# E2 - Raids
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GYW4WGEG6/raids)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:27] Alice**
Kirito.
**[00:29] Alice**
*It's all right. I'll go.*
**[00:32] Alice**
*After I've rescued the villagers,
I'll come right back.*
**[00:37] Alice**
*Kirito!*
***SIGN*** Raids
**[02:15] Alice**
That's...
**[02:24] Goblin**
Advance! Advance!
**[02:32] Alice**
Why don't they flee south
where there aren't any enemies?
**[02:35] Alice**
Amayori, wait here until I summon you!
**[02:45] Gasfut**
If the enemy breaches our line of defense,
use lethal force!
**[02:49] Barbossa**
Listen! Don't let a single one
get this far into the village!
**[03:05] Selka**
That's...
**[03:18] Alice**
We can't possibly defend against them here.
**[03:21] Alice**
Please have everyone
take the south road to evacuate!
**[03:25] Barbossa**
Don't be ridiculous!
**[03:26] Barbossa**
Abandon my mansion—
no, I mean the village and run off?
**[03:30] Alice**
If you leave now, you can get away
without being caught by the goblins.
**[03:35] Alice**
Your possessions or your lives,
which is more important?
**[03:41] Gasfut**
"Form a circle in the plaza,
and tighten up our defenses."
**[03:44] Gasfut**
Those are Chief Man-at-Arms Zink's orders.
**[03:47] Gasfut**
In a situation like this, even I, the village elder,
must follow such orders.
**[03:53] Gasfut**
That is imperial law.
**[03:57] Selka**
Let's do as Sister says.
**[04:00] Selka**
Father.
**[04:04] Alice**
Selka.
**[04:07] Selka**
Father.
**[04:09] Selka**
Have you ever once known Sister to be wrong?
**[04:13] Selka**
No, even I can tell.
**[04:16] Selka**
If we don't do something...
**[04:19] Selka**
we'll all be killed!
**[04:21] Barbossa**
Flee?
**[04:24] Barbossa**
You're just a child, so stay out of this!
**[04:27] Barbossa**
The village must be protected!
**[04:34] Barbossa**
I-I see.
**[04:36] Barbossa**
I get it!
**[04:38] Barbossa**
You're the one who let those monsters from
the land of darkness into the village, aren't you, Alice?
**[04:43] Barbossa**
Years ago, when you crossed the End Mountains,
you were tainted by the power of darkness!
**[04:48] Barbossa**
You're a witch!
**[04:49] Barbossa**
This girl is a fearsome witch!
**[04:53] Alice**
As a knight,
I hereby revoke Chief Man-at-Arms Zink's order.
**[04:58] Alice**
I order all villagers gathered in this plaza
to evacuate to the forest south of here,
**[05:03] Alice**
with those who are armed in the lead.
**[05:05] Barbossa**
K-Knight? What are you talking about?
**[05:08] Barbossa**
There's no such Calling in this village!
**[05:11] Barbossa**
Claiming to be a knight
just because you can somewhat handle a sword.
**[05:15] Barbossa**
What would happen
if the knights in the capital heard about this?
**[05:21] Alice**
My name is Alice.
**[05:27] Alice**
I am the overseer of the capital city of Centoria.
**[05:30] Alice**
An Integrity Knight... of the Axiom Church.
**[05:35] Alice**
Ranked third!
**[05:37] Alice**
Alice Synthesis Thirty!
**[05:42] Barbossa**
I-I-Integrity Knight?
**[05:49] Selka**
Sister, you're...?
**[05:56] Alice**
I'm sorry I kept it from you all this time.
**[05:59] Alice**
This is the true penalty I was given,
and my true duty.
**[06:04] Selka**
No. I always believed!
**[06:08] Selka**
That there was no way
you could be a criminal.
**[06:12] Gasfut**
I shall follow your command,
Lady Integrity Knight.
**[06:21] Gasfut**
Those of you who are armed, take the lead
and guide the villagers to the south gate!
**[06:25] Gasfut**
Once you've left the village,
evacuate to the forest south of the clearing!
**[06:31] Villager**
Leave the wounded and the elderly to us!
**[06:33] Villager**
We'll lead the others out! Follow us!
**[06:38] Alice**
Father, please take care of everyone,
and of Selka and Mother.
**[06:44] Gasfut**
Lady Knight.
**[06:46] Gasfut**
Take care as well.
