Sword Art Online Alicization Episode 40

Code 871 (コード８７１) is the fortieth episode of the Sword Art Online Alicization anime adaptation. It aired on August 1, 2020.

Plot
Yanai reveals his true colors as a traitor who collaborated with the Americans, Sugou and Administrator. He admits that he was in love with Administrator and wanted to avenge her death by killing Kirito, who had foiled her plans. Meanwhile, Kikuoka and Rinko find out that Yanai was the one who planted code 871 in UW and exposed his treachery. In UW, Subtlizer gains the upper hand over Sinon but she is rescued by her bond with Kirito, while Sheyta and Iskahn face certain death along with the remaining pugilists until Leafa and Lilpilin show up with the Orc army to save them. The ALO players try to persuade the Chinese and Korean players that they were misled but Vassago interferes and silences them. In the end, Asuna and the others give up to protect the UW inhabitants and Vassago identifies himself as PoH to Asuna, confessing that he was the mastermind behind the Laughing Coffin massacre in SAO and that he wanted Asuna, Kirito and the other frontliners to become killers. He then demands that Kirito be brought to him, despite Asuna's protests. Elsewhere, the old SAO server activates.

Locations

 * Underworld
 * Dark Territory
 * Ocean Turtle

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Volume 17, Chapter 21, Parts 3-4