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The Grand Quest (グランド・クエスト, Gurando Kuesuto?) is the twenty second episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation, as well as the eighth episode in the Fairy Dance Arc. It aired on December 1, 2012.

Plot[]

After Yui informs Kirito that "mama" is above them, Kirito attempted to fly to the top of the World TreeLeafa flew after Kirito and tried to warn him about the barrier that prevented players from getting to the top by flight. Ignoring the warning, Kirito kept ramming the barrier until Leafa grabbed Kirito's arm and urged him to stop while Yui called out for "mommy."

Height Barrier

Kirito hitting the invisible Barrier.

Admin card

Kirito holding the access card.

Meanwhile, at the top of the World Tree, Asuna was sitting in her chair until she received a warning notice and heard Yui's voice. Asuna tried to find where the voice was coming from, looking down from the edge of her cage. Asuna tried to call out to Yui that she was up in the tree, but realized it was hopeless. Instead she then tried to find something to drop.

Kirito was still attempting to break the barrier until Yui told Kirito that she tried to use the Warning Mode to contact Asuna. Kirito seethed before he noticed something falling out from the tree. Kirito grabbed the item that appeared to be a card. Leafa did not have any knowledge of the card, but Yui recognized it as a system admin access code, giving access to GM controls with a system console. Kirito and Yui believed that Asuna dropped it for them. Kirito asked Leafa where was the gate that lead to the inside of the World Tree. She responded that it was at the tree's base, but it was heavily protected and not even the best raid parties could break through. Kirito then held her hand, thanking her for everything, and decided to go alone through the rest of the way and began his descent.

Yui asked Kirito if he was sure about breaching the gate alone, but Kirito replied that they must at least try and that they would not die in the real world even if they failed. Kirito also stated that they had wasted too much time already and he would go insane if he waited longer. They eventually made it to the base, but before Kirito could enter, the two statues blocked the pathway and asked if he wanted to go in, then a window popped up and asked if Kirito wanted to attempt the Grand Quest, which he accepted. Kirito then pulled out his sword and Yui wished him luck before he walked into the dome.

Kirito vs Guardian

The guardians attacking Kirito.

In the dome, Kirito saw the pathway that led to the top of the tree, and flew to the pathway. Massive waves of Guardian Knights began to spawn and attack Kirito. While having flashes of Asuna, Kirito managed to kill several guardians and pressed his way to the top. However, he was suddenly shot by an arrow and spotted Guardian Knights wielding their bows and arrows. Ignoring the onslaught, Kirito continued to fly up, but was constantly impaled not only by arrows, but thrown swords as well. Kirito eventually succumbed as his HP reached 0, and became a Remain Light.

RemainLight(Kirito)

Kirito's Remain Light.

While waiting for the Resurrection time to hit zero, Kirito realized that his strength meant nothing aside from only skills and status. He thought he was able to go beyond the boundaries of the game, beyond the limits and was able to do anything, recalling his memories of Sword Art Online. As Kirito thought about himself, a Guardian Knight flew over him and engaged a battle stance. Kirito looked around him and saw other knights doing the same thing, while at the bottom of the tree, he saw Leafa entering the dome. Leafa dodged the attacks of the Guardian Knights, grabbed Kirito's Remain Light, and tried to fly out. As she headed toward the entrance, the Guardian Knights struck her with their arrows, and then the other Guardian Knights threw their swords at her, but she managed to escape.

Leafa in shock

Leafa realizing Kirito's true identity.

Outside the gate, Leafa brought Kirito back to life by using a World Tree Dewdrop. Kirito thanked Leafa, but told her not to do things like that again, as he did not want to cause her more trouble. Kirito then walked back to the gate, but Leafa stopped him and told him to go back to his "normal self" and tried to confess her love to him. Kirito realized what she was about to say, but he apologized and stated that he must see Asuna again. Shocked, Leafa backed away, having realized Kirito was actually Kazuto. She calls Kirito "big brother", causing Kirito to recognize Leafa as Suguha. Shocked even more, Leafa immediately logged out.

Suguha confronting Kazuto

Kazuto and Suguha in sorrow.

In the real world, Suguha woke up crying. Kazuto knocked on her door and asked Suguha what was wrong, thinking that she was upset because of him using the NerveGear again. Suguha opened the door and explained the problem was she had attempted to forget about Kazuto by falling in love with Kirito, who turned out to be Kazuto. Kazuto tried to remind her that they were siblings before Suguha informed him that she already knew the truth about them not being real siblings for the past two years. She asked if it was the reason why he quit kendo and avoided her and she thought that his kindness after he came back from SAO was a gesture of giving her a chance. She then told him that he should have stayed as a jerk so she would not have realized that she liked him, she would not have been sad about Asuna and Kazuto's relationship or tried to fall in love with Kirito. Kazuto was stunned and could only say that he was sorry, causing Suguha to close the door and cry on her bed. Kazuto leaned against the door before he fell into sorrow.

Location[]

Monsters[]

Adaptation Notes[]

Adapted from Volume 4

Errors[]

  • Leafa's name was written as "Leefa" on her menu window, even though the author has confirmed on his twitter that the official spelling is "Leafa".

