Leafa verkündet, dass sie ihre Gruppe verlassen möchte, um Kirito zu helfen, zur Spitze des Weltenbaumes zu gelangen. Das gefällt ihrer Gruppe gar nicht. Die beiden treffen alle Vorkehrungen für ihre Reise, merken jedoch nicht, dass sie bei ihrem Aufbruch verfolgt werden.
After recalling how she got into VR gaming, Suguha meets up with Recon's real life persona, Shin'ichi Nagata, informing him that she will be quitting their party to join Kirito. Logging in once more as Lyfa, she accompanies Kirito in shopping for new equipment, having a run in with her old party, led by Sigurd who doesn't take kindly to Lyfa's departure. Before Kirito and Lyfa set off, Recon approaches them, saying he will continue to observe Sigurd's party due to some suspicions he has about them. Meanwhile, as Asuna learns from Sugou that Kirito is still alive, she takes keen observation of the keycode for her cage's lock. As Kirito and Lyfa reach a safe landing point, where they will have to continue on foot through some caves to reach the World Tree, they take turns logging out to refresh themselves, with Lyfa getting a brief chat with Yui. After Kirito returns, they both set off again, unaware that they are being followed by a mysterious group.
Leafa se fait des ennemis en quittant son groupe pour s'associer à Kirito.
Mentre Asuna riesce finalmente a scoprire il codice della propria gabbia, Lyfa e Kirito partono insieme alla volta di Yggdrasil. Iviaggio procede senza intoppi finché raggiungono una radura prima di addentrarsi all'interno delle caverne; qui Kirito ha la sensazione che qualcuno sia sulle loro tracce.
リーファは、《アルヴヘイム》の中央にそびえたつ《世界樹》までキリトを案内することに。ところが、スイルベーンを旅立とうとする一行の前にリーファのパーティーメンバー・シグルドが立ちはだかる。キリトを貶め、自分を束縛しようとするシグルドに嫌気がさしたリーファは、キリトが自分の新しいパートナーだと宣言する。一方、《世界樹》の頂上に囚われたアスナは、キリトの生死もわからぬまま不安と恐怖に耐えていたが……。
키리토는 리파와 함께 세계수에 가기로 결정한다. 하지만 리파와 곧잘 파티를 맺던 시굴드가 이를 만류하는데... 다른 유저를 속박하려는 시굴드가 영 마음에 안 드는 키리토가 앞으로 나선다.
Leafa está fazendo inimigos deixando sua área e grupo para unir-se a Kirito. A caminho do Território Neutro, eles falam mais das regras e área de ALO.
Leafa forma equipo con Kirito y se gana la enemistad de su grupo y su zona. En su camino a Territorio Neutral, hablan más sobre las normas y zonas de ALO.
莉琺決定當桐人住ALO中央世界樹旅途的嚮導。可是，當她們打算從招帆出發前，莉法的小隊成員西格魯特出現阻止她。莉法對說出貶低桐人的說話，與打算束縛自己的西格魯特感到非常厭惡，所以他宣稱桐人是新拍檔。另一方面，被囚禁在世界樹頂的明日奈，從妖精王奧伯龍（須鄉伸之）口中知道桐人沒有死去後，她內心也作好了打算……
Leafa está fazendo inimigos deixando sua área e grupo para unir-se a Kirito. A caminho do Território Neutro, eles falam mais das regras e área de ALO.
