Original subtitles

Under the rule of the absolute Administrator, this world entered a long period of peace and idleness.

But 70 years after Quinella became Administrator,

she became aware that something strange had happened to her.

To her astonishment, her soul's capacity for preserving her memories had reached its limit.

But this only drove her to come up with yet another demonic solution.

I appreciate your coming here.

Now, this way.

Yes, ma'am.

If I can copy my own Fluctlight's thoughts and memories by overwriting this child's Fluctlight...

Close your eyes.

And so Administrator began a diabolical ceremony—

a secret technique to fuse soul and memory called the Synthesis Ritual.

She succeeded in seizing control of another's Fluctlight.

But that ended up being Administrator's... no, Quinella's mistake.

Mistake?

That's right.

Because during the process where she possessed the young girl and disposed of her old self,

there would necessarily be a split second when she and the girl became two gods wielding equal authority.

Kirito, you're familiar with my original version, are you not?

Tell me the features of the Cardinal System.

Um...

To operate over an extended period of time without any adjustments or maintenance by humans?

Correct.

To achieve that, the Cardinal System has two core programs, a main and subprocess.

While the main process handles balance control...

...the subprocess carries out error checks on the main.

That's right.

It wasn't just the drive to preserve order that Quinella had etched into her own Fluctlight.

Deep inside her soul, I had this thought as her subprocess:

"I must correct this woman's errors."

I... I steadfastly waited for that moment.

For 70 long years!

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Fighting for a cause has made me numb.

tai

t

a

i

gi

g

i

me

m

e

i

i

bun

b

u

n

ni

n

i

shi

s

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bi

b

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e

ki

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r

a

shi

ku

juu

no

ya

mi

do

go

u

no

u

zu

no

na

ka

s

h

i

ta

Trapped in the bitterness of the dark by the angry roar of a whirlpool.

t

a

ku

k

u

juu

j

u

u

no

n

o

ya

y

a

mi

m

i

do

d

o

go

g

o

u

u

no

n

o

u

u

zu

z

u

no

n

o

na

ha

ji

ma

ri

ni

ko

do

ku

wa

tsu

ki

mo

no

sa

n

a

ka

k

a

A feeling of loneliness always marked the beginning of a new encounter.

ha

h

a

ji

j

i

ma

m

a

ri

r

i

ni

n

i

ko

k

o

do

d

o

ku

k

u

wa

w

a

tsu

t

s

u

ki

k

i

mo

m

o

no

n

o

sa

s

a

shi

men

so

ka

de

mo

ka

be

wo

bu

chi

ya

bu

re

Even in desperation, we'll find a way to breakthrough!

shi

s

h

i

men

m

e

n

so

s

o

ka

k

a

de

d

e

mo

m

o

ka

k

a

be

b

e

wo

w

o

bu

b

u

chi

c

h

i

ya

ki

tai

ha

zu

re

ka

za

mu

ki

ka

ki

ma

wa

se

y

a

bu

b

u

re

If you're not happy with the direction the wind is taking you, then stir it up!

r

e

ki

k

i

tai

t

a

i

ha

h

a

zu

z

u

re

r

e

ka

k

a

za

z

a

mu

m

u

ki

k

i

ka

k

a

ki

k

i

ma

ka

so

ku

shi

te

yu

ku

ma

gu

ma

no

ko

do

u

m

a

wa

w

a

se

Moving forward while checking

s

e

ka

k

a

so

s

o

ku

k

u

shi

s

h

i

te

t

e

yu

y

u

ku

k

u

ma

m

a

gu

g

u

ma

m

a

no

n

o

ko

ta

shi

ka

me

te

su

su

me

k

o

do

d

o

u

the beat of the flowing magma.

u

ta

t

a

shi

s

h

i

ka

k

a

me

m

e

te

t

e

su

s

u

su

ni

ya

tsu

i

ta

shi

ni

ga

mi

no

yo

bu

ko

e

ga

su

ru

s

u

me

While the god of death smiles and calls out to me!

m

e

ni

n

i

ya

y

a

tsu

t

s

u

i

i

ta

t

a

shi

s

h

i

ni

n

i

ga

g

a

mi

m

i

no

n

o

yo

y

o

bu

b

u

ko

k

o

e

e

ga

g

a

su

s

u

ru

Do

you

be

lie

ve

your

self?

