Sword Art Online: Progressive, Vol. 2

Sword Art Online: Progressive Light Novels #2

by Reki Kawahara

"There's no way to beat this game. The only difference is when and where you die..."

Having cleared the first and second floors of Aincrad at great cost, Kirito, Asuna, and the rest of the players ascend to the third floor. Tenuous new allies await them--most crucially, Kizmel, the elven knight. Kizmel is supposed to be a minor NPC with low-level AI, but she soon reveals herself to be much more. With new allies come new complications, though, and the elves of the vast third-floor forest are no more united than the players who have just arrived there. The intrigue deepens when a mysterious figure challenges Kirito, and what begins as a simple contest of skill may actually be something far deadlier!

Sword Art Online: Progressive is a new version of the Sword Art Online tale that chronicles the entirety of Kirito and Asuna's epic adventure through Aincrad--from the first level all the way up!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Manga, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Novels

264 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2013

About the author

Kawahara Reki (川原礫) is the writer of Sword Art Online and Accel World. He also uses the pen name Kunori Fumio. His hobby is cycling.

Reviews

[atmatos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, though it dragged a bit in the middle. I had to take a break from it there for a while cause I can only take so much of how super awesome kirito is.

[Khari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. I am still reading pretty quickly. A 256 page book in four days is really not that bad.

On the other hand. It doesn't seem like I will get 365 this year. Not unless I start reading some manga again. Oh well. I'm enjoying what I am reading, so that is all that matters. At least this way I will remember how to speak English soon. That's exciting.

Anyway. This book. It was cute. We are getting intimations of how the game is coming to life much sooner than we did in the anime series. So, yay.

I also am getting to know Kirito and Asuna better. Kirito is much cooler in the anime series than he is in here. Most of the story is written from his perspective, so you get to see him way overthinking things and getting all neurotic, but that only serves to make him more real I think.

Asuna on the other hand is way snootier in the book than she is in the anime. Maybe because in the anime you have more people working on the character development and at least a couple of them are women, so they would maybe put a stop to some of the more...fantastical elements of the female character in this book. But then again, they are 14 so I guess it's possible that a girl that age would be that moody and that unpredictable. Puberty is hard after all.

[Danilo Assunção · Rating 3 out of 5]

The majority of the book focused on the NPC Kizmel, Kirito, and Asuna throughout the quests on the third floor regarding the conflict between the two elf races.

On this floor, Asuna had a significant improvement in her skills and weapon. The base camp where Dark Elves temporarily resides has a unique blacksmith who crafted probably the strongest weapon in the game at the moment for her. Kirito closely witnessing Asuna's growth, ponders about her future in the game. He believes that she should join some guild to improve more quickly and exert leadership among the front line players.

In my opinion, the most exciting part of the book was the fight between Kirito and Morte, this latter also a beater of which motivations and goals are unclear for Kirito and Asuna.

Kawahara in the afterwords apologizes for the rush in the third quarter of the book that ended without a detailed, thrilling boss fight. All the players in the front line proceeded to the fourth floor without casualties.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟

I really hope they'll animate all of the SAO Progressive light novellas, because so far they are even better than the original story.
The end of this one was a bit too rushed for my taste, but the rest of the story was well-thought and interesting.
Also I have to mention - I live for Asuna and Kirito's interactions and banter, they are adorable. 😭❤️

[Jorge Rosas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entire book is dedicated to the third floor of Aincrad and we see a lot of character development from Asuna and kirito, I liked the attention given to her and how she’s evolving as a player and a person, kirito has little advancement as character, and get a lot of hints of what will become project ALICE, the new character here is an NPC that’s way too advanced compared to the other NPCs and A.I. at the time, almost at the level of Yui. The focus is on an multiple floor side quest and the first two guild, also we get a character that could easily be a laughing coffin founder.

