Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

The Dire Wolf growled, its fiery red eyes gleaming with rage as it was attacked. Its muscles tensed, body coiling, ready to lunge at Dale once more.

But Klein was faster. He kicked off the ground, leaping like the wind, his sharp sword carving a diagonal slash across the wolf's flank.

Hit!

A damage number appeared as the wolf let out a pained howl and staggered backward.

"Don't let your guard down!" Issin warned, stepping forward to shield Ren, his grip tightening around his sword.

Ren held his breath, gripping his spear tightly, eyes locked onto the Dire Wolf.

He could feel his body tense, but this time... it wasn't complete fear like before.

There was no time to hesitate. Ren pushed off the ground, lunging forward with his spear aimed at the staggering Dire Wolf.

A direct thrust.

But the wolf was faster. It suddenly sprang to the side, dodging Ren's attack.

The spear missed its mark and stabbed into the ground.

Ren grit his teeth, hurriedly pulling his weapon back, but the Dire Wolf had already leaped forward, its sharp claws slashing down toward him.

"Ren, move!"

Dale's shout came at the same time as Klein's powerful kick.

"Woofl!"

His kick struck the wolf's side, knocking it away. The moment its feet touched the ground, Issin was already upon it, his sword tracing a silver arc through the air.

Slash!

This time, the attack landed straight on the wolf's neck.

Critical hit!

The Dire Wolf let out a final, agonized howl before dissolving into shards of blue light.

Ren stood there, breathing heavily, cold sweat trickling down his back.

Dynamm whistled. "Damn, that was close, Ren."

"You're still not used to the spear's range," Dale observed, his gaze thoughtful. "You overextended just now, leaving yourself wide open."

"Mm…" Ren tightened his grip on the spear, silently taking in the advice.

Klein patted his shoulder. "But you've improved since last time. Keep at it."

Ren lifted his head, meeting Klein's determined gaze.

And for the first time, he felt like... he might actually become stronger.

The battle was over, but no one dared to let their guard down.

"Let's keep moving," Issin reminded them, scanning their surroundings. "There are still more monsters to deal with."

Ren nodded and followed the group.

But just as they started walking again, the grass in the distance rustled. This time, it wasn't a Dire Wolf.

A slow, slithering sound echoed through the air.

Dynamm shuddered. "Hey… don't tell me that's…"

From within the tall grass, a triangular head emerged, its golden eyes glaring at them.

A massive snake, its armored scales glinting under the sunlight.

It hissed, the eerie sound sending a chill down their spines then, without warning, it lunged forward at terrifying speed.

"Move!" Dale shouted.

And the battle began again.

...

Ren clenched his teeth, dodging to the side as the massive snake struck, his spear barely grazing its tough scales.

'Too fast!'

Before he could regain his footing, the snake twisted with astonishing speed, whipping its tail toward him.

Clang!

Ren instinctively raised his spear to block, but the impact was too strong, sending him flying backward. His body slammed into the ground, his HP dropping significantly.

"Ren!"

Klein's voice rang out, but before Ren could react, a flash of steel intercepted the snake's next attack.

Issin had jumped in, his blade striking with precision.

"Don't just sit there!" he barked, shoving the snake back with a forceful swing.

"I know!" Ren gasped, scrambling to his feet.

The snake let out a chilling hiss, its golden eyes scanning the group before suddenly opening its jaws wide.

Snap!

Ren caught a flicker of purple light inside its mouth.

Poison spit!

"Get out of the way!"

He rolled to the side just in time to dodge the toxic spray. The corrosive liquid sizzled as it hit the ground, instantly withering the dry grass.

If that had landed, he'd be poisoned for sure!

"Klein! Left side!" Dale shouted.

Klein reacted swiftly, twisting his body and slashing at the snake's snapping fangs.

Clang!

His sword struck the lower jaw, but the displayed damage was shockingly low.

"Damn it, its armor is too tough!" Klein cursed.

"Aim for the belly!" Dale called out, eyes locked on the monster. "The scales there are weaker!"

Ren tightened his grip on the spear, searching for an opening.

Dynamm raised an eyebrow and whistled. "Well then, let's test that theory!"

Without hesitation, he dashed forward, his steel blade spinning fluidly in his grip.

Using his shield arm, he slammed into the snake's head with enough force to knock it back. Seizing the rare opportunity, Dynamm slashed at its exposed underside.

A high damage number appeared!

"Nice!" Issin shouted.

Dale didn't waste the chance either, he leaped high into the air, bringing his greatsword down precisely where Dynamm had just struck.

Critical Hit!

The snake screeched in pain, coiling up defensively.

Ren saw his chance. He took a deep breath and tightened his hold on the spear.

He had to do this!

Pushing off the ground, he lunged forward.

His spearhead aimed directly at the wounded area on the snake's belly.

This time… he hit his mark.

The spear pierced through the weakened scales, sinking deep!

Pixels of red sprayed into the air as the snake thrashed violently.

"Keep attacking!" Klein shouted.

The group moved in unison, launching a final assault to finish the battle.

And with a few powerful slashes from Issin and Dale, the Serpentis finally shattered into fragments of light, disappearing from the field. 

[You have defeated Serpentis!] 

