After Quinella, leader of the Axiom Church, was defeated, the situation remains unsettled. Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya, upon entering the real world, discovers that the Ocean Turtle controlled by Rath was raided. This causes a short-circuit, damaging Kirito's fluctlight and putting him into a coma. Alice, having doubts about the Axiom Church, brings Kirito back to their hometown, Rulid Village, despite her own banishment for a past transgression. Alice hopes for Kirito's recovery, longing for a peaceful life together. Meanwhile, tragedy strikes as the Dark Territory invades the Human Empire. Alice takes on her original identity, Alice Synthesis Thirty, and vows to conquer the Dark Territory to protect the world that Kirito and Eugeo fought to save.