Two men gripped Mona's arms tightly.
She struggled desperately, but it was useless. Her weakened body could not overcome the strength of the two well-built men restraining her.
"Firaz! Help me! Please help me!" she screamed with all her might.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. If she was captured, she knew exactly what awaited her. Torture. Fire. The same cruel fate that had claimed the lives of her family.
Firaz's thoughts spiraled into chaos.
His fingers danced frantically across the holographic game menu.
"Skills... skills... I need to learn all the level 1 skills. Damn it! This is useless. I'm level 1, and now I have to fight humans too," he muttered irritably from within the bushes.
Without hesitation, he learned every level 1 skill available. There was no time to choose carefully. Anything he could acquire, he took.
"Let her go!"
Firaz leapt out of hiding and shouted.
Every gaze in the clearing immediately turned toward him. The sudden attention made his chest tighten.
"Jalud! Who's that?" asked the slightly overweight man who seemed to be their leader.
"No idea, sir. Probably a madman," replied one of the men holding Mona.
"Ignore him," the fat man ordered calmly, twirling his curled mustache.
"Take the evil witch back. She must be punished."
They began marching away, completely disregarding Firaz's presence.
"Firaz! Please! Don't let them take me! They'll kill me!" Mona cried desperately.
"Shut up, you cursed woman!" snarled a man named Jalud.
His hand swung sharply.
Slap.
Mona's body went limp as she collapsed unconscious.
That instant, something inside Firaz snapped.
He could tolerate many things, but watching a woman being abused like that crossed a line he would never forgive.
His anger surged.
He immediately opened the holographic menu and selected the best weapon available at his level.
"Alright... this one. Obsidian Sword."
A single-edged black blade materialized before him. Firaz grasped the hilt firmly.
The moment he drew the Obsidian Sword, crimson letters appeared across his field of vision.
[Battle Mode]
Everything felt exactly like Sword Art Online.
Once combat mode activated, HP bars appeared above every attackable character.
Firaz quickly analyzed his enemies.
Most of them were only level 1.
Except for one.
A thin man walking beside the fat leader. Firaz couldn't see his HP or level, which meant the man's level was higher than his own. Judging by his build, it likely wasn't overwhelmingly high, but still dangerous.
One-on-one, Firaz was confident.
But numbers were a problem.
So he chose the fastest solution.
Rescue Mona and escape.
Without hesitation, Firaz sprinted forward.
"Let her go, damn it!"
Jalud turned instantly, drawing the sword at his waist just in time to block Firaz's slash.
Clang!
Metal rang sharply as blades collided.
Meanwhile, another muscular man hoisted Mona onto his shoulder and moved toward the leader.
Firaz pressed the attack relentlessly, striking Jalud again and again.
His movements felt smooth. Too smooth.
His body reacted instinctively, effortlessly countering every strike. Confidence surged through him.
Jalud began to panic.
"This guy's no joke!" he shouted.
"Hey! Are you just going to watch?! Help me!"
The fat man clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Useless," he snapped.
"Big body, yet you can't even handle a madman."
He barked orders.
"Vern! Alto! Go help Jalud. Shaun, stay here. If that lunatic comes for me, someone needs to protect me."
Two men stepped forward, swords drawn, circling Firaz as they waited for an opening.
The man carrying Mona retreated further back.
Firaz sensed the shift immediately.
He jumped backward, slipping out of Jalud's attack range.
"What's wrong?" Jalud sneered as Vern and Alto flanked him.
"Getting scared?"
"I'm not scared," Firaz replied with a crooked smile.
"I just wanted you all in one place... so I can cut you down together."
He adjusted his stance, one foot sliding back, posture tightening.
"Ready?" he asked coldly.
"Arrogant brat!" Jalud roared.
All three charged at once.
Firaz leapt into the air.
"Soaring Slash!"
His Obsidian Sword carved through the air, releasing a powerful shockwave.
The compressed blade of wind slammed into all three enemies at once.
They were sent flying backward.
Their swords shattered instantly.
Firaz landed heavily.
His chest heaved as exhaustion set in.
Soaring Slash was a level 1 combat skill, but it consumed massive stamina. Its strength came from wide-area impact rather than precision.
At level 1, he should have been fighting small monsters.
Human enemies were far more troublesome.
Even if their skill levels were low, fighting opponents with intelligence was far more dangerous than any stat suggested.
A faint chime echoed.
His level rose.
Level 2.
Firaz smiled faintly.
At least something was going right.
"Idiots!" roared the fat man.
"Shaun, finish him. Anyone who sides with a witch must be erased."
The thin man stepped forward.
His face was gaunt and pale, dark circles hanging beneath lifeless eyes. His expression never changed.
Firaz attempted to analyze him.
No HP bar. No level.
He activated a newly learned skill.
[Deep Analysis]
Information flooded his vision.
Firaz's eyes widened.
Combat Skill Level: 5.
This man was dangerous.
Firaz quickly calculated his chances. Even after leveling up, the gap was still too wide.
Fighting Shaun head-on was suicide.
His original plan remained the best option.
Save Mona.
Escape.
Shaun advanced slowly.
He drew two twin-bladed swords, one in each hand. His face remained emotionless, eyes dull and cold.
"Draw your weapon properly, boy," Shaun said flatly.
"I don't enjoy killing opponents who don't fight back."