A Crime Within The Walls — 5 :

While Kirito and Asuna are taking a break in a town on the 57th Floor, they witness a player named Kains hanging from a window, pierced by a black spear, before his avatar shatters.

They team up to interview witnesses and eventually link the incident to a former guild called Golden Apple , whose leader, Griselda, was murdered under suspicious circumstances months prior. Key Characters 5 : A Crime Within the Walls

Deaths in towns (Safe Zones) are theoretically impossible due to the "Anti-Criminal Code" unless a player accepts a duel. Since Kains did not appear to be in a duel, the duo investigates how he was killed. While Kirito and Asuna are taking a break

The lead investigators who begin to develop their working relationship during this arc. Since Kains did not appear to be in

This episode is the first half of a story that concludes in Episode 6: "Illusionary Avenger" .

Griselda’s husband, whose motives regarding a rare ring item drop become central to the mystery's resolution in the following episode. Guide to Watching

This arc explores "system loopholes" within the VRMMORPG world and the psychological toll of being trapped in a life-or-death game.