Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

"I'll hold the boar back. You just need to land the finishing blow." Klein rushed forward, positioning himself in front of Ren.

He drew his sword from his waist.

The wild boar charged like a small motorbike.

But it was far too slow compared to Klein's reaction speed.

Klangg!

Klein lunged, his sword barely making a motion, yet effortlessly deflecting the boar's attack.

A metallic clang rang out, but nothing serious happened. His blade merely brushed against the monster's sharp tusk as if swiping away a fallen leaf.

He took a step back, not hastily, but with steady footing, as if this were just a familiar training routine.

The boar snarled, but it couldn't advance further. Dale and Issin had already flanked it from both sides.

Their movements were smooth, their coordination seamless, like a combat drill repeated a thousand times.

None of them exerted too much effort. Everything felt effortless, as if the boar was nothing more than a harmless creature. Klein even chuckled. "This is just a low-tier monster. We need to raise the difficulty to make it worthwhile."

In mere moments, the boar was completely restrained, unable to escape. The whole fight felt like a routine practice session.

Across its body, glowing red cuts appeared like faint, eerie sketches. Multi-sided crimson pixels shattered into the air, signaling relentless bleeding.

Its HP bar now had only a single sliver of red left, as if one final strike would end it all.

Klein stepped back, his gaze full of trust as he looked at Ren. With a small nod, he signaled him forward.

"Go on, Ren. Finish it."

Ren tightened his grip on the spear. His chest pounded, every heartbeat threatening to burst through his ribs.

Scattered thoughts intertwined, but only one thing remained in his mind: the boar before him and the mission he had to complete.

The expectant gazes from Klein and the others made him feel as if all their hopes rested solely on him.

A rush of nervousness and anxiety surged through him, as if the entire world was waiting for him to act.

Ren took a deep breath, pushing down his fear, then steadied his legs and stepped toward the monster.

His spear wavered slightly, but his resolve had solidified.

He thrust the spear deep into the boar's neck.

A clean strike. The beast barely let out a cry before shattering into a cascade of hundreds of pixels, dissolving into the air like a flowing tide.

[Reward]

+14 EXP

+15 Cor

Ren stood there, his hands still trembling...but a sense of relief washed over him. It felt like a weight had just been lifted.

A faint smile formed on his lips, though the lingering nervousness hadn't completely faded.

"Not bad, Ren." Dynamm walked over, giving him a pat on the shoulder as a gesture of praise.

The others nodded and smiled in encouragement. No need for excessive words, their supportive glances and gestures were more than enough.

A warmth bloomed in Ren's chest, as if a new turning point had just opened before him.

[Quest Progress: 1/10]

A flicker of confidence stirred within Ren.

I can do this… right?

He clenched his spear tighter and looked at his teammates, feeling a newfound surge of energy.

"Alright then. Ren, how much more EXP do you need to level up?" Issin eyed him curiously.

"EXP?" Ren frowned, confused.

He opened his status menu and only saw the number Lv1....nothing else. A trace of bewilderment crossed his face.

"You didn't know? If you focus on your level display, the hidden EXP count will appear. Try it."

Issin gestured casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Ren nodded and followed his instructions, focusing on the Lv1 label. A strange sensation rose within him.

Suddenly, a small note appeared at the edge of his screen:

Lv1 (14/100)

"I see it now." Ren's eyes lit up, as if he had just uncovered something new.

"Fourteen out of a hundred, huh…" He muttered, a bit surprised.

"So you'll need to take down at least seven more. Did you accept any quests?" Issin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, studying Ren.

"I… took a quest to defeat ten boars," Ren admitted, a bit hesitant.

"Then let's work on getting you familiar with combat while completing your quest and helping you level up." Issin nodded decisively. His tone was serious, not just directed at Ren, but as an announcement to the entire group.

Everyone understood immediately. This shift in atmosphere created a sense of focus and determination.

Ren felt as if he had truly become an irreplaceable part of the team, this newfound connection both exhilarating and promising.

The group pressed forward through tall, dense grass, where wild boars frequently roamed.

