Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

November 12, 2022.

Day 6.

Since all players were trapped.

For nearly a week, Ren had been relentlessly hunting monsters with Klein's group.

Every day followed the same unending cycle: leaving town at dawn, fighting all day, then returning at dusk.

Every attack, every slash, every dodge was slowly becoming instinct.

He could feel himself getting stronger, little by little.

His Weapon Mastery with swords had reached Beginner (32/100). It was still far from mastery, but his progress was clearly much faster than when he used a spear.

He was getting used to this life, the scent of burnt grass after battle, the clashing sound of weapons, and the lively conversations around the dinner table after an exhausting day.

But today was different.

When checking his status screen, Ren realized he had reached Level 5.

This was a significant milestone. In just six days, he had gone from a clueless fighter with no weapon skills to someone who could hold his own alongside seasoned players.

And most importantly… he was close to achieving his goal.

...

Inside the inn

Before setting out, the group gathered at the inn for breakfast as usual.

"Hey, Ren!" Dynamm smacked his shoulder. "I heard you hit Level 5?"

Ren flinched slightly at the familiar loud voice of the brown-haired man but gave a small nod.

"Woah! Level 5 in just six days? At this rate, you'll catch up to us in no time." Dynamm grinned, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Maybe you'll even surpass our dear Ryoutarou?"

Klein, mid-drink, suddenly choked.

"Cough cough! Who do you think I am?" He turned and lightly smacked Dynamm on the head. "This kid still has a long way to go before he can surpass me!"

Ren simply shrugged. He had no intention of arguing.

Dale, the tallest in the group, was slicing a piece of bread when he spoke in a calm tone:

"Regardless, such progress is impressive, especially after Ren switched weapons."

Ren paused at Dale's remark. He wasn't surprised that the others had noticed the difference, after all, he could feel it himself.

This sword… suited him far better than the spear.

It wasn't that he couldn't use a spear, but when holding a sword, every movement felt more natural, more fluid. His strikes flowed instinctively, no longer clumsy or forced.

Klein stared at him for a moment before clicking his tongue.

"Haah… To be honest, I'm a little surprised," he admitted, crossing his arms and leaning back. "I just randomly picked that sword at the time."

Ren simply smiled. He glanced at the money he had saved up.

3,600 cor.

'Just 1,400 more… I can definitely reach my goal today.'

"Alright, everyone…" Klein clapped his hands on the table. "Today, we're hunting something bigger."

"So soon? I don't think we're ready yet," Dynamm raised a brow.

"We're all Level 6 now. Dire Wolves and Giant Snakes don't give enough EXP anymore. Besides… stronger monsters drop better loot," Issin pointed out.

'So… why not take a risk?'

Ren tightened his grip on his sword, determination flashing in his eyes. The hesitant look that once clouded them was fading—replaced by something harder to define.

Klein studied him for a moment, then chuckled. "I like that attitude! So, Dale, what's the target?"

Dale set his cup down, deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke slowly:

"If we want to level up quickly, we need something stronger than the Dire Wolves and snakes in the fields."

"Not the spiders in the forest, right?" Dynamm shuddered.

Dale shook his head. "Not spiders, but we could try an Elite Dire Wolf."

The air suddenly grew heavy.

Elite Dire Wolf.

A stronger variant of the regular wolves, faster, tougher, and, most importantly, capable of special skills.

Defeating one would bring great rewards, but it also carried a significant risk.

It was considered one of the more dangerous monsters near the Starting Town.

Ren swallowed hard. He had never faced an Elite Dire Wolf before.

"Hmm… sounds worth trying," Klein nodded. "As long as we're careful."

Dale glanced at Ren and said quietly, "If we win, you'll have enough to buy Klein that katana."

Ren's eyes widened slightly.

He hadn't expected Dale to notice.

But instead of denying it, Ren simply smiled, a quiet yet determined smile.

"Then… let's go."

...

That afternoon, while gathering at the quest board, Dale pointed at a newly posted request.

[Hunt Elite Dire Wolf]

Reward: 1,200 cor + 500 EXP + rare materials

A risky challenge.

But if they succeeded, they could split a decent sum.

For Ren, this was the perfect chance to reach his goal.

Without hesitation, he nodded.

"I'm in."

The others had no objections.

With their combined combat experience, they believed they could handle it.

After accepting the quest, the group gathered at the northern gate of the town.

Klein stood with his arms crossed, checking everyone's equipment.

"We'll stick to the plan. No reckless moves."

Dale nodded and re-read the quest details.

