Sword Art Online 8 Early and Late (Dengeki Bunko) [Light Novel]

[Machine Translation] "A player was killed in the middle level of SAO. The murder took place in a "safe zone" where HP would never be reduced. The player is assumed to have been killed, but we have no idea how he was killed.... Kirito and Asuna investigate this strange case ("The Circumstance Incident"). The legendary holy sword "Excalibur" from "ALO". The quest to acquire it has finally begun. Kirito had once given up on the quest due to the strength of the monsters that guard it, but this is his chance to get back into the fray. However, there is a spectacular backstage event to this quest... ("Caliber"). The first day of the official launch of SAO. Immediately after receiving Akihiko Kayaba's announcement that the Death Game has begun. Kirito decides on his first move to survive the game. It was to be the first to complete the quests he had conquered during the beta test and acquire a more powerful sword than his initial equipment ("Hajimari no Hi").

"SAO"中階層で、一人のプレイヤーが殺された。その殺害現場は、決してHPが減るはずのない"安全圏内"だった。これはプレイヤー・キルだと仮定するも、その殺害方法に全く見当がつかず…。奇怪な事件を、キリトとアスナが追う(『圏内事件』)。"ALO"伝説の聖剣"エクスキャリバー"。その獲得クエストがついに始まった。守護するモンスターたちの強さから一度は獲得を諦めていたキリトだったが、これを機に再び争奪戦に本格参戦する。しかし、このクエストには壮大な裏イベントがあり…(『キャリバー』)。"SAO"正式稼働初日。茅場晶彦によるデスゲーム開始の声明を受けた直後。キリトが決断した、このゲームを生き抜くための最初の一手。それは、ベータテスト時に攻略経験があるクエストを真っ先にクリアし、初期装備よりも強力な剣を獲得することだった(『はじまりの日』)。