# E3 - The Final Load Test
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GY24GX40R/the-final-load-test)
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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.)
***SIGN*** Saturday June 27, 2026 San Diego 9 Days before the attack on the Ocean Turtle
**[00:14] ---**
Leave this to me!
**[00:25] ---**
Time's up, huh?
**[00:27] ---**
All teams, retreat.
**[00:29] ---**
Move away from Grid 1-9.
**[00:32] ---**
That would've been
the last prey for today, right?
**[00:35] ---**
You sure you want to end on a loss, Boss?
**[00:39] ---**
Battling an irregular squadron like that
won't do much good, training-wise.
**[00:44] ---**
We wouldn't want any negative effects
to carry over into the actual operation.
**[00:48] ---**
Let's go.
**[01:07] ---**
Mr. Miller. The men from the NSA have arrived.
**[01:11] ---**
Send them in.
**[01:13] ---**
Mr. Miller, we'd like to hire you,
Glowgen Defense Systems, for a top secret mission.
**[01:20] ---**
And the nature of the mission is?
**[01:22] ---**
To seize the Soul Translation technology.
**[01:25] ---**
What is that, exactly?
**[01:28] ---**
It was developed
by a Japanese company called Rath,
**[01:30] ---**
and it's a machine
that can decipher human souls.
**[01:33] ---**
Souls?
**[01:35] ---**
Decipher them?
**[01:36] ---**
That's right.
**[01:38] ---**
Using this Soul Translation technology,
**[01:41] ---**
Rath has apparently succeeded in not only
analyzing human souls, but in cloning them as well.
**[01:47] ---**
Should this artificial soul,
code-name ALICE, be fully developed,
**[01:52] ---**
it could be installed
into unmanned Japanese weapons,
**[01:54] ---**
which could disrupt the balance
of military power in East Asia.
**[01:57] ---**
The U.S. needs to take control of that technology
before that can happen.
**[02:03] ---**
I see.
**[02:05] ---**
So, tell me the specifics of this mission.
**[02:08] ---**
There's a mega-float for research called the Ocean Turtle,
moored near the Izu Islands.
**[02:14] ---**
We'd like your people to break into it
**[02:16] ---**
and obtain the Soul Translation technology.
**[02:19] ---**
That will require a raid on a Japanese ship...
one of our allies, you know.
**[02:24] ---**
We've made arrangements
with the JSDF top brass.
**[02:27] ---**
Apparently, the JSDF isn't the monolith
it appears to be.
**[02:31] ---**
Use whatever methods you want.
**[02:33] ---**
Just remember that the U.S. isn't involved
in this mission in any way.
**[02:41] ---**
Fine.
**[02:43] ---**
I'll assemble the team,
and lead it myself.
**[02:50] ---**
ALICE, your soul will be so sweet.
***SIGN*** The Final Load Test
***SIGN*** Main Control Room Ocean Turtle 35 minutes after the attack
**[04:36] ---**
Critter, you bastard... just try saying that again!
**[04:39] ---**
I'll repeat it as many times as you want, Vassago.
**[04:42] ---**
Listen up! This console is locked tighter
than a pile of dried turds.
**[04:47] ---**
I could crunch the numbers on the laptop we brought
until you die of old age, and I'd still never crack it!
**[04:54] ---**
You're missing the point,
you damned four eyes!
**[04:57] ---**
You said we got locked out
because we took too long to break in!
**[05:02] ---**
Hey, hey, all I did was point out a fact.
**[05:05] ---**
For someone who hung back cowering
during the battle, you sure are cocky!
**[05:12] ---**
Okay, that's enough, you two.
**[05:15] ---**
There's no time to point fingers at each other.
**[05:18] ---**
We have to consider our next move now, all right?
**[05:20] ---**
Yeah, but Bro,
**[05:22] ---**
this guy needs to be put in his place.
**[05:25] ---**
I'm satisfied with what
this team's achieved till now.
**[05:29] ---**
Our only casualty was Gary getting grazed.
**[05:33] ---**
And we succeeded in taking over the control room,
our primary objective.
**[05:37] ---**
Yeah, but if we're locked out
of the control system itself, what's the point?
**[05:43] ---**
Our ultimate target, the Lightcube Cluster,
is beyond that wall, right?
