This week, we are wrapping up the contents of Sword Art Online Volume 10, Alicization
Running, with the action oriented high-point of the Book, as well as the emotional high-point!
Can Kirito withstand the Swordsman's Pride as well as his ancestors?
Can he fulfill his promise to Sortiliena Serlut?
Well, if you are watching this video, I assume you already know the answer, since I'm here
to go in depth on these scenes that the anime glossed over, welcome everyone and this is
Sword Art Online Alicization EXPLAINED, featuring Episode 8, Swordsman's Pride!
As usual, timestamps for individual plotpoints are in the description as well as the pinned
comment for you to navigate easily throughout the video.
This episode, as mentioned, covered the final 30 or so pages of Volume 10 Alicization Running
and was more or less quite faithful.
No cuts, minor anime original additions that are actually meaningful, it was quite the
amazing episode!
If you're a regular of my Alicization Explained series, you probably realized I'm only using
screenshots and music from Sonic the Hedgehog series, that's because of Sony Music Entertainment
Japan striking down one of my videos, despite the Copyright Laws available in Europe and
Austria and I'm seriously tired of fighting back, while having 4 of my 8 videos blocked
at the moment, one having one the dispute, while 2 others are still within the dispute
process.
So, congratulations Sony Music Entertainment Japan, you won, I give up.
From now on, Explained series will continue with still screenshots and Sonic the Hedgehog
music, because SEGA are not legal dicks.
Hope you understand the reasoning behind.
I will also be having #SaveYourInternet for the Article 13 debacle in Europe.
They really pushed me to actually take part in this shitstorm by annoying me so much...
Anyways, since I already spent so much time on this explanation, quickly, if you are new
to the series, what I do here is compare the Anime to the Light Novels, explain things
where the anime glossed over things so you can get the full picture, talk about Cut Scenes,
which there aren't any really in this episode, it was quite faithful and occassionally share
some opinions.
Also, celebrating 20k subscribers, I am running a recurring giveaway!
More or less each month, I'll be handing out to the winner of the giveaway one of the Alicization
Novels, but I'll talk more about that in a bit, so stay tuned!
But without further ado, the episode starts right where the previous episode ended.
Kirito and Volo Levantein, on the arena.
You can see Golgorosso Balto in the stands, who had so little to do in the Novels as well,
that he doesn't even have a voice actor and Humbert and Raios just being the usual dicks
that they are.
But here, we get to hear straight from Liena, about the source of Volo's power.
His Family Mantra, that provides an immense amount of confidence, making his believe that
he is unbeatable.
This dialogue here is pretty much a 1 to 1 adaptation of the novels, with Liena reminding
Kirito of his promise, the key motivation keeping Kirito moving forward despite all
the hurdles he was facing as well as the ones he would face later this episode.
Obligatory mention that the title card still says BEGINNING.
I am lowkey expecting it to change next week to Turning, as the turning point of the series
from a narrative standpoint as well.
Please do believe in it as well, so maybe, we can overwrite the systems of A1 to ensure
it says TURNING next week!
After the Opening, both draw their swords.
The crowd was amazed by Volo's sword, however when Kirito drew his, they were astonished...
They simply had never seen a sword, coated in full black.
Pretty much all the swords available for the public to see, was either regular plain wooden
training swords, or the usual cool looking metallic swords, however, Kirito's "The Black
One" was covered in full black, absorbing the light, not reflecting back, as it was
made from the Gigas Cedar, the tree that had drained all the power, all the light provided
by Solus to grow more and more powerful.
The sword itself, showcased the history of the Demon Tree.
And of course, Raios and Humbert, being the resident dicks as usual.
But as Volo assumed the position of the High Norkia Style Sword Skill, Mountain Splitting
Wave, based on what Kirito recognised as the Aincrad Sword Skill, Avalance, ready to come
down with sheer power and power alone, Kirito had already created a counter attack.
He planned to use Vertical Square.
It was the highest ranking skill he knew he could use, as it was the 4 combo attack he
managed to use successfully in the previous episode in the woods.
He knew he could do it.
The first 3 fast hits would be enough to block Volo's Mountain Splitting Wave and the fourth
combo would finish the duel.
The first hit slowed Volo's sword down, second managing to almost bring it to a halt.
Third hit did indeed stop the progress of the skill, Kirito was shocked at the scene
he found himself in.
The motion had stopped, but both skills were going, trying to overcome each other in standstill.
But the reason for this resistance, promptly showed itself to Kirito..
Multiple other figures, the entire Levantein family, pushing forward...
It was not just the Pride of a single Swordsman, it was an entire family line..
But Kirito had reasons to fight as well, his promise, his companion, his reality was waiting
for him.
And suddenly, his sword started glowing, extending its size by a tiny margin.
Kirito was not aware of it entirely, but the Memory of the Sword was activated.
Miss Azurika had hinted at this in the previous scenes, which was omitted by the previous
episode, but Kirito's the Black One, was not an ordinary high tier sword.