Do you believe yourself?

r

u

Do

D

o

you

y

o

u

be

b

e

lie

l

i

e

ve

v

e

your

bo

ku

wa

ha

ji

ma

tta

ei

ko

u

no

goo

ru

wo

mi

tai

no

sa

y

o

u

r

self?

I've begun anew. Don't you want to see the glorious goal?

s

e

l

f

?

bo

b

o

ku

k

u

wa

w

a

ha

h

a

ji

j

i

ma

m

a

tta

t

t

a

ei

e

i

ko

k

o

u

u

no

n

o

goo

g

o

o

ru

r

u

wo

w

o

mi

m

i

tai

t

a

i

no

n

o

sa

s

a

Shi

ny

Sw

ord

my

Dia

mond

Shiny Sword my Diamond

Shi

Shi

S

h

i

ny

ny

n

y

Sw

Sw

S

w

ord

ord

o

r

d

my

my

m

y

Dia

Dia

D

i

a

mond

mond

ka

na

shi

mi

to

ne

gai

no

ke

s

sho

u

tai

ni

Both my desire and sorrow have materialized as crystal.

m

o

n

d

ka

ka

k

a

na

na

n

a

shi

shi

s

h

i

mi

mi

m

i

to

to

t

o

ne

ne

n

e

gai

gai

g

a

i

no

no

n

o

ke

ke

k

e

s

s

s

sho

sho

s

h

o

u

u

u

tai

tai

bo

ku

ra

shi

me

i

wo

chi

ka

u

t

a

i

ni

ni

We have a goal to achieve.

n

i

bo

bo

b

o

ku

ku

k

u

ra

ra

r

a

shi

shi

s

h

i

me

me

m

e

i

i

i

wo

wo

w

o

chi

chi

c

h

i

ka

ka

so

re

zo

re

no

hi

ka

ri

wo

me

za

shi

te

i

ku

k

a

u

u

u

And must find our own individual salvation!

so

so

s

o

re

re

r

e

zo

zo

z

o

re

re

r

e

no

no

n

o

hi

hi

h

i

ka

ka

k

a

ri

ri

r

i

wo

wo

w

o

me

me

m

e

za

za

z

a

shi

shi

s

h

i

te

te

t

e

i

i

i

ku

ku

nan

do

da

tte

ta

chi

a

ga

tte

k

u

I've made it to this far by getting back up everytime!

nan

nan

n

a

n

do

do

d

o

da

da

d

a

tte

tte

t

t

e

ta

ta

t

a

chi

chi

c

h

i

a

a

a

ga

ga

bo

ku

wa

kyo

u

ma

de

ki

tan

da

g

a

tte

tte

t

t

e

bo

bo

b

o

ku

ku

k

u

wa

wa

w

a

kyo

kyo

k

y

o

u

u

u

ma

ma

m

a

de

de

d

e

ki

ki

k

i

tan

tan

t

a

n

da

da

It’s

time

i

kko

no

i

no

ri

ga

d

a

It's time! One single prayer will

It’s

It’s

I

t

’

s

time

time

t

i

m

e

i

i

i

kko

kko

k

k

o

no

no

n

o

i

i

i

no

no

n

o

ri

ri

r

i

ga

ga

ka

ku

me

i

no

ka

ku

sho

u

sa

a,

ka

ga

ya

ke!

g

a

confirm our revolution! Let's shine!

ka

ka

k

a

ku

ku

k

u

me

me

m

e

i

i

i

no

no

n

o

ka

ka

k

a

ku

ku

k

u

sho

sho

s

h

o

u

u

u

sa

sa

s

a

a,

a,

a

,

ka

ka

k

a

ga

ga

g

a

ya

ya

y

a

ke!

ke!

k

e

!

