This time, we've summarized the plot and key points from episodes 13 to 18 of the popular anime Sword Art Online. It's packed with highlights, including the final episode of the Aincrad arc and Kirito's exploits in the Fairy Dance arc! Be sure to stick around until the end!
【Episode 13】The Edge of Hell
An Encounter While Fishing
While fishing by the lake, Kirito is approached by an elderly player, Nishida.
Nishida, who enjoys fishing as a hobby, is the head of security at an SAO security company.
Nishida says he can catch fish but can't cook with it because he doesn't have any soy sauce, so Asuna treats him to a dish made with soy sauce she has concocted. The two hit it off, and Kirito and Nishida decide to work together to try their hand at fishing for a monster that is said to live in the lake.
A Change in Feelings
Kirito and Asuna, who have always been fighting on the front lines, come to realize through their encounter with Nishida that there are ordinary people out there who are trying their best to live their lives, and they are reminded that they must complete the game for the sake of those people.
Trying to Fish for the Big Boss
The day of the big boss fishing arrived, and with the help of Nishida, Kirito thought he had reeled in a giant big boss while a large crowd watched. However, the line snapped, and the big boss took off running on all four legs. After defeating the boss with a single blow, Asuna's identity as a member of the Knights of the Blood Oath was revealed to everyone around her, and she became a huge hit and was surrounded by everyone.
Asuna's Feelings
Until he met them, Nishida had thought the members of the SAO team were from another world.
Nishida says he feels sorry for himself for giving up on escaping this world and thinking it would be better for him to stay here and fish. Asuna tells him that she had initially thought the same thing, and after a period of withdrawal and crying, she devoted herself to fighting. She then tells him about her first meeting with Kirito, saying that it was Kirito who taught her that it was possible to live properly even in a world like this.
I put on the Nerve Gear that day in order to meet this person.
A Call from Heathcliff
When defeating a boss, Kirito asks Asuna not to join him and to wait for him, but Asuna expresses her strong feelings for him and agrees to fight alongside him.
Kirito realized that Asuna had been making him imagine himself in the real world, which had made him feel weak, and resolved to fight alongside her and quickly return to the real world.
The Boss Battle Finally Begins
The boss battle begins, with the team led by the Knights of the Blood Oath leading the attack.
The boss on this floor had the attack power to kill players in the "Skull Reaper" group in one hit, so Kirito, Asuna, and Heathcliff blocked the attacks while the other players attacked from the sides.
Episode 14: The End of the World
The Invincible Heathcliff
A fierce battle claimed the lives of 14 people. Everyone charged in together and somehow managed to defeat the boss of the 75th floor, "Skull Reaper." Among the exhausted group, Kirito notices Heathcliff calmly standing up. He then suddenly slashes at him.
Systemic Immortality
Kirito attacks Heathcliff, but the message "Immortal Object" appears, revealing that Heathcliff is protected by the system. Seeing this, Kirito realizes that Heathcliff's true identity is Kayaba Akihiko. Kayaba Akihiko was supposed to be waiting on the final floor, but as a reward for Kirito discovering his true identity, he promises to fight him one-on-one and free all players from this world if he wins.
Kirito's Determination
Though Asuna and others who have been involved with him try to urge him not to, Kirito thinks of all those who have lost their lives and resolves to settle things here and now. He then confronts Akihiko Kayaba, conveying what could be interpreted as a "last will" to Asuna and the others.
Desperate Situation
Kirito desperately attacks Akihiko Kayaba, but is no match for him.
Kirito's sword was also broken, and thinking that this was the end, Kirito watched as Heathcliff was about to deliver the final blow, but Asuna suddenly jumped in and stood in his way, taking Kirito's place.
Asuna disappears, and Kirito...
Kirito is stunned after Asuna disappears. He confronts Kayaba, but his attacks are so weak they're indistinguishable from his usual movements. Kayaba then stabs Kirito. Kirito was about to disappear, but Asuna's illusion allowed him to muster his last bit of strength, finish off Heathcliff, and the two of them vanished.
Sunset Scenery
The announcement that the game had been cleared was played, and Kirito found himself on a cloud at dusk, gazing out at Aincrad. Then Asuna appeared, followed by Kayaba.
