Main Quests

Iori, a player encountered in the ruins, outlines the basics of SAO before asking the protagonist for help with an unfinished quest.

The Legendary Weapon reveals the location of the next Sanctuary. With all misunderstandings cleared up, Musoh officially joins the party and suggests that they head to Taran, a town situated close to the third Sanctuary.

The party, having successfully leveled up the Annealed Blade, finally head for Tolbana—the town mentioned by Diavel during his rousing speech.

Wyzeman, moved by Diavel's words, encourages the party to make for Tolbana in the far north. However, the journey will require stronger weapons. Hoping to collect upgrade materials for this very purpose, they first head to the place Iori and the protagonist once visited with Cal—Teardrop Cave.

Choosing to keep moving forward despite the tragedies that befell their companions, the protagonist decides to proceed with the quest alongside Iori and Zash. They need to catch up to Kirito, another beta tester, on the 2nd Floor as he may be able to shed some light on the Swordsman of Salvation.

The ruins where Cal, or his lookalike, were headed turn out to be a Sanctuary; the party prepares to clear it.

Sword Art Online officially releases, and the protagonist heads for the Town of Beginnings.

The sealed door in the basement of the Black Iron Palace has suddenly opened. The party, wondering if it has anything to do with the Swordsman of Salvation quest, heads inside...

After again accepting a tough quest from Argo, the protagonist and Iori set out for an unknown cave.

The protagonist and Iori embark on yet another difficult quest. This time they are joined by a skilled player named Cal. The three of them reach Teardrop Cave, the target monster's domain.

Lara describes meeting a player who might have been Cal. The party, in need of Cal's help, follows directions given by a young girl named Silica to some ruins where the purple-clad player was supposedly headed.

The Legendary Weapon did not lead the party astray—the location holds another Sanctuary. The party resolves to clear it.

The party is reunited with Asuna in Urbus, and they ask her where they can find Kirito. Upon hearing that he went hunting for Trampling Ox, the party heads to the eastern badlands.

While the party manages to find the Trampling Ox, Kirito is nowhere to be found. On the advice of a player named Agil, they head to the wilderness in their continued search for Kirito.

Unable to gain any useful information from Kirito, the party meets a woman named Stina. She claims to be a beta tester and wears a brooch identical to theirs. They all band together to advance the Swordsman of Salvation quest, and start looking for the High Elven Ruins in earnest.

After arriving safely on the 2nd Floor, the three adventurers enter the region's main town, Urbus.

After exploring a ruin, the protagonist heads to the rendezvous point to meet up with their friends.

In Teardrop Cave, a place Iori and the protagonist previously explored alongside Cal during the beta test, the party hopes to find materials to level up the Annealed Blade. They decide to venture deeper inside the cave.

The protagonist is suddenly engulfed in darkness. They have to escape—somehow.

The protagonist is once again immersed in darkness. Escape is their only option.

The Sanctuary awaits. Will the protagonist, Iori, Zash, Stina, Musoh, and Lara succeed and continue on with the Swordsman of Salvation quest—or does their journey end here?

While many players seek the safety of the Town of Beginnings, Wyzeman claims that in order to survive, the party will need to become stronger. Using knowledge gleaned from the beta test, they swiftly head northwest to Horunka.

Diavel's secret plan was to conduct a raid—a concerted effort to try and complete the 1st Floor. However, a party of four is required to take part. Thus, Zash, a player at the strategy meeting, joins the party, and they all head to Labyrinth to take on the 1st Floor boss.

Everyone is on the verge of collapse, overcome by the endless obstacles and increasingly tough quests. Iori suggests giving up on the Swordsman of Salvation quest if they are unable to clear the next encounter. The party heads toward the next Sanctuary, guided by Stina.