**[06:50] Selka**
Sister, don't push yourself, okay?
**[06:55] Alice**
Amayori!
**[07:05] Zink**
What a horde!
**[07:07] Zink**
Retreat! Retreat!
**[07:10] Alice**
Burn them all!
**[07:24] Barbossa**
N-No way.
**[07:26] Selka**
I-Is that Sister's...?
**[07:31] Zink**
A dragon?
**[07:39] Zink**
Wh-What are you doing here?
**[07:41] Alice**
There's no time to explain.
**[07:43] Alice**
Please evacuate with the others.
**[07:46] Alice**
Hurry!
**[07:48] Goblin**
I-Ium woman. I'll kill and devour you!
**[08:16] Alice**
From now on, I'm going to fight
for what I want to.
**[08:20] Alice**
To protect my sister and my parents.
**[08:23] Alice**
And...
**[08:25] Alice**
I will fight to protect the people of the Human Empire
Kirito and Eugeo tried to preserve.
**[08:47] Alice**
*Thank you, Kirito.*
**[08:49] Alice**
*I'll be fine now.*
**[08:51] Alice**
*I'm sure I'll still hesitate,
but I'm going to move forward.*
**[08:56] Alice**
*For you, and for what I seek.*
**[09:01] Alice**
I am Alice, knight of the Human Empire!
**[09:03] Alice**
As long as I'm here,
you'll never find the blood and carnage you desire.
**[09:09] Alice**
Return through the cave to your homeland!
**[09:15] Alice**
Enhance Armament!
**[09:24] Morikka**
Out of my way!
**[09:25] Morikka**
If it's just one little girl,
I, Morikka the Foot Harvester, will—
**[09:31] Morikka**
Wh-What?
**[09:35] Alice**
Storm and churn...
**[09:38] Alice**
...my flowers!
**[10:05] Alice**
This is the wall separating the Human Empire
and the land of darkness!
**[10:09] Alice**
Even if you unseal the caves,
as long as we knights exist,
**[10:14] Alice**
we will never allow you to corrupt this land!
**[10:18] Alice**
Make your choice!
**[10:20] Alice**
Either advance and fall into a sea of blood,
**[10:22] Alice**
or retreat and escape to the land of darkness!
**[10:44] Kid**
I'll make you a new doll!
**[10:46] Kid**
Yay!
**[10:50] Selka**
I think deep down,
Father wanted to come and see you off.
**[10:54] Alice**
I know.
**[10:56] Alice**
Someday, when I've fulfilled all of my duties,
**[11:00] Alice**
I'll come back here as plain Alice Zuberg.
**[11:04] Alice**
I think that's when I'll be able to say...
**[11:09] Alice**
"Father, I'm home."
**[11:18] Alice**
*I'll definitely return to this village one day.*
**[11:26] Alice**
*Even if I fall on the battlefield,
my heart definitely will.*
***SIGN*** Monday, July 6, 2026 2:07 PM Ocean Turtle
***SIGN*** Main Control Room Ocean Turtle 33 minutes after the attack
**[12:26] Vassago**
Hey! It's deserted.
**[12:28] Critter**
Looks like they ran away.
**[12:31] Gabriel**
Where are they?
**[12:34] Critter**
My guess would be...
in the Sub Control Room.
***SIGN*** Sub Control Room Ocean Turtle 23 minutes after the attack
**[12:46] Higa**
We're connected to the backup power now!
**[12:48] Higa**
Now we can use the Sub Control Room.
**[12:56] Asuna**
If Kirito doesn't regain consciousness,
I will never forgive you as long as I live!
**[13:08] Kikuoka**
I know that.
**[13:10] Kikuoka**
I'll see to it that Kirito recovers,
no matter what.
**[13:20] Rinko**
It'll be all right.
**[13:21] Rinko**
I promise you it'll be all right.
**[13:23] Rinko**
He'll definitely come back to you.
**[13:26] Asuna**
Yes, of course.
**[13:29] Asuna**
I'm sorry I overreacted.
**[13:35] Nakanishi**
Reporting in, sir.
**[13:36] Nakanishi**
Confirming that the primary and secondary
bulkheads have been completely sealed,
**[13:40] Nakanishi**
and that all noncombatants
have been evacuated to the bow block.
**[13:44] Kikuoka**
Good work.
How long will the bulkheads hold?
