Hrm, so as I suspected, there are more worlds (well, at least one), to explore, assuming the OP and the picture of Asuna at the end of this episode can be taken at face value.
Some thoughts:
* There are a number of things that I tend to feel uncomfortable about even after decades of watching anime, and this Japanese (or, at least, anime), fetish for brother/sister love is near the top of that list. Sure, he may technically be a cousin, but still. I realize the Japanese are about the most sexually repressed society on the planet, so I do try to make allowances, but ugh.
I've always wondered if this is just a matter of cultural differences, or if it's pretty out there even in normal Japanese society. I've never been drunk enough to ask the few native Japanese people I've known these deeply intelligent questions.
* Why do glasses always mean the character is disturbed in some way?
* I hate elves, so I'm not too keen on all the elf ears in the OP.
* I'm guessing the blonde girl in the OP is his "sister". If the creepy brother/sister love really is going to be a thing, then I guess we're in for a love triangle, especially if the rest of the season is spent on a search for Asuna, thereby giving the brother/sister love time to develop. Ugh.
Oh well, I'm hoping for the best, but the cynic within me can't help but think this new arc is going to be inferior to the first 14 episodes.
