Episode 2

## Video

This is the second episode of the Aincrad Arc, and the second episode of Sword Art Online Abridged overall.

## Plot

On December 2, 2022, after nearly a month of being trapped in Sword Art Online, 2000 players have died, either by bad luck or sheer stupidity. In the Floor 1 town of Tolbana, Kirito is testing out the game's narrator feature, which relays all this info to him. He mocks narrator's cliched and nonsensical dialogue, but quickly turns it off when it starts mocking him back.

Kirito then joins a strategy meeting, where the leader, Diabel, tries to cheer up the players, believing they knew how many players had died by that point. However, Diabel discovers that, not only were most of the players unaware of this fact, but they also weren't aware that they hadn't cleared the first Floor yet, nor did they know that the game has 100 Floors. Having made the situation worse, Diabel announces that they've finally found the Boss Room, and that they've been formulating strategies thanks to info from the beta testers.

However, as soon as beta testers are mentioned, a player named Kibaou becomes enraged and steps out of the crowd, much to Diabel's dismay. Kibaou proclaims that the beta testers are responsible for the death game's existence, but when Diabel asks for evidence, Kibaou claims he does need any. When the players don't believe Kibaou's claims, he switches tactics and starts chastising the beta testers for the not helping the beginners out when the death game started.

Kibaou's comments causes another player to emerge from the crowd. Kibaou asks who the player is, to which the player says he's known by many names: "Mountain Slayer", "Thunder Lion", "the Chocolate Axe", but in SAO, his name is currently Tiffany. With Kibaou both intimidated and confused by his surprisingly feminine name, Tiffany points out to the other players that the beta testers have been helping them all along, as every player was given a guidebook with tips and strategies on how to survive the game when they logged in, which was written by the beta testers. However, Tiffany is shocked to learn that none of the players have read the book, mostly out of laziness. This causes Kirito to look on in disbelief as Tiffany gives up on trying to help the other players.

With Kibaou silenced, and Tiffany defeated, Diabel brings out the guidebook Tiffany mentioned, stating that, not only does the book contain tips on how to survive the game, but it also has advice on how to defeat the first Floor Boss, Illfang the Kobold Lord. Diabel then reads the passage on the Boss, which says that Illfang will switch his weapon from an axe and buckler to a talwar once his health bar turns red. However, Diabel stops reading when he realizes that the guide is full of non-helpful info, which involves sacrificing annoying players, with one category fitting Kibaou, and culminates in a joke about the Final Solution. It is then heavily implied that Kirito wrote this part of the guide. With the guide no longer of any use, Diabel decides to form his own battle strategy for the assault team, but when he fails to do so, he asks the players for suggestions. Two players then suggest that they "group up and hit it 'til it dies", which Diabel reluctantly accepts, due to not having any better ideas, and tells everyone to group up.

Kirito then spots a hooded girl named Asuna, alone, and approaches her. When Kirito asks why she hasn't teamed up with anyone, an embarrassed Asuna admits that she doesn't know how to open the game's menu. This shocks and confuses Kirito, as the menu is required for pretty much anything in the game. Kirito asks how Asuna survived up until this point, to which she replies, "It's... been a challenge." Asuna then asks why Kirito hasn't joined anyone's group, to which he makes an arrogant remark about how inferior the other players are. However, Asuna sees through his façade and correctly guesses that no one wanted Kirito on their team, which Kirito retorts by claiming it was mutual. With everyone grouped up, Diabel tells the assault team to get plenty of rest, as they will be leaving at noon. However, after hearing complaints from most of the players, he begrudgingly delays it to 2:30pm.

The next day, after walking up the stairs to the Boss Room for five hours, most of the assault team are exhausted from the trip, as SAO bases a player's stamina on their real-life athletic abilities. Annoyed, Diabel jokingly tells the assault team to take an extra hour to regain their stamina, only to become even more annoyed when they actually take an hour.

Once they finally enter the Boss Room, the assault team is greeted by Illfang and three Sentinels. As Diabel tries to lead the charge, most of the assault team ignores the plan and starts aimlessly attacking Illfang, with one player yelling, "EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!!!" Diabel tries to regain control of the situation by barking orders to each Squad, but none of them listen to a single order, with one Squad stopping in the middle the fight to play Bejeweled. Annoyed, Diabel orders Kirito and Asuna to help out the other Squads, which Kirito obeys, much to Diabel's surprise. As Kirito and Asuna help Squads A and B, Asuna displays impressive fighting techniques, despite being a beginner. But just as Kirito starts to think that Asuna might be better than him, Asuna asks Kirito if gaining "XPs" means she's dying, causing Kirito to take back what he thought.