**[13:48] Nakanishi**
The enemy could break through with explosives,
but that's unlikely.
**[13:55] Nakanishi**
Near the primary bulkhead...
**[13:57] Kikuoka**
...is the Lightcube Cluster, right?
**[14:00] Kikuoka**
All right. Let's sum up the situation here.
**[14:04] Kikuoka**
Lt. Nakanishi, please report the casualties.
**[14:07] Nakanishi**
Yes, sir.
**[14:08] Nakanishi**
Minor injuries to three researchers
on the civilian block team.
**[14:12] Nakanishi**
Two heavy injuries and two minor injuries
to the Self-Defense Force.
**[14:17] Nakanishi**
None of them are life-threatening.
**[14:20] Kikuoka**
Any damage to the ship?
**[14:21] Nakanishi**
The bulkheads in the passageway from the bottom dock
to the Main Control Room can't be controlled remotely.
**[14:28] Nakanishi**
Even worse,
now that the main power line has been cut,
**[14:33] Nakanishi**
even though the auxiliary line is providing
a stable power supply to all areas,
**[14:38] Nakanishi**
we can't rotate the screws
without rebooting the control system.
**[14:42] Kikuoka**
Just like a sea turtle without its fins, huh?
**[14:45] Kikuoka**
Plus, it's got a shark latched onto its belly.
**[14:48] Nakanishi**
Yes. Sectors 1 through 12 in the Lower Shaft...
have all been completely taken over.
**[14:56] Kikuoka**
So they've seized Main Control,
STL Room One, and...
**[15:01] Kikuoka**
...even the nuclear reactor, huh?
**[15:05] Kikuoka**
I guess the silver lining
is that their intention isn't to destroy.
**[15:10] Kikuoka**
The question is, who are these guys?
**[15:15] Kikuoka**
Higa, do you have any thoughts?
**[15:17] Higa**
Well.
**[15:20] Higa**
Let's see.
**[15:24] Higa**
Going by the color and specs of their gear,
they don't belong to any official army.
**[15:29] Higa**
And from their average size,
we can assume that they're not Asian.
**[15:34] Kikuoka**
So at the very least,
they're not with a domestic special forces.
**[15:39] Kikuoka**
How lucky for us, huh?
**[15:42] Kikuoka**
And there's one more thing
we can say with certainty.
**[15:45] Kikuoka**
These people know about
the existence of Project Alicization.
**[15:49] Higa**
Yeah, you got that right.
**[15:51] Higa**
I mean, they went straight
to the Main Control Room.
**[15:56] Higa**
Which means their goal is
the true bottom-up artificial intelligence.
**[16:02] Higa**
To seize A.L.I.C.E.
**[16:06] Higa**
Luckily, we were able to
lock down Main Control in time.
**[16:09] Higa**
So now they can't interfere with the simulation
or eject Alice's Fluctlight from the cluster.
**[16:16] Kikuoka**
But the same goes for us, right?
**[16:19] Higa**
Well, yeah, that's right.
**[16:21] Higa**
It's no longer possible to use commands
to eject Alice's Lightcube externally.
**[16:26] Higa**
But Mr. Kiku, at this point,
wouldn't you call this a win?
**[16:31] Higa**
I mean, they can't access the cluster
by physical or informational means.
**[16:36] Higa**
So now if our escort ship
sends some reinforcements,
**[16:40] Higa**
I'm telling you, it's game over.
Game over!
**[16:43] Kikuoka**
Not that we know what kind of game it is.
**[16:47] Kikuoka**
And that's the problem.
**[16:49] Kikuoka**
Tell me, will the Asahi take action?
**[16:52] Nakanishi**
Well, about that...
**[16:55] Nakanishi**
The Asahi was ordered by Fleet Command in Yokosuka
to stand by and maintain its current distance.
**[17:02] Nakanishi**
They've determined that we've been taken hostage
by our attackers, it seems.
**[17:07] Kikuoka**
Most likely, those men in black have a back channel
to the top brass in the SDF.
**[17:14] Kikuoka**
There won't be an order for the Asahi to attack
until after Alice's Lightcube has been secured.
**[17:20] Higa**
Meaning that those guys aren't just terrorists?
**[17:24] Higa**
This could be bad.
**[17:25] Higa**
If they have any experts on their side,
they might figure it out.
**[17:29] Kikuoka**
An operation within the Underworld, huh?
