Sword Art Online Episode 22

Grand Quest (グランド・クエスト) is the twenty second episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation. It aired on December 1, 2012.

Plot
After hearing about a player ID that is similar to Asuna, Kirito attempts to fly to World Tree. Lyfa flies after Kirito and tries to warn him about the barrier. But Kirito ignoring the warning, keeps hitting the barrier. Lyfa grabs Kiritio's arm and tell him to stop while Yui calls out for Asuna.

At the top of World Tree, Asuna is sitting in her chair and heard Yui's voice, Asuna tries to find where the voice was coming from. Asuna tries to call out to Yui that she is up in the tree, realizing it was hopeless, she than tries to find something to drop. Kirito still trying to break the barrier. Yui tells Kirito that she tried to use the Warning mode to contact her. Kirito notice something was falling out if the tree. Kirito grab the item and it was a card. Lyfa doesn't have any knowledge of the card but Yui believe it is a System Admin access code. Yui believe that Asuna must have heard them and dropped it for them. Kirito ask Lyfa where is the gate that leads to the inside of World Tree and thanks her for everything and he will go alone for the rest before heading to the base of world tree.

Kirito makes it to the base, but before he could enter, two swords from the two statues block the pathway and ask if he wanted to go in, than a window popped up if he was attempt the grand quest, which he accepts. Kirito takes out his sword as he walk in the dome.

In the dome, Kirito sees the pathway to get to the top of the tree, and flies to the pathway. NPC guardians begin their assault on Kirito. Kirito manges to kill 7 NPC guardians. But was attack by a guardian, Kirito uses his sword to block, having flashes of Asuna, gave him the strength to glide through the sword and kill the guardian. Kirito continue fly to the top while guardians are attacking Kirito. Kirito tries to reach to the top but was stopped by a group of guardians firing arrows at Kirito.

Adaptation Notes
Adapted from Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 04