his command tried to slander Kirito's deeds as the "Nameless Knight" as interference, the latter nevertheless had the respect and admiration of many players who he helped after his debut]].
73	* InnocentFanserviceGirl: [[spoiler:Similar to canon, Kizmel, who has no problem undressing or being seen naked by Kirito and even acting confused when Asuna and the others get flustered over it.]]
74	* InterfaceSpoiler: Non-video game example (kinda). Kirito's powers allows him to read a summary of the Heroines, which includes their past and problems that they haven't revealed to him yet.
75	* InternalReveal:
76	** [[spoiler: Lux and Yuna finds out Kirito and the Nameless Knight are the same person during the Laughing Coffin incident.]]
77	** [[spoiler:Klein and the other members of the Boss Raid follow suit during the Gleam Eyes battle. And if anyone else didn't believe it yet, the final nail in the coffin is him transforming into his second identity in front of everyone during his battle with Heathcliff in Floor 75.]]
78	* {{Irony}}:
79	** [[spoiler:Like in canon, Sachi's insecurity of holding her friends/guild members back are apparent in her conversation with Kirito. After cutting down all the enemies that were conjured from the Floor Trap which killed them in canon and gaining more confidence in herself, it's now her guild that felt they would hold her back.]]
80	** [[spoiler:Klein and Eiji becoming good friends/guildmates due to being unlucky about getting a girl, in comparison to the movie where Eiji HATED Klein and the Fuurinkazan guild, blaming them for Yuuna's death, and going out of his way to beat them down until they needed to be hospitalized.]] The author even calls it a [[LampshadeHanging massive piece of 'Multiversal Irony']].
81	* LighterAndSofter: [[WordofGod Word of God]] has stated this will focus more on Kirito keeping his sanity intact for all the hilarity that comes with his powers than on action since the end of Chapter 1.
82	* KnightInShiningArmor: Kirito is this as the Nameless Knight. He even describes his second identity as a 'walking cliché'.
83	* MythologyGag: A few to [[Literature/SwordArtOnline the original series]]:
84	** Kirito initially considers his 'superpower' utter crap and thinks he probably would have more luck 'cutting down a building-sized tree with an old axe' a reference to the Alicization Arc.
85	** Kirito equipping the grey cloak he earned from a quest has got him feeling that as if he was about to embark on some 'post-apocalyptic adventure through a desert' a reference to the Phantom Bullet Arc.
86	** [[spoiler: Yuna's appearance after using the mysterious mic is based on her AI counterpart from [[Anime/SwordArtOnlineTheMovieOrdinalScale Ordinal Scale]].]]
87	* NextTierPowerUp: Like in Fanfic/OnePunchGamer, the characters gain some 'superpowers' over the course of the story. In order...
88	** Sachi [[spoiler: gains the power of a [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure Stand]]]] that not only increased her firepower, but also her luck tenfold in Scene 3.
89	** Silica gains a Kirin armor while Pina [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] after fighting the Kirin Field Boss offscreen.
90	** Kirito gets his armor reforged with [[VideoGame/MonsterHunter Kirin]] materials in Scene 5, removing the PowerCreep it suffered due to being a Floor 3 item.
91	** Argo gets [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/{{Starcraft}} a pair of psi-blades]]]] in the Hollow Area in Scene 10.
92	** Kizmel gains [[spoiler: [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Avatar powers]]]] while trying to save Strea in Scene 12.
93	** Asuna gets [[spoiler: [[Manga/SaintSeiya the Libra Gold Cloth]]]] forged by Liz in Scene 13.
94	** In Scene 14, Yuna [[spoiler: [[Anime/SwordArtOnlineTheMovieOrdinalScale transforms into her AI counterpart's appearance]]]] while getting the ability to give away broken buffs and remove any debuffs.
95	** Lisbeth finds [[spoiler: an [[ComicBook/IronMan Iron Man armor]]]] in the Hollow Area in Scene 15.
96	** Lux gains [[spoiler: [[Franchise/KingdomHearts the keyblade Oblivion]]]] in Scene 17.
97	* NonLinearCharacter: This comes up in [LIFE] & [DEATH]'s discussion when they try to figure out how long it's been since they have seen each other.
98	* NothingIsScarier: Concerning certain events where Kirito enters the Dating Sim choices; the '''*Warning: Choosing the Wrong Choice will forever Block this Heroine's Route''' line always gives an ominous foreboding feeling to him that would befall on whichever heroine his powers are targeting.
99	* NotMeThisTime: [[spoiler:PlayedForLaughs, as upon learning about his EmbarrassingNickname of [[TheCasanova The Ladies' Man Swordsman,]] Kirito instinctively looked at Argo, who quickly denied starting those rumors.]]
100	* OminousMessageFromTheFuture: Philia's Hollow friends get one from [[spoiler:Eugeo, who tries to warn Kirito of something that will happen to Strea to keep her from becoming the 100th floor boss as they '''really''' needed her abilities as the Hunter right now, something that was implied she'll lose had Lux not bailed her out.]]
