Accel World is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by HiMA. Set in a dystopian future, it follows Haruyuki Arita, a bullied middle school student who discovers a virtual reality game that accelerates time. With the help of Kuroyukihime, the school's popular vice president, he embarks on a journey to become a powerful Burst Linker and uncover the secrets of the Accelerated World.