Ep. 16: Yui explains the stakes at Thrymheim's entrance as the group faces minotaurs and Freyja.

At the entrance to Thrymheim, Yui reveals that the Cardinal System's Automatic Quest Generation Function created their mission. Failure triggers Ragnarok, a final war event that destroys ALO, motivating the group to succeed. At the second floor, they fight two minotaurs using elemental Sword Skills that cause temporary rigidity. Kirito demonstrates a new technique to chain consecutive Sword Skills with each sword, avoiding the delay and defeating the enemies. After defeating the boss guarding the lowest floor's entrance, they find a female NPC in an ice cage. While others suspect a trap, Klein frees her due to her beauty. She introduces herself as Freyja and asks to join the party, which Kirito reluctantly accepts. After recharging buffs, the group enters the throne room to face Thrym, the massive king of the frost giants.

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