[Javi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mejor que el anterior, empieza a desarrollarse más la trama y aparecen personajes que parece que van a ser importantes a futuro

[Adam P · Rating 3 out of 5]

troszkę meh, SAOP miało opisywać przechodzenie poziomów, tymczasem autor popłynął z nudnymi i schematycznym wątkiem kampanii, mimo to zdecydowanie na plus druga połowa dzięki wprowadzeniu czarnych bohaterów i prostolinijnej Kizmel <3

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Read-through: April 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this light novel, once again!

Kizmel really is a great and intriguing character, and I hadn't fully noticed how much of a planner/"deep thinker" Kirito is before now. He literally always seems to be thinking about some minute detail, whether that be about a specific aspect of SAO's gameplay (such as upgrading a weapon or PvP duels) or the various players/NPCs he comes into contact with (particularly Asuna and Kizmel in this light novel). It does almost seem unrealistic with how competent and skilled Reki has made our main character, the unapologetic "beater", but I suppose he doesn't have the greatest social skills, so that does, sort of, make up for his overflowing smarts and combat ability. ;P

First Read-through: September 2015
LOVED this! (Though, when it comes to SAO, that shouldn't really be surprising to me at this point. ;3)

The plot lines and new characters (or rather just the two new secondary characters) were super interesting in this book! I really can't praise Reki's writing and storytelling enough. I love it all! His characters, in particular, intrigue me and I always find the interactions between all of them to be super interesting and entertaining as well. Just the mechanics of the SAO world fascinate me greatly. :) And, of course, I'm super curious to see where Kirito and Asuna's journey through Aincrad takes them next (or, I guess, what goes down on the fourth floor. ;P) How will the established plot lines continue to build on each other and where will they lead to? What new characters will we meet and when will old ones come back into play? Basically: I need to know what happens next! xD

On to the next volume (when it comes out...)! :P

[S.P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I admit it, I'm a complete SAO fanboy. I love this series of books, apart from anything else, Kawahara is completely nuts. He really does intend to go through each level and tell of the adventures of Kirito (and Asuna) - trouble is, progressive 2 is just about floor 3! How many books will that make then? I suspect I will be long-dead by the time Kawahara's great-grandson puts the finishing touches to SAO Progressive 100...

The story itself is great, Kirito and Asuna reach floor three, and immediately engage in a series of quests to aid the 'Dark-Elves' in their battles with the 'Forest Elves'. In addition to a cool new character, Kizmel - an attractive female Dark-Elf, there is development of the two first guilds, and the beginnings of Laughing Coffin.

The latter parts of the quests are very rushed, but that is my only criticism. It seems (from his Afterward) that Kawahara got a bit carried away with his new character and thus spent way too much time on her (not that I am complaining about that) and compressing the last few chapters was the only way to hit his deadline/word limit. By about 3/4s the way through, I thought floor 3 might cross several volumes, and I can't say I would have minded if it did.

The final scene is Kirito and Asuna setting foot on floor 4 - as it should be.

Anyway, now I await Progressive 3. Come-on Zen Press! I wants it!

[AbcAstro · Rating 3 out of 5]

You could save hundreds on car insurance. Wrong Progressive.

So, what I said about Asuna and Kirito splitting up doesn't last long because they're already together at the beginning of this book, a bit misleading but this actually starts on the third floor rather than the second and after a bit of research, the first volume of progressive actually has the second floor, go figure, the version I had just ended at the boss...I don't know but it's not a big deal. What ended up happening is something called the Rondo of a Fragile Blade, where Asuna and Kirito meet again to go on a quest that will upgrade their blades, basically it's own side/filler arc. It's summed up really quick in Volume two here though. It's just odd because we don't see Asuna again until episode 5 which is on the 56th floor, a time skip, so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out at the end of this Progressive arc.

They're met with a bit of a cool quest, they head into these foggy woods where the map refuses to work or at least they can't very well see it. Inside are two elves duking it out, approaching forces you to choose a side, black or white and this kicks off a major questline that continues through a few of the upcoming floors. Just this concept alone got me giddy but of course Kirito picks the female elf.

But it's sort of interesting because if I asked you the plot of SAO, you're probably going to tell me what the show's about, not the game, so they delve into that a little deeper and even excuse that some of it was probably left open for the players to make their own story. In a way, they're literally the characters. And because this girl, Kizmel, is an NPC, they get to explore what exactly they know about the world.