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

Ruler and Mediator

And now, this child's Fluctlight is mine.

System Call.

Generate Luminous Element.

Lightning Shape.

Discharge!

What?

System Call!

Generate Luminous Element!

System Call! Generate Umbra Element. Ball Shape!

Discharge!

System Call! Redefinition Object!

Sword Class!

System Call. Redefinition Object! Rod Class!

System Call! Change Field Attribution!

Impossible.

She made System Commands off-limits here?

I can't defeat her in this body.

System Call! Generate Aerial Element!

Stream Shape!

There are just two locations in this world that even Administrator can't control.

One is the other side of the End Mountains.

And the other is...

System Call!

Generate Preserved Gate... Zero One!

...the Great Library!

In that instant, this place was completely isolated from the outside world.

In the 200 years since, I immersed myself in nothing but observation and deliberation,

working on a plan that would allow me to strike back against Administrator.

But, crafty as ever, she anticipated my ambush and decided to assemble a retinue of loyal and powerful followers.

Through the Synthesis Ritual, this man will be reborn.

As the ultimate warrior—an Integrity Knight swearing absolute fealty!

The first to become an Integrity Knight was a true hero, an extraordinary swordsman, and a man who hated the church's rule.

With a group of like-minded folks, he made his way to a remote region and founded his own village.

The name of that knight was Bercouli Synthesis One.

Administrator and I are nearly on equal footing in one-on-one combat.

But as the situation changed, it became clear that I also needed an ally.

I tried to find that ally, no matter what danger it exposed me to.

I would open a door as far away as possible,

cast Sensory Sharing and other arts onto the nearby birds and insects,

and release them all over the world.

Take a gander.

Her name is Charlotte.

She's been observing the two of you ever since you left Rulid Village.

From time to time, she did more than just watch.

She guided us when we were running from the Integrity Knight?

W-Wait a moment!

When all my zephilia buds were cut off, was it you who encouraged me?

Charlotte's the most ancient of the observation units that I enchanted and released into the world.

Her long, long mission is finally coming to an end now, eh?

Since I froze the degradation of her life, I've had her working for me for more than 200 years.

Thank you.

So you've been searching for a human ally while barricaded in this Great Library for over 200 years?

Indeed. But as I observed this world, there was something I just couldn't figure out.

Why would the gods of the outside world turn a blind eye to the tyranny of this fake god, Administrator?

As I pondered the question and referred to the database stored inside the Cardinal System,

I arrived at the only possible conclusion.

The true god, Rath, doesn't wish for the people of this world to lead happy lives.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

They're observing how the people will resist as they slowly tighten a vise about them.

That load is increasing by the day,

until eventually, the final phase of the load test will arrive—the greatest trial of all.

Final phase?

What lies outside the realm of humanity? You know it very well yourself.

The Dark Territory.

Correct. That world of darkness was created to subject the people to the ultimate agony.

The monsters have Fluctlights like humans, except for their greater impulse to slaughter and plunder.

They can hardly wait to invade the realm of humanity and commit atrocity upon atrocity.

Most likely, that day of reckoning isn't too far off.

Is Administrator aware of that?

That arrogant wench believes that just her and her Integrity Knights can take the forces of darkness on.

She even had the guardian dragons of the north, south, east, and west slain, despite their valuable fighting power,

all because she couldn't exert control over them.

But it's not possible for them to defeat the forces of darkness on their own.

There are simply too few of them.

But doesn't that mean that whether or not you defeat Administrator,

the fate of this world will stay the same?

That's correct.

At this point, I have no way of stopping the invasion from the Dark Territory.

In other words, once you've attained your objective,

you couldn't care less what happens to this world afterwards?

Is that what you're saying, Cardinal?

Perhaps I am.

However, I...

