Sword Art Online has never been short of memorable battles, each offering a unique mix of strategic warfare, emotional depth, and fantasy spectacle. However, some potential matchups remain merely hypothetical, and among the most intriguing “what-ifs” is a battle between two powerful characters: Bercouli Synthesis One and Vassago Casals, otherwise known as “PoH” (Prince of Hell).
Both warriors are steeped in lore and character development, which would have made a fight between them one of the most intense and emotionally charged of the series.
Bercouli and Vassago are opposite poles
They have completely different backgrounds, beliefs and motivations.
Bercouli Synthesis One stands as a legendary figure in the Alicization arc of SAO. As the first Knight of Integrity, Bercouli is a key figure in protecting the human empire in Underworld. His skills and deep wisdom, honed over centuries through the manipulation of time, are unmatched in the virtual world. Bercouli's weapon, the Sword that Sunders Time, grants him the unique ability to manipulate time, effectively making his attacks inevitable once launched. His command on the battlefield is impressive, as his mastery of combat is enhanced by experience and patience, allowing him to perceive events and opponents with a clarity unmatched by most. Bercouli's defining strength is his calm and rational approach to battle.
Unlike many fiery warriors who fight out of anger or revenge, Bercouli approaches combat with a sense of duty and pragmatism. His age and wisdom make him a patient strategist, and his ability to see beyond immediate threats gives him an edge against impulsive or short-sighted opponents. He fights not because he wants to, but because he has to, which would make his potential fight with Vassago even more compelling. On the other hand, the aforementioned Vassago Casals (also known as the Prince of Hell), is a ruthless and sadistic antagonist throughout the series. As one of the original members of Laughing Coffin, Aincrad's infamous player assassin guild, Vassago is in stark contrast to Bercouli's sense of duty and honor.The entire worldview of PoH is characterized by chaos and destruction.
In the War of Underworld story arc, Vassago returns to wreak havoc, this time siding with the forces attempting to tear apart the virtual world of Underworld. Unlike Bercouli, Vassago does not possess a particularly unique or supernatural weapon. Instead, his skill lies in psychological warfare, manipulating and terrorizing his opponents, relying on his dark charisma and pure cruelty. Vassago's fighting style is brutal and relentless, often relying on dirty tricks and underhanded tactics to defeat his enemies. His greatest strength lies in his unpredictability and his ability to get under his opponent's skin, causing them to lose focus and rationality during combat.
Fans theorize what a hypothetical clash between these titans would look like
They would give each other a hard time
In terms of pure combat skill, a clash between Bercouli and Vassago would be a battle between order and chaos. Bercouli's Time-Splitting Sword gives him an immense advantage, allowing him to slice through time itself and land strikes that are impossible to avoid. This power puts him at a considerable advantage over most opponents, including Vassago, who relies more on psychological manipulation and surprise attacks. However, while Bercouli is a master of strategy and foresight, Vassago's unpredictability would make him a challenging opponent. Vassago thrives on chaos, and his lack of a moral compass would mean that no tactic is off-limits to him. He would not hesitate to use dirty tricks, deception, or psychological warfare to throw Bercouli off balance.
This dynamic, Bercouli's disciplined and methodical approach versus Vassago's chaotic and brutal nature, would make for a truly compelling fight. Bercouli's ability to remain calm in the face of adversity would be tested against Vassago's relentless aggression and psychological torment. Vassago has a history of mentally unravelling his opponents, as seen with the likes of Kirito, but Bercouli's age and wisdom might make him less susceptible to such tactics. On the other hand, Vassago's unorthodox fighting style and propensity to go to extremes would keep Bercouli on tenterhooksas the Integrity Knight might have difficulty anticipating Vassago's next move in the traditional sense.
Sword Art Online's narrative did not bring Bercouli and Vassago to a clash
A battle between this pair was never meant to happen.
Despite the tantalizing potential of such a fight, I KNOWthe plot simply did not allow this clash to happen. The main reason is that Bercouli and Vassago are part of different arcs and factions within the SAO chronology. Bercouli's arc is deeply rooted in the Alicization narrative, where he serves as a Knight of Integrity protecting the human empire. His goal remains to fight the enemies of the Dark Territory and maintain the stability of the Underworld. Vassago, on the other hand, acts as a wild card, showing up at key moments to wreak havoc. His agenda is never tied to the stability of the Underworld, but rather to causing as much chaos and destruction as possible. By the time Vassago takes center stage in the Underworld War, Bercouli has already sacrificed himself in his battle with the Dark God Vecta, another formidable foe who has pushed Bercouli to his absolute limits.
There is also a thematic contrast between these two characters. Bercouli represents the old guard, an ancient protector of the human empire whose wisdom and calm demeanor reflect the past. Vassago, on the other hand, represents the chaotic future, where morality and honor are sacrificed for power and destruction. The story arc of SAO did not give these two conflicting forces space to meet directly, instead focusing on battles that served the thematic resolution of their respective story arcs. While SAOThe decision not to pit Bercouli against Vassago is understandable within the narrative framework, but it remains a missed opportunity for fans who love to see two powerful forces clash. This fight would not have been just a show of fighting skill, but a deeply emotional battle of ideologies. Bercouli's resolve and sense of duty versus Vassago's nihilistic worldview would have created a clash that was as much psychological as it was physical.
Bercouli's eventual death in battle was heroic and fitting, but had he lived longer, a clash with Vassago might have allowed for a deeply personal exploration of two warriors embodying opposing values. Vassago's chaotic energy might have brought out a different side of Bercouli, one where his stoic calm could have been pushed to the limit. A battle between Bercouli Synthesis One and Vassago Casals would have been one of the most engaging and complex in SAO. Both characters possess contrasting strengths that would have created an intense dynamic, with Bercouli's wisdom and manipulation of time pitted against Vassago's cruelty and unpredictability. While this fight never occurred in canon, it remains a fascinating hypothetical clash that would have left a lasting mark on the series.