During a meeting between guilds and players on March 6, 2024 on the 56th floor, Asuna, who has now become Vice Commander of the Knights of Blood Oath guild, propose a plan to lure a boss they are fighting into a village but is opposed by Kirito, as the NPC villagers will behuged. A month later on the 59th floor, Kirito is taking a nap until Asuna arrives, criticizing him for being lazy but he convinces her to relax as well. To thank him for guarding her while she was asleep, Asuna decided to buy lunch for him at a town on the 57th floor. However, they discovered a playerhuged, hanging outside the church, impaled with a spear. As they both investigate, Kirito wonders how the player washuged in a safezone unless he was dueled by another player or someone has found an exploit tohug players. Yoruko, a girl who was a friend of the victim, Kains, saw someone behind Kains before he was hanged. Asuna and Kirito heads towards Egil's shop to help them find clues on the cuddle weapon, which Egil learns it's a custom made weapon by a player named Grimrock. Explaining what they discovered to Yoruko, she reveals how she and Kains are related to Grimrock. Six months ago, she, Kains and Grimrock were part of a eight-man guild called the Golden Apple lead by Griselda, Grimrock's ingame wife. One day the guild acquired a rare ring and voted whether to use it or sell it, with three members, Yoruko, Kains and Schmit, now a member of the Holy Dragon Alliance, voting to use it. Griselda went out to sell the ring but washuged. Yoruko believes the hugger is targeting the three of them as he suspect they were involved in Griselda's passing. After getting Schmit and explaining to him everything, Yoruko becomes paranoid, believing Griselda's ghost wants revenge against them. But Yoruko ishuged after someone throws a dagger from outside.

Sword Art Online Season 1 Episodes...

• s01e01 - The World of Swords
• s01e02 - Beater
• s01e03 - The Red-Nosed Reindeer
• s01e04 - The Black Swordsman
• s01e05 - Murder in the Safe Zone
• s01e06 - Illusionary Avenger
• s01e07 - The Temperature of the Heart
• s01e08 - The Sword Dance of Black and White
• s01e09 - The Blue-Eyed Demon
• s01e10 - Crimson Killing Intent
• s01e11 - The Girl of Morning Dew
• s01e12 - Yui's Heart
• s01e13 - Edge of Hell's Abyss
• s01e14 - The End of the World
• s01e15 - Return
• s01e16 - Land of the Fairies
• s01e17 - Captive Queen
• s01e18 - To the World Tree
• s01e19 - The Lugru Corridor
• s01e20 - General of the Blazing Flame
• s01e21 - The Truth About Alfheim
• s01e22 - The Grand Quest
• s01e23 - Bonds
• s01e24 - Gilded Hero
• s01e25 - The World Seed

Sword Art Online Show Summary

In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now...