Kazuto Kirigaya, also known as Sword Art Online‘s famous protagonist Kirito, has become one of the most recognizable anime characters in recent years. He is an important part of this amazing franchise, with millions of fans waiting impatiently for the continuation of his adventure. Fans had been wondering where the Black Swordsman could have gone after the beloved and unmissableSword Art Online: Alicization arc ended a few years back.
Their pleas for more Kirito have finally been heard, as this iconic warrior has returned in a shocking cameo during episode eight of Gun Gale Online season two. While brief, this appearance marks the first time the character has been seen in several months, something that has hyped fans for his return.
Kirito’s Long-Awaited Comeback Has Arrived
Gun Gale Online Season 2 Depicts This Iconic Hero.
During episode #8 of the Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online anime, Pitohui is seen preparing for her battle against LLENN, the amazing protagonist of this Isekai. Remembering the harsh threat of her opponent made her shiver, something that her loyal friend Fuka brought attention to. Elsa revealed that throughout her gaming career, only two players had made her doubt her ability to defeat them. The first one was LLENN, but the second one caused shock among fans, as it was revealed to be Kirito himself.

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During her time as a beta tester for the Sword Art Online game, she encountered Kazuto, challenging him for the loot of a boss. At some point during their fight, the extremely powerful Hero of Aincrad congratulated Pitohui on her strength, letting her claim the reward. While his name and face were not revealed, the voice and appearance of the avatar were Kirito’s. His character was seen wearing his beta-tester avatar, which had not been seen since episode #1 of the original anime.
Kirito’s Gun Gale Online Cameo Is His First Appearance In Years
He Was Last Seen During The Alicization Arc
Despite how significant Kirito is to the franchise, the beloved hero had been missing since the final episode of season 3 of the anime. After Sword Art Online: Alicization ended, the franchise decided to focus on Gun Gale Online, a spin-off series that had little to do with Kirigaya. While it was hinted that he would appear in the light novel version of the story, this also ended up being just a rumor.
His cameo in episode #8 of Gun Gale Online marks the first time he has been seen in many years, making it much more special for fans. His appearance might suggest that the franchise could come back to his story after the long wait. Nonetheless, fans are undoubtedly happy about the return of Kirito to this beloved franchise and hope to see more of him in future entries.