This is the conclusion of the "Human Half" of the Alicization storyline. It is basically a sequence of battles on the top floor of Central Cathedral. In that sense, it is kind of like how the Final Boss of a RPG video game has multiple forms and/or stages. Fitting, isn't it? (Even though Underworld is not at all a game. This isn't Aincrad.)
Our heroes face off against Integrity Knight Synthesis 32, Prime Senator Chudelkin, Administrator's secret weapon and then finally, Administrator herself. The pacing is good. This plot structure doesn't feel like a boss slog, like in the above analogy. Each fight has its meaning for the characters and a purpose in the narrative. Reading about them is a different experience than watching the anime.
The reader can feel Euego's guilt more deeply here, and Kirito's emotional state comes across more clearly as well. Here, in the source material, he is more like a normal boy who doesn't believe himself to be an epic hero.
We also get a better sense for Quinella/Administrator. While she is translated well enough to animation, we don't get a sense for quite how uncanny/eldritch the author envisioned her to be. By the time Kirito meets her, she is this not-quite-human THING that is both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Even after she loses both arms, her hair is melted, and her face is cracked, her sheer presence radiates "unfathomable beauty" to him.
Cardinal's fate is still stupid. When I saw it happen in the anime, I hoped that it had suffered adapation compression, and that the source material would have a better explanation. No, that is unfortunately not the case. It is basically the same here. It makes sense. Don't get me wrong. I can understand why Cardinal makes that choice, in that situation, but it is a stupid choice.
On the other hand, I like the transition to the trouble outside Underworld better. I feel like the anime provided more information earlier to provide more context, and perhaps be less confusing, but that harms the narrative shift. In this volume, one can better sympathize with Kirito's W.t.F. reaction to hearing gunshots after previously going through the grueling boss fight and the calm that came after.
Click here for my previous book review: Robin Hood (Barefoot Books version)
Brian Wilkerson is an independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor's degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.