**[05:48] ---**
That's why I'm saying
we need to come up with a way to breach that wall.
**[05:53] ---**
Still, those JSDF guys won't stay holed up forever.
**[05:58] ---**
Once the real soldiers come charging in
from this turtle's escort ship—
**[06:03] ---**
I was told that the client
and the JSDF have a certain deal in place.
**[06:07] ---**
Apparently, the naval escort won't make a move
for 24 hours after the operation's launched.
**[06:13] ---**
So this operation's not just a burglary, then?
**[06:18] ---**
All right. Now let's go over the current situation.
**[06:21] ---**
It's currently 1447 hours, Japan Standard Time.
**[06:25] ---**
Forty minutes have passed since we broke in.
**[06:28] ---**
Right now, we're inside
the Ocean Turtle's Main Control Room.
**[06:32] ---**
Although we've successfully
taken over our target facility,
**[06:35] ---**
we failed to capture the Rath tech,
**[06:37] ---**
and we've been locked out of the system here.
**[06:40] ---**
Our next objective is to take over
the Sub Control Room.
**[06:44] ---**
Brigg, do you think
you can cut through the bulkhead door?
**[06:48] ---**
It doesn't look too promising.
**[06:50] ---**
It's made of cutting-edge composite materials,
**[06:53] ---**
and it would be impossible to cut through it
within 24 hours using the portable saw we brought.
**[06:59] ---**
Hans, what if we used C-4 to blow it open?
**[07:03] ---**
I wouldn't recommend it.
**[07:05] ---**
The chamber housing the Lightcube Cluster
is just beyond that wall.
**[07:10] ---**
If we blast open the door, there's no guarantee
that the contents of that room would be left unscathed.
**[07:16] ---**
The mission we've been tasked with
**[07:18] ---**
is to find a single Lightcube out of a mountain of them,
and extract it along with its interface.
**[07:25] ---**
We already have the cube's unique ID.
**[07:28] ---**
Come on,
**[07:29] ---**
this scrawny Four Eyes has been giving us this crap
about hacking into the Pentagon,
**[07:35] ---**
and yet he can't even crack open
a flimsy system lock.
**[07:38] ---**
Whoa, what a shock.
**[07:41] ---**
I just got told off by a gamer
who's only fired a gun made of polygons!
**[07:45] ---**
You bastard!
**[07:51] ---**
Do you guys want to go back empty-handed,
and get jeers instead of a bonus?
**[07:59] ---**
Are you incompetent enough
to be outdone by amateur techs?
**[08:06] ---**
Then start thinking!
**[08:07] ---**
Prove that those containers sitting on your necks
are filled with something other than oatmeal!
**[08:22] ---**
*The pressure bulkhead leading to
the Lightcube Cluster chamber can't be breached.*
**[08:26] ---**
*Meaning that our only option
is to control the system from here.*
**[08:30] ---**
How's it looking?
**[08:31] ---**
No chance of logging in
with administrator privileges.
**[08:35] ---**
About all we can do is peek enviously at the fairyland
where the Fluctlights live in such bliss.
**[08:47] ---**
Goblins?
**[08:48] ---**
Hey, you've done your homework, Captain!
**[08:51] ---**
Yeah, but they seem kinda big for goblins.
**[08:54] ---**
Those are Hobs. They're Hobgoblins, I bet.
**[08:58] ---**
Critter.
**[08:59] ---**
Yeah?
**[09:01] ---**
Are these monsters
part of the system?
**[09:05] ---**
Doesn't look that way.
**[09:07] ---**
These guys have artificial souls
loaded into the Lightcube Cluster above.
**[09:12] ---**
They have Fluctlights.
**[09:14] ---**
Are you serious?
**[09:16] ---**
These Hobgoblins have souls,
the same as us?
**[09:20] ---**
Do those Lightcubes
all contain goblins and orcs like these?
**[09:25] ---**
Is our Alice one, too?
**[09:26] ---**
Of course not!
**[09:28] ---**
This realm called the Underworld...
**[09:31] ---**
is divided into the Human Empire,
where normal humans live,
**[09:34] ---**
and the Dark Territory that lies outside it,
which is teeming with monsters.
**[09:40] ---**
It's pretty much a given
that Alice lives in the Human Empire,
**[09:44] ---**
but since it's so gigantic,
**[09:46] ---**
there's no way that we'll ever find her
by just peeking in like this.
