(L) Sword Art Online - Light Novel Discussion

[Tusjecht]

Originally Posted by Ghanw

So is this series going to officially end after WEB 8 is rewritten/fitted for LN?

Side stories, Ghanw. Lots of short stories. :P

And if that's not enough, how about the Progressive series, beginning from Floor One of Aincrad? That's a lot to write even if the plot has ended.

[Rageth]

Well, it's to my understanding that the Progressive series is going to literally show the progression from floor to floor. Well, that would mean that Progressive is probably going to be the series with new content, not included in the Web-novel. Volume 2 is going to include Concerto of Black and White, most likely, which if I'm not mistaken, wasn't complete?

If this is the case, then I'm looking forward to that, as the 2 year gap in SAO is really just too long to leave, while only explaining tiny bits of it. I'm interested to see what kind of boss was the 25th boss, which raped all the clearing guilds. Or why Kirito and Asuna stopped partying up, as they had been doing the first few floors.

[belatkuro]

Originally Posted by Rageth

Well, it's to my understanding that the Progressive series is going to literally show the progression from floor to floor. Well, that would mean that Progressive is probably going to be the series with new content, not included in the Web-novel. Volume 2 is going to include Concerto of Black and White, most likely, which if I'm not mistaken, wasn't complete?

If this is the case, then I'm looking forward to that, as the 2 year gap in SAO is really just too long to leave, while only explaining tiny bits of it. I'm interested to see what kind of boss was the 25th boss, which raped all the clearing guilds. Or why Kirito and Asuna stopped partying up, as they had been doing the first few floors.

If Progressive is going floor for floor and will only release once a year, then it's gonna take a long time to reach the 75th floor.
Plus, I don't think that will work at all. Red Nosed Reindeer is a story on the 46th floor and has a flashback to the lower floors.
Do you think you'll read it if we go at it chronologically and start when Kirito met the Black Cats on the lower floors, have them die later on a few floors up and then cover 20+ floors of him being emogoing solo before fighting the Santa boss and recovering from Sachi's message?

We'll probably still have timeskips but not that big. Concerto of Black and White's quest goes up to the 9th floor so we'll probably skip around until they reach that floor. Kirito did mention that he got a quest sword on that floor on vol10.
We'll also probably get some stories of the Army gaining power and then get defeated on the 25th floor. Kawahara doesn't have to tell a story for each floor as I don't think anything significant would happen every floor. He just needs to have more stories spaced evenly that shows Kirito and some of his interesting adventures, probably some more stories of the other characters like Klein and his guild and tell some of the untold ones(the LC guild crusade, the 50th floor boss fight, etc.)

[Tusjecht]

Originally Posted by belatkuro

If Progressive is going floor for floor and will only release once a year, then it's gonna take a long time to reach the 75th floor.
Plus, I don't think that will work at all. Red Nosed Reindeer is a story on the 46th floor and has a flashback to the lower floors.
Do you think you'll read it if we go at it chronologically and start when Kirito met the Black Cats on the lower floors, have them die later on a few floors up and then cover 20+ floors of him being emogoing solo before fighting the Santa boss and recovering from Sachi's message?

We'll probably still have timeskips but not that big. Concerto of Black and White's quest goes up to the 9th floor so we'll probably skip around until they reach that floor. Kirito did mention that he got a quest sword on that floor on vol10.
We'll also probably get some stories of the Army gaining power and then get defeated on the 25th floor. Kawahara doesn't have to tell a story for each floor as I don't think anything significant would happen every floor. He just needs to have more stories spaced evenly that shows Kirito and some of his interesting adventures, probably some more stories of the other characters like Klein and his guild and tell some of the untold ones(the LC guild crusade, the 50th floor boss fight, etc.)

Exactly what I mean.

He already wrote the short story for Kirito and Asuna's house, that might get written into Progressive as well.

