Accel World follows Haruyuki Arita, an overweight middle school student whose life is dominated by bullying and escape into online games. Everything changes when Kuroyukihime, the popular vice president of the student council, notices his impossible high score and brings him into the student lounge. There she introduces him to Brain Burst, a mysterious program that accelerates the user’s brain waves until the world seems to freeze, while also turning the user into a fighter inside an augmented-reality duel game. In Brain Burst, players earn points by defeating other users, but losing all of their points means losing access to the program forever.
Kuroyukihime seeks Haruyuki’s help because she wants to meet the creator of Brain Burst and learn why it exists. To reach that goal, she must defeat the Six Kings of Pure Color, the powerful faction leaders who control the game’s top ranks, and climb to level 10, the highest level attainable. After Kuroyukihime helps Haruyuki stand up to the bullies who torment him, he pledges to support her. Together, they are drawn into the rivalries, hidden dangers, and high-stakes battles that define the world of Accel World.