It was a Divine Object and it possessed a memory, a past if you will.
It was the Demon Tree of Rulid, standing tall against everything on the hill, draining the
power of Terraria from the ground and the power of Solus from the light.
Volo Levantein's sword was not the first obstacle it had faced and it wouldn't be the last...
Unaware of this new power assisting him, Kirito pushed forward, cancelling out the Heavenly
Mountain Splitting Wave, knocking Volo back by a considerable margin.
The fourth combo would end the duel, but Kirito knew it wouldn't connect.
No matter what, he was limited by the range of the Sword Skill, or so he thought and the
most he could reach in the end, was Volo's uniform.
As both came eye to eye for one last time, Miss Azurika stopped them both, marking the
end of the duel to avoid bloodshed.
Kirito was confused as to why Volo suddenly obeyed her, but was promptly explained that
she was the first to represent the Northern Empire in the Four Empire Unification Tournament,
where the winner was granted access to the Axiom Church Tower.
The same goal Kirito and Eugeo had on their path...
And we can see Raios and Humbert, trying way too hard to find a way to be the resident
dicks as usual.
Also, Miss Azurika's look towards Kirito, may actually signify we'll get more of her
in the future and maybe we will actually get some more information about the "Swords Memory"
concept.
Also, as Liena scolded Kirito for not surrendering, Kirito's inner monologue was dropped.
He simply didn't know that he had the option to surrender in a punishment duel...
Goddammit Kirito, pay attention for once will ya?
The speech at Liena's celebration party however was a nice Anime Original Scene.
The party was mentioned in the Novels, but had no context, aside from how a certain Elite
Disciple and Trainee Page had passed out.
But this episode actually explained the past of the Serlut Style Liena was using.
It was skipped in the previous episode, though since I hoped it would be explained today,
I hadn't mentioned it last week and here we are, my gamble is paying off once again to
not spoil you too early.
Compared to the Norkia style showcased proudly by many at the Academy, Noble blood Sortiliena
Serlut used the Serlut Style belonging to her family without any resentment, despite
the fact that it was looked down upon by many due to their past.
But Kirito's use of another out-of-the-ordinary Sword Style, without looking back, really
inspired Liena to do her best with her Serlut Style.
later that night however, when Kirito wanted to fulfill his promise to her with the final
surprise...
Well....
Humbert and Raios were being the resident dicks as usual.
I honestly love how great they are voiced and animated, it's just....
Their dickish nature could not have been presented any better, I really want to punch the two
in the face.
But they had destroyed the Zephilia Flowers...
The third and final attempt of Kirito at growing them, so he could show what they looked like
to Liena, who always wanted to see how Zephilia Flowers looked when bloomed...
Kirito was so angry, that if he had his sword with him that instant, he would rush to Humbert
and Raios and swing it at them, blatantly ignoring the Rules of the Academy, the Imperial
Law and the Taboo Index...
But right now, all he could do, was to look at the broken flowers...
The shattering of the flower right in his hand is so heartbreaking as well and Yoshitsugu
Matsuoka, Kirito's VA is doing an absolutely flawless job here as usual...
Kirito tried to figure out how the dick duo did this, it was forbidden by the Taboo Index
to harm the property of others.
The Garden belonged to the Academy and the flowers were bought by Kirito.
But only then did it dawn on Kirito.
Objects like Flowers had no ownership and their ownership was assigned to whoever owned
the land they were being nurtured on.
However, he had not purchased the dirt he put the flowers in.
He had just dug it up from outside the city, from a field that belonged to noone.
So, by the logic of the Taboo Index, the flowers were nobodies property, hence why Raios and
Humbert never breached the Taboo Index...
And all Kirito could do now, was to cry...
But in his lowest moment, Kirito heard a voice...
A voice so close to his mind, that he thought was just his imagination.
The reality however, was that the voice was just really really close to his mind, quite
literally.
The Observer, from the Skipped Zakkaria Chapter, had decided to intervene, ignoring the rules
of its Master...
No..
Her Master.
She lived through everything with Kirito, ever since he and Eugeo left from Rulid.
They went through a lot of abuse on their journey.
But this was too much for the Observer to bear.
She had to help.
"Have faith" said the voice.
"Believe in the strength of the flowers you grew so well in this foreign land.
Believe in yourself, for getting them to that point".
Kirito never heard the voice before.
It certainly wasn't voice he heard, when he saw the vision of the Golden Haired Girl 2
years ago inside the End Mountains.
This voice was incredibly calm, full of deep knowledge and had just the faintest hint of
warmth...
"But they're all dead" Kirito muttered to himself.
"It's alright" responded the voice, as calm as before.
"The roots in the soil are doing their best to live.
Can't you feel it...?
All the holy flowers blooming in this garden are trying to save their little companions.
They want to share their life with them.
And you can transfer that wish to the Zephilia roots."