**[09:49] ---**
Come on, that's a total no-brainer!
**[09:52] ---**
If that's the case,
all we have to do is dive into this Human Empire,
**[09:55] ---**
and ask whoever we come across,
"Hey, do you know a girl named Alice?"
**[09:58] ---**
Wow, we have a dumbass here!
**[10:00] ---**
What's that, bastard?
**[10:02] ---**
Look, there are tens of thousands of people
living in the Human Empire.
**[10:07] ---**
You really think
you can canvas them all on your... own?
**[10:12] ---**
Wait. Hold on, hold on!
Maybe it doesn't have to be done by one person.
**[10:16] ---**
I see.
**[10:17] ---**
The accounts set up
to log into the Underworld...
**[10:21] ---**
It's unlikely that they'd all be
Level 1 ordinary citizens.
**[10:25] ---**
Isn't that right, Critter?
**[10:30] ---**
For the Rath operators to log in and observe,
or else control it from inside,
**[10:35] ---**
they must be set up with accounts
of all ranks and professions.
**[10:38] ---**
Hey! How cool is that?
**[10:41] ---**
In other words, we should just log in
as a general or president or some other big shot,
**[10:45] ---**
and order them to smoke out Alice, right?
**[10:49] ---**
I don't know, hearing you put it like that...
**[10:51] ---**
makes this idea sound really stupid.
**[10:55] ---**
Dammit, no good, huh?
**[10:57] ---**
They have some hard-core protection
on the high-level account logins as well.
**[11:02] ---**
Looks like we can only dive into the Human Empire
with an ordinary citizen's account.
**[11:08] ---**
Damn, what a letdown!
**[11:11] ---**
Critter, aren't there any high-level accounts
set up outside the Human Empire?
**[11:16] ---**
Outside it?
**[11:17] ---**
But aren't the chances
of Alice being there close to nil?
**[11:22] ---**
Well, yes, I guess so.
**[11:24] ---**
But it's not as if the borders
are totally impenetrable, right?
**[11:29] ---**
That's my bro! Thinking outside the box!
**[11:32] ---**
In other words, you mean,
**[11:34] ---**
go in as general of those monsters
and attack, right?
**[11:37] ---**
That would get me more fired up, for sure!
**[11:41] ---**
A-ha, found it, found it!
**[11:46] ---**
All right! No password!
**[11:48] ---**
Well, well...
**[11:50] ---**
First, here's someone with the rank of Dark Knight.
**[11:54] ---**
His Object Control level is... 70!
We can work with that!
**[11:58] ---**
Hey, not bad!
**[12:00] ---**
That one's mine, all right?
**[12:03] ---**
Right, and here's another one...
**[12:06] ---**
What's this?
**[12:07] ---**
The ranking's blank, and there's no level, either.
**[12:10] ---**
The only setting is its name.
**[12:13] ---**
Now how do you pronounce this?
**[12:15] ---**
Emperor... Vecta?
**[12:19] ---**
Emperor... as in ruler?
**[12:21] ---**
On second thought, I'll take that one—
**[12:23] ---**
No.
**[12:24] ---**
I'm taking that one for myself.
**[12:27] ---**
I won't argue.
**[12:29] ---**
Okay, so you can take on the role of Emperor,
and I'll be the Dark Knight.
**[12:33] ---**
Hey, I'm starting to get pumped up!
**[12:36] ---**
Hey! Four eyes! Can we log in yet?
**[12:40] ---**
What's wrong, Critter?
**[12:41] ---**
Is there some other problem?
**[12:44] ---**
Maybe it's just something that's bugging me,
**[12:47] ---**
but I'm looking at the data,
and this odd phrase keeps popping up.
**[12:51] ---**
I'm not sure what it means yet.
**[12:55] ---**
What kind of phrase?
**[12:57] ---**
"Final load test."
**[13:02] ---**
Um... let's see.
**[13:04] ---**
As far as Kirito's condition
in the real world is concerned,
***SIGN*** Sub Control Room Ocean Turtle 37 minutes after the attack
**[13:07] ---**
like I just explained,
things aren't looking too optimistic.
**[13:11] ---**
That said, Kirito still remains
logged into the Underworld.