Kayaba congratulated Kirito and the others on clearing the game. Kirito and Asuna also revealed their real names to each other and spent their final moments together in peace.
[Episode 15] Return
Kirigaya Kazuto
Two months have passed since Kirito, also known as Kirigaya Kazuto, returned to the real world. With the help of his younger sister, Suguha, Kazuto recovered enough to lead a normal life. As both Suguha and Kazuto practiced kendo, they had a kendo match for the first time in a long while. Although Kazuto honed his skills in SAO, he was no match for his sister in the real world.
The SAO Incident Wasn't Over
Upon his return, Kazuto inquired from an official at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' SAO Incident Countermeasures Headquarters about Asuna's whereabouts, on the condition that he provide information. Asuna was being held in a general hospital in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. Approximately 300 players, including Asuna, had yet to wake up. Akihiko Kayaba is missing. The public is buzzing with rumors of an ongoing conspiracy.
Asuna's Marriage
Kazuto visits Asuna in the hospital and meets her father, Shozo, and his subordinate, Nobuyuki Sugo. Sugo declares that he will marry Asuna, who is still unconscious, in one week. Asuna's father, Shozo, also approves of Asuna's marriage.
Sugo Shozo
As soon as Asuna's father leaves the hospital room, Sugo's attitude changes drastically.
Asuna dislikes Sugou, and says that the fact that he hasn't regained consciousness is a good thing, as her goal is to infiltrate the Yuki family as well.
Sugou, who currently works in the Full Dive Technology Research Division at Rect Progress (Asuna's father's company), which manages the SAO servers, tells Kirito that Asuna's life is in his hands.
An Unacceptable Reality
Kazuto has been acting strangely since returning home, and Suguha comes into his room out of concern. Kazuto begins crying, so Suguha embraces him and tells him not to give up.
Kazuto and Suguha are not actually siblings, but cousins. Suguha loved Kazuto, but gave up on him, believing he belonged to Asuna.
A Ray of Light
Suguha falls asleep with Kazuto, and the next morning, she rushes out, blushing. Kazuto's words lift his spirits. Then, he receives an email from Egil. The image attached to the email features Asuna...
[Episode 16] Fairyland
A New Game
After seeing an image of a woman who appears to be Asuna in the email, Kazuto visits Egil's shop.
Agil offers Kazuto a new game, the VRMMORPG "Alfheim Online (ALO)." In the world of ALO, there is a giant tree called the "World Tree," and it seems that something resembling a birdcage hangs from its branches. An enlarged photo of that birdcage was attached to the email he sent to Kirito.
RECT
After learning that the company that operates AOL is "RECT," Kazuto becomes convinced that the woman in the photo is Asuna. He then declares that a game where he doesn't mind dying is too easy, and puts on the Nerve Gear once again to challenge ALO in order to save Asuna...
A New World
I entered "Kirito" as my character's name. From the nine available races, I selected the black-colored "Spriggan." And then the game begins. Kirito somehow falls into a forest instead of his hometown.
A Touching Reunion with Yui
Checking the status screen, he sees that his status data from SAO has been carried over.
He then finds Yui's heart item, "MHCP001," among the items displayed and uses it. After using the item, Yui appears and they are reunited. Kirito murmurs that this is a miracle.
Information about Yui
According to Yui, this AOL was created using data from SAO, and skills shared between the two games were simply overwritten with the AOL data.
Yui's role in this world is as a "Navigation Pixie" who provides player support.
She does not have administrator privileges, and all she can do is access reference and wide-area map data.
Player-to-player battle
To head to a nearby town, Kirito tries to fly using the game's unique wings, but he's unfamiliar with them and struggles to control them properly. At that moment, Yui senses the presence of another player.
As Leafa and Recon attempt to flee into the city, they are caught up by the enemy. They decide to fight, but the enemy is outnumbered and Recon is defeated, cornered.
First Battle in ALO
Kirito crashes after a failed landing. He finds Leafa cornered. The enemy attacks Kirito, claiming he's a beginner who can't even fly well.
Kirito's overwhelming strength causes the enemy to flee.
【Episode 17】The Captive Queen
Thank You for Saving Me
Kirito rescues Leafa, a Sylph player, from the Salamander tribe.
