Sword Art Online: Progressive, Vol. 6

Sword Art Online: Progressive Light Novels #6

by Reki Kawahara

At long last, Kirito and Asuna have reunited with Kizmel the dark elf. But the happy reunion doesn't last for long. With remaining keys to collect, the appearance of AI that seem a little too lifelike, and a "secret quest" to deal with, Kirito and Asuna will have their hands full as they attempt to clear the sixth floor in one piece!

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

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2018

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

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy am I glad I waited from volume 5. Had I jumped right in I think I would have given this even a lower rating. Don't get me wrong, it isn't awful, at least not all of it. But it certainly lacks a "something" that other SAO books have.

Let me just share some feelings and see if any of that sorts it out.

I really don't mind the Dark Elf questline. I think it is somewhat interesting and tying the PK guild into it has been good. But this volume just felt off. It wasn't even cookie cutter. I get that to keep Kirito and Asuna on that quest while the frontline are doing other things they have to have come "cheats" like the walk on water potion... but even using it just didn't make things terribly interesting.

There was an awful lot of NPC action in this. Especially since they were all higher level than the PCs. Not that you don't encounter higher level NPCs in a real game, but if they all run around and do everything for you...? And there was quite a bit of it. Deus Ex NPC in the boss battle no less. That being said, the set up over several volumes now that NPCs, at least some of them, are actual beings rather than just copied pieces of code can be interesting. I just hope Kawahara can find his way out of the damp paper back he's got that idea in right now.

I enjoy some puzzles, but even so was tired of them by the end of this... and we don't even get to see very many of them (see NPCs above). Maybe because I didn't get to sink my teeth into any of them (ala the Professor Layton games) that I just was tired of that theme.

There are some decent "set piece" moments in the book, but they are scattered through a lot of other things and sadly it sometimes felt like a slog.

And lastly -- it has been mentioned repeatedly that the best way to level up is to find a hunting spot and grind for a while. Kirito and Asuna seem to do SO little ginding, and skipping of fighting (walking across the lake repeatedly) but somehow stay at level with the frontline teams who are going through all the dungeons and taking the long path. Seems like there should be more disparity.

And the (real) last one -- I get they want to get out of the game, but if each floor is supposed to be more difficult but they are getting through it in less time eventually the floors should be cleared before they get there. Just stop with the speed run and get back to letting Kirito, Asuna and everyone playing the Death Game to win, which means not constantly being reckless just to get through a day early.

Verdict: I was kind of harsh on this volume, largely because I felt let down. It is decent, but not excellent. I still love SAOP and hope the future volumes bring us back to what Kawahara is capable of doing.

[Russell Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of SAO, but I honestly found this book pretty disappointing. In a general way, it was decent and had a partial amount of all the things the earlier books had, but it seemed to under-deliver on everything and I was left feeling like I wasted my time.

This felt more like a side story than a legitimate contribution to the events I cared about. Continuing from last book with the Elf Quest, Kirito and Asuna basically just get dragged around and rushed by NPCs through a storyline that I stopped caring about at some point. It just seemed like nothing was going to have any impact on the grand plot of clearing the game.

The first half of the book had almost no action. You can count on one hand the number of times a sword is swung. Despite this, it seemed like the Kirito and Asuna dynamic never moved forward either. The Frontline players were doing their thing elsewhere and I honestly felt like I was missing out on the real story.

When the side quest tied into the main plot, it did so in a very annoying way for me. To me, it's very contrary in an MMO to have a single player running the entire thing and that's what happened here. A random side quest basically dictated the entire floor for all players on it, but despite Kirito's quest becoming the center of importance, he was still just there as a spectator while NPC characters did everything.

I thought that this whole project of 1 book per floor wasn't very realistic from the conception since it would get redundant. But if the only way to break from the main plot is with a bunch of NPC stuff, then I just don't care enough. I signed up for this ride to follow Kirito and Asuna as they struggle and grow stronger while overcoming obstacles. This book was a story about NPCs and the players just happened to be there.

[Willie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something different

Before I was truly able to enjoy this book I had to take a step back and look at this as a stand alone story. I had to forget about getting to floor 100, about Kirito and Asuna's eventual relationship, and about them being stuck in a game. Out of all of the progressive volumes, this one is my favorite. I loved all of the fantasy elements that were implemented and learning more about the lore of Aincrad.

I thought the pacing was good right up until near the end we're it seemed like Kawahara was trying to wrap things up quickly. I thought the boss fight was a very creative idea, but the difficulty level was INSANE. Especially for a floor 6 boss. I also really liked how Asuna was able to connect the quest they've been doing in the past two books to actual historical events. That was very well done, I did not see that connection coming.

All in all a great fantasy story. If you've read the first 5 then don't stop now definitely read this one.

[Ricardo Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a decent story to be told in these 2 volumes, but overusing NPCs helps detract from the “game of death” vibe. Lost a star because of that. There are some really good SAO moments though! Progressive is still the best SAO

[Eldon Siemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, no complaints outside having to wait for more Progressive.

[Sebastian H · Rating 2 out of 5]

The previous entries of the SAO Progressive saga were an absolute joy to blast through.

This one? An absolute struggle to even finish.

