Still clutching his bruised groin, Klein glared at the dissolving fragments of the Frenzied Boar and shot Seiya a look of pure indignation.
"Really, Seiya? I treated you like a close bro, and you and Kirito were actually playing me this whole time, huh?
You're just like him, aren't you—an ex-beta tester!"
It wasn't unreasonable for Klein to think so. If Seiya was really a newbie like him, then what the hell did that make Klein?
They both started at the same level, but while he was still fumbling around trying to trigger Sword Skills, Seiya had just one-shot a monster like it was nothing.
That blinding move just now—this guy had the audacity to call himself a noob? Even Kirito wasn't as flashy!
"Klein-nii, you've really got the wrong idea. I'm just like you—this is my first time playing SAO as a public release player.
If you don't believe me, you can ask this guy."
Seiya spread his hands innocently and jerked his chin toward Kirito.
Kirito looked reluctant, but he wasn't about to compromise his integrity. With a sigh, he nodded. "He's telling the truth. This is his first time playing SAO.
Beta slots were extremely limited. If he had been one of the testers, there's no way I wouldn't have known."
Klein studied Kirito's serious expression and realized he had no reason to lie. The idea of two gaming elites conspiring just to prank an ordinary office worker like him made no sense.
So Klein's eyes lit up as he grabbed Seiya's shoulders in excitement.
"I get it now! Seiya, you're using cheat software, aren't you? We're bros, right? Share the goods! Sure, it might ruin the gameplay a little, but let me experience the thrill of one-shotting monsters, boost my confidence—you know, just for fun!"
Clearly, Klein didn't buy the "noob prodigy" excuse. If Seiya wasn't a beta player, then the only explanation had to be third-party cheats. Otherwise, how could a fellow newbie be this overpowered?
Seiya was speechless, but before he could explain, a nearby gaming nerd suddenly shook his head in disbelief, as if Klein had just insulted his religion.
"That's impossible.
SAO is the first game powered by NERvGear. As the cutting-edge product of ARGUS, the most advanced hardware manufacturer, there's no way for cheat software to exist here.
Even bugs don't show up. That was already proven during the beta."
Every hardcore gamer always tried to exploit glitches and loopholes. The beta testers for SAO had tried the same.
But none of them ever found anything exploitable—cheat programs were completely out of the question.
"Then how the hell did Seiya one-shot that boar…?" Klein muttered.
Kirito answered calmly. "It was his own strength.
I already explained—SAO's system allows for Sword Skills, but players can also chain techniques through real-world ability.
Seiya here is actually a champion of national-level kendo tournaments. The skill he used just now was a real kendo technique.
And since he struck right at the boar's weak point, he triggered critical damage and managed to one-hit kill it, even at equal level."
Klein froze mid-thought, his jaw slack. He turned to Seiya, his expression dumbfounded.
"Wait… you're telling me you're a national kendo champion!?"
Seiya scratched his cheek modestly. "It's just a small thing, really. The tournament was only at the junior high division."
That left both Klein and Kirito at a loss for words.
Kirito, knowing Seiya better, didn't hesitate to lay it bare. "If I remember right, you completely crushed the runner-up.
And one of the judges even said your skill level could already place you well in the high school—or even adult—division tournaments."
He continued more seriously, "And the reason kendo tournaments are divided by age is for fairness.
Adults, with stronger physiques, naturally have an advantage over kids.
But in SAO, that difference doesn't exist. Aside from gear and level, everyone's physical stats start out the same.
Which means here, even a shut-in with no training can beat a gym rat, as long as his technique is better."
As Kirito spoke, he slowly drew his one-handed sword, his gaze sharp as he looked at Seiya.
"Seiya, fight me in a PVP duel.
I just explained it—here in SAO, our physical strength is equalized, and right now we're both at starter level and gear.
I have some beta experience, sure, but you have real-world kendo skill. That makes it a fair match."
PVP—Player versus Player. In other words, PK.
Originally, Kirito hadn't planned to fight Seiya so soon. He thought Seiya was still a noob.
But after witnessing that dazzling one-hit kill, Kirito couldn't sit still anymore.
He already knew Seiya would adapt quickly to SAO, but he hadn't expected him to master it this fast.
At this rate, if Kirito didn't challenge him now, in a few days he might never get the chance for revenge.
No—if Seiya kept growing at this pace, give it ten days or so and Kirito might be the one getting crushed.
"Oh, I see. So that stuff about SAO being a way to train my kendo, and 'friends should play games together,' was all just hot air.
Your real goal was to stomp me flat, wasn't it, Kirito?" Seiya grinned wide at his exposed motive.
"Well then, Mr. Kendo Champion… do you accept my challenge?"
End of Chapter