**[13:16] ---**
In other words,
**[13:18] ---**
even though his self-image has been damaged,
**[13:20] ---**
his Fluctlight itself is still active,
and is receptive to various stimuli.
**[13:26] ---**
He's lost his own soul
because he blamed himself so vehemently.
**[13:31] ---**
If someone in the Underworld
were to offer him forgiveness, then maybe...
**[13:39] ---**
I'll go!
**[13:42] ---**
Ms. Asuna?
**[13:48] ---**
I'll go into the Underworld.
**[13:53] ---**
I want to go there and tell Kirito...
**[13:57] ---**
that he did a good job.
**[13:59] ---**
To say, "I know you went through
so much sadness and pain,
**[14:03] ---**
but you did the best that you could."
**[14:07] ---**
It's true that we have one more vacant STL.
**[14:11] ---**
But the Underworld isn't exactly stable right now.
**[14:17] ---**
Because we're about to enter the last stage
of the scheduled final load test.
**[14:22] ---**
Final... load?
**[14:24] ---**
What's going to happen?
**[14:25] ---**
The Durability of the Eastern Gate,
**[14:28] ---**
which divides the Human Empire
and the Dark Territory, will reach zero,
**[14:31] ---**
and an army of monsters
will flood the Human Empire.
**[14:35] ---**
If the humans had sufficient defenses in place,
**[14:38] ---**
they would've ultimately
been able to drive them back.
**[14:41] ---**
But during this last experiment,
**[14:43] ---**
Kirito pretty much destroyed
the ruling organization, the Axiom Church,
**[14:48] ---**
so who knows what will happen?
**[14:51] ---**
Either way, we may have reached the point
where one of us will have to dive in.
**[14:58] ---**
Once the invasion begins,
**[14:59] ---**
it's possible that Alice, who's somewhere
in the Human Empire, could be killed in the chaos.
**[15:06] ---**
If someone can enter
with a superuser account,
**[15:09] ---**
transport Alice, under their protection,
to the World End's Altar,
**[15:14] ---**
and from there, eject Alice's Lightcube
to the Sub Control Room.
**[15:21] ---**
Isn't that what you asked Kirito to do as well?
**[15:26] ---**
If he'd made it,
then I'm sure he would've pulled it off.
**[15:30] ---**
Because he was right by Alice at the time.
**[15:33] ---**
You're saying that several months later
in terms of internal time,
**[15:36] ---**
it's highly likely that those two are still together?
**[15:40] ---**
I think it's safe to assume that they are.
**[15:43] ---**
Meaning that having Asuna dive in
might be our best option.
**[15:48] ---**
As well as the ability
to communicate with Kirito,
**[15:51] ---**
whoever goes will need combat ability
to protect Alice in the Underworld, after all.
**[15:56] ---**
Then we should have her use
the highest account level possible.
**[16:01] ---**
Well, the choices are endless, then.
**[16:04] ---**
A knight, a general, a noble...
**[16:07] ---**
There are all kinds
of superuser accounts to choose from,
**[16:10] ---**
Hey, hold on a second.
**[16:12] ---**
What is it?
**[16:13] ---**
Isn't there a chance that
our attackers could come up with the same idea?
**[16:18] ---**
Oh... yeah.
**[16:21] ---**
True, they're just as likely
to catch onto this method, as well.
**[16:23] ---**
But they won't have time to crack the login passwords
for any superuser accounts.
**[16:29] ---**
Their only option would be
a Level 1 ordinary citizen... that's it.
**[16:34] ---**
What's wrong?
**[16:36] ---**
Never mind, it's nothing.
***SIGN*** Everyone, I'm going to the Underworld, too. I'll be coming back with Kirito, no matter what, so don't worry.
**[17:01] ---**
Are you ready?
**[17:02] ---**
Yes.
**[17:03] ---**
Anytime you're ready, please.
***SIGN*** Monday, July 6, 2026 4:56 PM Somewhere in Tokyo
**[18:23] ---**
Again... the guy from that day...
***SIGN*** You have a message from Asuna Yuuki
**[18:28] ---**
Asuna?
***SIGN*** Yui
**[18:29] ---**
*Sinon, there's something
that I'd like to explain to you all.*
**[18:33] ---**
*Would you mind logging into AOL right away?*
***SIGN*** Sylvain
**[18:40] ---**
So you see, in order to repair Daddy's Fluctlight,
**[18:45] ---**
Mommy has decided to dive into the Underworld.