Issin took the lead, moving like an experienced scout.

He seemed well-versed in navigation and tracking, his steps firm and confident.

"This place is pretty secluded, not many people come here," he remarked, eyes scanning the swaying grass. "It's where Klein and the rest of us usually hunt."

Despite the isolation, this area wasn't without danger. "Occasionally, Dire Wolves show up," Issin warned, his voice lowering slightly.

"They actively attack players. With their speed and agility, they're quite dangerous."

Then, a glimmer of excitement flashed in his eyes as he looked ahead. "But they're nothing Klein and the rest of us can't handle."

Just as he finished speaking, a deep growl echoed from the nearby brush.

A Dire Wolf sprang out at lightning speed, its eyes glowing and fangs bared in challenge.

Ren's legs locked up as he saw its wild, menacing presence. Instinctively, he took a few steps back.

But for Klein and the team, this was merely another minor challenge.

With a practiced motion, Klein swung his sword, slashing across the wolf's neck in the blink of an eye. 

The blade flashed red, cutting a clean arc through the wolf's throat with a swift stroke. But Klein didn't stop there. 

In less than a second, he turned smoothly, delivering a critical strike that split the wolf's belly open. 

The precision of the second cut was something only a truly skilled fighter could achieve. 

The wolf barely had time to let out a wretched cry before collapsing, its body dissolving into faint pixels that quickly vanished. 

Klein turned back, looking at the dagger still in his hand with a dissatisfied expression. 

"If only this were a katana," he muttered, his eyes scanning his weapon, as if regretting the lack of a better one. 

Ren stood frozen, unable to tear his gaze away from the scene before him. It took him a moment to process what he had just witnessed. 

'That was a chain skill… That means his weapon mastery level is high enough to unlock two skills and combine them into a seamless combo, all in an instant…' Ren felt a bit dizzy at the sheer level of Klein's proficiency. 

He wondered if he would ever be able to reach that level one day. 

While Klein executed those moves as if they were second nature, Ren knew that only patience and practice could bring him closer to such mastery. 

Klein didn't even need to adjust his stance. 

Behind him, Dynamm remained alert, swinging his sword down on another wolf's head, sending it flying back. The creature barely managed a whimper before disintegrating. 

Issin let out a light chuckle, as if all of this was routine for him. "Nothing to worry about. As long as we stay careful, we'll be fine." 

Ren, standing at the back, watched the scene with wide eyes. 

Fighting was still new to him, but the group's confidence made him feel a little more reassured. 

He didn't have to worry about the wolves, yet his heart still pounded at the thought of the next challenge. 

But the wolves only appeared briefly. This area was still mostly dominated by boars. 

Ren spotted their grazing figures in the distance. 

"Ren, it's your turn again," Issin called out as he dashed toward another boar, his sword slicing into the creature's side, making it stagger backward. 

Ren didn't need another reminder. 

He was beginning to get used to the rhythm of battle. His hands and feet now moved in sync with his spear. 

The anxiety in his chest slowly faded, replaced by a small but steady confidence that kept him from hesitating. 

At that moment, another boar charged at him. Ren aimed for its throat, taking a deep breath. 

The spear shot forward, striking precisely at the target. The sensation of the blade piercing through the thick hide made Ren exhale in relief. 

The boar thrashed violently but couldn't escape the fatal strike. It let out a final, pained squeal before collapsing and shattering into hundreds of pixels. 

"Not bad!" Dynamm patted Ren's shoulder approvingly, flashing him a grin. "You did well this time." 

Ren straightened up, a flicker of pride in his eyes. 

He wasn't used to fighting yet, but now, he could feel his progress in every thrust and every step. 

'Something still… feels off… I still hesitate when using this.' Ren glanced at the spear in his hands. 

But the thought was fleeting. Maybe… with enough battles, he would master it soon. 

"At this rate, we'll finish the quest in no time," Issin added, swiftly cutting down another boar. "Alright, let's keep moving." 

With each boar they took down, the fight felt smoother and more natural. 

Step by step, Ren was getting used to the battlefield. Step by step, he realized he was no longer just a bystander.