Eventually, all the Sentinels are defeated and Illfang's health goes into the red. As Illfang goes to switch weapons, Diabel decides to land the finishing blow himself, believing the other players are not skilled enough to do it. However, as Diabel prepares to attack, Kirito notices that Illfang's new weapon wasn't a talwar like the guidebook said, but a nodachi. Kirito tries to warn Diabel about the weapon change, but when Diabel asks what the difference is, Kirito goes on a long lecture about the origins of both weapons, resulting in Illfang striking Diabel down with a combo before Kirito can explain why the new weapon is dangerous. This distracts Kibaou, allowing Illfang to sneak up on his Squad and roar at them, earning them the rare item "Soiled Pants". As the other players continue the fight, Kirito rushes to Diabel's side and explains that he was trying to say that a nodachi has more reach than a talwar and causes more damage. Diabel asks why he didn't say that sooner, to which Kirito says he thinks of himself as a teacher.

Kirito tries to give Diabel a Healing Potion, but Diabel rejects it, stating that he no longer has the willpower to lead the other players. Diabel laments that he had such high hopes about defeating the Boss, but now their best player is Asuna, who thinks DPS is a "some kind of sex thing", a sentiment Kirito agrees with. Diabel asks Kirito how he's able to push on despite all despair, to which Kirito explains that, after playing MMOs for so many years, he's learned to let go of all his compassion, seeing himself as a lion among sheep. Diabel tells Kirito he's so wise and wishes they had met sooner, as things might have been different. In his final moments, Diabel asks Kirito to lead the assault team and show them they can beat the game. Kirito seems to accept the offer and says that, in different circumstances, he and Diabel could've been friends, but Diabel's last words are, "I... doubt it", much to Kirito's dismay.

With Diabel now dead, Asuna rushes to Kirito's side and comes up with a strategy to knock Illfang off balance, allowing one of them to attack, repeating the process until they reach their victory. Kirito points out it's amazing how Asuna can produce such a tactical strategy, but still can't open her menu. The two then rush into battle. With it being her plan, Asuna decides to be the one dealing the damage. Kirito begrudgingly agrees and parries Illfang's attack, allowing Asuna to move in. However, she is almost killed when Illfang regains his balance quicker than expected. Luckily, Asuna manages to dodge Illgang's attack and deal some damage, but Illfang destroys Asuna's cloak in the process, revealing her face. With Asuna's close call, Kirito decides to attack, resulting in both Kirito and Asuna fighting over who gets to deal the killing blow. After much back and forth, Kirito manages to slash Illfang across the body, killing the Boss and earning himself the Coat of Midnight.

As he catches his breath, Tiffany walks up to Kirito and congratulates him on his victory, calling it a feat more impressive than the cat that learned how to play the game. Hearing this, a player named Jeffrey is relieved that other people can see the cat, taking it as a sign that he's not crazy. Jeffrey then proceeds to listen to his hallucination of Jesus Christ, who orders him to kill all the players in the game, proudly whispering, "As you command, my Lord." Tiffany then declares that he and the other players will follow Kirito to hell itself, telling him to "address [his] people". However, despite the players cheering him on, Kirito decides not to honor Diabel's last wish and leaves his position as leader of the assault team. Kirito then arrogantly proclaims that he could've defeated Illfang himself, calling the other players incompetent teammates whose only value was absorbing damage from the Boss, despite Tiffany pleading him to stop. Kibaou tries to cut Kirito down a peg by claiming he's not better than the rest of them, but Kirito disproves him donning on his newly acquired coat, signifying his status as a solo player.

Kirito proceeds to leave the Boss Room, but Asuna stops him halfway up the stairs, asking for half of the coat. This confuses Kirito, but Asuna points out that she did half the work during the fight and therefore deserves half the coat. After much arguing about the logistics of such a request, Kirito decides to "disolve" their Party. Asuna warns Kirito that, if he doesn't give her half the coat, she will make his life a living hell. Annoyed, Kirito agrees to give Asuna the coat, but only if she sends him a trade request. When Asuna asks what a trade request is, Kirito tells her all she needs to do is open her menu, which she doesn't know how to do. Kirito then leaves, laughing maniacally, as Asuna curses him.