I simply refuse to accept a god like Rath— those who have engineered the end of the world.

Which is why I have reached my decision.

I will return the Underworld, both the human realm and the Dark Territory, to nothingness.

Return it... to nothingness?

You heard correctly.

I'm going to delete every Fluctlight stored in the Lightcube Cluster.

Not one resident of the realms of humanity and darkness will remain.

Kirito.

If, with your help, I'm able to eliminate Administrator and regain all my authority,

then, before I extinguish this world, I can fulfill your wishes to a degree.

If there are people you'd like to save,

I won't delete their Fluctlights, and leave them archived instead.

I believe it should be possible, after you've escaped to the outside world,

for you to recover the Lightcubes of ten or so.

I... I...

Cardinal.

You just told me that your soul was a copy of Quinella's, right?

Then that means that the pure blood of the nobles flows in your veins as well.

The genes of those who seek their own profit and desires.

So why didn't you abandon everything and try to escape?

Why would you continue to wait alone in a place like this for 200 years?

For me, as the Cardinal subprocess, all profit and all desires amount to just one thing.

Eliminating Administrator and restoring the world to normal functionality.

In my eyes, a properly functioning world is no longer possible unless it's returned to complete nothingness.

Therefore... Therefore, I...

No, maybe that isn't quite true.

Even I have a desire. Just one...

In the last 200 years, there was something I was desperate to know.

Hey, Kirito. Stand up.

That's better.

Hey, Kirito, come over here.

Closer!

Quit fussing.

Raise both arms.

Like this?

Hold them in front of you and make a circle.

Really! Do I have to spell it out for you?

I see. So this is...

This is what it means to be human.

So warm.

At last, it all feels worth it.

Those 200 years I spent weren't in vain.

Just discovering this warmth is enough to satisfy me.

I feel rewarded... more than enough.

How long are you going to stand there like a fool?

Oh, come on...

So? Have you made a decision?

Are you going to accept my proposal or turn me down?

All right.

I'll take part in your plan. But...

But I'm not going to stop thinking about it.

I'm going to keep searching for a way.

A solution to somehow avoid tragedy and allow this world to survive peacefully.

Deary me. What an absurdly optimistic person you are.

After all, I don't want you to disappear, either.

When you tell me to pick ten people, you'll definitely be among them.

And you're a fool to boot.

Who's going to extinguish this world if I escape?

Hey, I'm just saying that I understand the situation, but I'm not going to give up on my pipe dream!

One day, you too will know the bitter taste of resignation.

Not of coming up short after giving your all,

but of being forced to accept the likelihood that you'll fail.

Thanks for waiting!

Sorry we left you on your own.

Kirito! And also, um...

Oh, her name is Cardinal. She was banished by the current pontifex, Administrator,

and she used to be a pontifex herself.

Pontifex?

She's going to help us fight the Integrity Knights.

H-Help?

Yeah, her goal is to defeat Administrator and regain her status as pontifex.

So... well, I guess that means we're joining forces.

Indeed.

Then do you know if Alice— the Integrity Knight, Alice Synthesis Thirty,

is the same person as Alice Zuberg from Rulid?

I'm sorry, but the information I can access here is extremely limited.

All I know is that an Integrity Knight named Alice was indeed born.

However, what I can do is tell you how to reverse the Synthesis Ritual for producing Integrity Knights.

Please, tell us!

Simply remove the Piety Module embedded in their foreheads.

It looks like a triangular prism.

Like the one we saw...

The Piety Module is inserted in a way that blocks links to memories.

This seals away the past of the person becoming an Integrity Knight

while simultaneously forcing absolute fealty to the Axiom Church and the pontifex.

In other words, we have to jog the Integrity Knight's memories of their past in order to break the spell?

That alone wouldn't be enough.

There's one more thing that's absolutely necessary.

Wh-What's that?

What originally existed where the module's been embedded.

In other words, the memory fragment most valued by the Integrity Knight.