101	** In a less ominous side of things, [[spoiler:Eugeo apparently gains the [[Franchise/PowerRangers White Tiger Morpher]] (which later turns into the [[Franchise/PowerRangers Green Dragon Morpher]])--and later, gains the [[Franchise/PowerRangers Green Dragon Dagger]]--and has WesternAnimation/KryptoTheSuperdog as an ally]].
102	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Everyone looks in shock when they see Argo skipping as she comes down in the morning. [[spoiler: [[TheirFirstTime She and Kirito had sex the night before.]]]]
103	* PapaWolf: Kirito becomes extremely mad when Kayaba struck Yui in Chapter 8.
104	* PaperThinDisguise: {{Downplayed}}. While Kirito's Heroines could easily deduce him as the 'Nameless Knight', his Title grants him 'Identity Protection' on everyone else.
105	* PlotArmor: Kirito realizes that "To Protect that Smile" effectively gives him this since the skill warps causality in order to cause events that make sure that the heroines aren't unhappy, and thus would also work to avert the worst thing that could cause them unhappiness: his own death. [[spoiler: Of course, like most things that the skill causes, it doesn't mean that what happens would make the situation better as the way it averts his death during his battle against Heathcliff is by glitching out SAO and starting the Hollow Fragment scenario.]]
106	* PopculturalOsmosisFailure: Argo was annoyed when her reference of [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Elves being the finest of Archers]] goes over Asuna's head. Kirito is likewise flummoxed when Philia, who is equipped with a suit of armor reminiscent of Sauron, RingOfPower included, is completely lost and doesn't recognize the reference behind her equipment and circumstances.
107	* PowersThatBe: [LIFE] & [DEATH] this time. For once it's not [FATE]'s Fault.
108	* RealityWarper: Basically what the skill "To Protect that Smile" does, although Kirito has no control over it.
109	* SanitySlippage: Kayaba goes through this as a result of all the madness brought by Kirito's Harem Skill and goes through an outright VillainousBreakdown towards the end.
110	* ScrewDestiny: In-Universe. While Kirito remains unaware of it, his ability to cruise through arguments thanks to his 'Wisdom' skill and his ability to warp reality with the "To Protect that Smile" skill, allows him to avoid events that would happen in canon (Like when several universes died and others were born at the same time in a slightly, out-of-synch cycle).
111	* SecretIdentity: Kirito sometimes goes around saving other Players as the '[[KnightInShiningArmor Nameless Knight]]', if only just to vent.
112	* SentientCosmicForce: "The Absolute Ones".
113	* ShockAndAwe: One of Pina's new powers after her encounter with Kirin.
114	* ShoutOut: Has its own page [[ShoutOut/SAOTheEroge here]].
115	* SparedByTheAdaptation: In the second chapter, Coper (who had died in a failed attempt to MPK Kirito in canon) was stopped before he could enact his plan to try and trick Kirito, and was instead left BoundAndGagged inside of a cabin. Diavel also survives the First Boss Fight.
116	** [[spoiler:In Chapter 4, Sachi and the Black Cats also survived the trap that killed them in canon.]]
117	** [[spoiler:Chapter 5 continues the trend with Yuna, who Kirito revives with the Stone of Resurrection, thus undoing her canon death.]]
118	* SuddenGameInterface: Of the DatingSim variety.
119	* SupportPartyMember:
120	** Yuna is this with her [[MusicForCourage Chant Extra Skill]], which she had maxed by the time of Floor 75. [[spoiler: Her abilities become more broken after using the mic dropped by the [[VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}} Amygdala]] boss.]]
121	** Asuna also becomes this after getting the [[spoiler:[[Manga/SaintSeiya Libra Gold Cloth]]]] and becoming a WalkingArmory, capable of lending multiple overpowered weapons to others.
122	* TookALevelInBadass: Pina gets A LOT more powerful than her canon self thanks to the field boss Kirin.
123	* TemptingFate: What Kirito has realized he's done when Kayaba announces the Death Game (Well he thinks he has, [FATE] is actually preoccupied, the death game was Destined to happen anyway). For his Response see HeadDesk above. For how he Temped Fate see WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong below.
124	* TheirFirstTime: [[spoiler: Kirito and Argo have sex in Scene 9. Luckily for Argo, Kirito's powers allows for his Dating Stats to affect his prowess in bed.]]
125	* ThrowTheDogABone: After going through Aincrad lacking 'superpowers' like his girls (much to his dismay), [[spoiler: Kirito finally gains his own superpowers which allows him to transform into any of his 'identities', theoretically even in the real world]].
126	* TimeStandsStill: Happens whenever Kirito has to pick a Choice.
127	* WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong: Kirito says this (Well, as a statement) and as a Result:
128	-->''"In that instant, for some reason, several Universes died and others were born at the same time, in a slightly out-of-synch cycle, causing [FATE], on Its "Throne above Everything", to groan."''

Context Fanfic / SAOTheEroge