[Flere821]

Remember how I said the translator had skipped some parts in my last summary? Some other guys went back and did those parts for him, so expect more summaries from me for the next few days. Here's one for WEB 8 Part 28 (second half):

Spoiler for WEB 8 Part 28 (2nd half):

Flame Bow vs Plains Goblins force. Due to the darkness from after sunset plus tiredness from fighting and seeing people die Flame Bow ran out of arrows as the goblins tricked him into shooting corpses they held up and made them seemed like they’re attacking. The Goblins then attacked en masse, with the Goblin Leader and his elite guards taking Flame Bow on. Flame Bow was surprised by how the elite guards had no self-preservation instincts, sacrificing themselves in order to deal damage to him (a few let themselves be split apart by blows behind them to damage the Knight). One of the human guards tried to step in and rescue Flame Bow, but was killed off easily. In Flame Bow’s final moments, enraged by others dying for him, he used his own life to fuel his fire attacks to burn the Goblin leader to death and beaten back the assault on his side of the valley.

[Tusjecht]

...well now I know why the translator skipped this part.

[Netto Azure]

Originally Posted by tusjecht

...well now I know why the translator skipped this part.

Nobody seems to like random fight scenes. :P

[Flere821]

Originally Posted by Netto Azure

Nobody seems to like random fight scenes. :P

The fight scenes are decent most of the time, it's just that we get new characters and new abilities out of nowhere constantly - it makes it hard for us readers to care, even the 'wow/cool' factor starts to get stale after a while.

[orpheus2]

Originally Posted by Flere821

The fight scenes are decent most of the time, it's just that we get new characters and new abilities out of nowhere constantly - it makes it hard for us readers to care, even the 'wow/cool' factor starts to get stale after a while.

I have to agree with you there.

I do wonder if the Cradle of the Moon would be the end of the SAO story. From what I read in the posts, it get really over the top when it comes to battle.

Spoiler for Cradle of the Moon Spoilers:

This is including Kirito using the Incarnate System to convert his coat into wings to fly.

[Tusjecht]

BT is still translating slowly, right? Any official word? The current 1% part could use some cleaning IMO..

[Shinon]

tap updated his blog with vol 11

[Flere821]

WEB 8 Part 29 (1st half) summary here:

Spoiler for WEB 8 Pt29:

Berculi setting up a kill zone for the incoming Drones, 100x200x150m large. This is taking a lot out of his power. The rest of this segment explains what Drones are, basically flying flesh golems with basic commands, used to draw out the enemy’s flying forces first so the reserved dragon knights can attack.

Synthesis Twenty-six flashback on how Alice joined the Synthesis Knights, being a prodigy that far surpassed everyone else, synced with one of the oldest and most powerful Artefacts in the Church, her spell-casting ability is up there within the Church, and managed to receive tuition from Berculi. There were rumours Alice was going to be Administrator’s successor at one point. 4 years ago Synthesis Twenty-six was still Flame Bow’s student, and was wary of Alice, but after seeing Alice burying her dragon’s mother in a burial and showing compassion to it, it tugged at how his own soul shard at a love towards his mother was removed. He realized the ‘perfect’ Alice was just something she shows other people, deep down the real Alice was burdened by the position of being a prodigy, like a glass flower that could shatter at any moment. In his eyes as laughable as it was for him to want to protect someone who’s his superior in just about every skill, he wanted to do so. He became her student, and strived to get better not to catch up to her (Alice eventually reached nearly equal to Berculi in ability, and despite being numbered at Fifty she was ranked 3rd of the Knights) but to be able to keep her within his sight as he chased after her. He tried his best to make her smile, in the process regaining his personality from before he was turned into a Synthesis Knight. Alice smiled now and then, but it wasn’t until the assault on the Cathedral by Kirito and Eugeo before anything significant happened. Synthesis Twenty-six lost, while he unleashed his most powerful technique. He wasn’t ashamed of that, the intruders eventually managed to defeat Fanatio, Alice, Berculi, and even Administrator. Kirito was praised by Berculi as a swordsman that surpassed the level of any of the Synthesis Knights. He was ashamed though that he wasn’t the one that broke Alice out of her shell, that for all his efforts he was ultimately useless.
That shame is now his motivation, but at the same time it drove him towards a dead end. Mountain Goblins managed to sneak past him, and he couldn’t think of a way to blow out the dust to counter attack.

(this next part will be explained briefly, not very good plot despite semi-good fight scene)
Goblin forces reach Teiza and Ronie. Synthesis Forty-nine killed one after seeing Kirito, despite losing his ability to talk or even hold his swords in his hands, tried to stand up and fight. Then we have a Dues ex Machina with Eugeo from within the Blue Rose sword giving Synthesis Forty-nine the courage to fight; he went out, killed some goblin attackers, fought the Mountain Goblin leader in single combat and won, finally able to use his Release Recollection.

