The night air outside Kanju Forest still carried the echoes of battle — steel clashing, wolves howling, and the quiet hiss of shadows fading into silence.
Jordan Lethal staggered through the darkness, his breath ragged, each step dragging through the dirt road that wound toward Morleen Village.
Blood streaked down his arm, soaking through the torn sleeve of his armor. His vision blurred, and his head pounded with exhaustion.
"Damn… that guy almost took me down."
The memory hit him in flashes — the sharp gleam of an arrow, the sudden pain, and that name burned across his system screen: Assault. A player. Not a monster. A living, breathing killer.
Jordan clenched his jaw as he pushed through the tall wooden gates of Morleen Village. The guards nodded absently, used to seeing hunters stumble back half-dead from the wilds.
Inside, the village was quiet. The forge still burned faintly in the blacksmith's corner, and the lanterns lining the cobbled streets flickered with soft, orange light. Every step Jordan took echoed, his boots leaving faint trails of blood and dust.
When he finally reached the Hunters Guild, the heavy iron doors creaked open, spilling the warm chatter of warriors and adventurers into the night.
He walked straight to the reception desk, where the same young clerk — the one who'd welcomed him days ago — looked up from her holo-screen.
Her eyes widened. "You look like you've been through hell."
Jordan dropped a small, bloodstained pouch onto the counter. "Twenty-eight wolf fangs."
The clerk blinked, then hurriedly checked the contents. Her hands trembled slightly as the faint glimmer of the fangs caught the light.
"Twenty-eight…" she repeated in disbelief. "That's… impressive. Most rookies can barely bring back five."
Jordan gave a tired grin. "Guess I'm not most rookies."
The clerk smiled faintly and handed him a pouch of gleaming gold coins. "Here — 3,360 gold, and a little bonus from the guild for exceeding quota."
"Thanks." Jordan pocketed the pouch, his fingers trembling slightly from fatigue. Then his voice lowered. "By the way… is there anyone registered under the name Assault? Level fifteen. Long-ranged hunter type."
The clerk hesitated, pulling up her holographic registry. The blue light reflected off her eyes as she scrolled through the data.
"…No. I don't see anyone by that name in this branch. Maybe he's from another guild division."
Jordan exhaled slowly, nodding. "Thought so."
He turned away, his expression unreadable, and pushed open the door. The night wind met him like a sigh.
Back at the guesthouse, Jordan slipped into his rented room and shut the door behind him. The moment his back hit the mattress, pain flared through his ribs and arms.
"I need a new weapon…"
He stared up at the flickering lantern on the ceiling, his thoughts drifting. His knives — once sharp and swift — now lay in pieces inside his inventory. The fight with Assault had shattered them completely.
He sighed. "Let's see what I can afford."
A blue holographic window flickered into view, illuminating the dim room.
< WEAPONS >
Twin Blades (Lv. 2)
— Enchantment: None
— Cost: 1,590 Gold or 65 Diamonds
"Too weak," he muttered. "How about something level eight?"
The system pulsed with new light, the screen reshaping into another list.
Then —
< WEAPON FORGING NOW AVAILABLE >
Jordan blinked. "Weapon… forging?"
Another interface opened before him, glowing faintly with dark light — a menu titled in crimson letters.
< DARK FANG TWIN DAGGERS >
Required Materials:
— 2 Fangs of Shadow Steel-Fanged Alpha (Final Boss – Kanju Forest)
— 1 Bottle of Enchantment Potion
Required Level: 25
Enchantment: Poison
Jordan whistled low. "Level twenty-five? That's miles away. Before I even think of forging that thing, I need a weapon that'll get me there alive."
He opened his personal weapon shop again. Lines of shimmering blades and high-tech firearms scrolled past his vision — each labeled, priced, and ranked.
Then, one caught his eye.
< KATANA (Lv. 8) >
— Enchantment: Blood Drop (Boosts weapon attack by 15%)
— Cost: 3,560 Gold or 560 Diamonds
A grin tugged at his lips. "Perfect."
He pressed Buy.
Light flared in front of him — a slow, elegant shimmer of black steel materializing midair. The katana hovered for a moment, its blade gleaming with a faint crimson glow that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Jordan reached out and caught it by the hilt. The weapon felt… alive — balanced, smooth, and deadly. He gave it a slow swing. The air itself seemed to hum with its movement.
Then the system voice returned, calm and mechanical:
< CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE UNLOCKED: SWORD ART SKILLS >
Jordan blinked. "Wait… Sword Art Skills?"
A new panel unfolded.
< STATUS WINDOW >
* Username: Jordan Lethal
* Job: Hunter
* Title: Shadow Tyrant
* Abilities:
— Shadow Instinct (Detects danger within 220m radius)
— Shadow Stealth (Grants invisibility at MP cost)
* Level: 8
* Skills: Sword Art Techniques
* XP: 750 / 1500
* HP: 12%
* MP: 720 / 2500
Jordan whistled softly. "Sword Art, huh? Must've triggered because of the katana."
He sheathed the weapon and sat back, letting exhaustion wash over him.