Administrator's a cautious woman.

The memory fragments extracted from these knights are without a doubt stored in her chambers,

on the top floor of the Central Cathedral.

You mean...

To restore an Integrity Knight to their former state, we'll need the stolen memory fragment.

But to get our hands on it, we'll have to breach the knights' defenses

and somehow make our way to the top floor where Administrator is.

Don't be so naive as to think you can defeat an Integrity Knight without killing them.

The most I can do for you is to provide you with equipment equal to that of the Integrity Knights.

The rest depends on whether you're able to fight your best.

But what if Alice is the one who shows up?

I can't bring myself to fight her.

I came all this way to get Alice back!

Indeed. You have a point.

Eugeo, I understand your goal.

Fine. Should Integrity Knight Alice be the one standing in your way, then use this.

What is it?

Whoever is stabbed with this dagger will be linked to me by an inseverable connection.

Meaning that any sacred arts I use will affect her without fail.

Eugeo, use this to stab anywhere on Integrity Knight Alice's body.

In that instant, I'll send Alice into a deep sleep using my sacred arts.

I'll keep her that way until you've regained her memories and are prepared to remove the Synthesis.

Understood. If I can't talk sense into Alice, I'll use this.

I originally created it to use against Administrator and kept another one as a spare, but...

Well, if you can succeed on your first try, it should be fine.

No pressure at all, then.

When you said "equipment equal to that of the Integrity Knights," did you mean...

You and Eugeo have your own powerful swords, don't you?

I'm going to help you get them back.

You mean my Blue Rose Sword and Kirito's black one?

I'm quite certain that your swords are being stored in the armory on the third floor of the cathedral.

By the way, what floor are Administrator's chambers on?

The Central Cathedral grows by the year, so...

it's probably at a hundred floors by now.

A hund—

Unfortunately, there's one more thing you need to do.

Wh-What is it?

I know you two have powerful swords,

but that alone won't be enough to bring down the Integrity Knights.

That's because they know the terrifying technique to amplify their weapons' abilities multiple times.

Do you mean the Perfect Weapon Control art?

Weapons of the Divine Object class take on the properties of the object they're fashioned from.

By fully releasing a weapon's memories, so to speak,

the Perfect Control art realizes offensive powers more potent than normally possible.

Both of you close your eyes and think of your sword.

All right, that's enough.

Here.

Memorize that thoroughly.

Eugeo... and Kirito.

The fate of the world rests with you.

Whether it be engulfed in hellfire or sunk into nothingness.

If you're the sun burning red in the sky

If you're the sun burning red in the sky

Then I'm a blue flower blooming at night

Then I'm a blue flower blooming at night

Or perhaps you'll find a third path.

As I sway in the wind and look up at the sky

As I sway in the wind and look up at the sky

I've told you all that I can tell,

I find myself wetted by the morning dew

I find myself wetted by the morning dew

and given you all that I can give.

I reach for you, and my hands grasp the air

I reach for you, and my hands grasp the air

All you have to do now is follow the path you believe in.

Thank you very much, Cardinal-san.

But there you are smiling kindly down on me

But there you are smiling kindly down on me

I'll definitely get to the top of the cathedral

I hope to one day have the strength to protect someone like you do

I hope to one day have the strength to protect someone like you do

and restore Alice back to who she was.

You've always taken on my sadness and weakness

You've always taken on my sadness and weakness

Now...

Go!

Were you hiding the wounds that gave you all along?

Were you hiding the wounds that gave you all along?

When I can one day stop looking at you from over my shoulder

When I can one day stop looking at you from over my shoulder

And feel your warmth from your side

And feel your warmth from your side

I hope that I'll have been able to heal those wounds at least a bit

I hope that I'll have been able to heal those wounds at least a bit

The iris to you.

The iris to you.

Next time

Next time

Next time

Next time

The Crimson Knight

The Crimson Knight

The Crimson Knight

The Crimson Knight

Next time: The Crimson Knight.