D received word the goblin leaders and giant’s leader died. She unleashed the Drones to take down the 5 Synthesis Knights she has a lock onto. Berculi’s trap annihilated them all. Berculi could feel his battle will be against the Dark Territory’s commander, though it won’t be Zast. He could feel an oppressive Void from the enemy army, and know chances are he won’t live past that battle or even win. He looks forward to when that happens, a suitable death on the battlefield after all his years. When Flame Bow died he was envious of his death.
D realized her Drones are destroyed, likely by a Synthesis Knight’s doing. She severely underestimated them, but realizing using those ultimate techniques cost their weapon’s durability points and cannot be repeatedly used. D wanted to grab some glory with her troops and to make up for their losses, and ordered the mages and archers to advance, and burn their opposition all down.

[Shinon]

thx for summary once again Flere821 but i am getting impatient i want to see kirito to chop some heads too

[Wysth]

Sorry new here were can I read the soa webseries translated?

[l.kostas]

http://www.mediafire.com/?r94jzvvowcoe38n

The "translation" in English is from a software (ATLAS). It "translates" like that:
"It is because of the union of the very limit time schedule always having been exposed to all of kinds of tensions while it goes out to the field, and furthermore to attempt the status improvement by the maximum effectiveness and the action."

[Wysth]

Very nice thx.

[Flere821]

WEB 8 Part 29 (second half) summary below. We've now caught up to my summary of WEB 8 Part 30 (1st half) a while back.

Spoiler for WEB 8 Part 29 (second half):

Alice has a bit of existential crisis right now, gathering all the life force and mana from the battle for her attack. She found out there’s no real difference between the Fluctlights on both sides – why then does the two side need to fight at all? In the end, Alice decided the only reason for her to fight in this was to keep Kirito, who likely would know the answer to that question, safe.

Dark Territory forces at the back prepared their barrage. Alice finally unleashed her spell she’s been gathering energy for, basically a much more powerful version of Fanatio’s Release Recollection. The enemy forces couldn’t get enough energy to do anything in response, with it all gathered up by Alice earlier. A laser beam 10m wide scythed through Dark Territory forces at the back, killing 90% of non-human forces, 70% of Cannibal archers, and 30% of mages.
Alice fell off of her dragon, partially due to recoil from her attack and partially from the shock of being responsible for ending that many lives herself. Fanatio caught her and congratulated her on a job well done. To prevent the dark mages from using the now available mana the human kingdom sent healers into the area to help their own and deny the energy to their opponents.

Synthesis Twenty-six met up with Alice, loathing himself that he had let goblin forces through. To add insult the one that had fixed his mistake was the so-called ‘failure Knight’ Synthesis Forty-nine. And after seeing Alice’s spell he once again felt keenly he’s not worthy of following Alice.
Alice tried to console him, but was interrupted by the Cannibal’s leader. His entire left side was burned off, yet he struggled to human-held side. He thought Alice was the ‘Priestess of Light’ Vector was talking about and was after, because of her laser attack just then, and he wants to capture her for the sake of his people. Synthesis Twenty-six was going to kill the cannibal leader but Alice stopped him, and kept talking with the cannibal leader to fish for info. She has no idea what this ‘Priestess of Light’ business was about. The cannibal leader revealed Vector wants the Priestess captured, and will grant any wish of the one that did so; all the cannibal leader wants is for his people to return to the grass plains and their nomadic lifestyle, living peacefully. Alice was shocked that the dark god Vector has descended onto their world. She asked if the cannibal leader hated her for killing his people, and he replied no, the strong ones have their own duties and he does not begrudge her for doing her’s; likewise, he has his duty to his own people and he will now capture her for the sake of them. He charged, and Alice killed him with her superior skill. As he died though Alice gathered up his soul, and used a gust of wind to send him back to the plains he called home, so he won’t be used up in the coming battle.

D reported back to Vector about the army’s failures, overwhelmed with fear and sure that unspeakable punishments awaited her for her incompetence. Vector didn’t care about her failures, and merely asked how could they remedy the situation of not enough energy. D replied it’s a battlefield, the blood and lives lost would be able to fuel their spells if they could gather them. Vector pondered her words, particularly the bit about blood and lives.

