[You all keep mentioning President Asuna, and it immediately makes me think of another President Asuna Orz]
[Not even close, okay? 233]
[Is Argo's friend Kiriko?]
[Makes sense. Kiriko seems to have some social anxiety, so she asked a friend to help her 233]
[Didn't Kiriko say she wanted to go around it?]
[Maybe she couldn't get around it?]
[If it wasn't Kiriko, then it makes sense.]
"What is the Tree Sentinel?" Asuna asked again.
"After traveling for a day from the Initial Village, you'll reach 'Stormveil Castle.' Functions like mounts only gradually become available after reaching Stormveil Castle," Argo explained. "If you want to get there, you can follow the main road, but it's dangerous. There's a 'Tree Sentinel' there. Other than that, you can also take the side path."
Asuna raised her hand.
"Yes, Asuna? What's your question?" Argo said.
"The road is wide, right? Can't we just go around it?" Asuna asked curiously.
But Argo shook her head. "You'll be stopped—by that gray fog. Only after breaking through the obstacles in the 'dungeon' can you travel along the roads in the wilderness."
"So that's how it is...?" Asuna was startled.
"The open world needs to be developed bit by bit by the players. If you want to expand the world, you have to clear every dungeon a certain number of times..." Argo tried to explain it in terms beginners could understand. "Every area in Sword Art Online is a chain of dungeons. Only after players have opened up the route will the open world fully unlock. Bosses like the Tree Sentinel can only be passed after being defeated once."
"So, if we want to go to Stormveil Castle, we need to clear the Tree Sentinel dungeon, or have more players take the side path enough times?"
"Mm-hmm,