Status Updates From Sword Art Online, Vol. 8: E...

Enjoying Calibur. Cool seeing Sinon here after just finishing my rewatch of the GGO arc of the anime. Not a fan of Klein, but someone has to play the MC's goofy sidekick and he fills that role.

Finished the Safe Haven Murder Mystery with a marathon reading and... what a let down. The reveal was underwhelming and talked to death robbing it of satisfactory closure. The characterization of Asuna is also very different, like she hates men and rebuffs with rage Kirito's flirtations. Then there's Kirito calling her The Flash more than she ever was in vols 1 and 2. Onward to the Calibur and The First Day stories.

Lots here not in the one-episode anime adaptation. Heathcliff's holding court in the dive ramen joint was cool, knowing what we know now. Annoying is Kirito constantly referring to Asuna as "The Flash," a nickname that thankfully fell by the wayside.

Kirito and Asuna play detective to solve the murder of Kaine in a safe zone. This was in the anime, but I can't remember how it resolved...

„There’s just no way for a man to overcome his innate parameters, it seems.”