Thinker/Synopsis

#### Pre-Episode 10

On November 6, 2022, Thinker got his hands on a NerveGear and a copy of Sword Art Online, a VRMMO set in a multifloored castle in the sky called Aincrad. He logged into SAO and was trapped in the game along with 10,000 other players. After being trapped in the death game, he joined a Guild called the Aincrad Liberation Front.

At some point, the ALF was thrown into infighting after a series of devastating losses. As a result, a player named Kibaou began amassing power at a frightening pace. Because no one took Kibaou seriously prior to this, his rise to power caught everyone off guard. While most weren't strong enough to face Kibaou, Thinker bravely stood up to his tyranny and pleaded for an end to the fighting. Due to his bravery, Thinker was soon joined by a player named Yulier.

#### Episode 10

Eventually, it seemed like Thinker was getting through to the tyrant, as Kibaou arranged to have a peace talk with Thinker, telling Thinker not to bring any weapons or items. However, the location of the peace talk was in a Secret Dungeon on Floor 1 under the ALF's headquarters, where Kibaou left Thinker to die, telling him that he couldn't use the game's messaging system due to "poor reception", which Thinker believed.

While Thinker could have escaped by using a Teleport Crystal, he honored Kibaou's request to not bring any weapons or items. Stuck in the Dungeon, Thinker was attacked by the Dungeon's Secret Boss, the Fatal Scythe, and he retreated to a Safe Room where he was unable to leave, as the Boss stayed near him. With nowhere to go, Thinker curled up in the fetal position and cried.

On October 31, 2024, Yulier eventually entered the Dungeon with two players named Kirito and Asuna and their daughter Yui. When Yulier found him, she started running towards the Safe Room. Hearing her, Thinker is overjoyed to see Yulier too, though tries to hide it, and nonchalantly asks her to deal with the "gangly fellow" that's blocking his exit. Kirito doesn't understand this request at first, but soon notices the Fatal Scythe hiding in the shadows and manages to push Yulier out of harm's way before she gets impaled. Kirito then asks why Thinker didn't send them a message warning them about the Fatal Scythe, to which Thinker explains that Kibaou told him the Dungeon had poor reception, something Kirito knows isn't true. Kirito then becomes increasingly infuriated by the whole situation, which was caused by Thinker's incompetence, and starts ranting about how Thinker was too stupid realize that Kibaou was lying to him.

Asuna then tells Yulier that's she and Kirito will have some words with them later, and orders her to get herself, Thinker and Yui out of the Dungeon while she and Kirito deal with the Boss. Yui tries to say that she might be able to help, but Yulier, terrified of Asuna, agrees to the order and takes Yui into the Safe Room. Asuna then stands by Kirito's side, claiming that their love can conquer anything, but they are almost immediately blown away by the Fatal Scythe. This causes Kirito to point out that the "power of love is bullshit". However, just as Thinker and Yulier teleport away to safety, Yui stays behind.

#### Post-Episode 10

Thinker was most likely freed from SAO after Kirito defeated Kayaba, along with all of the other players.

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Episode 10
3. ↑ Episode 11