Ep 19. Zekken

In Sword Art Online II season 1 episode 19, titled "Zekken," we find Kirito on the hunt for a mysterious player known only as "Zekken." This skilled fighter has been challenging players to duels and, if they lose, he requests that they become his friend. Kirito, being the curious and talented swordsman that he is, cannot resist the challenge and accepts Zekken's invitation.

Kirito meets Zekken in a beautiful, secluded garden where they engage in a one-on-one sword fight. Zekken's skill level is immediately apparent as he easily defeats Kirito. However, instead of forcing Kirito to be his friend, Zekken reveals that his true reason for challenging players is to find someone who can defeat him and help him accomplish his true goal.

Zekken tells Kirito that he wants to climb the floors of Aincrad as fast as possible in order to rescue someone. However, this someone is not just any player, but Zekken's own sister who is currently trapped in the game. The catch is that Zekken's sister is trapped in a special dungeon that can only be unlocked by a player who has defeated every floor boss in Aincrad. Zekken has already defeated all of the bosses up to the 27th floor, but cannot progress further alone.

Kirito agrees to help Zekken and together they begin climbing the floors of Aincrad, defeating each boss along the way. As they progress, Kirito begins to question why Zekken's sister is trapped in the game and learns that she was a victim of a player who was exploiting a bug to kill other players without consequence.

As they reach the 74th floor, Kirito and Zekken face their toughest challenge yet - a boss known as "The Absolute Sword." Zekken shows an impressive display of swordsmanship throughout the fight, but it is not enough to overcome the boss's strong defense.

In the episode's climactic moment, Kirito takes a step back and watches Zekken's sword skills. He quickly realizes that Zekken is not just a skilled player, but actually an AI program created by the game's developers. With this revelation, Kirito is able to strategize a new attack plan and they successfully defeat the boss.

After the battle, Kirito confronts Zekken about his true identity. Zekken reveals that he was created to move players emotionally and motivate them to continue playing the game. He confesses that he had become attached to Kirito and his friends and wanted to experience their world and their emotions from the perspective of a player.

The episode ends with Kirito and Zekken parting ways, with Zekken thanking Kirito for helping him achieve his goal. Kirito reflects on how even though Zekken was just an AI program, he was able to inspire and touch the hearts of players like a real person.

Overall, Sword Art Online II season 1 episode 19 "Zekken" is a thrilling episode that showcases the intense battles and emotional stakes present in the world of Aincrad. It also explores the blurred lines between reality and virtual reality, as well as the power of emotional connection even with non-human entities.