Sword Art Online Volume 16 – Alicization Exploding Chapter 18 – War of the Underworld 28 Renri woke once again after a long time had passed. It was exactly amidst that rebellion incident that made the Central Cathedral tremor. With the resident knights defeated, including even Knight Commander Bercouli, and the fate of Alice, their trump card, unclear, Chief Elder Chudelkin found it fit to have him thawed. However, Renri did not fulfil his duty this time as well. Chudelkin and Highest Minister Administrator fell before he fully awakened and all his eyes caught, upon him regaining his movement, was the Order of the Integrity Knights in a state of utmost disorder. The request to participate in the futile mission to face off against the large-scale invasion from the land of darkness came from Bercouli, who assumed command, in the highest minister’s stead. Renri felt the high ranking knights who responded, such as Fanatio, Deusolbert, or Alice, shone all the brighter despite having experienced defeat. He thought he might understand if he went with them. He thought he might understand what he lacked. Why his divine instrument would not answer to him. Cowering in the corner of that hall, Renri timidly stood up and raised his hand. Bercouli placed his large hand on Renri’s shoulder with a firm nod and said only a single line to him. That he would be counting on him. Despite that. The pressure he felt in his first battlefield, or his first actual battle, rather, surpassed what he expected by far. The bloodthirst and lust of the scrambling forces of darkness separated by a whole thousand mel surged towards him as a scorched stench of steel and Renri fled before he knew it. —Stand. I have to return to my post. If I don’t fight now, I will remain a failure forever.