Kirito

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Kirito (桐人)
Alias(es)	Kazuto Kirigaya; Black Swordsman; “Cheater”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Moonlit Black Cats
Occupation/Role	SAO player; one-handed swordsman; later Dual Blades user
Status	Alive; active in ALfheim Online
First Appearance	Chapter 29

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dual Blades skill awakened	220	Xiang Kong identifies Kirito’s previously concealed Dual Blades skill from Kirito’s reaction; Kirito later uses two swords openly in the Sylph tournament. 262

Background / History

Kirito was among the SAO Beta Test participants. During the test, the players had only cleared to the eighth floor in two months even with resurrection available, leaving him uncertain whether the trapped players could clear all one hundred floors without it. 29

He attended Diavel’s First Floor boss-strategy meeting and formed a temporary party with Asuna and Wang Yang. During the battle against the Goblin Lord, Kirito coordinated closely with Asuna: he parried the boss’s katana while she attacked. 83 89 After the victory, Kibaou exposed him as a Beta Tester and accused him of withholding the boss’s altered weapon information to secure the final blow. 89

Kirito later answered Argo’s distress call in Waning Moon Forest. He tracked her through footprints and intervened as Black attempted to kill her, then fought PoH and Black while protecting her from further harm. 133 134 135 Following Xiang Kong’s killing of Baka, Kirito stayed with the unconscious Xiang Kong, advised him to conceal his red-player status, and helped explain how it could be cleared. 139

Despite his reputation as a solitary “Cheater,” Kirito joined the Moonlit Black Cats. His presence helped the small guild grow stronger, while Xiang Kong’s criticism of the group’s vanguard arrangement prompted Kirito to recognize that Sachi was not suited to the role. 157 158 208

Before a major raid, Xiang Kong privately revealed that he knew about Kirito’s Dual Blades skill and entrusted him with information concerning Aincrad’s underground labyrinth. 220 After the SAO incident, Kirito recovered from his coma and was told by Xiang Kong that Sachi was among the three hundred players still trapped in the virtual world. 230

In ALfheim Online, Kirito recognized Xiang Kong during the Sylph martial-arts tournament. After Xiang Kong confirmed his identity with knowledge of Aincrad’s underground labyrinth, the two fought an aerial duel that ended in a draw. 263 264 Kirito later voiced his ambition to become a game creator rather than remain only a player. 280

Appearance

Kirito is a black-haired swordsman associated with black clothing and a dark one-handed sword in SAO. 83 134

• Black hair and black attire. 134
• Primarily carries a one-handed sword in SAO. 89 135
• Uses a broad greatsword alongside a smaller one-handed sword when wielding Dual Blades in ALfheim Online. 262

Personality

Kirito is reserved and accustomed to solo play, partly because of the stigma attached to his Beta Tester identity. He is frugal with Kael, preferring inexpensive food and directing his money toward equipment that improves survival. 84 115

He is protective of his allies, as shown by his immediate response to Argo’s distress signal and his willingness to face PoH and Black while Argo remained in danger. 133 135 He also values friendship over rare equipment, supporting the Moonlit Black Cats’ decision to sell Prowler’s Pride to improve the guild’s overall equipment rather than keep it for himself. 162 163

Kirito is highly competitive. Hearing that Xiang Kong could defeat Asuna in a single exchange stirred his determination to prove that he could reach the same level. 113 He retains this drive in ALfheim Online, challenging powerful opponents such as Xiang Kong and Absolute Sword. 262 280

Abilities & Skills

One-Handed Swordsmanship

Kirito is an accomplished one-handed swordsman capable of fighting bosses, parrying attacks, and coordinating switching formations with allies.

• Parried the Goblin Lord’s katana during the First Floor raid while Asuna delivered attacks. 89
• Used a switching formation against Goblin Guards with Wang Yang and Asuna. 86
• His SAO equipment included a +6 weapon and a full set of +3 gear by the First Floor boss battle. 84
• His guard was nearly broken by the Goblin Lord’s overwhelming strength, leaving him unable to withstand another direct hit. 89

Dual Blades

Kirito possesses the Dual Blades skill, which he initially keeps hidden from even the Moonlit Black Cats. 220

• Uses a greatsword and one-handed sword simultaneously during the Sylph tournament. 262
• Can produce rapid, fluid two-sword offense capable of forcing Xiang Kong onto the defensive. 264
• Attempted to reproduce Starburst Stream, the highest-level Dual Blades Sword Skill from SAO, without Sword Skill system assistance. 264
• Without SAO’s Sword Skill support, his Dual Blades technique is less decisive and cannot break Xiang Kong’s defense. 264

Tracking

Kirito can use the Tracking skill to follow targets through environmental traces.

• Located Argo’s trail in Waning Moon Forest by following footprints between the trees. 133

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dark one-handed sword — his primary SAO weapon during the First Floor raid and the Waning Moon Forest confrontation. 89 135
• +6 weapon and full +3 equipment set — equipment maintained through careful saving before the Goblin Lord battle. 84
• Greatsword and one-handed sword — his Dual Blades setup in the ALfheim Online tournament. 262

Relationships

• Asuna — Temporary party member during the First Floor boss raid; they jointly defeated the Goblin Lord, and later maintain a relaxed friendship after SAO. 83 89 242
• Argo — Fellow former SAO player whom Kirito rescues from Laughing Coffin members; he later tries to fulfill Xiang Kong’s request to help Argo return to virtual reality games. 134 135 242
• Xiang Kong — Ally, rival, and fellow top player. Kirito supports him after his red-player incident, receives information about Dual Blades and Aincrad’s labyrinth from him, and later duels him in ALfheim Online. 139 220 263 264
• Moonlit Black Cats — Kirito joins the guild and helps its members become stronger; he also recognizes the danger in placing Sachi in a vanguard role. 157 158 208
• Sachi — Moonlit Black Cats guildmate whose continued entrapment among the remaining SAO players deeply unsettles Kirito after the incident. 158 230
• Suguha — Kirito’s younger sister, who supports him during his recovery and later participates in virtual-world activities alongside him. 230 276
• PoH and Black — Early Laughing Coffin adversaries who pressured Kirito in a two-on-one fight while he attempted to protect Argo. 135
• Yuuki / Absolute Sword — A powerful swordswoman who defeats Kirito, earning his acknowledgement of her exceptional experience in virtual worlds. 280

Notable Quotes

“I want to become a creator, not a player.” 280