+32 Exp 

+15 Cor 

+1 Poison Sac 

+2 Serpent Scales 

Ren panted, the rush of adrenaline still surging through his body. 

Dynamm gave him a light pat on the back, grinning. "Hey, you did great! That thrust wasn't bad at all!" 

Ren glanced down at his hand, still gripping the spear tightly. 

Maybe… he could still fight, at least until he got his own sword. 

… 

After the battle with the Serpentis, the group paused to check their gear and assess their condition. 

Dale gazed ahead, his expression thoughtful. "We still have a long way to go before we reach the edge of the forest." 

Klein slowly ran a hand over the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the distant landscape. "The problem is, we have no idea what's waiting for us there." 

"Do you even need to ask?" Dynamm scoffed, arms akimbo. "Obviously, it's gonna be something even more dangerous." 

Issin nodded, his voice calm but firm. "We shouldn't take unnecessary risks. The field is still a good place to hunt monsters. 

If we push forward without knowing what's ahead, we'll put ourselves at a disadvantage. 

There's no need to rush. We can gather more experience to level up or earn enough gold for better gear. Then, we'll head to the forest when we're ready." 

Ren listened in silence, his grip tightening around the spear. 

He agreed with the decision to stay. 

The battle earlier hadn't been too difficult, but he knew he still wasn't strong enough to take on something worse. 

"Alright, it's settled then!" Klein clapped his hands together with an easygoing smile. "Today, we'll clean out this golden field!" 

Dynamm chuckled, winking at Ren. "That is, if any monsters even dare to show up after seeing how we handled that giant snake." 

Dale let out a quiet chuckle, his tone calm but tinged with amusement. "If that's the case, then I'm sure the real reason they're running away is you, Dynamm. You're just as loud as that snake was." 

Dynamm shot up in protest. "Hey, hey! What's that supposed to mean? I call it battle spirit, got it?" 

Klein and Issin burst into laughter, while Ren smirked slightly. 

For a brief moment, a lighthearted atmosphere settled over the group. But no one let their guard down, they all knew the field still held hidden dangers. 

And so, the hunt continued. 

After finalizing their decision, the five cautiously moved through the tall grass. 

The sun had risen high, its golden light washing over the blades of grass, making them shimmer like a gentle ocean. 

But everyone knew that beneath this peaceful surface, unseen threats lurked. 

Dale took the lead, his eyes scanning every shadowed corner of the field. "We should split into smaller groups for efficiency. But not too far apart." 

Issin nodded, his voice steady. "Three in one group, two in another. If anything happens, yell immediately." 

Klein folded his arms in thought before deciding. "Alright, I'll go with Dale and Dynamm. Ren, you're with Issin. That okay?" 

Ren instinctively tightened his grip on the spear, a hint of tension flashing through him, but he nodded. 

Dynamm smirked, giving Ren a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, kid. Issin's the most reliable one here. If anything happens, just hide behind him." 

"…Kid?" Ren shot him a glance, but Dynamm just laughed. 

With the teams assigned, the two groups spread out, maintaining enough distance to assist each other if needed. 

Ren followed Issin, carefully placing each step to avoid making unnecessary noise. 

Issin moved with a steady, composed air, his every action precise and unwavering, like someone who had been through countless battles. 

"Our targets are Dire Wolves and lone Serpentis," Issin stated, his gaze never leaving the swaying grass. "Ren, if we encounter a monster, I'll hold it off first. You wait for the right moment to strike." 

Ren tightened his grip on the spear. He knew he was still weak, but he didn't want to rely on others completely. "I can do it." 

Issin glanced at him briefly, then gave a small nod. "Good." 

The moment his words fell, a rustling noise came from the tall grass to their right. Ren instinctively stepped back, raising his spear defensively. 

A Dire Wolf lunged out at blinding speed. 

Issin reacted instantly, his sword flashing as he intercepted the beast's charge. The sharp clash of metal rang out as he deflected the wolf's claws. 

"Ren, attack!" 

Ren took a deep breath, adjusted his stance, and lunged forward, aiming his spear at the wolf's exposed side. 

But....just as the spear tip was about to hit, the Dire Wolf abruptly twisted, dodging his strike. 

He missed...again. 

The wolf countered immediately, its claws slashing toward Ren. He tried to evade, but he was too slow. 

Thud! 

A strong force shoved him back, Issin had pulled him away at the last second, preventing him from taking a hit. 

"Don't rush," Issin's voice was firm, but not unkind. "Wait for the right timing." 

Ren clenched the spear, frustration bubbling inside him. He had been too impatient. 

The wolf lunged again, targeting Issin. But this time, Ren didn't move recklessly. He held back, watching its movements closely. 

And then, as Issin's sword knocked the wolf aside, Ren spotted an opening in its stance. 

A chance! 

Without hesitation, he surged forward with all his strength, driving his spear straight into the Dire Wolf's throat. 

Thunk! 

The monster's HP plummeted into the red. It howled in pain before scrambling away into the grass. 

Ren exhaled heavily, his body still buzzing with adrenaline. 

Issin watched him for a moment before giving a small nod. "Better." 

Ren said nothing, but deep inside, he felt a small spark of pride.