I think Asuna asserts herself quite well in this but I guess my main complaint is that we no longer see her point of view, it's all Kirito which I suppose coincides with the series but it didn't have to follow that, especially so soon. Asuna's aware of her reliance on Kirito at times and she dislikes it, saying stuff like "I can't keep asking you what kind of materials to make a weapon or how to beat a certain kind of monster. I have to learn how to figure that stuff out for myself." She feels guilty and annoyed. Someone who got as good of grades as her relying on someone else? Even that knowledge starts to become shaky because she realizes that she didn't know anything without a textbook, not in SAO and not in real life, she never got to "experience" things for herself, which is a pretty deep lesson if you ask me.

So, I don't expect this to make it into the next Progressive movie, I mean in the Starless Night, her sword was handed to her by Mito but quests like Rondo and Concerto have her more or less using that as a launchpad to do stuff on her own. Will she be alone? No, she doesn't have to be. She doesn't have to learn to rely on others but not to the point that everything is handed to her. I also feel like it gives the swords more significance because you see them grow as well as the characters. When I first started SAO, the two swords, Elucidator and Dark Repulsor seemed like such staples, they gave them their own quests and characters to forge them, people who hadn't even watched the show recognized them and they kind of continued that even as recent as Alicization S1 with the Night Sky sword and Eugeo's Blue Rose. But then to see something like Starless Night just have Asuna's (arguably less iconic but still recognizable none the less) Lambent Light just seemed offensive in a way, it doesn't even make sense in the context of the story because she was on floor 1. But here I am complaining about the movie again.

Asuna goes as far as to contemplate PK in this book and I have to say, I'm quite impressed. The outcome of that is a bit questionable with that being the landmark where Asuna and Kirito split ways which he claims is "for her sake", more or less forcing her to join a guild if she wants to live therefore forcing her to decide not to PK so she will be accepted. Logic for her surpasses instinct but what's crazy is that the whole reason she contemplates PK in the first place is because this guy, Lind, who's basically trying to label people and force them into a corner. Trying to lead them into choosing one guild or the other and then taking out the boss on his own schedule. Asuna mentions she's dealt with people making decisions for her since she was a kid and hates Lind for doing the same, but here comes Kirito to do the exact same thing in order to have her hate him instead of Lind.

Except...that doesn't happen. I would've been fine with that option too, it'd make this book more significant in the grand scheme of things, explaining the later separation but Kirito just thinks that as an option but his body does something entirely different, his mouth makes different words. "I don't want you to die." It's a simple but powerful phrase that I think advances their relationship and takes the temperature of their feelings in the moment. They both believe that without each other, they'd just go solo again, so Kirito's plan may not have even worked but Asuna actually says that "Nothing would change." It's impactful to think that I'm not sure either of them would want to go on in that situation in the present canon but here, it's not set in stone yet, we still have to build that up. I like that.

Argo, who I believe was in the last book, is absent from the anime but her existence makes all the sense in the world. She's like a scammer type that's always looking for information and a way to sell it but at the same time records their history so that the players trying to beat a floor may follow. It had occurred to me before that it wouldn't just be one party going to beat a floor boss, it would probably be everyone but just using the tried and true strategy that later gets revised, so she's a fun and welcome addition.

But all in all this is a side-quest filler type book, it definitely world and character builds so I found value in it but there was a lot that I was bored with and thought it went on a little too long, there wasn't really a contained goal, it was just an extension of the story as well as a means for continuation.

[Ricardo Matos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts really slow, and has some mild atempts at humour. Would 2 star it if it weren't for Kirito's duel with Morte and the story developments that come after it.

At this point, I think the storyline between progressive and the original SOA is completely broken and to be honest that is not a bad thing. These books really feel just like SOA should have been told from the start!

I'll be picking up #3 for sure.

