After their usual routine chopping away at the Gigas Cedar, Kirito and Eugeo join their friend Alice on a destiny-changing trip into a nearby cave.
Kirito wakes to unfamiliar surroundings but although he suspects that he's in a game, he can't log out. He soon encounters a boy his age named Eugeo.
Kirito needs to finish off the Demon Tree once and for all so that he and Eugeo can head to the big city together. A sword he found may do the trick.
Kirito battles the goblins but their leader is too much for him to handle. Eugeo must conquer his fear and help him before it's too late.
Kirito's situation isn't looking good and Kikuoka transfers him to another hospital. But when Asuna and Suguha go for a visit, they are denied entry.
Asuna and Rinko press Kikuoka for answers. He reveals the true aim of the Underworld experiment and the reasons for Kirito's involvement.
Two years have passed and Kirito and Eugeo are now trainees at a swordsmanship academy, where they must deal with some difficult senior students.
Sortiliena warns Kirito that Uolo's request for a live duel is linked to an ulterior motive. Later, Kirito discovers his flowers have been destroyed.
Even after his promotion, Eugeo is still searching for ways to become stronger. An opportunity presents itself in the form of top student Humbert.
While Kirito goes to look for the missing Ronye and Tiese, Eugeo hears something troubling from Frenica and decides to take matters into his own hands.
Eugeo recognizes the knight that takes him into custody but she doesn't appear to know him. Meanwhile in the real world, a strange robot appears.
Eugeo and Kirito face the Integrity Knight Eldrie, who seems to resemble someone. Eugeo uses his knowledge of the real world to gain an advantage.
Kirito's savior reveals the history between her and the Administrator and how he and Eugeo can get Alice's memory back by assisting in her plan.
Kirito and Eugeo find their stolen swords in the weapons warehouse. But it is no time to celebrate, Integrity Knight, Deusolbert, swoops down on them.
Eugeo and Kirito continue through the Central Cathedral and encounter two little girls who appear to be harmless. But there's more than meets the eye.
After the battle is over, Kirito is immediately more concerned about Fanatio than himself, and does everything he possibly can to save her.
Kirito and Alice find themselves in a precarious situation. He tries to get her to consider cooperating for now, but she still sees him as a criminal.
Bercouli Synthesis One declares he will not kill Eugeo the first time they cross swords, but the promise is not repeated when Eugeo attacks again.
Alice decides to hear Kirito out but choosing to believe the truth of his words is no simple matter. Meanwhile, Eugeo wakes up on the 100th floor.
Now awake, Alice mentions a detour to a bath on the 90th floor. She and Kirito are soon reunited with Bercouli, but he's been turned to stone.
Alice watches as her childhood friends square off against each other. Kirito tries his best to get to the real Eugeo but the fight ends unexpectedly.
The battle against the Genie is not going well and Kirito decides to change tactics. The Administrator learns something important about him.
After hundreds of years, the Cardinal returns to settle things once and for all. The Administrator reveals a shocking truth about the Golem.
Eugeo and Alice are out of commission and Kirito must face the ultra-powerful Administrator on his own. She's got a few surprises in store for him.
Despite an arduous few months, Alice has carved out a peaceful existence with Kirito in the countryside. A guest threatens to disrupt their new life.
Goblins and orcs mount a powerful attack that threatens Rulid's survival. Alice flies over to save them but is soon forced into a painful choice.
The ship's rock-solid cyber-defenses stop its invaders until their leader Gabriel turns his attention to the Underworld, and a girl named Alice.
Now in control of the Dark Territory army, Gabriel prepares for war with the Human Empire. Meanwhile, the real Vecta faces danger from all sides.
Alice and Kirito rendezvous with the army, but he's still in bad shape and the eastern gate won't hold long in the face of their foe's huge numbers.
The gate falls and the enormous Dark Territory army uses all means possible to invade human lands, slowly overcoming their better-organized opponents.
Renly runs away from the battle and finds Ronie and Tiese, along with a chance to redeem himself. Meanwhile, Alice continues work on the laser bomb.
After the laser bomb wreaks havoc on the enemy, Alice finds a high-ranking survivor. The human army creates a diversion to draw Vecta's attention.
Vecta orders his forces to pursue Alice, leading to a battle between a fighter able to cut through anything and another with an impenetrable body.
As the ultra-powerful Stacia, Asuna stabilizes the situation and reunites with Kirito. But after Alice catches them together, things get a bit dicey.
The decoy force discovers that Vecta is sending his army across the ravine. Meanwhile, Critter uses deception to amass American recruits.
Asuna is desperate to stop bands of American players amidst mass carnage and chaos on both sides. Vecta prepares to capture his target.
Sinon logs into the Solus super-account and reunites with Asuna and Kirito. Later, Leafa meets orc leader Lilpilin and agrees to become a prisoner.
As more and more of Asuna's friends arrive, she prepares to push the foreign players back. Meanwhile, Higa gets an idea to help Kirito but needs help.
Sinon arrives and tells a distraught Alice that she must continue south to the World's End Altar. Meanwhile, Asuna spots a shadowy figure up above.
With Higa as his captive audience, Yanai gets several things off his chest. Meanwhile, Sinon has trouble dealing with Subtilizer in the Underworld.
Faced with certain death at the hands of Vassago, a defenseless Kirito is spared by a last-minute intervention from an unexpected duo.
While Kirito confronts his painful memories of the past, Asuna crosses swords with Vassago, who explains his obsession with the Black Swordsman.
Wielding the Night-Sky Blade and the broken Blue Rose Sword, Kirito struggles against Vassago's cleaver blows. But he soon receives a helping hand.
Asuna and Alice hurry to reach the World's End Altar before it closes. Kirito stays behind to battle Gabriel and secure the girls’ safe passage.
Entrusting Alice to Rinko, Asuna remains in the Underworld. Meanwhile, Higa and Kikuoka must work quickly to shut down the maximum-acceleration phase.
Rinko holds a press conference to unveil the first true artificial general intelligence. Alice deftly answers all of the reporters' tough questions.
Hearing that Alice has gone missing, Kazuto rushes to leave his house but is stopped by an unexpected delivery: a large box with surprising contents.