"The request states that the Elite Dire Wolf appears in a small forest to the northwest. It doesn't have a fixed location, but according to previous reports, it tends to frequent an area near a sunken rock formation."

Dynamm shook his head. 

"That kind of terrain could put us at a disadvantage. If we get cornered in a tight space, the wolf will have the upper hand." 

Klein pondered for a moment. 

"Then we'll lure it into an open area before engaging." 

Ren remained silent, but he couldn't hide the anticipation flickering in his eyes. 

As long as he completed this quest, he would have enough money. 

The group set out at midday, following a dirt path leading into the northwestern forest. 

Thick canopies blocked out the sunlight, casting the area into a dim, shadowy land filled with the rustling whispers of wind through leaves. 

The journey was not easy. 

Gnarled roots twisted across the ground, the terrain was uneven, and at times, they had to take detours around slippery slopes to move forward. 

Something… was off. 

Ren realized it. 

The atmosphere was too silent. 

No birds. No insects. No sound except for their own breathing. 

He swallowed dryly. 

It wasn't natural silence. It was… an absence. 

Ren's entire body tensed. A chill ran down his spine, as if some primal instinct was warning him of danger. 

No one needed to speak. They all understood... 

Something was nearby. 

Issin was the first to act. He gestured for the group to stay quiet, then carefully stepped forward. 

His stance lowered, his movements as light as a hunting panther. 

After a moment, Issin knelt down, touching the ground. 

"There are tracks." 

The group immediately gathered around. 

On the damp earth, enormous footprints were pressed deep, sharp and clear enough to visualize the creature that made them. A wolf. No... a monster. 

Ren tightened his grip on his sword, the cold sensation along his spine growing stronger. He took a closer look and noticed something unusual. 

The footprints were too deep. 

"This thing… is heavy," Ren murmured. 

Klein brushed a finger over the indentations, narrowing his eyes slightly. "That means it has significantly more muscle mass than a regular Dire Wolf." 

"Then doesn't that mean it's way stronger than normal wolves? I thought it was just a different color with a higher level… but with this size…" Dynamm gulped. 

No one denied it. 

But the bigger problem was… 

"Wait." Dynamm suddenly furrowed his brows. "The direction it's headed… isn't that toward the sunken rock area?" 

Issin pulled out the quest map, compared for a moment, then nodded. "It is." 

His brows furrowed tightly. 

No one spoke further. 

They simply gripped their weapons more firmly, lowered their centers of gravity, and walked with heightened caution, as if an attack could happen at any moment. 

If the beast had only been wandering around the forest's edge, everything would have been under control… but the sunken rock area… 

They had to cross through it, to reach the other side of the forest. Taking a detour would mean they wouldn't make it back before nightfall. 

The entire forest seemed to be holding its breath. 

Waiting. 

Then they decided to push forward. 

A heavy weight pressed down on them, as if the forest was keeping a deadly secret that they were about to uncover. 

No one spoke. 

Only the faint sound of footsteps on damp earth. 

Leaves rustled softly in the weak breeze. 

Nothing seemed out of place, yet that was precisely what made Ren feel even more uneasy. A storm was ready to break at any moment. 

Dale suddenly raised his hand. 

The group halted immediately. 

Everyone held their breath, hands tightening around their weapons. Ren followed Dale's gaze… and saw it. 

Ahead, amidst the jagged rocks and overgrown weeds… a shadow lurked in the darkness. 

A pair of golden eyes gleamed, reflecting the dim forest light. 

Only for an instant, then vanished. 

Ren's heart skipped a beat. 

"You see it?" Dale asked, his voice barely a whisper. 

"I saw it," Klein replied, a slight crease forming on his brow. 

"Bigger than I expected," Dynamm muttered under his breath. "Shit." 

They didn't need Dynamm to say it. They all knew. 

Ren's throat went dry. 

Even with just a glimpse, he was certain, this was no ordinary wild wolf. 

It moved too fast. 

It exuded too much killing intent. 

And more importantly… 

It was circling them. 

Ren froze. He glanced around, his scalp tingling. There was only one. 

But those golden eyes gleaming between the trees....

They could make anyone tremble. 

"…We're being hunted." 

Klein silently unsheathed his sword. 

Dale tightened his grip on his hilt. 

Dynamm took a deep breath, shoulders stiff. 

Issin scanned their surroundings. 

The massive wolf, its gray fur streaked with patches of muddy brown, had already maneuvered behind them. 

And from the darkness, a deep, hellish growl rumbled forth.