[Noah Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reki Kawahara's Sword Art Online Progressive 002 had me thunderstruck with all the detail that it had, as well as how all of the characters interacted with each other in such a clean manner. I found that this was one of the very few books that has been able to keep me entertained throughout the whole book. There weren't any boring parts or anything that seemed off.

This book had a very good theme. The overall theme that I was able to grasp from the book was not to give up. All throughout the book, it might look like you won't ever be able to escape the game (reach floor 100), but even though odds were most certainly against him, Kirito kept moving forward. This could show many that with hard work and lots of effort, you can do a lot of things that you otherwise would have thought wasn't possible. This is a very good life lesson, since many people are so quick to give up, thinking that things are impossible. I found a lot of good takeaways from this book, and I'm sure many other people will be able to as well.

I really did like the author's style, since he is able to really fill the book with detail, and it has a lot of detail, but just enough so that it doesn't make the book seem lengthy. There were a few humorous parts, but not that much, and the little bit of humor that there was wasn't very noticeable. The author doesn't go super deep into detail about the setting, which I don't have a problem with, since it allows you to be a lot more creative when picturing it in the book. This author is most certainly different, and has very good word choice. The speed of the story is very consistent, and doesn't seem to be rushed whatsoever. The author doesn't suddenly start to move through things fast, and the author also doesn't seem to miss parts of the book where there should be crucial detail. The cliffhangers at the end of each chapter may not have the same affect on everyone, but it certainly affected me.

The author does a very good job with the characters, since it really felt like I could picture them perfectly so many times they were described. It was very easy to picture exactly what the characters were doing, and there was enough depth to where it played out in my head like a movie or television show. I really like the main characters, but I don't really like some of the antagonist characters, since I find them a bit creepy. I feel like since I don't like the antagonist characters just like the main characters, it makes me much more immersed when they are battling. At one point in the book, Kirito (one of the main characters) thinks a lot during a battle, analyzing the situation entirely. This tells us that he is very cautious, and makes sure that he knows everything that is going on around him. Another time you are able to better understand the personality of another character is when she sells information to the other players. This helps to tell the reader that she is very resourceful, and uses whatever she has to make it work out in her favor.

The setting of the book is a lot more futuristic, which makes sense, since it is a video game, and the overall story takes place in the future. The people in the book seem to have the same interactions with things as we do today, so the characters are able to very easy to relate to, and this helps to make it feel like you are a part of the setting. At points, you are able to feel certain ways for certain characters, based on how they are feeling and what is happening. If I were to close my eyes and think just a little bit about the book and the setting, I would be able to picture it very easily in my head, and it would all make sense and work with how the characters al interact with it as well. Just imagine some of the really cool mechanics in video games, such as menus and selection options, and implement them into your life. This is what this book feels like, and it is able to do it in a very clean and organized manner, and I really do feel like it is easy to grasp. The way the setting swaps from a battlefield to a camp is very clean, and the author makes sure you know that the setting changes.

Assuming that the first book has already been read, this book start where the first one ended, which is on the third floor. They haven’t progressed much, considering that they have to clear a total of 100 floors. The two main characters are starting to get a closer bond, and still continue to battle alongside one another. They end up meeting a new ally, who they end up growing a strong bond with, and treat her like a human, even though she is an NPC (non-player character). The three of them plan on fighting together, just the three of them, but will they need more people? They start to question that later in the book, and realize that as they progress in the game, it becomes more and more dangerous to stay in smaller groups, even though the three of them are so skilled.

I really enjoy this book since it makes me wonder what it would be like to be stuck in a video game, and this helps to expand my thinking. This helps to realize struggles that may occur with the advancements of technology. It takes it to another level, but it helps to tell people how technology can be dangerous, and how simple things can actually cost you, such as sharing simple information to people over the internet, and not having correct privacy settings. This book can tell people many things, and those things all depend on how it is viewed.

Now, what you might be wondering after reading all this, is if you should read the book, and to that I would have to say yes. This book is different from many, but if the things that I talked about appeal to you even in the slightest, this book might be for you. With books, it never hurts to try, which is all the more reason for you to read it. Since this book is part of a series, it will be able to keep you entertained for a long time. I really liked this book, and I really hope you do as well if you decide to give it a try. I would highly recommend this book, but you might not be able to put it down after you pick it up, so read at your own risk.

