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In the year 2022, the gaming industry has reached a new height after the development of the NerveGear, a helmet-like controller that allows the user to fully dive their senses into the world of virtual reality. After a closed beta with only 1,000 testers, the Virtual Reality MMORPG Sword Art Online is launched.

Set on the fictional year of 2010, the world has been split into 3 superpowers: The Holy Britannian Empire (the Americas; also called Britannia), the Chinese Federation (Asia), and the European Union (Europe and Africa; previously known as the Euro-Universe. Also known as Europa United in Akito the Exiled).

It’s been one year since the failure of the Black Rebellion and the supposed death of Zero. Britannia has assigned Area 11 a “correctional education” status, where Elevens are made an example of by brute force, to try to prevent any future uprisings and suppress rebellious thoughts.

In Karakura Town, there has been a sudden outbreak of unidentifiable spirits called "blanks" (vacant souls) while in the skies of Soul Society, the real world has been reflected. A mysterious female shinigami called Senna has appeared before Ichigo along with a man named Ganryu, leading a group called the "Dark Ones".

Kurosaki Ichigo is not your average, everyday 15-year-old high school student. He has from as far he can remember always had the ability to see ghosts and spirits.