New Releases by REKI KAWAHARA

This might be a game, but it’s not something you play.Orchestrated by genius scientist Akihiko Kayaba, the SAO Incident trapped players in a game they had to beat in order to escape—one where death in the virtual world meant dying in real life...As a survivor of the Incident, Kirito now spends his time playing the new VRMMORPG ALfheim Online with his old friends, Asuna and Alice. But their fun is short-lived, as Kirito soon finds himself thrust into a mysterious new game called Unital Ring. Even worse, all their stats have been reset. In such a brutal environment, will they manage to survive?!

Die Niederlage Administrators hat einen hohen Preis gefordert. Eugeo hat sein Leben verloren und Kirito seine geistige Gesundheit. Sechs Monate nach der epischen Schlacht in der Central Cathedral ist Kirito an den Rollstuhl gefesselt – mit einem leeren, willenlosen Gesichtsausdruck. Alice hat sich in der Nähe des Dorfes Rulid niedergelassen und kümmert sich liebevoll um ihn. Die Armeen des dunklen Territoriums setzen sich in Bewegung. Der »Finale Belastungstest« hat begonnen. Und der Retter der Menschheit ist nicht bereit!

Nach einer kurzen Ruhepause überlegen Kirito und Asuna, wie sie das finstere Komplott der PK-Spieler vereiteln können. Sie kommen zu dem Schluss, dass sie den Boss vor allen anderen besiegen müssen, um eine Eskalation des Konflikts zwischen den großen Gilden zu vermeiden! Allerdings ist das mit großen Risiken verbunden!

A BRAND-NEW BATTLEFIELD AWAITS!The fifth Squad Jam has had one surprise twist after another, and it’s finally reaching a climax. Other teams have proven they’re more interested in Llenn’s hundred-million-credit bounty than winning the competition! It doesn’t help that even her friends are tempted to take her out as well. Thanks to the target on her back, Llenn’s allies are dropping like flies. It all comes down to a game of tower defense—will Llenn persevere when she’s caught between a hail of bullets and a ten-thousand-foot drop?!

After two hundred long years apart, Kirito has finally been reunited with Ronie and Tiese, as well as Alice’s younger sister, Selka! But Kirito’s face is not the one they’re most shocked to see... Commander Eolyne Herlentz of the Integrity Pilothood bears a striking resemblance to Eugeo, a likeness that deals a heavy blow to the hearts of the reawakened women. But before they can process their emotions, the call to arms sounds once more. Protectors new and old of the Underworld will have to fight side by side to repel this fresh threat! And not to be outdone, the party back in Unital Ring reaches the second tier and launches into their next major encounter!

A BRAND-NEWBATTLEFIELD AWAITS!There may be a hundred-million-credit bounty on Llenn’s head, but she’s not going to let that stop her from gunning for the champion’s throne. However, she won’t have the help of SHINC this time thanks to a new rule that forces all players to scatter to the four winds! Loose bonds will form while the bullets fly. But just as old rivals find themselves working together, Llenn soon finds herself staring down the barrel of Fukaziroh’s grenade launcher. This Fifth Squad Jam may beanyone’s game, but how will their friendships fare after the dust settles...?

Nearly two months have passed since Kirito and Asuna found themselves trapped in the world of Aincrad. Kirito’s experience with the beta version of the game has put him far ahead of the curve, but it has also attracted the attention of some dangerous players...For Asuna, his competence has been a god send in this harsh world, yet she can’t help but feel like her overreliance on Kirito’s skills is becoming an obstacleto their growing relationship. Even so, they’ll have towork together to make it through the ancient ruins ofthe fifth floor, where all sorts of undead monsters—and player-killers—lurk in the shadows!

