Spoiler Alert: This article or section contains details about plotlines not covered in the anime. Do not proceed unless you wish to be spoiled.
Rondo of a Fragile Blade (First Chapter) (儚き剣のロンド 第一章,Hakanaki Tsurugi no Rondo Daiisshō?) is the 8th Material Edition written by Kunori Fumio. The story features Kirito and Asuna meeting on 2nd Floor of Aincrad. It was released at COMITIA 98[citation needed] on October 30, 2011.[citation needed] It was later updated for the first volume of the Progressive light novel series as the first part of the Rondo of a Fragile Blade story.
Plot[]
Four days after the 2nd Floor of Aincrad was unlocked, Kirito, disguised while in town as his fame as a beater had now spread, noticed a player complaining to a blacksmith because the latter had failed to upgrade his Anneal Blade four times, making the sword useless. While Kirito was watching the scene, he began thinking about the probabilities of such an event to occur.
While Kirito pondered on this thought, Asuna arrived and asked him to explain the situation, discerning his identity despite his attempt at a disguise. Thus, Kirito informed her of a player failing his weapon upgrade attempt four consecutive times. While they discussed the enhancement system in Sword Art Online, the incident was resolved with two of the player's friends helping him regain his composure. Everyone apologized and the blacksmith, Nezha, offered to buy the now useless sword for a generous eight thousand cor as compensation.
After the incident, Kirito and Asuna sat on a bench to talk. While Kirito was hesitant about upgrading his sword, Asuna informed him that she noticed his intention and hesitation and told him that she was also planning to upgrade her rapier. After enquiring about her collected materials and discovering that she had enough only for an approximately eighty percent chance of a successful upgrade, Kirito convinced her to gather more materials to maximise her odds. In turn, Asuna informed him that he will have to help her collect the materials because of his persistence.
Cordial Chords (2017, OS BD/DVD) - Distant Journey (2019, Alicization BD/DVD Vol.1) - If We Could Walk Together (2020, Alicization WoU BD/DVD Vol.8) - If You Were Here (2019, Alicization BD/DVD Vol.8) - If You Wish It (2020, Alicization WoU BD/DVD Vol.2) - Rainbow Bridge (2014, Extra Edition BD/DVD) - Sugary Days (2015, Season 2 BD/DVD Vol.5) - Sisters' Prayer (2015, Season 2 BD/DVD Vol.9) - The Day After (2013, Season 1 BD/DVD Vol.9) - The Day Before (2012, Season 1 BD/DVD Vol.1)
How LLENN Stopped Fretting and had Her Fire for Combat Sparked by Pitohui (2018, AGGO BD/DVD Vol.6) - The Mountain Rabbit Never Sleeps ~I shouldn't have paid him any attention~ (2025, AGGO2 BD/DVD Vol.2)
Girl Meets Gun ~P90 ni tsuite Yoku wakaru Online (PYO)~ (2018, P-90 Airsoft Gun bonus) - Her step, step (2019, ReoNa's Prologue Album) - Minami no Island Online (MIO) (2018, Dengeki Island!) - MZO (2016, Dengeki Splash) - Pitohui, Elsa, and a Fine Day for Handguns (2021, AM.45 Airsoft Gun) - Sugoimizugi Jam (2015, Dengeki Girls Swim Wear Festival) - The Untold Tale of the Vorpal Bunny's Birth ~Otherwise Known as the Worries of Two Gun Nuts~ (2020, Vorpal Bunny Airsoft Gun bonus)
Idle Talk - The Shinobi's Reckless Remarks (2017, Dengeki Bunko Magazine Animate bonus) - The Story of the Matchmaking Bakeneko (2016, Clover's Regret Vol.1 Animate bonus) - The Strange Tale of Makuwa Melons (2016, Clover's Regret Vol.1 Melonbooks bonus)
The Story of the Mysterious Jam Vendor (2023) - The Story of Eating a "Tanmen"-Inspired Dish at a NPC Restaurant (2023) - The Story of Making "Dongpo pork" with "Frenzy Boar" Meat (2023) - The Story of "Pot Helm", an Armour Equipment That Can Also be Used For Cooking (2023) - Service Meatball (2024)
Melodies Go Beyond the Forgetting Curve... - The Grand Plan for a Summer Festival Performance! - The Grand Plan to Overcoming Picky-Eating! - When Asuna and Yuuki Changed into Swimsuits (2015)
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SAO x KYOTO NIPPON FESTIVAL
The Great Barrier of the Old Capital of Kyoto (2019)
