Tief erschüttert über Suguhas Geständnis, beschließt Kazuto, sich mit seiner Familie wieder gut zu stellen. In Alfheim, kommt es zur großen Schlacht zwischen Kirito, Leafa und Recon und den Wächtern des Weltenbaumes. Dann setzt Kirito alles auf eine Karte, um zu Asuna zu gelangen.
Kazuto recalls when he was ten, he learn he was not related with Suguha, leading him to become detached from his family and become engrossed in online gaming. But due the lessons he learn during his time in SAO, he decides to make amends with his family. Wanting to sort things out, Kazuto asks Suguha to meet him in ALfheim. As Leafa contemplates whether she should stop seeing Kirito in-game anymore, she runs into Recon, whose unsuccessful attempt to confess to her cheers her up. Leafa then challenges Kirito to a one-on-one fight, during which they both end up throwing the duel and apologize to each other. After Kirito explains he won't be able to say what he thinks of Suguha until Asuna is rescued, Leafa agrees to help him in his quest, dragging Recon along with her. Kirito once again takes on the guardians, this time with assistance from Leafa and Recon. As the number of guardians keep increasing, Recon uses a self-destruct spell to create a gap for Kirito to get through, but it is filled up all too soon. Just as things look dire, Sakuya and Alicia arrive with their armies to back them up. Using Leafa's sword, Kirito manages to break through the guardians and reach the top, only to find a moderator-locked door in his way. Using the card Asuna gave them, Yui manages to open the door, teleporting her and Kirito to a new location.
Kazuto est choqué de découvrir que Leafa est en réalité Suguha. Alors que cette dernière s'apprête a avouer les sentiments enfouis qu'elle éprouve pour lui, il réalise combien ses propos et ses actes irréfléchis ont profondément blessé sa soeur cadette, ce qui l'accable considérablement. Toutefois, Kazuto ne veut pas en rester là et espère qu'elle acceptera un échange en face a face. Il lui dit qu'il l'attendra à Aarun et se connecte à nouveau à ALO. Suguha, émet elle aussi un certains regrets et sais qu'elle a blessé Kazuto. Elle se connecte à ALO mais n'a pour le moment pas le courage de rejoindre Kirito. Alors, quelque chose de totalement inattendu advient ...
Kirito e Lyfa, con l'aiuto di Recon, tentano nuovamente di espugnare Yggdrasil, ma proprio quando sembrano su punto di capitolare nuovamente, arriva l'alleanza di Sylph e Cait Sith a dar loro man forte. Kirito riesce quindi a penetrare l'imponente difesa e a raggiungere il portale che permette di accedere alla cima dell'Albero del Mondo.
リーファの正体が直葉だと知った和人は驚愕。さらに直葉の秘めた想いを打ち明けられ、自分の何気ない行動が妹を深く傷つけていたことに気づき、愕然とする。それでも今一度、直葉と向かい合いたいと望んだ和人は《央都アルン》で待つと告げ、再び《ALO》にログインする。直葉も和人を傷つけたことを後悔し、《ALO》にログインするが、キリトに会う勇気が出てこない。すると、そこに思いがけない人物がやってきて……。
스구하가 자신에게 가지고 있는 감정을 알아버린 키리토는 어찌할 바를 모르고 고민한다. 결국 게임에서 모든 걸 해결하는 수밖에 없다는 결론을 얻은 키리토와 스구하는 다시 한 번 세계수 공략에 나서는데...
Apesar da muralha entre Kirito e Sugu, ele tem que salvar Asuna. Na próxima vez que ele desafiar os Guardiões, ele não estará só.
Leafa y Kirito se encuentran nuevamente y esta vez habrá un enfrentamiento. ¿Cómo terminará este encuentro?
和人知道了莉法原來就是直葉後非常詫異。之後直葉把一直埋藏在內心的感情說明後，和人明白到自己過去的冷漠對妹妹做成了很深的傷害。和人約直葉再之在中央都市亞崙見面後，自己一個人再次登入「ALO」。另一方面直葉對先前傷害了哥哥而感到後悔，雖然她登入遊戲，但是始終未能鼓起勇氣去找桐人。這時候，雷根卻突突然出現……和雷根談過後，莉法決定面找桐人，來一場在現實世界裡兩人還沒有完成的比試……
Apesar da muralha entre Kirito e Sugu, ele tem que salvar Asuna. Na próxima vez que ele desafiar os Guardiões, ele não estará só.
