Ep 20. General of the Blazing Flame

In episode 20 of Sword Art Online season 1, titled General of the Blazing Flame, Kirito and Asuna continue their quests to clear the game, but a new threat arises. They receive a message from Klein, a former member of their party, that a powerful guild known as the Salamanders is gaining strength and becoming a threat to the other players.

As Kirito and Asuna investigate the situation, they realize that the Salamander guild leader, a man named Eugene, possesses a special item that gives him an advantage in battle. With this item, he is able to control the element of fire and use it to devastating effect in battle.

To get to Eugene, Kirito and Asuna must infiltrate the Salamander stronghold, a massive castle built on a floating island. They team up with Klein and a group of other players, including a skilled blacksmith named Lisbeth, to mount an attack on the castle.

Once inside the castle, Kirito and his allies face off against the Salamander troops and engage in an epic battle. The fighting is intense, and many of Kirito's allies are injured or killed in the process. But Kirito and Asuna are determined to succeed, and they push forward to confront Eugene and take him down.

In the final showdown, Kirito and Eugene engage in a fierce one-on-one battle. It's a battle of strength and skill, as Kirito must use all of his abilities to overcome Eugene's strong fire attacks. Asuna and the rest of the group watch from the sidelines, cheering him on as the battle rages.

In the end, Kirito emerges victorious, defeating Eugene and taking the special item that gave him his power. With this item in their possession, Kirito and his allies are able to push back the Salamander forces and weaken their hold on the game.

The episode ends with Kirito and Asuna reflecting on their victory and discussing their plans to continue their quest to clear the game. Though the journey has been long and difficult, they have come this far and are determined to see it through to the end.