"The MP and HP should refill automatically after twenty-four hours…" he murmured. "Time to log out."
He closed his eyes.
Light dissolved around him. The room blurred — and in the next instant, Jordan's consciousness was pulled back into reality.
The dull hum of his apartment greeted him. He exhaled deeply, then tore off the VR helmet, his hair sticking to his forehead from sweat. The world outside the visor felt… slower. Softer.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes. The digital clock beside his bed blinked 6:30 AM in pale blue numbers.
"Time for school," he muttered.
Dragging himself to the bathroom, Jordan brushed his teeth, took a quick shower, and changed into his uniform. His little sister, Elira, was already waiting by the door — half-awake, clutching her small lunchbox.
"Morning, sleepyhead," he said, ruffling her hair.
"Morning…" she yawned. "You played all night again, didn't you?"
Jordan chuckled. "You're too sharp for your age."
He took her hand as they left the apartment, the golden morning light spilling over the quiet streets. After dropping Elira off at her school, he started toward the subway station.
The train arrived with a smooth hiss, its metallic frame reflecting the sunlight. Jordan stepped inside the sleek, sci-fi compartment and sat near the window.
He slipped on his silver headphones — high-tech, curved like a crescent — and tapped play. The familiar tune filled his ears.
The night begins to shine…
He leaned back, eyes half-closed, the music drowning out the noise of the city.
By the time he arrived at Delsin High School, the courtyard was already buzzing with students. The modern buildings gleamed under the sun, holographic boards projecting club announcements and rankings from The Ultimate Warrior Online.
As Jordan passed through the main gate, someone bumped into him — hard.
"Watch where you're going, freak!" a sharp voice snapped.
Jordan turned slightly. The girl standing before him was dressed in the pristine white uniform of the elite section — long silver hair tied neatly behind her head, eyes like polished glass.
Maria Nexus.
The daughter of Edward Nexus — the CEO of Nexus Gaming. The very man who had created The Ultimate Warrior Online.
Jordan said nothing. He simply gave her a calm, unreadable look, then stepped past her without a word.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" she called out.
But Jordan was already gone, walking down the hall with his bag slung over one shoulder.
Inside the classroom, his best friend Ethan waved him over. "Yo, Jordan! Check this out!"
He projected a holo-screen from his wristband — displaying the global leaderboard for Ultimate Warrior Online.
#1 – Dark Conquest (Lv. 51)
* Job: Demon Commander
* Title: Necromancer
* Abilities: Dead Summoning / Soul Extraction
Ethan whistled. "That guy's insane. Rumor says he solo-cleared a forty-player raid boss last night."
Jordan leaned back, a small smirk forming. "Then I guess I've got a long way to go."
Ethan laughed. "Long way? You're already talking like you're gonna be top ten next week."
Jordan shrugged. "Who knows?"
When the teacher entered, the room fell quiet. Lessons dragged by in the usual rhythm — lectures, notes, the occasional sigh of boredom. But Jordan's mind drifted elsewhere — back to the forest, the smell of blood and iron, the way the Assault's arrows had burned through the air like lightning.
When the bell finally rang, he barely noticed until Ethan nudged him. "Hey, you good? You've been spaced out all day."
"Yeah," Jordan said quietly. "Just… thinking."
A few minutes later, the loudspeaker buzzed.
"Jordan Lethal — please report to the principal's office."
Murmurs rose around the class. Ethan grinned. "What did you do this time?"
Jordan rolled his eyes. "Hopefully nothing illegal."
The principal's office was lined with digital bookshelves and a panoramic view of the school grounds. Principal Darius, a tall man with grey streaks in his hair, greeted him with a faint smile.
"Mr. Lethal," he said, steepling his fingers. "You're a promising student, but you haven't joined any extracurricular clubs yet. School rules require every student to join at least one."
Jordan blinked. "A club? Uh… does gaming count?"
The principal sighed. "No."
"Right. Just checking."
He scrolled through the holographic list of available clubs projected on the desk — archery, robotics, athletics — and then his gaze caught on one title.
Sword Art Club — Leader: Maria Nexus.
Jordan stared at it for a moment, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Guess that's the one," he said finally.
Principal Darius raised a brow. "Excellent choice. The Sword Art Club has a strict entry test, but you seem… determined. Report there after classes."
Jordan nodded. "Understood."
After the final bell, Jordan made his way toward the old training hall behind the main building — a wide room filled with practice mats, holo-swords, and shimmering combat projections.
Inside stood Maria Nexus, her uniform replaced by sleek training gear, a silver sword glinting in her hand.
She turned when she heard the door open — her eyes widening slightly when she saw who it was.
"You?" she said flatly. "The guy who bumped into me this morning?"
Jordan smirked. "Yeah. The freak."
Maria's lips twitched, half in irritation, half in amusement. "You're here to join my club?"
"That's the plan."
"Fine," she said, flipping her sword with practiced grace. "Then prove you deserve it."
Jordan placed his bag down, his eyes meeting hers with calm determination. He didn't draw his weapon — not yet.
"I'm not here to fight," he said simply. "Just to learn."
Maria studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "We'll see about that."
And just like that — the test began.