ALO had the saddest death in Sword Art Online, not Aincrad

Sachi’s murder at the beginning of Sword Art Online is widely considered to be the saddest death in the series, but a sadder one happens much later. A large percentage of Sword Art Online fans not only prefer the first half of season one over the rest of Sword Art Online, but also point to Sachi’s murder in Aincrad as the saddest death to ever occur in author Reki Kawahara’s original story.

Everything about Sachi’s character is tragic. She and Kirito form a special bond under the most depressing of circumstances when she runs away from their guild for a heart-wrenching reason. This causes him to adopt a role that only further solidifies the likelihood of a much more tragic ending should one occur when he essentially becomes like an older brother to her. Their friendship grows even deeper during that monumental scene when she asks Kirito to sleep in the same bed with her since she doesn’t want to be alone. As a result, fans never doubted how shaken up Kirito becomes upon her death. However, the series’ saddest death is more about Asuna than Kirito.

Konno’s Death in Sword Art Online is Sadder Than Sachi’s Even though Kirito felt responsible for all of his fellow guild members, Sachi’s helplessness and dependency on him caused her to remain at the center of his sense of responsibility. So her death hurt him especially hard. But despite this, another character’s death is much more tragic, and it happens outside Aincrad and in a side story, no less, called “Mother’s Rosario.” Asuna forms a relationship with a player named Konno Yuuki to help her and her guild in a quest with a strict deadline. The reason why they wanted to complete that mission is even sadder when considering their plight since they are basically ensuring that a part of them is left behind. Before the tragedy inevitably strikes, Asuna first suffers rejection for an unknown reason, which only puts the viewer on edge before the real pain begins. And then it’s revealed. Konno and her friends are terminal patients, and Konno wants to spare Asuna the pain of losing a friend she just met by trying to stay distant.

If it’s even possible, Konno’s situation is much sadder when considering that her entire family has already died from the same disease that’s killing her and that the only way she can survive without experiencing any pain is to live within ALfheim Online 24/7 where she’s stayed for more than three years. (This is longer than the length of time Asuna and Kirito were prisoners in Sword Art Online.) So, over the course of multiple episodes, viewers have to endure scene after emotional scene as Asuna forces herself into what little is left of Konno’s already short life and grants some of her final wishes. One of them involves leveraging Kirito’s technical prowess so Konno can actually attend school. This is inherently sad since no healthy kid would ever want or can even grasp why someone would want to spend their last days in class.

Konno’s Death is Sadder Because Sword Art Online Gives It More Time But the sadness is far from over. In addition to the scene where Asuna brings Konno to her first home, Konno helps Asuna connect and share an emotional moment with her mother who she had been at odds with for a few episodes already. And then there is Konno’s actual death and funeral. It is quite grand. Asuna meets her in ALfheim Online and gathers hundreds of players who fought her as Zekken to bow to her as she dies in the one place she was able to exist without any pain. Part of why Konno’s death is so much sadder than Sachi’s murder is that Sachi’s story was contained in one episode, so much less happens. Meanwhile, viewers had to endure multiple episodes of an elongated death that Asuna also had to witness from episodes 18 to 24. There’s a reason why episode 24 is considered one of Sword Art Online’s best episodes.

Throughout those episodes, the emotional weight of Konno’s impending death is palpable. Asuna goes above and beyond to make Konno’s remaining time as meaningful as possible, even going against her own wishes and allowing Konno to attend school, despite the knowledge that it’s a temporary and bittersweet experience. As viewers, we witness the deep connection that forms between Asuna and Konno, and it becomes increasingly heartbreaking knowing that their time together is limited.

But the sadness doesn’t stop there. In addition to the poignant moments shared between Asuna and Konno, there is also a significant scene where Asuna brings Konno to her first home and helps her connect with her estranged mother. It’s a tender and emotionally charged moment, highlighting the complex relationships and unfinished business that Konno leaves behind.

Finally, the actual death and funeral scene for Konno is a grand affair. Asuna gathers hundreds of players who had fought Konno as Zekken to pay their respects as she peacefully passes away in the one place where she could exist without pain. The culmination of these events, the extended focus on Konno’s journey and the impact it has on Asuna, amplifies the sadness and grief felt by the audience.

In comparison, while Sachi’s death was undeniably tragic and had a profound effect on Kirito, it was more contained in its impact and duration. Konno’s death, on the other hand, was given more time to unfold, allowing viewers to delve deeper into the emotional turmoil and experience the full weight of the loss.

Ultimately, the combination of Konno’s heartbreaking circumstances, the depth of her connection with Asuna, and the extended exploration of her journey make her death in “Mother’s Rosario” sadder than Sachi’s in Aincrad, cementing it as one of the most heart-wrenching moments in the Sword Art Online series.

We bring out some of the most well-known Sword Art Online collection, all of which are available at reasonable costs. Visit our link now if you are interested in the Sword Art Online collection

Kirito, Asuna, Sinon, Leafa, Klein