Sword Art Online Episode 20

General of the Blazing Flames (猛炎の将) is the twentieth episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation. It aired on November 17, 2012.

Plot
Kirito and Leafa exit the cave, start flying and notices the World Tree. Kirito then asks where the meeting will take place. Leafa points to the location and informs him that they only have 20 minutes. Both increase their speed as they try to reach the Leaders in time.

On the way Yui detects 68 players, presumably Salamanders attack force, and another 14 ahead of them, which are the Sylphs and the Cait Sith diplomats. Yui mentions that there are only 50 seconds before they make contact. Admitting defeat, Leafa tells Kirito to go to the World Tree while she tries to save Sakuya, but Kirito rejects the plan.

The Salamanders arrive and when they were just about to attack, Kirito lands with a boom and asks everyone to put away their swords. Leafa startles Sakuya, the leader of the Sylphs, and informs the party that their fates rely on Kirito standing in between them and the Salamanders. Kirito then asks to talk to Salamanders' commander, identified by Sakuya as General Eugene, the brother of the Salamander's leader and the strongest player in ALO. General Eugene appears greatly annoyed by Kirito interrupting their attack but listens as Kirito tells him that he is an ambassador of the Spriggan-Undine alliance and that they are supporting the Sylph and the Cait Sith's alliance. Kirito informs General Eugene that if he attacks them, there will be a war with the Salamanders and the 4 races. Eugene points out that Kirito does not have any guards and has "horrible gear" and states that he does not believe him. So to prove that he is as strong as he claims, General Eugene challenges Kirito to withstand his attacks for 30 seconds.

Eugene uses the sun's rays to blind Kirito and begins the first assault. Kirito attempts to block the Demonic Sword Gram, but fails causing him to get hit. Eugene takes advantage by using his sword Gram's bonus skill, «Ethereal Shift», which can pass through swords and shields. But Kirito does not give up and retaliates. As they continue to fight, Kirito points out that 30 seconds have already passed but Eugene has already decided to change the rule to a deathmatch and continues to attack Kirito. Using the his sword's ability, Eugene was almost winning. Kirito creates some distance, summons a smoke curtain with magic and taking advantage of the diversion, he borrows Leafa's Katana. Eugene clears the smoke screen and thinks that Kirito has ran away. Everyone, except Leafa, believes that he has escaped. Just then, Kirito surprises everyone as he soars down to clash against Eugene, surprisingly wielding his black greatsword on his right hand, and his left hand slightly behind him hiding Leafa's Katana.



Eugene was about to strike again using his sword's skill, but is deflected by the second sword hidden by Kirito. Taking advantage of his experience and proficiency in dual-wielding two swords from SAO, Kirito attacks fiercely to which the General can not defend and attack due to the limitation of «Ethereal Shift» combined with Kirito's god-like speed. Thus, Kirito wins almost instantly with the continuation of his attacks. Everyone was amazed by this battle, and cheers while appreciating Kirito's skills.

After the match, Sakuya revives Eugene, (as requested by Kirito in the light novels). Eugene then mentions that Kirito is the best fighter he has ever seen. With that, Kirito thanks the General and asks if Eugene believes what he said about the Spriggan-Undine alliance. As Eugene contemplates Kirito's claim, Kagemune appears, and tells Eugene that it was Kirito, together with an Undine, who wiped out their party yesterday. This act surprises Leafa but leads Eugene to believe the allegations. He expresses wanting to challenge with Kirito again sometime and with this asks his forces to retreat.

After the Salamanders depart, Leafa explains Sigurd's treason to Sakuya, and Sakuya expels him from the Sylphs. The leaders flirt with Kirito and ask him to join their respective forces, Leafa tries to stop them, but it is Kirito in the end who rejects both, and tells them about his need to reach Aarun fast. He gives them a heavy bag with a huge sum of Yurudo to help them prepare for the assault towards the World Tree. The Leaders thank Kirito and leave.

Leafa approaches Kirito as they see the Leaders leaving but Yui pops out of his pocket saying that she is mad with her papa because he was cheating. Yui mentions that his heart was beating faster when the Leaders were close to him. He excuses himself by saying that he cannot avoid it because he is a man. With this, Leafa asks what Yui thinks about her and is surprised to know that she is just okay. Kirito messes up and tells her that it is easy to talk to her and be with her because she is not like a girl, so he starts flying and calls Leafa to change the topic. In the bird cage, Asuna wakes up and enters the code she memorized earlier to open the gate and leaves.

New Characters

 * Sakuya
 * Alicia Rue
 * Eugene

Locations

 * Butterfly Valley, Neutral Territory
 * World Tree

Abilities Used

 * Dual Blades «Unique Skill» - from SAO

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from [[Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 03|Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 3 Chapter 4]

Quotes

 * "Running away isn't my style" - Kirito