Like many other 2020 anime, Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2 was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now set to return on July 11. What started as a virtual war between the human realm and the Dark Territory has evolved into a full-scale international conflict with serious consequences for both the Underworld and the real world. With several storylines teetering on tantalizing cliffhangers, here's a recap of the most important events to remember going into the final arc of the Alicization story.
Emperor Vecta Has Captured Alice
Gabriel Miller was hired by the NSA to lead an assault on the Ocean Turtle research facility with the goal of stealing its most advanced AI technology, aka "Alice." Successfully infiltrating its base, Miller used one of Rath's Soul Translators to enter the Underworld under the account of Emperor Vecta. He quickly united the various races of the Dark Territory and sent them to war against the human realm and its Integrity Knights.
The previous arc ended with Vecta capturing Alice and flying away toward the World's End Altar, with Commander Bercouli in hot pursuit. Can the Underworld's most unfailingly dependable Integrity Knight stop the nigh invincible emperor and save Alice from a horrifying fate? Only time will tell.
Asuna and Sinon Have Entered the Underworld
The Alicization arc has largely left the series' original characters playing minimal roles. That changed in the previous arc with Asuna's stunning Underworld introduction as Stacia, the Goddess of Creation. The final episode also showed Sinon's entrance as Solus the Sun Goddess, while Leafa is certain to join the war effort as well.
Meanwhile, Lisbeth traveled to the world of ALO to try and convince her fellow Japanese players to transfer their accounts to the Underworld and aid in the battle against the Dark Territory. Their numbers are badly needed as one of Gabriel Miller's henchmen, a hacker named Critter, created a "beta test" and opened the Underworld to 20,000 American players to fight on behalf of Emperor Vecta.
The War of the Underworld Has Gone International
Just when it looked like the Integrity Knights had gained the advantage over the Dark Territory, Critter's "recruitment efforts" tipped the scales back in Emperor Vecta's favor. However, this move resulted in some unlikely alliances forming, like Iskahn and the pugilists agreeing to fight with Asuna and the Integrity Knights.
But even if Lisbeth successfully convinces the Japanese ALO players to join the war effort, they may not be enough to overcome the sheer numbers and bloodlust of the American players. Critter is already preparing a second wave of Americans and, aside from the immediate consequences in the Underworld, the situation could spell disaster for Rath and the technological cold war back in the real world. By pitting the virtual armies of two different countries against each other — in a war where the pain barrier is far more dangerous than standard VR games — the story could take any number of turns.
Kirito Is Still In a Coma
It's easy to forget with all the insanity going on elsewhere, but the main protagonist has been out of action in the Underworld for a while. Kirito continues to, as Kikuoka puts it, "attack his own fluctlight" out of guilt for Eugeo's death, hooked up to life support via the Soul Translator in the real world. Although Asuna's appearance drew an emotional reaction from him, he is still completely comatose.
What will it take to trigger his awakening? With Alice captured, the Integrity Knights overwhelmed and more of his real-world friends joining the war effort, it's only a matter of time before Kirito returns to the fold. Perhaps Vassago — one of Miller's henchmen who recognized Asuna as "Lightning Flash" from the original SAO — will play a role?
Burning Questions About the Real World
The Alicization arc features interweaving storylines that have further blurred the lines between the real and the virtual. It's clear that, one way or another, Alice is going to the real world. But how she'll emerge remains to be seen. She would be leaving behind her family, friends and fellow Integrity Knights for a whole world — literally. Will society view her as a human being or a piece of advanced AI technology? Will Rath continue their original plan to weaponize her for the Japanese government?
And what about Kirito? Having depended on the Soul Translator for life support ever since the beginning of this story arc, will he fully recover? Even if the Underworld war ends in victory, what will become of Gabriel Miller, Vassago, and the rest of their team aboard the Ocean Turtle? The questions continue to pile on, but with the final arc of Sword Art Online: Alicization beginning on July 11, the answers are finally coming.