All the time I was dropping it and picking it back up after a cooldown period way longer than any in-game Sword Art, I kept wondering: what is it that makes this one so thoroughly unenjoyable for me? Is it the fact that I honestly don't care at all about Kizmel anymore? That I feel the author has really overextended her welcome? That the addition of new, uber-powered NPCs who just barrel through everything, with KiriSuna simply in tow, take all the narrative tension away from the plot? That the puzzle gimmick was a bore in the previous entry, and we're still covering the same floor in this one? That I'd love to read more about the Front Line, the DKB & ALS efforts along with their interactions with our MCs, and instead see them relegated to the back-burner, narrative-wise? That instead of all this fluff and skipping instances in lieu of NPCs who end up doing all the heavy lifting, we need more conflict against other players, e.g. the PKers, which was honestly the best part of the previous entry, yet in this one they're conspicuously absent until the very last pages? That I really could've used an Asuna POV chapter as a palate cleanser? Or that this entry was definitely lacking in KiriSuna moments but way, way too stuffed with KiriKizmelSuna and KiriKizmelMyiaSuna and KiriMyiaSuna and KiriMyiaTheanoSuna...?

Yeah, maybe it was all of the above.

Two stars only out of good will towards the author and all the amazing previous entries, otherwise I'd rate it one and a half at most.

[Nishes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another marvellously done Volume

As other Volume, it was equally fun to read the journey of Kirito and Asuna in the deadly game on this as well. Illustrations are always gold and ABEC always nailed it with their immaculate presentation and Sensei story telling is spot on with the variety of new NPC and execution of sophisticated puzzles with some historical reference. However, it did take me more than 4 Months to finish this volume because of my busy schedule or myself slacking a lot(chuckles). Looking forward to the volume 7 & 8.

[Mathxxl]

Conclusion de l'arc Canon de la Règle d'Or, l'étage centré sur les puzzles avec nos personnages qui font face à une quête imprévue.

Écoutez y'a Kizmel pendant un bon moment donc j'ai trouvé que c'était un chouette volume. On se moque parfois de l'écriture de SAO, mais Kawahara il a vraiment plusieurs d'années d'avances sur l'IA. J'espère revoir certains de ces personnages secondaires à l'occasion.

[Purin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Książka wciągnęła mnie tak samo jak poprzednie części (zwłaszcza, że musiałam długo czekać na jej tłumaczenie).Wyciągałam z niej tyle ile się da, ciesząc dalej tym światem razem z Kirito i Asuną. Kocham małe gesty miedzy nimi i ich relacje. Tak samo jak uwielbiam wyobrażać sobie wszystkie opisane walki. Zwłaszcza tę w komnacie bossa. A i segment z burgerem kocham XDD
Już nie mogę się doczekać na kolejny tom 🙏

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the Progressives

One of my favorite parts about SAO is that it dabbles very subtly with some weighty topics of AI, individuality, death and reality. This book played well with the notion of “what is human” as it became harder to determine if the NPCs were truly just automatons following a script or maybe more “alive” in a very observation, personality sense.

[Rony Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eletrizante

Li essa Light Novel muito rápido porque a aventura me foi muito cativante. O contexto de uma missão maior além da mera coleta de itens e isso unido a criação de uma breve mitologia de fundo é um ponto positivo para minha avaliação. O desfecho dos mistérios desenvolvidos nesse andar também foi um impacto para mim.

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myia's fixation on her dad's gas mask was a little weird, but what the hell - this is SAO.

the little gestures between Asuna and Kirito, even though they aren't a 'thing' yet on floor six . . . true love, people. true. love.

[Niijishima · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great continuation of the previous novel and maybe my favorite book in the series so far. The mystery was great, finally some new characters, good plottwists and thrilling action. Only criticism I have is the use of the floor theme. It could be more fleshed out. But other than that I loved it.

[Daniel Mosalev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Десятилетняя девочка, способная фехтовать на уровне взрослого. Даже для игры это звучит абсурдно.
Кирито снова пробивает дно, не пожелав убить пеку.

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good book but i think the others have something more, and i didn't like the ultra high level power that the little girl has, is the only thing that i would change

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now it took 2 volumes to complete one floor 😅

[Hitomi Mizuiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ending things with a spark, for now.

Reunited with Kizmel at the 6th puzzling 6th floor of Aincrad, Kirito and Asuna considered more about their safety as the gang of players-killers (PK) will be on their tail from now on, only to be caught between their two quests. Myia, a new-comer in the revised floor quest, seek help from our heroes to search for their mother. After clashing the a small group caught between the PK gang and the elven quest, our heroes fought their way up to the 6th floor boss - which nearly cost their lives in an unsuspected ambush.

This volume brought forth all subarcs together from the previous volume, creating a roller-coaster ride conclusion. Readers get to see Kirito's willpower and the revelation of the act of PK to all supporting characters, opening the further question about their upcoming struggles on the succeeding floors of the death game.

So far, Kawahara did a good gamble on the Aincrad retcon. But asides the KiriSuna development, the series tried its best to subtly present other clues that we already know from the original story. Hoping for a great Volume 7.

[Cecille · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 2-parter on the advancement through the 6th Floor was a fun and suspenseful read, and this volume in particular had a lot of surprising call-backs to the volume right before this, but good lord did my focus start to drift once any of the MANY number puzzles came up xP