Ep 3. Memories of Blood

Kirito has been quarantined by government officials while they investigate the sudden death of eleven people connected to the game Gun Gale Online. Kirito was one of the few people to have interacted with the victims in the game, so authorities are hesitant to believe his claim that the killer is actually an in-game character known as Death Gun. Meanwhile, in the virtual world, Sinon is still struggling with her traumatic past and the fact that she took another player's life in self-defense.

As Kirito tries to convince the investigators of Death Gun's existence, he is visited by an old acquaintance from Sword Art Online, a fellow player named Klein. Klein tells Kirito that he has been investigating rumors about a player known as "Death Gun" who is rumored to have the ability to kill players in the real world through their avatars in the game. Together, they hatch a plan to enter Gun Gale Online and track down Death Gun before he can claim any more victims.

In the virtual world, Sinon faces off against a new opponent, a skilled sniper named Sterben who seems to know a lot about her past and psychological weaknesses. Sinon begins to realize that Sterben may be associated with Death Gun, and the two engage in a high-stakes battle where even the slightest mistake could mean death. Meanwhile, Kirito and Klein navigate the complex world of Gun Gale Online, trying to find any clues or leads that could point them towards Death Gun's location.

As the episode unfolds, we see glimpses of Kirito's past experiences in Sword Art Online and how they continue to affect him in the present day. He grapples with the guilt of being a survivor of SAO while so many others perished, and wonders if his obsession with virtual reality and video games is a way of avoiding reality. Meanwhile, Sinon begins to confront her own traumatic memories and feelings of guilt, as she realizes that the line between virtual reality and the real world may not be as clear-cut as she originally thought.

Ultimately, the episode ends on a cliffhanger as Kirito and Sinon come face-to-face with Death Gun, and a devastating secret about his true identity is revealed. The tension and stakes are higher than ever before, as the characters must confront not only the dangers of the virtual world, but the very real consequences that their actions can have on their lives and the lives of others.