«Alice, la Sacerdotessa di luce, cadrà in mano mia, anche a costo di sacrificare l''intero esercito dell''oscurità.» Siamo al secondo giorno della fase finale dell''esperimento di carico. Decimato dalle gesta impavide dei Cavalieri d''Integrità, l''esercito del Dark Territory ricorre a una mossa sleale: Critter, il mercenario impegnato a osservare l''Underworld dall''esterno, ha iniziato a inviare sul campo di battaglia anche esseri umani provenienti dal mondo reale e il numero dei beta tester interessati al "VRMMO di ultima generazione" supera le cinquantamila unità. L''esercito del mondo umano viene quindi messo alle strette dai rinforzi delle truppe dell''oscurità. Asuna non è in grado di affrontarli da sola, ma ecco che nell''Underworld fanno la loro comparsa le altre dee della creazione: Solus, la lucente divinità solare, e Terraria, l''amorevole divinità della terra. E se dietro alle loro fattezze si nascondessero Sinon e Leafa?

Gabriel Miller nei panni del dio delle tenebre Vector guida un esercito invasore di cinquantamila unità contro le cinquemila dell''esercito di difesa del mondo umano, comandate dal Cavaliere d''Integrità Bercouli. I Cavalieri d''Integrità, a cominciare da Fanatio con la sua spada che trafigge i cieli, resistono sperando di rovesciare il terribile svantaggio numerico, ma la tribù dei goblin di montagna ha un piano per superare le linee difensive e attaccare le truppe di supporto nelle retrovie.

È passata già qualche settimana dal caso “Death Gun” in cui è rimasto coinvolto anche Kirito. Su “Alfheim Online”, un VRMMO in cui è possibile volare, sta accadendo qualcosa di strano. A nord della città principale del ventiquattresimo piano della nuova mappa che include il castello fluttuante di Aincrad, è comparso un avatar misterioso che ha cominciato a sfidare chiunque a duello, uno contro uno, mettendo in palio la sua personale Original Sword Skill. Quell’avatar, soprannominato Zekken, la Spada Assoluta, è riuscito a sconfiggere persino Kirito, ma Asuna decide di accettare comunque la sfida, perdendo per un soffio. Non appena finito il duello, però, Zekken invita Asuna a entrare a far parte della sua gilda! La forza della spada di Zekken è indubbia, ma forse in essa si cela un segreto...

Asuna, Kirito e compagni tornano per quattro racconti (due dei quali non ancora adattati dalla serie animata), tra cui il celebre episodio Calibur! Tra spade leggendarie, nuov avversari e vecchie conoscenze, questa serie non smette mai di stupire.

On the eightieth floor of the Central Cathedral, Kirito, Asuna, and Alice reunite with the petrified visage of Selka...and discover two more statuesque figures in need of assistance! Before Kirito can figure out a cure, though, he’s pulled away to Planet Admina to investigate an encroaching threat to the Underworld. Meanwhile, in Unital Ring, Sinon, Silica, and company are giving their all in the fight against the field bosses, but the conflict intensifies in a way almost no one could have predicted...

Determined to put a stop to Death Gun’s killing spree, Kirito and Sinon are competing in the Bullet of Bullets tournament. With only six players remaining, the stakes are higher than ever, and Sinon knows the only way to put her traumatic past behind her is to take Death Gun down once and for all. But after Kirito starts to suspect a real-world accomplice is involved, the situation gets even more complicated...How can Kirito and Sinon hope to win against two murderers in two different worlds? The action heats up in Phantom Bullet’s thrilling finale!

After clearing the Five Ordeals, LPFM and SHINC scarcely have a moment to rest before the Fifth Squad Jam is announced. This time, there’s a new rule that’s sure to disorient the participants: Players can swap gear with any of their teammates during the match. Naturally, Llenn and her squad resolve to take on the challenge and quickly get to strategizing. However, they soon catch wind of an additional stipulation that will stack the odds against them: Whoever takes out Llenn in the tournament will receive a bounty of one hundred million credits!

