Kazuto thinks back to the time when he was ten years old and learned that he was not related to Suguha, which resulted in him becoming detached from his family and increasingly engrossed with online gaming. Wanting to sort things out, Kazuto asks Suguha to meet him in ALO. As Leafa contemplates whether she should stop seeing her brother in-game, she challenges Kirito to a one-on-one duel. They both end up throwing away their swords and apologize to each other. After Kazuto explains that he is unable to say what he thinks of Suguha until Asuna is rescued, Leafa agrees to help him in the Grand Quest this time around, convincing Recon to join them as well. Just as things begin to look dire against the Guardian Knights inside the dome, the Sylphs and the Cat Siths arrive to help. Using his sword combined with Leafa's sword, Kirito breaks through the top of the dome. Yui guides Kirito in using the key card to open the gate to the top of the World Tree.