**[17:32] Kikuoka**
Now that they've taken control
of STL Room One,
**[17:36] Kikuoka**
they can certainly execute commands
via the virtual console installed in the Underworld.
**[17:41] Rinko**
What will happen if they do?
**[17:44] Kikuoka**
The target cube will be extracted from the Lightcube Cluster
in the center of the Main Shaft,
**[17:50] Kikuoka**
and transported via air tube
to the chosen control room.
**[17:55] Kikuoka**
There's an extraction hatch there.
**[17:57] Kikuoka**
And of course,
there's one in the Main Control Room, as well.
**[18:04] Kikuoka**
We're going to retrieve Alice's Fluctlight
from the Underworld before they can.
**[18:09] Kikuoka**
The only one who can do that is Kirito.
**[18:12] Kikuoka**
In other words,
our last hope rests on his shoulders.
**[18:18] Kikuoka**
Higa, tell us. What's Kirito's condition?
**[18:22] Higa**
To be concise...
**[18:25] Higa**
he's teetering on the edge
of the worst-case scenario.
**[18:35] Higa**
The assault by the last Death Gun member
left Kirito with damage to his neural network,
**[18:41] Higa**
and to treat him, we blocked his memories
and had him dive into Underworld like before.
**[18:49] Higa**
But for some reason,
his memories didn't get blocked.
**[18:53] Higa**
Kirito was plunged into the Underworld
as Kazuto Kirigaya, his real-world persona.
**[18:59] Rinko**
W-Wait a second!
**[19:01] Rinko**
Then he's been living as himself in the Underworld,
where time's accelerated, for how long?
**[19:08] Higa**
About two years.
**[19:10] Higa**
That's how long Kirito has been interacting
with the artificial Fluctlights of that world.
**[19:17] Higa**
Knowing the entire time that they'll all be destroyed
at the end of the current simulation.
**[19:22] Higa**
That's probably why he went to the console
in the Central Cathedral to contact the real world.
**[19:29] Higa**
To ask you,
Mr. Kiku to protect all of the Fluctlights.
**[19:35] Higa**
And I'm sure it wasn't an easy thing for him to do.
**[19:39] Higa**
But he did make it.
**[19:42] Higa**
Since we were under attack,
I couldn't check the logs,
**[19:45] Higa**
but it seems like he lost some allies
in the battle against the Axiom Church.
**[19:49] Higa**
That's why, when he managed
to get in contact with us,
**[19:54] Higa**
he was berating himself harshly.
**[19:56] Higa**
To put it another way,
he was attacking his own Fluctlight.
**[20:01] Higa**
At that moment,
the men in black cut the power line,
**[20:05] Higa**
which caused a short circuit, and the ensuing surge
caused the STL to spike momentarily.
**[20:12] Higa**
As a result, Kirito's self-destruction impulse was actualized
and his ego was deactivated.
**[20:20] Rinko**
Ego... deactivated?
**[20:24] Rinko**
What does that mean?
**[20:26] Higa**
Take a look at this.
**[20:28] Higa**
Normally, where this black hole is,
what you'd find is, to be precise...
**[20:33] Higa**
...the self-image.
**[20:36] Rinko**
Self-image. One's conception
as determined by the self, you mean?
**[20:42] Higa**
That's correct.
**[20:43] Higa**
Apparently, all our decision making passes
through a "Yes/No" circuit inside our Fluctlights
**[20:49] Higa**
that asks "Should I do this
under these conditions, or not?"
**[20:53] Higa**
For example, Rinko-senpai, have you ever ordered
a second helping at a beef bowl place?
**[20:59] Rinko**
I haven't.
**[21:01] Higa**
Even if your mind is like, "I want to have more.
I could eat another bowl"?
**[21:05] Rinko**
That's right.
**[21:06] Higa**
So in other words, that was the result
of your self-image circuit processing.
**[21:12] Higa**
In Kirito's case,
his Fluctlight is largely unscathed,
**[21:16] Higa**
but because the circuit in question
is non-functional,
**[21:20] Higa**
all he can do in his current state, most likely,
**[21:23] Higa**
is reflexive reactions
triggered by deeply ingrained memories.
**[21:29] Higa**
I don't think he knows who he is,
or what it is he needs to do,
**[21:33] Higa**
and he can't speak voluntarily.
**[21:35] Higa**
I believe that's his current state.
**[23:36] Alice**
Next time: The Final Load Test.