Accompanied by his private pixie, Kirito is a skilled player but knows nothing about Alfheim Online (ALO), and Leafa will teach him about the world.
The World Tree
Kirito first asks Leafa about the World Tree.
Going to the top of the World Tree is ALO's Grand Quest, and is the goal of all races. The first race to reach the floating city atop the World Tree and meet with the fairy king, Oberon, will all be reborn as a high-ranking race called "Alf," who will be able to fly without any airtime restrictions, Kirito learned.
Uncompleted Grand Quest
To reach the Sky City, you must defeat the NPC Guardian Corps guarding its roots. A year has passed since its opening, but this quest has yet to be completed.
Kirito wonders if he's overlooking some key quest or if he can't complete it with a single race, but Leafa says it's impossible because he can only clear the first race he reaches.
Kirito's Determination
Kirito tells Leafa that he really wants to go to the top of the World Tree. He explains that he's looking for someone.
Seeing Kirito's condition, Leafa impulsively offers to take him to the World Tree...
Titania
Asuna is trapped in a birdcage hanging from the branches of the World Tree.
Sugou comes to see her.
Sugou calls himself "Oberon," the fairy king, and Asuna his queen, calling her "Titania."
Sugou's Plan
Sugou tampered with the router and captured 300 players who had been released from SAO. He then used 300 people as test subjects in an attempt to expand the range of his brain control and manipulate thoughts, emotions, and memories. He also planned to sell this research.
Sugo told Asuna about it. In her heart, Asuna pleaded with Kirito for help...
Episode 18: To the World Tree
Suguha's Feelings
Eager to see with her own eyes what her brother Kirito was so obsessed with, Suguha began playing ALO and became a character named "Leafa." She also flew through the sky and came to understand Kirito's passion.
Recon's True Identity
At school, Suguha scolds her classmate, "Osada," for calling her "Leafa."
His true identity is "Recon," who was with Suguha in ALO.
Suguha also has feelings for him.
Leafa and Kirito
Leafa tells Recon that she will be unable to participate in party activities for a while in order to guide Kirito to the World Tree. Kirito and Leafa then prepare for their journey in town, entering a building where they need to jump from a high place to cover distance.
Fighting
Just then, Sigurd, a member of Leafa's party, appears and stops her.
Kirito stops Sigurd from restraining Leafa, leading to a rift between the two. Leafa announces she's leaving Sigurd's party and asks Kirito for a new partner.
Deserter
Leafa has had to abandon her territory. In "Renegade," players who abandon their territory are despised and called "deserters." This bothers Kirito, but it's a good thing, as he had always planned to leave someday. Leafa bravely told Kirito that while it seemed like they had a falling out, either way, it wasn't an easy way to leave.
Human Feelings
Leafa said that when she looked at the sky, everything seemed smaller. Yui agreed, declaring that Sigurd and the others' feelings were complicated. He then says that he would simply convey his emotions to the other person, and Yui kissed Kirito's cheek.
Recon
Recon arrives after Leafa, but he says he will investigate and meet up after doing something a little. He says something strange is happening behind the scenes.
The difference in feelings between Sugo and Asuna
Asuna is trapped in the basket of the World Tree. Sugo says he met Kirito in his hospital room. I talked about marriage. Kirito then declares that due to the trauma he will not come to ALO, but Asuna hears the story, and finds hope in the fact that Kirito is saving.
Rotation Out
Leefa says to rotate out and take turns to take a logout break before he can enter the cave.
In neutral areas, the avatar remains even if you log out, so one person must stay in the game and protect Kara's avatar while taking a break.
Suspicious signs
Kirito said that when he was about to leave, he felt like someone was watching him.
He asks Yui, but there is no player nearby. It is said that Leefa might be a "tracer."
A Tracer is a small familiar who uses tracking magic to track an object and tells the caster how it is located. He can unlock it if he finds it, but he says it is impossible to find it in a forest like this, so he leaves without worrying about it because it might be just his imagination.
Summary
Aincrad's ending is unexpected, so Kirito and Lifa take on the new World Tree of ALO. I'm wondering when they'll realize that these two are brothers! I'm also looking forward to episode 19 and beyond, including the suspicious signs of episode 18 and the reasons why Recon was still there!
