Haruyuki, now a Burst-Linker, suddenly finds himself thrown into a deadly match against a vicious biker named Ash Roller. Haruyuki is unable to grasp the situation and is quickly defeated. He later finds out from Kuroyukihime that the Brain Burst program is a fighting game designed to win points necessary to accelerate. In order to regain the points he lost, Haruyuki vows for a rematch.

A Duel Avatar called Cyan Pile is seeking to challenge Kuroyukihime in battle within Accel World. Haruyuki is later asked by Kuroyukihime to help her uncover the identity of Cyan Pile, and he is shocked to learn that one of the potential suspects is his childhood friend Chiyuri.

Haruyuki suspects that Cyan Pile is challenging Kuroyukihime within Accel World via access through Chiyuri’s neuro-linker. But when he tries to share his theory with Kuroyukihime, she walks off without saying a word, upset over the fact that Haruyuki engaged a direct link with Chiyuri.

The identity of Cyan Pile is revealed to be one of Haruyuki’s closest peers, who has been consumed by the power to accelerate. To protect Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki challenges his former friend to a duel as Silver Crow.

The battle between Silver Crow and Cyan Pile ends with Silver Crow’s victory. Having reconciled with Takumu, Haruyuki now focuses on training to level up in Accel World. Everything seems to be going smoothly for Haruyuki until he makes one small mistake…a costly mistake that could mean losing all of his Burst Points.

Haruyuki hires a bouncer known as Aqua Current to guard him until he can regain his lost Burst Points. Meanwhile, Kuroyukihime challenges Takumu to a Brain Burst match.

Haruyuki comes home one day to find a cute young girl greeting him with a smile. Claiming to be a distant relative, the girl then tells Haruyuki that she will be staying at his place for a few days.

Haruyuki’s little guest is revealed as Scarlet Rain, a.k.a. the Red King. The Red King explains to the members of Nega Nebulous that she requires the assistance of Silver Crow’s unique ability in order to destroy a certain being.

The unexpected drama of letting Kuroyukihime and Niko spend the night at his place has left Haruyuki feeling very tired. The next day, the team begins their mission to track and hunt down Chrome Disaster.