[Niijishima · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second SAO Progressive LN is done, and here are a few words from me again. (Spoiler-free)

The book picks up where the first book left off. The theme of the floor is described in more detail as Asuna and Kirito search for a specific quest that Kirito knows from the beta. However, the quest unfolds differently than in the beta, and the two get to know the NPC Kizmel better, who doesn't really behave like an NPC. This is a pretty interesting starting point that provides a good incentive to keep reading. Even more in-game lore is revealed through the quest, which contributes to a more authentic world-building experience.

While the quest itself is addressed throughout the story, it is wrapped up a bit too quickly towards the end (even the author acknowledged this in the afterword, lol). But otherwise, the quest allows for a more detailed exploration of the floor and dungeons, which I missed in the first novel. Definitely a good improvement, but there is still room for even more improvement.

Lind and Kiabou, as well as their guilds, are back in action, along with a new interesting character at the end.The conflicts between Lind and Kiabou's guilds consistently add tension and make the world feel larger, as players explore the floor beyond the two protagonists. I also like that both Lind and Kiabou are not static characters but can undergo character developments as well.

There are some nice character moments and developments in the relationship between Kirito and Asuna as well. It is cool how some characters find loopholes in the game mechanics and try to exploit them. This was already discussed in the first novel and continues here. This makes the world feel more like a game, and such exploitation attempts are not unrealistic at all.

Overall, a great continuation of the first Light Novel and, in my opinion, an improvement, although the end of the third floor was a bit rushed. Still recommended for any SAO fan.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't started Progressive but are curious because you like the original -- it's worth it. Just know going in that it essentially takes the original and throws it out a window while traveling at high speeds. Yes, Kirito is there and Ausna, and Agil and Klein and... and... and... AND NOTHING. (Of course Kawahara already turned away from that storyline in Book 1!)

Look we're finished with book 2 now and Floor 3 of Aincrad is cleared. Floor 3! Kawahara had Floor 75 cleared in 200 pages in the original. Note: This is not a complaint, just an observation. If you're looking for more details for the original story -- this isn't exactly that. It gives a lot more detail and introduces new characters. And essentially is something of a 'reboot' of the Aincrad storyline.

I for one dig it. I love seeing Asuna and Kirito earlier in the game and how they shape each other by bumping up against one another's differences in knowledge, attitudes and playstyles.

Verdict: If you love SAO and want more -- you'll get it in Progressive. If you're new to it, start with the original. Quick and fast just start with the first two for most of your Aincrad needs then jump into Progressive if that's what you're looking for.

[Atticus Wiginton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now it’s been a bit since I read the first book, but taking my time with this one has been awesome. I’m a big DnD guy, so having what felt like a fantasy story mixed with video game logic, it was just a pleasant read. Having seen the show, knowing a future for these characters and future plot points, Kawahara placed these characters- crazy to think, these kids, in such a interesting situation where getting to take an outside perspective on a world of 1s and 0s that makes them feel. Which is very meta considering the history of the show and how I was currently reading it. I felt transported to the mythical forest filled with monsters and elves, and despite only being able to identify surface level themes of the book, I throughly enjoyed the experience. I can’t wait to read the next in the series!

