Sword Art Online Alicization Episode 41

Prince of Hell (悪魔の子) is the forty-first episode of the Sword Art Online Alicization anime adaptation. It aired on August 8, 2020.

Plot
As the server begins to reboot, Vassago prepares to deliver the final blow to Kirito. However, his attack is interrupted by the arrival of Eiji and Yuna, who come to Kirito's aid. Eiji engages Vassago in combat, seeking revenge for his fallen comrades from SAO who were killed by Laughing Coffin. However, he is no match for Vassago's overwhelming strength and skill, and he is soon defeated. Yuna manages to rescue him and escape from the battlefield. Meanwhile, two of the red players who are allied with Vassago recognize him as one of the Laughing Coffin members who terrorized SAO. They try to warn their fellow players about his true identity and intentions, but they are ignored and dismissed. Vassago then uses his special ability to manipulate the emotions of the red players, making them turn against each other in a frenzy of bloodlust.

Vassago's hatred toward Japanese people had a deep-rooted origin. His father was a Japanese man who had an affair with his mother, and left them both when he was born. Years later, his father reappeared, not to apologize or reconnect, but to beg him to donate a kidney to his half-brother, who was his legitimate son. Vassago felt betrayed and disgusted by his father's selfishness and hypocrisy. He decided to take revenge on him and all Japanese people by stealing a Nerve Gear and joining SAO, knowing that he could die or be trapped there. He didn't care about the risks, as long as he could slaughter as many Japanese players as possible.

Subtlizer gains the upper hand over Sinon and is about to finish her off, but she manages to counterattack and injure him severely, forcing him to flee. Meanwhile, Leafa faces a swarm of red players and fights valiantly until she collapses from exhaustion. On the Ocean Turtle, Rinko intervenes and throws a wrench at Yanai, who falls to his death from the catwalk. Higa resumes his attempt to use the Fluctlights of Asuna, Sinon and Leafa to restore Kirito's damaged soul.

Locations

 * Underworld
 * Dark Territory
 * Ocean Turtle

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Volume 17, Chapter 21, Parts 4-5


 * Nautilus and YUNA's scenes in the episode were not present in the novel.