Sword Art Online Episode 09

Blue-Eyed Demon (青目の悪魔) is the ninth episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation. It aired on September 1, 2012.

Plot
While holding «Teleport crystals» in their hands, Kirito and Asuna enter the boss room of the 74th Floor. As the blue torches light up inside the room, they find a demon-like boss poised for battle in front of them with its great-sword. Its name is boldly stated as «The Gleam Eyes».

After fleeing from the boss room, Kirito and Asuna take a break in a safe-zone of the dungeon. While discussing a counter plan against the boss, Asuna asks Kirito why he only carries a single one-handed sword and not a shield as well, seeing that he had no particular need to increase his agility, and why had she never seen him using the sword that Lisbeth crafted. As Kirito is clearly uncomfortable with the question, Asuna, even though still curious, stops pursuing the matter and brings out a food basket.

After tasting Asuna's special homemade food and her self-made sauces, they encounter Klein and his guild, the «Fuurinkazan», as they enter the safe-zone. While the «Fuurinkazan» members introduce themselves after noticing Asuna, another guild known as the «Army» marches into the scene. The «Army» troop commander, Cobert, demands Kirito to give up the mapping data toward the boss room and then marches off with his platoon after receiving it. Worried that they might try something dangerous despite their earlier warning, Kirito and the rest go after them. On the way, Klein asks Asuna to take care of Kirito.



On their way, they hear terrified screams in the direction of the boss room. Kirito and Asuna rush towards the room. Upon their arrival, Kirito quickly orders the remaining «Army» players to teleport out, but, to his surprise, the boss room is an «Anti-crystal zone» so all type of crystals including the «Teleport Crystal» are unusable. After witnessing the demise of the «Army» commander, Asuna, Kirito and the others rush in to save the remaining survivors from The Gleam Eyes' attack.



As Kirito notices everyone’s depleting health and realizes the danger of situation they are in, as well as haunted by the demise of his old guild that perished due to an «Anti-crystal zone», Kirito is forced to utilize the «Dual Blades» skill, wielding both «Elucidator» and «Dark Repulser». Kirito sends off a barrage of melee attacks against the boss and manages to win the battle. However, the exhausted Kirito then falls as his health bar remain dangerously at the red zone.

After he regains consciousness, he learns from Klein that three players including Cobalt have died in this boss battle; the first boss battle casualties since the 67th Floor. As everyone was wondering about his «Dual Blades» skill, Kirito explains that the skill appeared in his skill window several months ago and that he doesn't know the conditions he met to unlock it. Klein and his guild leave to unlock access to the next floor and Asuna decides to take a break from the Knights of the Blood. The next day, Kirito is hiding out at Agil's shop, since he's been chased all over town due to the revelation of his «Dual Blades» skill and Lisbeth tells him that it's his fault for revealing "their" secret. Suddenly, Asuna returns, bearing news that something was wrong.

In the «Knight of the Blood» base on the 55th Floor, Kirito meets with the famous «KoB» leader: «Heathcliff», who challenges him to a duel for the sake of allowing Asuna to take a temporary leave from the guild. If Kirito wins, then Asuna can leave to be with him, however if Kirito were to lose, then he must join the «Knights of the Blood». Seeing as there's no talking out of it, Kirito boldly accepts, stating that he'd rather use swords than words.

New Characters

 * Heathcliff
 * Cobert

Named Monsters

 * Lizardman Lord
 * The Gleam Eyes

Guilds

 * Fuurinkazan
 * Aincrad Liberation Force
 * Knights of the Blood
 * Black Cats of the Full Moon (cameo, flashback)

Inventory

 * Kirito
 * Teleport Crystal
 * Elucidator
 * Dark Repulser
 * Sandwich - given by Asuna
 * Asuna
 * Teleport Crystal
 * Lambent Light
 * Sandwich
 * Klein
 * Karakurenai

Known Sword Skills

 * Starburst Stream - Kirito

Locations

 * Aincrad Floor 74: Labyrinth, Boss Room
 * Aincrad Floor 50: Algade - Agil's shop
 * Aincrad Floor 55: Grandum - KoB Headquarters

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Volume 1, Chapters 10, 11 and 12


 * In the light novel, Lisbeth doesn't appear in Agil's shop, therefore she does not mention about Kirito's "new" skill being their secret as of the "Warmth of the Heart" side story (Episode 07 and Volume 2 Warmth of the Heart).

Episodio 9