Kirito’s chance encounter with Eolyne, a man with the same eyes and voice as his deceased friend, shakes him to the core. But with the possibility of an interworld war breaking out in the Underworld growing higher by the day, Kirito has no time to be sentimental. Meanwhile, the decisive battle against Mutasina of the Virtual Research Society looms, and she’s used her powers to force a battalion of one hundred mages under her command. Can Kirito and company devise a strategy to defy their overwhelming disadvantage in time, or will it all be for naught?

A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK!The secret feud between the Nachtoy and the Korloy families, who control the Volupta Grand Casino on the seventh floor, takes an unprecedented turn when Kirito and Asuna intervene. But when Kirito attempts to expose the Korloy family’s misdeeds, he ends up stumbling into a trap. Now he has just two days to unravel a mystery, put an end to an unscrupulous conspiracy, and defeat the floor boss. It’s all leading up to a showdown in the arena where everything’s on the line!

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON!In the world of Unital Ring, the foreboding presence that has been targeting the party finally makes itself known! Elsewhere, a reunion with Seijirou Kikuoka leads Kirito, Asuna, and Alice back to the Underworld, where two-hundred years have passed since the great war. There, they meet descendants of Ronie and Tiese, as well as the new leader of the Integrity Knights. But something about this man seems all too familiar...A certain glint in his eyes reminiscent of someone dearly departed...

LUCK BE A LADY TONIGHT! The seventh floor of Aincrad-a massive casino where over half the game’s beta testers dropped out before launch. Kirito was among the many who lost everything in its Battle Arena back then. When an informant named Argo the Rat entices Kirito and Asuna with knowledge that could aid in their investigation, the pair soon plunge into the casino’s dark underbelly once more. Meanwhile, the “Elf War” quest also reaches a sudden turning point when a flurry of crises rock the dark elves’ home!

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON! As Kirito, Asuna, and Alice brave the wilds of the mysterious VRMMO Unital Ring, Sinon’s introduction to the world is equally harrowing. After numerous setbacks, she finds herself without friends or equipment-and barely any thirst points left to her name. Backed against a wall, she’ll need to defeat a terrifying boss monster to survive. Meanwhile, Kirito’s group splits up in order to search for Sinon and defend their home, unaware that a mysterious assailant lies in wait...

A BRAND-NEW BATTLEFIELD AWAITS! Just a week after the ferocious Squad Jam 4, Llenn and LPFM face a devastating new challenge-with SHINC at their side! In a drastic departure from GGO’s usual player versus player tournaments, the latest event, The Five Ordeals, is all about fending off deadly computer-controlled enemies. That doesn’t mean the competition is any less fierce, though; the squad that clears the quest the fastest will come away with loot up to their eyeballs. But when the LPFM-SHINC alliance takes to the battleground, the first thing they encounter is...a talking dog?!

PREPARE FOR A FULL DIVE! Following a narrow triumph against the Sun God Inti, Haruyuki and company are immediately faced with a new adversary: The Deity of Demise, Tezcatlipoca, whose appearance heralds the ends of the Accelerated World as they know it. To stand a chance, Haruyuki will once again have to dig deep and discover new reserves of untapped power. At the same time, the battle against White Cosmos and her Legion enters the endgame. As the Burst Linkers fall one by one to these mighty foes, Haruyuki makes his most difficult decision yet...

Kirito hat in den zwei langen Jahren seit seinem ersten Erwachen in der rätselhaften Fantasy-Welt Underworld unzählige Kämpfe gefochten. Doch sein größter Kampf steht ihm noch bevor. Als Kirito und Alice sich der Kammer Administrators auf der Spitze der Central Cathedral nähern, treffen sie im neunundneunzigsten Stockwerk auf einen äußerst vertrauten Feind. Das letzte Hindernis, das sich ihnen in den Weg stellt, ist kein Geringerer als Eugeo! Kann Kirito den Geist seines Freundes erreichen? Oder wird endgültig Administrators Macht siegen?