## Cast

* **Cheesemanjoe:** Narrator, Tiffany, Additional Voices
* **YamatoSFX:** Kirito, Additional Voices
* **TehExorcist:** Diabel
* **Hayabusa449:** Kibaou, Additional Voices
* **Sonicring123Dubs:** Additional Voices
* **Misanda:** Asuna
* **Fluffles:** Himself
* **LordMegatronG1:** Jeffrey, Voices in Jeffrey's head

## Music

* **Thirty Seconds to Mars:** "This Is War"
* **Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack vol.1:** "He Rules Us", "A Strategy Meeting", "Quiet Strain", "Fight!", "Stand at Bay", "At Our Parting", "Swordland", "Survive the Swordland", "A Squabble"
* **Bastion (Original Soundtrack):** "In Case of Trouble"
* **Valkyria Chronicles Original Soundtrack:** "Main Theme"
* **Nelson Riddle:** "Batman Transition"
* **The Binding of Isaac Soundtrack:** "Jesus Loves Me"
* **Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game (Original Videogame Soundtrack):** "Area Clear"

## Differences from the Original

The following is a list of differences *only* from this episode. To view any differences for the characters, view their pages, or if you want to see more click here.

* A flashback to episode 1, and a montage of players dying, is added in.
* SAO doesn't have a Narrator setting, most of the information given was narrated by Kirito in the original.
	+ The fact that the Boss Room's location has changed from the beta test is skipped.
* The players who come to the Illfang strategy meeting aren't unaware that 2000 players have died, nor are they unaware that the game has 100 Floors.
	+ Diavel doesn't mention the death toll or the amount of Floors they have to clear.
	+ Diavel doesn't fail to rally the players.
* Diavel's joke being a knight is skipped.
* Diavel telling the players to inform those who didn't come to the raid that the next Floor is open upon their victory, thus giving them hope, is skipped.
* In the original, Kibaou enters the scene and starts talking about the beta testers unprovoked. In the abridged version, enters the scene because Diabel mentions the beta testers.
* In the original, it's unclear if Diavel knew who Kibaou was before he introduced himself. In the abridged version, it seems Diabel had at least one encounter with Kibaou, as he reacts with annoyance upon hearing his voice.
	+ Diabel now inadvertently introduces Kibaou.
* Kibaou isn't mad at the beta testers because he thinks they're responsible for them being trapped in the game. He thinks used their knowledge from the beta test to hog all the good hunting spots and take all the easy quests, thus making it harder for the newer players.
	+ The part where Kibaou speculates that there are beta testers at the strategy meeting is skipped.
	+ The part where Kibaou demands compensation from the beta testers is skipped.
	+ Kibaou doesn't try to get a random player to back up his claims.
* Kirito no longer feels guilty after hearing Kibaou's speech.
* The guidebook isn't one of the default items in every player's inventory. It's available for free at the game's stores and was handed out by the beta testers.
* Agil doesn't assume that everyone read the guidebook, nor is it confirmed that they hadn't.
	+ Agil doesn't state that he's "done" with the other players.
* Kibaou reluctantly admitting defeat is skipped.
* The section about Illfang isn't a series of dark jokes that is heavily implied to have been written by Kirito.
	+ It's never stated nor implied that Kibaou had a habit of hijacking conversations to rant about his political beliefs.
* In the original, Diavel tells the players to group up before Kibaou's speech, as that was always part of his strategy. In the abridged version, he reluctantly tells them to do it after reading the guidebook, upon the suggestion of two random players, because he ran out of ideas himself.
* In the original, Kirito tries to find someone to form a Party with, but everyone had already formed groups. In the abridged version, it's heavily implied that Kirito tried to join these groups, but they all turned him down because they didn't like him.
	+ Kirito noticing Asuna sitting alone is skipped.
* Asuna isn't left out because she struggles to open the game's menu. She's left out because everyone else is already friends with each other and she doesn't want to intrude.
	+ Kirito doesn't assume Asuna got left out because she's a girl.
	+ It's never stated that Asuna struggled to eat for the first month.
* Kirito and Asuna forming their Party, and Kirito noticing Asuna's name, is skipped.
* The part where Diavel discusses the distribution of loot is skipped.
* In the original, the start time for the raid is 10am. In the abridged version, it's initially noon before getting set back to 2:30pm, due to the players' lazy protests.
* Diavel and Kibaou's burgeoning friendship, which happens in the background, is skipped.
* Asuna leaving the strategy meeting without Kirito is skipped.
* Diavel glaring at Kirito is skipped.
* A scene where Kirito and Asuna eat bread together the night before the raid, during which Asuna says she'd rather die than waste away in her room waiting for the game to end, to which Kirito requests her not to die during the raid, is skipped.
