Accel World, Vol. 11 (light novel): The Carbide Wolf

アクセル・ワールド / Accel World Light Novels #11

by Reki Kawahara

The Acceleration Research Society, a mysterious organization maneuvering in secret, makes their headquarters at the top of Tokyo Midtown Tower, where the Archangel Metatron is enshrined. This completely invincible Legend-class Enemy guards the Society from all would-be attackers, and so the Seven Kings meet in order to devise some means to defeat the Enemy, and the Acceleration Research Society along with it.The secret plan they come up with requires Silver Crow gain a new ability, Theoretical Mirror.Although he's been ordered to obtain this ability--which can withstand even the instant death of Metatron's ultimate laser--abilities require action to trigger their manifestation, in contrast with the way Incarnate techniques are generated through the imagination. Thus, Haruyuki's powerful imagination isn't going to help him obtain Theoretical Mirror.While Haruyuki is stumped at how to even begin this difficult task, Ardor Maiden aka Utai Shinomiya starts to talk about a sad past...

Genres: Light Novel, Science Fiction, Action

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2012

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

[Tuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 11 continues the tradition of having members of Nega Nebulous and their affiliates work towards getting to the truth of the Accelerated Research Society only to be suddenly distracted by a new enemy. While Metatron was introduced in the previous volume, and a solution proposed for getting past it was proposed, much of the time this volume was spent understanding how to get that power, as well as fighting a new enemy. Interestingly, while it may seem like a weird diversion, it perhaps has some implications in understanding the Accelerated Research Society.
Wolfram Cerberus, the new enemy, was just as much of a breath of fresh air as Iron Pound was. I found that having these enemies who have personalities that you kind of want to be friends with endearing. Consider that we encountered characters like Dusk Taker who were honestly on the side of disgusting, to Rust Jigsaw, or even Black Vice, and you realize, wow I much prefer these other characters than them. However, I do feel that perhaps there may something lurking under the surface with Wolfram Cerberus. How convenient it was for a metal color to appear just after finding out about the mental scar shell theory.

Overall, learning about Ardor Maiden’s parent was very interesting and as expected sad, just like many of the other burst linkers. I think her story along with this mental scar shell theory, perhaps suggests that whatever happened with Haru may be the worst and saddest of the mental scars thus far. Consider that there was a moment where he hinted that he heard that his parents almost did want him.

Great volume and fast paced, looking forward to them taking on Wolfram Cerberus. I did get nostalgic this volume when Haru returned to his pig avatar and played the ball game on the Umesato local net.

[Ricardo Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a typical Reki Kawahara way, Haru get's asked to go and learn a new skill. He neither questions or challenges the order, he just leaves and goes back to training. After that, the good stuff starts. We see Haru face a new adversary. We see Haru mend his relationship with Taku (I for one always thought it was a twisted friendship... finally Haru fixed things). We see some explanation as to what the metal colors are and why they exist as they kind of overlap with the green avatars. We see a spy in the middle of the kings. I thought Reki used this volume to tidy up some open points in the Accel World. And less time was spent on how Haru sucks and more on how he can grow. We can see such a big difference between the Haru of the first volume and the Haru of this 11th volume. I actually found myself picking this one up more frequently than the previous volumes! 4/5, would be 5/5 if not for that nonsense of "go learn this skill -> yes sir that was just about to kill me"

[Michael Brough · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author writes well and the story is compelling.

The characters are pretty young for what they deal with, but it is a fair criticism that young people deal with loss and complicated issues as well. This book rather drags out the story of the next arc so it feels incomplete, especially since the last book with forward progress in the plot was book 9.

[Eldon Siemens · Rating 4 out of 5]

not quite as riveting, and I'm not sure where the author is taking us, but was a decent volume