Sword Art Online, vol. 10: Alicization Running

The Alicization story brought a darker, more complex tone. I wonder what motivated the author to deepen this particular storyline.

While the action picks up again, the slower parts made me curious whether that was intentional to build tension or just a natural pacing choice.

There’s so much intricate world-building, but the characters still feel real. I’m curious how much planning goes into weaving both together seamlessly.