* The scene where Kirito tries to strategize with Asuna on the way to the raid, only to realize how much of a noob she is, is skipped.
* The players don't spend five hours getting to the Boss Room followed by another hour resting to get rid of their exhaustion.
	+ SAO doesn't base a player's stats on their real-life abilities.
* Diavel's brief pep talk before the Boss fight is skipped.
* The brief shot of Illfang sitting on his throne is skipped.
* One of the Ruin Kobold Sentinels isn't missing its snarl sound effect.
* The shot of Illfang and the Sentinels charging at the players is skipped.
	+ The shot of the players clashing with enemy forces is skipped.
* The players don't ignore Diavel's orders and start attacking randomly.
	+ No one stops in the middle of the Boss fight to play Bejeweled.
* Kirito and Asuna are now in Squad G, instead of Squad D, E, OR F.
* Kirito doesn't try to give Asuna pointers before she kills the Sentinel.
* Kirito's inner monologue about Asuna's skills is moved to after she defeats the Sentinel.
	+ Kirito no longer mentions that he can't see the tip of Asuna's rapier.
	+ Kirito doesn't think that Asuna might be better than him.
* Asuna doesn't ask Kirito if her getting "XPs" means she's dying.
	+ Kirito verbally complimenting Asuna's skills is skipped.
* Kirito attacking a Sentinel is skipped.
* Kirito hearing Illfang roar is skipped.
* Kibaou commenting on the guidebook being right is skipped.
* Diavel doesn't try to attack Illfang on his own because he doubts the other players are skilled enough to do it themselves, he does it to get the last attack bonus.
	+ Kirito noticing that Diavel changed the plan is skipped.
	+ Diavel smirking at Kirito is skipped.
* Kirito commenting to himself that the second phase has changed since the beta test is skipped.
* Kirito doesn't go on a long lecture about the differences between a nodachi and a talwar. He tells Diavel to watch out, but he's too late and Illfang strikes Diavel down.
	+ In the original, Kirito didn't comment on the weapon change out loud.
	+ Kibaou noticing Kirito's warning is skipped.
* None of the players get "Soiled Pants" as a Bonus Item.
	+ Kibaou's reaction to Illfang's roar is skipped.
* Kirito chastising Diavel is skipped.
* Diavel doesn't refuse to accept the Healing Potion because he lost faith in the other players.
* The revelation that Diavel was a beta tester is skipped.
* It's never stated that Asuna thought that DPS was "some kind of sex thing".
* Kirito doesn't deliver a passionate speech to Diavel about how you shouldn't be compassionate to those beneath you.
* Diavel doesn't tell Kirito to replace him as leader, he simply tells him to kill the Boss and save the group.
	+ Kirito doesn't say he Diavel could've been friends, nor does Diavel doesn't say he doubts it.
* An inner monologue Kirito has about how Diavel was more selfless than him is skipped.
* Asuna doesn't come up with the plan to defeat Illfang, Kirito tells her to use the strategy they've been using to defeat the Sentinels.
* Kirito calling out Asuna's name, and her reaction to it, is skipped.
* Kirito's reaction to Asuna's face reveal is skipped.
* A section of the fight where Kirito and Asuna get knocked down, and Agil and the other players help them, is skipped.
* Asuna and Kirito don't fight over who should attack Illfang during the battle.
* Illfang's victory alert isn't a banner that says "Congratulation!" with a party blower.
	+ In the original, all the players celebrate their victory. In the abridged version, only one player celebrates.
* Asuna congratulating Kirito is skipped.
* Agil doesn't give Kirito a passionate speech about how he and the other player will follow Kirito to hell itself.
* The part where Kibaou chastises Kirito, assuming he let Diavel die, is skipped.
	+ The part where the players figure out Kirito was a beta tester and start turning on each other is skipped.
* Agil doesn't try to stop Kirito during his speech.
* Asuna doesn't ask Kirito for "half the coat" after the battle. She asks Kirito how he knew her name, to which Kirito points out that it showed up in the corner of the screen when they formed their Party, which she somehow didn't see.
	+ Kirito suggesting to Asuna that she should join a Guild is skipped.
* Kirito doesn't point out the "disolve" typo.
	+ Kirito now dissolves his Party with Asuna halfway up the stairs rather than near the door.
* In the original, Kirito and Asuna part on relatively good terms. In the abridged version, their parting is a lot more confrontational.

## Errors

* When Kibaou points to the player named Jesus, Kirito can be seen sitting next to Asuna, even though they haven't grouped up yet.

## Trivia

* The Narrator at the start is a reference to the video game "Bastion".
* The hallucination of Jesus that Jeffrey sees originates from the 1999 movie Dogma.

## References

1. ↑ Dogma (1999): Cardinal Glick unveils 'The Buddy Christ'