“Stacia, the Goddess of Creation”
What They Say:
The battle with the Administrator has been won, but the forces of darkness will not wait for Kirito and Alice to recover before invading the Underworld. Unless the pair can rally, the world will experience destruction of unimaginable scale.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Asuna finally made her long awaited appearance at the end of last week’s episode. We learn that she’s using the superuser account Stacia, the Goddess of Creation. That would explain how she was easily able to open up the ground and send all those enemies falling to their doom. It’s her unlimited landscape alteration command but she can’t use it too much! If she does, it will overload her Fluctlight and that’d be bad. It also gives you a really nasty headache from overuse. Anyway, Ronie and Tiese ask Asuna if she’s a god? She states that she isn’t and is a human just like them. I dunno Asuna, your appearance screams goddess. The two girls aren’t convinced. She performed a miracle and saved their lives! Ronie lists all the people that Asuna saved, including Kirito. She tells him that all she wants right now is to see him. Ronie and Tiese lead Asuna towards the tent to see him. The moment she calls out his name, tears begin to flow down his cheeks. Asuna also begins to cry and embraces him. She tells him that everything is going to be okay. Now that was an emotional reunion. Not going to lie, that scene hit me harder than expected. The feels, the feels.
Asuna thanks Ronie and Tiese for looking after Kirito. She tells the girls that she’s a human from the outside world just like him. The girls can’t fully comprehend what she’s saying. Outside world? What does she mean? Asuna decides that it’d be better if she talked about this with the people in command and asks if they could take her to them. They agree and head outside. The moment Asuna steps outside, she’s attacked by Alice! How DARE she go near Kirito? Asuna is taken aback by this question. Why? BECAUSE KIRITO BELONGS TO HER! Oh my goodness, I am dying of laughter at this point. They’re fighting over Kirito! Kirito, you lucky dude. Their fight is eventually stopped by Bercouli. Dang, I wouldn’t have minded seeing them fight a little longer. Alice is convinced Asuna is an enemy but Bercouli disagrees. She saved his life after all. Eventually, Alice is convinced and Bercouli decides that everyone should hear Asuna’s story. Even though Alice recognizes that Asuna isn’t an enemy, she still tells her that she can’t see Kirito without her permission. Asuna doesn’t like that she keeps referring to HER Kirito in such a familiar way! Haha, this is getting intense.
Bercouli gathers up everyone and Asuna starts explaining the situation to them. At the moment, there are two groups vying for control of the Underworld. These two groups exist in the outside world. Her group, Rath, wants to save everyone here while the other wants to destroy this world. Everyone has a hard time accepting that Asuna is from another world. Well, everyone except Bercouli. He just accepts it like the chill dude that he is. What he wants to know is who is the person that they’re looking for? It’s Alice, as he had expected. Asuna says that the only way to save their world for sure is to take Alice back with her to the real world. Naturally, Alice isn’t fully prepared to abandon her world and everyone that lives in it. She has a duty to protect them. All the more reason for her to go! If she doesn’t go, all the people she cares about will die. Asuna learns that the superuser accounts for that Dark Territory weren’t locked and that explains why Dark God Veta is after Alice. She also learns that there’s a potential mole inside Rath. It’s clear that Alice is extremely valuable to both sides. Regardless of sides, what do they plan to do with her in the outside world? Asuna says she can’t tell them because she wants Alice to see the real world herself and make her own decision. Alice doesn’t poke any further and declares that they should defeat the enemy first. Asuna agrees and decides to join their fight.
After the meeting, Asuna sneaks out to visit Kirito but is greeted by Alice in her pajamas. Oh no, catfight!? Alice suggests that they both share everything about Kirito with each other. Asuna agrees but says it might take more than one night. Alice wonders what she means by that!? Asuna starts bragging that she fought as Kirito’s partner for two years, dated him for one and a half years, and lived together with him for two weeks! Oh yeah? Well, Alice fought by his side for a full night and cared for him every day for six months while living under the same roof! They’re actually competing to see who’s spent more time with Kirito, haha. This is great. Out of nowhere, Ronie shows up and boasts that she cleaned his room for two months, learned sword skills from him, and was treated to honey pies by him more than once! She wants in on this Kirito story sharing. Asuna and Alice welcome her aboard. But wait, yet another challenger appears! Liena also wants to partake in this and adds that Kirito trained under her for a year. Okay, she’s also in. The four ladies spend the night sharing stories of Kirito. Have I ever mentioned that Kirito is a lucky guy?
In Summary:
The battle for Kirito’s affection intensifies. It must be nice having a harem, am I right? All jokes aside, this was a fun episode. After three straight weeks of fighting, this episode was a nice breather. A crying Asuna hugging a tearful Kirito was a heartwarming moment. Asuna and Alice fighting over Kirito was way more amusing than it had any right to be. All the girls competing with each other and sharing Kirito stories at the end was hilarious. That was some top-notch comedy. It’ll be interesting to find out who the mole from Rath is. Who could it be?
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll, VRV, Funimation