After Alice’s attack, the battle had a lull for now. Soldiers on the human side took this opportunity to heal and eat. In this time Alice reported back to Berculi about what the Cannibal leader told her. Berculi confirmed Alice’s thoughts that the term ‘Priestess of Light’ was not mentioned anywhere within Church lore. Fanatio commented it’s unbelievable that the god has returned, while Berculi told her it wasn’t that unbelievable; there’s a oppressive feel over the enemy side, a powerful Incarnation aura. Besides, now that the Eastern Gate has fallen anything could happen. Berculi asked assuming Alice was indeed the ‘Priestess of Light’, what does it mean for the current situation. Alice considered the conversation Kirito had with the Outer Gods, about the ‘World’s End Altar’. If she could get there she might be able to ask the Gods for aid. Alice said she’ll declare herself to the enemy, and draw them away. As they chase after her the others can outflank the enemy and destroy them.

Scene cuts back to D and Vector, with the god asking D if 3,000 was enough. D couldn’t understand what he meant, so he asked again if 3,000 sacrifices from the demi-human reserves would be able to provide enough energy. D’s fear turned into intoxicating joy and dependence towards Vector for being able to think this cruelly and efficiently, and promised yes it’s enough, and she’ll have her forces to bring forth the most hell-like deaths onto their foes.

The beastmen leader was the only demi-human leader left, and he protested at how his people will be used for sacrifices. They wouldn’t even get a chance to prove their worth on the battlefield, and now would be slaughtered like livestock. To prevent D taking advantage of Vector’s orders the beastmen leader’s lover offered herself and her own 3,000 troops as sacrifices, preventing the beastmen leader somehow ending up among the sacrifices. She told him they will meet again in heaven after their deaths. The 3,000 sacrifices left the army ranks, proud that they will be used to deal a serious blow against the enemy, while the other 7,000 wept at their departure. At 100m away from the human camp the 3,000 beastmen are sacrificed, their bodies bursting from the inside out, shining brightly with their lifeforce, before being blackened and writhed like many long insects. Among the dying shrieks were the 3,000’s proud chants that they fight for the glory of the beastmen. The beastmen leader collapsed, smashed his fist onto the ground and wept, that the humans have again and again grinded the demi-humans down for their own ends. His right eyes throbbed painfully with every one of his internal shrieks of anger and hatred.

Turning time back around 30 minutes, Berculi amended Alice’s plan of using herself as bait by sending half the army with her. Bersuli reasoned just by herself won’t be convincing enough for the Dark Territory army to go after her, and Alice didn’t have the proof to suggest otherwise. Berculi said he’ll be going with her as part of the bait (as a aside, Fanatio and Berculi bickered a bit like a old couple as for why she thought it was a bad idea for Berculi to head off away from her). Of the bait group, there’s 5 high level Synthesis Knights, their dragons, 1,200 guards, and 50 people in charge of supplies. 10 wagons are with this group, one of them houses Kirito, Teiza and Ronie.
The bait group started to leave, sure they won’t be hit by long range attacks any more, but then the dark mages’ curse spell attacked.

Spoiler for WEB 8 Pt 30 (a bit before my last summary on this part):

(this next part will be briefly covered, more sub-par plot despite reasonably good fight scene)
The curse spell attacked, and neither Berculi or Alice had enough power left in their swords to counter. Synthesis Twenty-six charged ahead to draw the curse to himself, boosted by Eugeo’s Blue Rose sword (yet another dues ex machina). His Release Recollection got boosted, attacked some of the bugs, resulting in the curse treating him as the priority one target. Synthesis Twenty-six’s HP was 5,600 at maximum, but getting hit by the spell reduced him to -500,000 instantly (Flere821 & Chinese TL note: yeah, first time I’ve heard HP can go into negatives in UW >.>). Synthesis Twenty-six, what’s left of him after that attack anyway, died in the arms of Alice, satisfied he has done some good for her.

[reccaryu]

Thanks for the summaries Flere!

[Tusjecht]

Wouldn't negative HP make them anti-Integrity Knights? O.o just me being an ass.

[Netto Azure]

LOL. Negative HP huh? So many bugs this system has. :P