Kirito and Asuna escape from the entrance of the Gleam Eyes's chamber moments before being engulfed by its fiery breath. In the safety of a monster-free area in the labyrinth, they decide to take a break, with Asuna providing Kirito with a homemade sandwich, revealing that she could use materials in-game to replicate real-world condiments, such as mayonnaise and soy sauce. During the break, Asuna notices something odd: typically, one-handed sword users also use shields to defend themselves. Asuna's lack of a shield is justified, since it would hamper her rapier's speed; but Kirito wasn't using the sword Lisbeth had crafted for him...
While having their lunch, they are greeted by Klein and his guild. Their light-hearted reunion is interrupted by players from the Aincrad Liberation Army. Their party's leader, Kobatz, demands Kirito share information about the boss. Although Klein is put off by Kobatz's lack of manners, Kirito agrees, having had no intention to keep the information or sell it for a profit. He is concerned by the other party member's exhaustion and low morale, but Kobatz dismisses Kirito's concerns and continues into the boss room. Concerned for their well being, Kirito, Asuna, and Klein follow them.
Their worries turn out to be justified, as the Gleam Eyes blocks the exit to the boss room. In addition, teleport crystals don't work in the boss's lair. Kobatz and several other soldiers are slain by the Gleam Eyes. Asuna goes after the boss, with Kirito and Klein behind her.
With the situation looking dire, Kirito asks Asuna and Klein to draw the boss's aggro while he prepare a means to fight it. He activates a new skill, "Dual Blades", which allows him to use a one-handed sword in each hand. With both his Eludicator and the Lisbeth-crafter Dark Repulser, Kirito attacks the Gleam Eyes with the high-level skill "Starburst Stream" and fells the Gleam Eyes, surviving with only a small portion of his HP remaining.
After coming to following the battle, Asuna hugs Kirito, afraid he could've died. When Klein asks about Kirito's Dual Blades skill, Kirito explains that he found the skill unlocked in his skillset six months ago, but he had no idea how he unlocked it. He had kept it secret until now out of fear of backlash due to his reputation as a "Beater". As Klein and his guild continue to the next floor, Asuna decides that she would take a break from her guild for a time, afraid for Kirito and wishing to spend time with him.
The next day, Kirito and Asuna are summoned to KoB HQ by the guild's leader, Heathcliff, who challenges Kirito to a duel for the privilege of allowing Asuna to take leave, as well as the condition that if Kirito loses, he joins KoB. Kirito accepts the challenge.
- Call-Back/Chekhov's Gun: Dark Repulser came back
- Foreshadowing: Asuna suspecting that Kirito has something up his sleeve for a bit, then shrugging it off as if he's simply challenging himself, but it eventually reveals that he can dual wield.
