On November 6, 2022, the world’s first virtual reality MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), Sword Art Online, is officially launched. But the players suddenly find themselves trapped inside the game when the Game Master deprives them of any way to log out.

One of those players is Asuna, but despite not yet knowing the rules of this world, she sets off to conquer the floating iron castle, Aincrad, whose peak is too high to be seen.

As the days go by in this world where death is never very far away, she has a fateful encounter. Though she's at the mercy of the reality before her eyes, Asuna fights on with all her might, until someone appears before her: the aloof swordsman, Kirito.

Sword Art Online has enjoyed explosive popularity in the past few years. What began as a web novel and became a popular anime series now branches off into more directions than many can keep up with: novels, games, films, and a sequel series make this an intimidating franchise to get into. The release of Sword Art Online: Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night takes the story back to its beginnings, and provides an accessible entry point for the series.

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