Ep 14. The Crimson Knight

Kirito finds himself in a huge sanctuary-like space, where he meets the Integrity Knight, Alice Synthesis Thirty. They start talking about their past experiences and the current situation they are in. Kirito tells Alice that they are inside a VRMMO called the Underworld and describes his first arrival here. Alice is surprised as it contradicts what she believed to be true. She tells him that the Administrator is the one responsible for everything in the Underworld, and she has taken up the position of the Ruler after the previous one was killed.

Later, Alice and Kirito witness the Integrity Knight pulling out a giant sword from the ground. He explains that it is the Espada de Luz, the Sword of Light, and that it was used to defeat the dark forces in the past. From the sword, an intense red aura emanates, and the sword glows, indicating that dark forces are gathering once again. The knight summons his horse and departs.

Alice then informs Kirito that the Integrity Knight they were speaking to is called Bercouli Synthesis One, the strongest of all the Integrity Knights. The two decide to explore their surroundings to find a way out, and while doing so, they take a detour and end up in a gladiator arena.

A group of rogue fighters challenges Kirito and Alice to a fight, stating that they won't allow intruders to disrupt their operations. Kirito decides to take them head-on and prepares himself for a battle. As soon as the fight starts, Kirito notices that he cannot use his sword, and he is immediately pushed back by the enemy's powerful attacks. Alice, meanwhile, has no problem with her weapon, the sword the knight gave her earlier. She easily defeats some of the opponents.

In no time, the two realize that the opponents are not human but automatons, making them question the nature of their current reality. Kirito, who still cannot understand why his sword wouldn't work, decides to test his other abilities. By concentrating hard, he activates the blue aura around him, and his body moves at blinding speed, dodging all his opponent's attacks. He manages to take out some of them.

As they continue with the fight, Alice tells Kirito that their opponent, the swordsman of all time, was defeated by the Administrator using a sword technique that overwrites one's consciousness. The swordsman's body remained but completely different from his real self and that's when he became an Integrity Knight.

Kirito later finds himself facing the strongest fighter among the group, releasing an intense amount of dark energy and covered in a crimson aura. The fighter is none other than, Volo Levantein, the Crimson Knight. Kirito is surprised to see him here and wonders if he is a player like him. However, they will have to settle their differences later on as battle was upon them.

Kirito battles fiercely, but he finds himself unable to match Volo's overwhelming strength. Alice, seeing Kirito's struggles, steps in and joins the fight. She combines her sword with Kirito's, creating an impressive sword combo that stops Volo's Sword of Crimson, sending him flying back.

As the battle concludes, Kirito and Alice find themselves at the mercy of the Underground Administrator. They hold on to hope for a future chance of escape.