"I can't" Kirito rejected.
"I don't know how to use such high-level sacred arts."
The voice of the Observer didn't budge.
"The formal arts are nothing but a tool to harness and refine the 'Meaning' - what you
call mental image.
At this point, you need neither chants nor catalysts.
Now wipe your tears and get to your feet.
Feel the prayer of the flowers.
Feel the ways of the world..."
As the mysterious voice went silent, Kirito got up and prayed for the flowers, asking
for their help.
And just like the mysterious voice suggested, the flowers, no..
The world responded to this prayer of a dream.
One thing cut from the anime however, was that Kirito thanked the flowers, the world
and the mysterious voice he heard in his head and promised to apologize from the Branch
he cut off of the Demon Tree and thank it for its mysterious aid during his duel against
Volo.
When he was going back to the building, he looked above to the sky.
And saw a light, separate itself from the tall Axiom Church Tower.
The light closed in on his location and passed him, moving towards the End Mountains far
away.
It was a Dragon, mounted by an Integrity Knight.
The lights on the dragon wasn't warning lights, nobody else was flying anyways.
It was there to showcase the Dragon and the Integrity Knights as a source of power, to
gloat over the residents and inject fear onto them.
Kirito knew, it was one of the ways the Axiom Church was keeping their control.
And on top of the Tower, was where Kirito hoped would end his journey.
An Admin Console.
A way out...
At the end of March, Sortiliena Serlut defeated Volo Levantein in the graduation duel and
granted access to the Imperial Battle Tournament.
Kirito fulfilled his wish of providing her the Zephilia Flowers she always wanted to
see.
2 weeks after, she faced someone from the Norlangarth Knighthood in the first round.
Eldrie Woolsburg, the person who defeated Liena proceeded on his path to get access
to the Axiom Church Tower.
In their next year, Kirito and Eugeo became Elite Disciples by being ranked fifth and
sixth in their year and took Tiese and Ronye as their Trainee Pages.
Just for clarity, her names is really Ronye, not Ronie as the official English translation
says, Reki Kawahara confirmed that much himself.
But yeah, keep an eye out on this scene, both Tiese and Ronye will play a huge role, as
we move onto the contents of Volume 11, Alicization Turning.
And you can trust the title of the book, Alicization Turning is literally where the entire story
just turns on its head.
We'll spend more time with the resident dicks of the Academy, Raios and Humbert as Kirito
and Eugeo's journey towards the top of the Axiom Church Tower will continue week after
week, but a whole lot of unexpected circumstances await them!
But that brings us to the end of this weeks Alicization Episode, Swordsman's Pride, wrapping
up the contents of Volume 10, Alicization Running.
Next week, we'll start with Volume 11 Alicization Turning, in Episode 9, Nobleman's Responsibilities
and if you've made it this far into the video, please do comment "Time for Alicization Turning"
down in the comments to show that you did!
Now, it's time for the story to turn on it's head and of course, get more screentime for
the best girl of V11, Tiese!
I'm sorry, I probably couldn't bring much to the table, but as I said, this was a pretty
damn faithful adaptation, so I had nothing much to add.
Maybe I can add some opinions so...
Yeah, it felt like a little bit too much budget was spent on the Light and Particle effects
so overall the episode was somewhat visually stale, reverting to way too many static shots,
even during some fight scenes and the overabundance of shot/reverse shot, but I'm not a movie
critic, nobody cares about these.
Loved the episode, 9.5/10, because only I am a 10/10.
Would watch it again...
And again...
And a whole bunch more times, because of Garden Scene emotions.
I still prefer the flower visuals in the opening.
As for the giveaway, as I said, I want to celebrate the 20k subscribers on Youtube that
I would not be able to achieve without you, well...
Quite literally.
No subscribers is definitely a number below 20k, so, it's time to give back to you guys
a little for supporting me so far and hopefully will enjoy my future content as well!
So, throughout the runtime of the anime, I will be giving out Sword Art Online Alicization
Novels, depending on the content being adapted by the anime.
I'll run these giveaways to ensure you get the book for an upcoming arc, about a week
before the it starts airing.
So, for the next 15 days at the time of this recording, you can click the link below to
join the giveaway.
There are multiple ways to join and the more objectives you fulfill, the more chance you
will have to be the winner.
The current reward is Sword Art Online Volume 12, Alicization Rising and I will announce
the winner when we are halfway through V11, Alicization Turning in the Anime.
The next giveaway to follow will be V13, Alicization Dividing, followed by V14 Uniting etc.
If I run out of Novels to give considering Yen Press' Translation speed, I'll think of
something else, but for now, we are running with this, hope you enjoy and good luck!
As Eugeo would say...
Stay Cool!
As we come to the end, as usual, huge thanks to my Patrons for supporting me directly.
Hope you enjoyed this video, likes are always appreciated.
Subscribe for next week, Episode 9 Explained and I'll see you then!
Stay Cool!
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