Navigation[]

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Alternative Series How LLENN Stopped Fretting and had Her Fire for Combat Sparked by Pitohui (AGGO BD/DVD Vol.6)
Magazine Publications Calibur SS - Celeste Fairy - Objectors! ~VRMMO Development Tragedy~ - Open-Air Bath - Salvia and the MTB
Crossover Dream Game -Crossover- - Versus - Versus II
Dengeki Fair Main Series 16.8.5 (2014) - Agil and Klein's Exciting Meal - Breaking the Damage Limit (2012) - Bluish Memories (2021) - Defensive Power (2015) - SAOP 4.1 (2016) - Summer Memories (2019) - The End of the Summer and the Straw Hat (2018)
Alternative Series LLENN and Fukaziroh Talking About Dates (2016) - Mizugi de Tatakaeru ka Online (MTO) (2018)
Other Specials Main Series chromatic colors (abec Art Works) - Cooking with the Wife (SAO x NewDays collaboration) - Hopeful Chant (Ordinal Scale screenings) - prismatic colors (abec Art Works Wanderers)
Alternative Series (AGGO) Girl Meets Gun ~P90 ni tsuite Yoku wakaru Online (PYO)~ (P-90 Airsoft Gun bonus) - Her step, step (ReoNa's Prologue Album) - Minami no Island Online (MIO) (Dengeki Island!) - MZO (Dengeki Splash) - Pitohui, Elsa, and a Fine Day for Handguns (AM.45 Airsoft Gun) - Sugoimizugi Jam (Dengeki Girls Swim Wear Festival) - The Untold Tale of the Vorpal Bunny's Birth ~Otherwise Known as the Worries of Two Gun Nuts~ (Vorpal Bunny Airsoft Gun bonus)
Alternative Series (Clover's Regret) Idle Talk - The Shinobi's Reckless Remarks (Dengeki Bunko Magazine Animate bonus) - The Story of the Matchmaking Bakeneko (Clover's Regret Vol.1 Animate bonus) - The Strange Tale of Makuwa Melons (Clover's Regret Vol.1 Melonbooks bonus)
Web Stories There is But One Ultimate Way
Manga Aincrad Volume 01 - Volume 02
Fairy Dance Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03
Phantom Bullet Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03
Mother's Rosario Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03
Calibur Tankoubon
Alicization Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03 - Volume 04 - Volume 05
Progressive Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03 - Volume 04 - Volume 05 - Volume 06 - Volume 07
Progressive - Barcarolle of Froth Volume 01 - Volume 02
Progressive - Scherzo of Deep Night Volume 01 - Volume 02
Girls Ops Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03 - Volume 04 - Volume 05 - Volume 06 - Volume 07 - Volume 08
Ordinal Scale Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03 - Volume 04 - Volume 05
Kiss and Fly Volume 01
4koma Manga Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03
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4koma Anthology Volume 01 - Volume 02 - Volume 03
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Aincrad Night of Kirito Tankoubon
Kirito's Gun Gale Wars Tankoubon
Anime Season I - Aincrad Arc Episode 01 - Episode 02 - Episode 03 - Episode 04 - Episode 05 - Episode 06 - Episode 07 - Episode 08 - Episode 09 - Episode 10 - Episode 11 - Episode 12 - Episode 13 - Episode 14
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Season I - Special Episodes Sword Art Online Extra Edition
Season II - Phantom Bullet Arc Episode 01 - Episode 02 - Episode 03 - Episode 04 - Episode 05 - Episode 06 - Episode 07 - Episode 08 - Episode 09 - Episode 10 - Episode 11 - Episode 12 - Episode 13 - Episode 14 - Episode 14.5
Season II - Calibur Arc Episode 15 - Episode 16 - Episode 17
Season II - Mother's Rosario Arc Episode 18 - Episode 19 - Episode 20 - Episode 21 - Episode 22 - Episode 23 - Episode 24
Movie Sword Art Online The Movie -Ordinal Scale-
AGGO Episode 01 - Episode 02 - Episode 03 - Episode 04 - Episode 05 - Episode 06 - Episode 07 - Episode 08 - Episode 09 - Episode 10 - Episode 11 - Episode 12
Season III - Alicization Arc Episode 01 - Episode 02 - Episode 03 - Episode 04 - Episode 05 - Episode 06 - Episode 07 - Episode 08 - Episode 09 - Episode 10 - Episode 11 - Episode 12 - Episode 13 - Episode 14 - Episode 15 - Episode 16 - Episode 17 - Episode 18 - Episode 18.5 - Episode 19 - Episode 20 - Episode 21 - Episode 22 - Episode 23 - Episode 24 - Episode 25 - Episode 26 - Episode 27 - Episode 28 - Episode 29 - Episode 30 - Episode 31 - Episode 32 - Episode 33 - Episode 34 - Episode 35 - Episode 36 - Episode 37 - Episode 38 - Episode 39 - Episode 40 - Episode 41 - Episode 42 - Episode 43 - Episode 44 - Episode 45 - Episode 46 - Episode 47
Sword Art Offline Episode 01 - Episode 02 - Episode 03 - Episode 04 - Episode 05 - Episode 06 - Episode 07 - Episode 08 - Episode 09 - Extra Edition
Two Episode 01 - Two Episode 02 - Two Episode 03 - Two Episode 04 - Two Episode 05 - Two Episode 06 - Two Episode 07 - Two Episode 08 - Two Episode 09
Ordinal Scale
Drama CD Accel World + Sword Art Online Drama CD Ordeals of Kirito
Ichiban Kuji STAGE2
Ichiban Kuji STAGE3 Melodies Go Beyond the Forgetting Curve... - The Grand Plan for a Summer Festival Performance! - The Grand Plan to Overcoming Picky-Eating! - When Asuna and Yuuki Changed into Swimsuits
Ichiban Kuji Ordinal Scale A Brief Instant of Reminiscing Right Below the Concert - From Asuna's Diary on a Certain Day in Late April
SAO x KYOTO NIPPON FESTIVAL The Great Barrier of the Old Capital of Kyoto
Lycoris Drama CD Another Heroine Inverter
Sword Art Online Art Book and Guide Book Main Page
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