“Instigation”
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)
Sinon finally catches up with Alice and Bercouli. She’s a little bit too late though. The sight of Bercouli’s body and a teary Alice makes that perfectly clear. Sinon apologizes for not making it in time. No time for apologies! There’s still a war going on. Alice wants to join the battle but Sinon tells her that she must head to the World’s End Altar. It’s at this point that Sinon also has to explain that even though Dark Lord Vecta was defeated, he isn’t actually dead. People in the real world don’t die when their characters in the game perish. Nan desu ka!? There’s also a very good chance that Vecta will return as another character. Alice is shaken up by this revelation. Did Bercouli die for nothing!? Is this all a farce? Sinon responds by asking is Kirito’s pain is fake? He sustained those wounds to save Alice. The same goes for Bercouli. They suffered so that she may live to see another day. This realization makes Alice burst into tears. I may have gotten something in my eye during this scene. Alice decides that she will head to World’s End Altar. Sinon will stay behind and wait for Vecta to respawn with a new character.
Elsewhere, Iskahn and his pugilists are doing their best to defeat the enemy forces. However, it’s taken a lot out of them. There’s a lot of pugilists missing limbs. Their strength is drained. They realize that this probably the end for them. Iskahn has already accepted it. At the same time, Sheyta is still slashing enemies down. She’s got a pain in her chest though. What is this feeling? She looks at Iskahn and knows that she wants to slash him. She wants to savor that battle with him again. Again, what is this feeling? Well, I can tell you what it is. It’s love! After defeating the last foe in the area, her sword breaks for good. She approaches Iskahn and tells him that she found her answer. The reason she was slashing was to find the one she didn’t want to slash. To find the one that she wanted to protect. And that’s Iskahn. He starts crying. He wishes that he could have started a family with her. They could’ve created the strongest kid ever! They passionately embrace as an enemy squad approaches them. I’m not going to lie, this scene hit me hard. Their relationship has fascinated me ever since The War of the Underworld started. I just loved their interactions. I found myself invested in their relationship more than anyone else’s. I don’t want to see them go!
Asuna and Klein are getting healed while the others are still fighting. They better get back into the fight soon! And then they spot someone familiar. Klein is absolutely horrified. It’s as if he’s seen a ghost. Well, close. It’s actually Vassago using his character PoH, the leader of Laughing Coffin. He arrogantly waves at them and is soon joined by a slew of red knights. Where the heck are these new enemies coming from? It’s certainly not Japan or America! They’re actually from China and Korea. Speaking of Korea, we’re introduced to a new character from there named Moonphase. He spots a message online about a new VRMMO made by Korean, American, and Chinese gamers. Their server’s been hacked by some Japanese players and they’re requesting help to stop them. His friend, Mei Mei Xiang, wants to take part in this and convinces him to join as well. All of the deceived Koren and Chinese players are given a speech by Vassago that fires them up. The first wave attacks Asuna’s group but they’re soundly defeated. However, they have a massive numbers advantage. Eventually, their numbers overwhelm the group. Comrades are starting to fall! Oh no! Is this the end for them? Also, Vecta has respawned with his Subtilizer character and immediately immobilizes Sinon. Yeah, things aren’t looking good.
On the bright side, at least Higa made it to where he needed to go! All he needs to do now is hack the main control room and restore Kirito’s Fluctlight. Sadly, it’s hard to do that when he’s got a freaking gun pointed at his head! What the heck, Yanai!?!?
In Summary:
This episode was a rollercoaster of emotions. Mostly sadness though. Sinon comforting Alice by telling her that Bercouli’s sacrifice wasn’t for nothing was genuinely heartwarming. Just like Kirito’s sacrifice also wasn’t in vain. The terrified looks on Asuna, Klein, and Sinon’s faces in this episode really drove home that they’re in serious trouble. They may actually lose! And you actually believe that it may be possible. Why you gotta be a traitor, Yanai? As I mentioned, the Iskahn and Sheyta scene really impacted me the most. I’ve found myself way too invested in their relationship ever since this arc started. I’m not ready to see them go! I want to see them raise a badass kid together! I want to see them argue over whether their kid is going to be the ultimate pugilist or the greatest knight! It can’t end like this!
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll, VRV, Funimation
