Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

Though the distance between them was still a few meters, the wolf lunged forward after only a few strides.

Its movements weren't erratic like the Dire Wolves on the lower floors, on the contrary, they were smooth and coherent, like a howling wind gliding across the earth.

Faster than I expected.

Ren grit his teeth and sidestepped the initial pounce. A chill swept past his shoulder, had he been even half a second slower, the wolf would have sunk its fangs into him.

No time to breathe, Ren drew his sword.

The sound of steel slicing through air rang out clearly, and with one fluid motion, Windslash carved into the beast's flank. The curved blade traced a silvery arc through the air.

A sharp, clean tearing sound echoed.

Red damage numbers flashed above the wolf's head. It let out a snarl, its massive body thrown to the side, leaving behind a trail of blood-pixel dust like shattered crystal.

But it didn't fall.

It sprang back up immediately, retreating slightly, golden eyes locked onto Ren. Blood still oozed from the wound on its side, digital red fragments glimmering in the dappled light filtering through the canopy.

Ren held Windslash level with his chest, breathing slow and steady, like the rhythm of a heart walking into a storm.

'Strong… I missed the mark.'

He glanced at the wolf's HP bar, it had only dropped by about a fifth. The previous cut had landed, but veered off from a vital spot.

Ren bit his lip slightly, tightening his grip on the hilt.

Windslash was lighter than his old sword, allowing faster swings, especially with his current STR and AGI stats. But that same lightness also made it easier for his strikes to stray from familiar trajectories.

His center of balance was slightly off. It felt like his body hadn't yet fully trusted this new blade.

The wolf no longer lunged. Instead, it began to circle, footsteps as silent as falling feathers, golden eyes fixed intently on Ren like a predator realizing its prey could bite back.

Ren didn't break eye contact. The two circled one another, each subtle motion etched into his memory.

He narrowed his eyes. Next time, he wouldn't miss the tempo.

It wasn't unbeatable… but the monsters here were clearly different.

No longer simple beasts with predictable patterns, these were creatures with instincts. With habits. With combat reflexes.

A cold wind brushed through the treetops, rustling the thin leaves like the forest itself was breathing with the earth.

Ren lowered his stance. The sword tip dipped ever so slightly.

Killing intent rose like a held breath.

And then...

Ren lowered his body, one hand gripping the hilt, the other bracing the back of the blade, positioning for a forward lunge.

The wolf froze. The air between them stretched taut.

Just a heartbeat.

...It charged.

Ren leapt forward. His body became a blur, his attack speed significantly boosted by Windslash's +10% first strike bonus.

At the moment the curved blade cut through the air, Ren felt a vibration in the hilt, as if the steel itself had longed to be unleashed.

His heel skimmed the damp ground and dead leaves of the Misty Forest. Ren leaned left, dodging the lunging bite, and swept horizontally in a crescent arc.

Slash!

The strike slashed across the wolf's belly, this time hitting a weak point.

A burst of red fragments exploded like a butterfly burning to ash.

CRITICAL HIT!

The wolf howled, sliding across the forest floor, leaving behind a thick trail of pixelated blood. But it still wasn't dead.

Ren spun. A thrust drove straight through the dense fur, hitting head-on.

-153

When the wolf recoiled, Ren stepped in again, his next slash cleaving through its neck like lightning.

-192

Bleed Triggered.

A small status icon appeared over the wolf's head: Bleeding – 3s.

The wolf gave one last struggle, hind legs trembling, then collapsed... bursting apart into disintegrating pixel shards.

[Dire Wolf Lv.8 Defeated.]

[You received 43 EXP][You received 50 Cor][You received material: Wolf Hide (Normal)]

Ren exhaled, a breath slipping past his lips like the weight of something invisible had been lifted. He sheathed Windslash, its curved blade catching a faint glimmer in the misty grove.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, droplets rolling down his temple and disappearing along his jaw. But his heart remained steady, undisturbed.

Each beat thumped clearly, solidly, like a drum echoing deep in his chest, a sound that reminded him he was alive, here, now, in this cold and wild forest.

He crouched to check the loot.

A faint smile crossed his face. It was far better than expected.

The monsters on the third floor truly did offer greater value, experience, Cor, and materials were all worth it. If just one wolf gave this much... with focus, he could reach level 10 by noon.

And by afternoon, maybe even level 11.

Ren gripped the hilt of his sword more tightly, his gaze gradually calming, like a lake stilled after being stirred by the wind.

