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 Yui informs Kirito that "mommy" (Asuna) is above them, Kirito attempted to fly to the top of the World Tree. Leafa flies after Kirito and tried to warn him about the barrier that prevented one from flying to the top of the World Tree. Ignoring the warning, Kirito kept ramming the barrier until Leafa grabbed Kirito's arm and urged him to stop while Yui called out for "mommy."

Meanwhile, at the top of World Tree, Asuna sat in her chair until she received a warning notice and heard Yui's voice. Asuna tries to find where the voice was coming from, looking down from the edge of her cage. Asuna tries to call out to Yui that she is up in the tree, but realized it was hopeless. Instead she then tries to find something to drop.

Kirito still attempted to break the barrier until Yui tells Kirito that she tried to use the Warning Mode to contact Asuna. Kirito seethes before he noticed something falling out from the tree. Kirito grabs the item that appears to be a card. Leafa doesn't have any knowledge of the card, but Yui recognizes it as a system admin access code, giving access to GM controls with a system console. Kirito and Yui believe that Asuna dropped it for them. Kirito ask Leafa where is the gate that leads to the inside of World Tree. She responds that it is at the tree's base, but it is heavily protected and not even the best raid parties could break through. Kirito then holds her hand, thanks her for everything, and decides to go alone through the rest of the way and begins his descent.

Yui asked Kirito if he is sure on breaching the gate alone, but Kirito responds that they must try, they will not die in the real world if they fail, they had wasted too much time and Kirito would go insane if he wanted, and that Yui wants to see "mommy." They eventually made it to the base, but before Kirito could enter, the two statues blocked the pathway and asked if he wanted to go in, then a window popped up and asked if Kirito wanted to attempt the grand quest, which he accepts. Kirito then pulled out his sword and Yui wished him luck before he walked into the dome.

In the dome, Kirito saw the pathway that led to the top of the tree, and flies to the pathway. Massive waves of Guardian Knights begin to spawn and attack Kirito. While having flashes of Asuna, Kirito managed to kill several guardians and pressed his way to the top. However, he is suddenly shot by an arrow and spots Guardian Knights wielding their bows and arrows. Ignoring the onslaught, Kirito continued to fly up, but was constantly impaled by not only arrows, but thrown swords as well. Kirito eventually succumbed as his HP reaches 0, and becomes a Remain Light.

While waiting for the Resurrection time to hit zero, Kirito realized that his strength means nothing instead only skills and status. He thought he was able to go beyond the boundaries of the game, beyond the limits and was able to do anything, recalling his memories at SAO. As Kirito thought about himself, a Guardian Knight flied over him and engaged a battle stance. Kirito looked around him and saw other Knights doing the same thing, and saw Leafa entering the dome. Leafa dodged the attacks of the Guardian Knight, grabbed Kirito's Remain Light, and tried to fly out. As she headed toward the entrance, the Guardian Knights struck her with their arrows, and then the other Guardian Knights threw their swords at her, but she managed to escape.

Outside the gate, Leafa brought Kirito back to life by using the World Tree Dewdrop. Kirito thanks Leafa but tells her not to do things like that again, as he does not want to cause her more trouble. Kirito then walked back to the gate, but Leafa stopped him and told him to go back to his "normal self" and tried to confess her love to him. Kirito realized what she was about to say, but he apologized and he must see Asuna again. Shocked, Leafa backed away, having realized Kirito was Kazuto. She calls Kirito "big brother", causing Kirito to recognize Leafa as Suguha. Shocked even more, Leafa immediately logged out.

In the real world, Suguha wakes up crying. Kazuto knocks on her door and asks Suguha what was wrong, and thought she was upset because of him using the NerveGear again. Suguha opened the door and explains the problem was she had attempted to forget about Kazuto by falling in love with Kirito, which is now impossible. Kazuto tried to remind her that they are siblings before Suguha informed him that she already knew the truth about them not being real siblings for the past two years. She asks that if it was the reason why he quit kendo and avoided her and she thought that his kindness after he came back from SAO was a gesture of giving her a chance. She tells him that he should have stayed as a jerk so she wouldn't have realized that she liked him, been sad about Asuna and Kazuto's relationship or tried to fall in love with Kirito. Kazuto is stunned and could only say that he was sorry, causing Suguha to close the door and cried on her bed. Kazuto leaned against the door before he fell into sorrow.

Location

 * World Tree
 * Aarun

Named Monsters

 * Guardian Knight

Adaptation Notes
Adapted from Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 04

Episodio 22 Sword Art Online odcinek 22