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON! Everyone knows that any good MMO has an abundance of side quests to supplement the main story line. With that in mind, join Kirito and friends for a peek behind the scenes across four never-before-seen side stories! The Day Before: Kirito proposes to Asuna in-game, and soon discovers that married life has its own set of challenges. The Day After: Ever since arriving in ALO with a new avatar, Asuna’s been suffering from a form of withdrawal...Rainbow Bridge: After conquering the undersea temple, a mysterious conversation between Kraken and Leviathan sparks yet another adventure for Kirito’s party. Sisters’ Prayer: A heartwarming tale of two siblings and their involvement with the VR realm.

A BRAND-NEW BATTLEFIELD AWAITS! The fourth Squad Jam reaches its conclusion! Llenn and her team’s long-awaited battle with SHINC is interrupted by Fire’s alliance. Faced with a common enemy, Boss agrees to a temporary truce, and the group’s fight to escape the city begins. Their goal is the massive mall, where only pistols are allowed, but they’ll have to evade skilled snipers and grenadiers to get there. Caught in close quarters with nowhere to run, Llenn will need to play smart if she’s going to beat Fire-and elude his romantic advances!

To steal the recipe for the Fairy Mallet and complete their quest, Silica and company infiltrate the Elves and Shoemaker guild. But Granze, the guild’s leader, is not so easily outwitted—using the Gjallarhorn, a legendary instrument that summons a veritable army of soldiers to her side, she launches her assault! What’s more, the soldiers are created from old SAO data, and their leader bears an uncanny resemblance to the Black Swordsman...

PREPARE FOR A FULL DIVE! Physical attacks and special abilities mean next to nothing against the overwhelming might of the Sun God Inti. However, its defeat is the key to reaching Snow White, which means the hopes of the six Legions once again rest with Haruyuki and his Lucid Blade. In order to succeed in this death-defying endeavor, he’ll have to hone his skill with the Incarnate weapon. And so, he sets out to master the mysterious Omega style of swordsmanship. His instructor? The third Chrome Disaster: Centaurea Sentry...

Raios und Humbert haben ein perfides Komplott geschmiedet und locken Kiritos und Eugeos Pagen Ronie und Tiese in eine Falle. Die beiden Elite-Kadetten eilen ihren Schützlingen umgehend zu Hilfe. Doch die grausamen Adligen werden vom Tabu-Index geschützt!

Having procured a boat, Kirito and Asuna are one step closer to unraveling the mysterious new quest on the fourth floor. However, a sudden encounter with a faction of fallen elves proves to be a hurdle they weren’t expecting or prepared for...Together with his faithful friends, Kirito is certain they’ll clear this task and any new puzzles of SAO that await them. The final volume of Sword Art Online Progressive Barcarolle of Froth concludes with a crash!

READ THE NOVEL THAT IGNITED THE PHENOMENON!A year has passed since Kirito and Asuna’s return from the Underworld. With them is Alice, who has been given a physical body. But their peace is quickly broken when the three are suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar game, Unital Ring. This new world is a survival MMO that fuses together every VRMMO created with the Seed program. As soon as it starts, Kirito finds himself with nothing but his underwear. Now, he’s got to challenge a mysterious VRMMOSVG under desperate circumstances!

Vor über zwei Jahren landete Kirito, der Held der SAO-Krise, in einer rätselhaften Fantasy-Welt: Underworld. Erneut ist er in einem Game – und soeben noch mit seinem Freund Eugeo in einem Kerker – gefangen. Dank Kiritos Geistesgegenwart gelingt ihnen die Flucht aus dem Gefängnis. Mit der Unterstützung des rätselhaften Mädchens Cardinal machen sich die Jungen zur Spitze der Central Cathedral auf, um endgültig zu entfliehen. Doch mächtige Ritter, die durch den Vorgang der »Synthese« ins Leben gerufen wurden, stellen sich ihnen in den Weg!