Accel World - Episode 16

Harem Count: +1

You've probably heard of the phrase "nothing is impossible" countless times before. In the world of reality, this may not be 100% true; there are bound to be things which we would consider "impossible" by human standards. But when it comes to the world of virtual reality—that is, in the Accelerated World—one's willpower has the ability to override the world's constraints, making the impossible... well, possible. First off, I'd like to applaud Haruyuki for his determination in this episode. I don't know what it was (maybe the depressing sight of Sky Raker's amputated legs?), but his confidence suddenly returned after last episode's insufferable fit of whining. His determination and perseverance really amazed me, especially after the first transition caused him to start from the bottom again right when he almost made it to the top. With his discovery of image control and the hidden power of the mind, I hope Haruyuki will be able to put up a decent fight against Nōmi this time around, even without his wings.

Back in Episode 13, Kuroyukihime had mentioned that there were two healers before Chiyu in the Accelerated World, one of them having left the game because he was tired of being fought over. While she didn't say who it was in that episode, the revealed connection between her and Sky Raker seems to suggest that the latter is the second healer. In a sense, this seems kind of likely. Generally speaking, the image of a healer (or priest/cleric in RPGs) is a kind and gentle female who is usually elegant and/or well-refined. This description fits Sky Raker perfectly, and because of the conflict she and Kuroyukihime had in the past, makes it even more likely that she's the one Kuroyukihime refused to mention. And since Sky Raker's currently not associated with a legion, there might be a chance that she'll reconcile with Kuroyukihime sometime in the future (possibly because of Haruyuki's words at the end) and, although less likely, join Nega Nebulous (though there'd be two healers then).

From the preview, the next episode seems to contain some Kuroyukihime fanservice and the rematch between Nega Nebulous (excluding their leader) and Nōmi. It will definitely be interesting to see how the three fare against the cunning kōhai and if Haruyuki will be able to maintain the confidence that he has built up in this episode. Added to that is the question of whether Chiyu will be able to handle the fast-paced battles in the Accelerated World, given that this will be her first, and against someone of Nōmi's calibre, no less.