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Sword Art Online Novels Enter New Arc in 2017
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
Sword Art Online: Alicization Lasting, the 18th volume of Reki Kawahara's Sword Art Online light novel series, revealed on Wednesday that a new story arc will begin for the series in 2017. The announcement teases the new arc with the text "Kirito will return."
The 18th volume is the last volume of the novel's "Alicization Arc," which began in the ninth volume in 2012. Yen Press is publishing the novels and manga in North America, and describes the series:
In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other - opens its virtual doors. Now players can take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in the game world by manipulating their brain waves to create a wholly realistic gaming experience.When the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG: a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one-hundred floors of Aincrad to regain their freedom. In the warped world of SAO, "game over" means death - both virtual and real...
The series has two television anime adaptations, an anime special, and an upcoming anime film. It has also inspired multiple manga series, games, and a virtual reality demonstration in Japan. Aniplex of America releases the anime in North America. Skydance Television is planning a live-action television series based on the novels.
Yen Press published Sword Art Online - Mother's Rosary, the seventh novel volume, on April 19.