He moved through the trees, his footsteps as light as a breeze over fallen leaves.

Less than a hundred meters from the last battle, Ren spotted two familiar silhouettes emerging from the mist, two newly spawned Dire Wolves.

He stopped behind a tree, holding his breath.

His health was still full. The previous battle hadn't left a scratch, giving him a significant advantage if he were to face two at once.

Ren calculated in his head, distance, terrain, escape angles, then bent down and picked up a dried seed pod hidden under the thick layer of leaves. Precision wasn't necessary, just enough to draw attention.

Thwip!

A sharp whistling sound sliced through the air as the pod sailed, smacking squarely into one of the wolves' shoulders.

Two pairs of glowing yellow eyes snapped toward Ren's hiding spot.

Just one second.

Then both of them bolted forward, gray blurs tearing through the forest mist, snarling like nightmares born of ancient hunting instincts.

Ren didn't retreat. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword, eyes locked on every motion, ready to face the next fight.

He raised his sword to shoulder level, blade angled downward as if awaiting a silent signal. In an instant, Windslash shimmered faintly with a pale blue glow, the skill had activated.

"Stab!"

Ren launched forward like an arrow from a drawn bow. The distance between him and the first Dire Wolf vanished in a blink.

Slash—!

The blade drove straight into the wolf's neck, a clean hit to a vital point. Fiery red damage numbers burst forth.

He immediately pulled the blade back and stepped away, just in time to dodge the furious claw swipe that tore through the air where he had just stood.

The wounded wolf collapsed, its front legs buckling as it let out a weak growl. Red pixel fragments seeped from the wound, Bleed had taken effect. It wasn't dead yet, but it was out of the fight.

Without pause, Ren turned toward the second Dire Wolf rushing from the flank, its jaws wide open, razor teeth poised to clamp down on his left leg.

Whump...!

A swift kick, Ren's boot striking the wolf's lower jaw with a dry crack just before its fangs closed.

The kick didn't deal much damage, but it was enough to stagger the beast.

Ren didn't waste the chance. His eyes sharpened like cold steel. With both hands on the hilt, Windslash gleamed faintly, then vanished, slicing through the air so fast it seemed to tear space itself.

He surged forward in a flowing arc, his steps nearly silent on the carpet of dead leaves. The tip of his sword grazed the wolf's flank as he slid to its blind side, its natural weak point while dazed.

The Dire Wolf tried to retreat instinctively, but it was too late.

Slash!

A clean cut tore across its side, red light bursting out like fiery petals.

-109[Bleed Triggered]

The Bleeding status appeared above the wolf's head.

It howled in pain, its steps faltering, breath now heavy and ragged, but its eyes still burned with the primal fury of a predator. It no longer backed down.

Ren lowered his stance slightly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity in each motion, the wind brushing his collar, the soft earth beneath his boots, the metallic tang of blood filling the air.

He dodged just in time as the wolf lunged, its claws slicing through the humid forest air.

His boots skidded over mossy ground and leaf litter, drawing a faint trail. In that brief moment, he spun his wrist, Windslash arcing in a crescent, its blade slicing clean across the wolf's throat.

It didn't even have time to howl, its breath was severed. Ren followed through, driving the sword deep into its side.

The beast thrashed for a moment... then burst into fading light particles.

[You defeated Dire Wolf Lv.6]

Without pause, Ren turned to the remaining target, the first wolf, heavily wounded and on the verge of death. No hesitation, like a butcher finishing his task, he dashed forward and slashed clean across its neck while it lay helpless.

[You defeated Dire Wolf Lv.7]

[You received 40 EXP][You received 41 EXP][You received 55 Cor][You received 44 Cor][You received materials: Wolf Fur (Common) x1, Wolf Fang (Common) x4]

Ren pulled back his sword, flicking the hilt lightly to shake off the lingering virtual blood. He exhaled deeply, not out of exhaustion, but from that familiar rush of surviving another skirmish.

[Quest: Defeat 15 Dire Wolves][3/15]

Ren let out a long sigh, then dropped down beside a moss-covered tree trunk. His breathing gradually steadied after the relentless fight. Sweat trickled down his forehead, cold as dew.

He glanced at the quest interface and tilted his head slightly.

"If I went back to the first floor now and killed the Dire Wolves in the plains... would the system still count them?"

It sounded like a dumb question. But the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. They were still Dire Wolves, same name, same species. Technically speaking, there was no reason the system shouldn't update the quest if the requirement was just about monster type.