"Then you are giving up. To the power of a system you once defied."
FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD
So, I looked up what "gilded" meant because I wasn't entirely sure. And, what I found doesn't entirely make sense as it pertains to the episode. We'll get to that when we get there, but, just so you know.
The episode, typical of SAO at this point, starts where the last one ended, with the door opening up for Kirito and Yui, before they find themselves in the white tunnel Asuna had entered. Yui locks onto Asuna and they immediately begin their sprint to find her. When they leave the tunnel, Kirito notes that there isn't a big castle at the top like rumored, so Oberon was lying to everyone the whole time.
I should note, just as a warning, that I really like this episode and it has my favorite moment of the entire series. It's just such a cool moment that calls back to SAO that I have to give this episode major props. Not only that, but it's a very emotional episode, probably the most emotional of Season 1.
So, after the opening, we see the two continue their run up the World Tree and it is suddenly sunset. Have they been running that long? Oh, and Yui isn't a pixie some more for some reason. Okay, whatever.
Anyway, they finally reach Asuna and everyone is crying and you're crying because you've been waiting for this reunion since Episode 12 and now they're all together and FEELINGS. Also, keep in mind how important this moment is because Asuna hasn't seen Yui since Episode 12 and has that motherly attachment to Yui. Like I said, feelings.
They decide to head for the System Console but are suddenly held down and are unable to move, transferred to a black room. Yui disappears, her fate unknown, and we see Oberon step into the picture. Oh, but Kirito recognizes him by his voice but can't recognize Suguha's voice what the heck is wrong with you?!
Basically, Oberon manages to pin down Kirito and Asuna by using "gravity magic," something that is exclusive to him so far since he has all of the authority in the game. Jerk. It does put him on an overpowered level, though, since he can control everything.
Kaiyaba didn't though.
He reveals to us that his little brain experiments are now 80% (pretty specific but whatever) done and that he'll soon have the power of a god, and continues to boast about it for a few minutes. Yeah, not gonna lie, it is still really lame that this is all about mind control or whatever, but at least we do get some time to take a look at Oberon as a character.
Clearly, the famous quote "absolute power corrupts absolutely" in play here. Oberon is treating himself as if he is God, like the Christian one, since he will have the ability to tamper with thoughts and emotions and basically create destinies for people once these experiments are done. Obviously he wants to use it for twisted purposes like money or just to abuse power because he's a lame villain. But, watching him deteriorate is what's really interesting. We haven't seen him since Asuna escaped her bird cage, or possibly even before then, so to see how his character has slowly melted and to show pretty much the extent of this transformation is what makes us hate him even more.
Actually, that's not true. What makes us hate him even more is how much of a perverted creep he is. With Kirito pinned down, he is able to chain up Asuna without Kirito being able to do that. Kirito starts to get up but Oberon kicks him down and impales Kirito with his own sword, then lowers the pain absorbers so that Kirito will feel more pain. Once the absorbers go past level three, basically the damage he takes will show on his real body and it will affect him there.
So, now with Kirito impaled and Asuna heavily weighed down, Oberon rips off Asuna's shirt and starts to have his way with her, promising to do the same to her real body while she is still in her comatose state. We don't see anything, but we do see enough to the point where you really just wanna take this guy out, and are seriously rooting for Kirito to get up even though he finds he isn't able to.
It's another moment of discomfort and this one does bother me a lot, but, I think it's the payoff that bothers me least.
Kirito, unable to get up, finds himself in the same position laying down but now in a white void. A familiar voice (get excited) asks if he is giving up, or specifically, allowing a system he once defeated get the better of him. Kirito tries to explain that he has no power as a player, but the voice asks if the battle they had meant anything at all then.
Just before the white room fades, the image of Akihiko freaking Kaiyaba appears before him, ordering him to get up and fight! Yes.
That is my favorite SAO moment. That is the show in a nutshell. Their battle didn't just show that Kirito was strong, it didn't just show that he could defeat an invincible opponent. It showed that he, and his willpower, were stronger than any system Kaiyaba could ever create. It showed that Kirito was more powerful than the game itself, he was more powerful than the rules of death it created. He forgot that as he felt he didn't deserve it, as he thought he couldn't be the hero.
Now, though, he knows that he is. His greatest opponent, one who ceded victory to him understanding that Kirito and life was way more than the game, is now the one telling him to get up, to honor their duel and their struggle between life and death.
And with all that, Kirito gets up, and using Kaiyaba, logs into the system registering himself as Heathcliff, and saps Oberon of all his powers. He then summons the most powerful weapon in the game, Excalibur (oooh foreshadowing) and hands it to Oberon, challenging him to a duel. When Oberon shows fear, Kirito remarks on how less of a challenger Oberon is compared to Kaiyaba, and how much weaker he is, since Oberon stole everything Kaiyaba created and claimed it for his own.
It's totally true. Kaiyaba was smarter and even more professional in his villainous acts than Oberon. Had Oberon been given the power Kaiyaba had, I doubt he would have led the Knights of the Blood Oath. He probably would have had Kirito killed instantly rather than wait to see if anyone could defeat his game and defy its system to allow their humanity to shine through.
Kaiyaba is, and always will be, better than Oberon.
It shows, too. Kirito easily slays Oberon, turning the pain absorbers down to zero so now Oberon's real body will feel tons of pain, and frees Asuna, logging her out and finally bringing an end to the terror that is SAO.
It's here that I don't understand why Kirito calls himself a gilded hero. Like, is he rich in power? Is he wealthy because he can defy the system? Gilded is when something is given a gold coloring or is used when describing someone with wealth. Uh...how does that apply? I mean, it doesn't really matter, it's just a head-scratcher.
Before he can log out, though, Kaiyaba appears. But, apparently it's not Kaiyaba. The way I interpret it, since it's not clarified, is that Kaiyaba's body is indeed dead, but now, he is part of the Cardinal system. Sort of like the Agents from "The Matrix" movies, he is now one with the system, which is why he is capable of appearing to Kirito and why his administration credentials are still valid.
Anyway, Kaiyaba congratulates Kirito (again), and gives him something known as the Seed. He doesn't say what it is specifically, only that if Kirito does indeed care for the virtual world, he will use the Seed. Then, he fades away, and Kirito is brought back to the bird cage where he reunites with Yui, reassuring here that Asuna is okay. He worries for Yui, who happily reminds him that her program is installed into his NerveGear, so she'll never be too far away.
He logs out and shares a nice moment with Suguha where they thank each other for all they've done. Kirito also informs her that Asuna is out, and Suguha tells him to get over there quick as possible, and the episode ends as Kirito gets on his bike and rides for the hospital.
To repeat what I said earlier: I freaking love this episode, I really do. It's got a lot of powerful, emotional moments tied in to one of the coolest, and my favorite, moment of the entire show. Seeing Kirito and Asuna together again is always heartwarming, and getting to see Kaiyaba as something of a hero, or even mentor, is really cool. Though I do like his remark that he and Kirito aren't really friends, but rather respect the heck out of each other.
Welp, the battle is won. Now, it's time to go see Asuna. But will it really be that simple? And just what is the seed? Find out tomorrow as I take a look at the Season 1 finale!
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