Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-71.60.196.148-20160124042613/@comment-6697950-20170107181858

Volume 18 did not in any way imply that there will be a new arc. It only said that Kirito will return, i.e. SAO will continue. But in what shape or form - that's just various assumptions, as nothing was said on the matter. Even Cradle fits the bill.