[Tri Quach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Khá thích cuốn vol 2 này của series SAOP.
Ban đầu mình không nghĩ rằng khi đọc một cuốn gần như ngoại truyện (vì dòng thời gian và diễn biến có mâu thuẫn với dòng của SAO) mình sẽ cảm thấy bị cuốn hút như thế này. Reki Kawahara miêu tả nhân vật một cách đơn giản nhưng cũng không kém phần tinh tế, khiến từng nhân vật có một tính cách rất riêng và đồng nhất (như Kibaou, Lind...)
Câu chuyện tầng 3 này xoay quanh nhiệm vụ chiến dịch của Tộc Elf, tất cả diễn biến đều cuốn hút và khắc họa được thêm thế giới SAO.
Không thể đợi nổi để cầm trên tay cuốn SAOP vol 3.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the artwork, story is not to bad as well. I like the new characters, boss fights, quests and floor outline. It's the constant man-bashing Kirito and making Asuna a mary sue I cant stand. Kirito is treated like her servant or her lesser and for no reason at all Kirito worships the ground that Asuna walks on. Asuna Constanly belittles, threats and attacks Kirito through out this novel. They have change the dynamics of the two main character way to much. Makes reading this series not so enjoyable.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how many ideas this series has gotten to flesh out in just two books so far. The idea that, even without life or death stakes, games have a unique morality to them, and encounters and adventures with even NPCs can be incredibly meaningful. There’s also deeper mysteries in these than the main two books could afford to tackle, and I’m looking forward to seeing them continue. Kirito’s journey as a player and a person continue to be great, and everyone’s reluctant acceptance of the different ways to work together to survive is great to see.

[Daniel Mosalev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Относительно второй истории первого тома эта гораздо слабее. Очень много лишней воды.

Плюс, имеется проблема, что в аниме на более высоких этажах главные герои удивляются искусственному интеллекту, способному вести себя как человек. Здесь же появление тёмной эльфийки с такой же особенностью полностью разрушает эту тему.

[Lire-une-passion · Rating 3 out of 5]

"​En résumé, si j'ai moins aimé que le premier tome, j'ai tout de même passé un très bon moment. Et je ne cache pas que retrouver Asuna et Kirito fait toujours autant de bien. Comme si on retrouvait de vieux amis... En tout cas, je serais au rendez-vous pour la suite, même si je ne sais pas très bien vers quoi l'auteur va se tourner. Ce sera la surprise et j'ai hâte d'y être."

http://lire-une-passion.weebly.com/fa...

[Sebastian H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another superb entry into the SAO universe, shedding additional light on the VRMMO mechanics with enough mysteries left dangling and foreshadowing of deadly foes to make me want to jump straight into the 4th floor and beyond. I hope the author can keep this quality up, because these retellings are easily surpassing the original SAO novel as my all-time favorite light novel.

[Rony Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elfos e seres mágicos

Mesmo que não seja a proposta do jogo, envolver elementos mágicos, os "resquícios" e os outros seres além dos humanos me foram um objeto de interesse (ai como eu amo essas orelhas pontudas dos elfos). No mais, tendo a desgostar da estratégia em forçar certas relações que trazem um desconforto ao leitor.

[Hannah HB. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit I was slightly sad that the boss fight consisted of one or two sentences basically saying "The boss was defeated. It had a poison attack, but no biggie." I mean I loved the book, I just expected the boss fight to be longer.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe if I read this novel back then when this series booming, I would feel that this novel was a good addition for the missing floor conquest. But years later, I already forgot and the main story was not the 100 floors aincard anymore.

[VSP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Y no, aún no responde mi pregunta

La parte positiva es que creo que ya sé por donde va la cosa, así que... Reki, sorprendeme con la respuesta

Y weno, tarde en retormarla pero aquí vamos de nuevo

Extraño a esta Asuna xD

[Mathxxl]

C'est toujours amusant de se dire que Progressive a commencé il y a 10 ans alors que l'animé SAO commençait à peine sa lancée. Un tome assez chouette à suivre, surpris de retrouver aussi rapidement certaines thématiques sur les NPC/IA.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can tell right away that many of the side-stories from the anime were taken from this volume while the main story was taken from the first volume. Together it makes up the whole first season. I have no complaints. They're both good. :)

[Emir Girgin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd floor of aincrad. No boss battle only the long-term quest.

The author is once again turning the story into harem. That's the only bad part.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book almost as much as I loved the first one. I was a little disappointed when it was only the 3rd floor, unlike the first book which was 2 floors, but it was still great.

[Maximiliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, I enjoyed a lot, the new characters and details from the original series makes very subtle changes but at the same time gives a new dimension of the events in aincrad.