**[18:48] ---**
Big Brother...
**[18:50] ---**
Kirito...
**[18:51] ---**
Oh, he'll be fine!
He's always come back, hasn't he?
**[18:57] ---**
So, is the Ocean Turtle all right?
**[19:01] ---**
Aren't they under attack by some sketchy guys?
**[19:05] ---**
Isn't there something that we can do to help?
**[19:10] ---**
Well, about that...
**[19:12] ---**
We might need to call on you for help later on.
***SIGN*** Main Control Room Ocean Turtle 2 hours and 53 minutes after the attack
**[19:29] ---**
All right, let's do this!
***SIGN*** October 30, 380 HE Dark Territory Obsidia Palace
**[19:59] ---**
Knight Lipia Zancale has returned.
***SIGN*** Dark Knight Eleventh Rank Lipia Zancale
**[20:03] ---**
Good work. You can have a seat.
**[20:06] ---**
Yes, my lord.
**[20:09] ---**
Don't call me "your lord"
when it's just you and me.
***SIGN*** Dark Knight Commander Vixur ul Shasta
**[20:13] ---**
Right, but officially, I'm still on duty.
**[20:19] ---**
So anyway...
**[20:20] ---**
What's this grave incident
that you had to send a familiar to alert me about?
**[20:25] ---**
Right. The pontifex of the Human Empire's
Axiom Church... is dead.
**[20:34] ---**
That immortal being?
**[20:36] ---**
Yes.
**[20:37] ---**
I also found it hard to believe,
so I spent a full week making sure it was true.
**[20:48] ---**
This is our chance.
**[20:50] ---**
Chance for what?
**[20:51] ---**
Needless to say, for peace.
**[20:54] ---**
Do you really believe that's possible, my lord?
**[20:59] ---**
Whether it's possible or not,
it's something we must do, no matter what.
**[21:04] ---**
But...
**[21:05] ---**
How do you intend
to convince the other lords, my lord?
**[21:10] ---**
And would the Order of the Integrity Knights
even entertain peace negotiations?
**[21:17] ---**
Regarding the Integrity Knights,
I believe there's a chance.
**[21:20] ---**
If the pontifex has been defeated,
it must be old man Bercouli at the helm now.
**[21:27] ---**
I can't stand the guy,
but I can have a dialogue with him.
**[21:30] ---**
It's the Council of Ten
that could prove to be a problem.
**[21:33] ---**
I know it sounds contradictory, but we...
**[21:36] ---**
...may be forced to eliminate them.
**[21:39] ---**
Four of them, at least.
**[21:41] ---**
Which four are you talking about?
**[21:43] ---**
Would it be both Goblin chiefs,
the Orc chief, as well as...
**[21:49] ---**
The chancellor of the Dark Mages Guild.
**[21:51] ---**
That woman's gotten her hands
on Administrator's immortality secret,
**[21:55] ---**
and is most likely desires
to become emperor herself someday.
**[21:59] ---**
No way would she accept any talk of peace.
**[22:01] ---**
But...
**[22:03] ---**
that would be far too risky, my lord!
**[22:06] ---**
The leaders of the Goblins and Orcs
may not be our enemies,
**[22:09] ---**
but as for the Dark Mages,
**[22:11] ---**
there's no telling what tricks
they might have up their sleeves!
**[22:22] ---**
Listen, Lipia.
**[22:24] ---**
How long has it been
since you came to me?
**[22:28] ---**
Um... it was the year I turned 21,
so... four years.
**[22:33] ---**
It's been that long already, huh?
**[22:36] ---**
Forgive me for putting you
in such an ambiguous position for so long.
**[22:41] ---**
What do you say?
Isn't it about time you, uh...
**[22:45] ---**
You know...
**[22:48] ---**
Officially... became my wife?
**[22:56] ---**
My lord!
**[22:57] ---**
Sorry that I'm so much older than you...
**[23:09] ---**
Emergency!
**[23:11] ---**
It's an emergency!
**[23:13] ---**
Th-The Throne Room!
**[23:15] ---**
The chain sealing it is shaking!
**[23:36] ---**
Next time: "Dark Territory."