I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

Mochizuki Maple's lightning blade erupted with intense lightning, and the shockwave generated by the collision of the two weapons shattered the surrounding rocks.

"We are all players, why should we..." Mochizuki Kaede's voice was heavy.

"Ha!" The man grinned maliciously, performing a backflip to create distance, his single eye flashing with a crazed light. "Isn't this how games are supposed to be played?"

He suddenly lowered his body, the curved blade spinning dangerously in his hand: "Plunder resources, constantly upgrade, the weak are just stepping stones for the strong!"

Chapter 43: Combat

Before the words were even finished, the one-eyed man's figure suddenly blurred. With almost ghostly speed, he circled around to Mochizuki Kaede's side. His lean body displayed astonishing explosive power, and his curved blade drew a tricky arc, aiming straight for Mochizuki Kaede's ribs.

"clang!"

Mochizuki Kaede's eyes sharpened, and she slightly turned her body to block the sneak attack. But the one-eyed man's movements did not stop at all, and he immediately swept a sharp whip kick towards Mochizuki Kaede's waist and abdomen.

Mochizuki Kaede took a half step back, pressing down with the blade to block the opponent's kick with the hilt. Using the momentum, she slid back several feet, leaving a long, thin scorch mark on the ground beneath her feet.

"What's wrong, kid?" The man narrowed his single eye into a slit, a wild smile spreading across his lips. "During the closed beta, I was a man who won a hundred consecutive matches in the arena."

Mochizuki Kaede did not respond, but slowly adjusted her grip on the sword, her thumb gently pressing against the tsuba, and the tip of the sword slightly lowered.

The one-eyed man suddenly lunged forward, his curved blade twisting like a venomous snake toward Mochizuki Maple's throat: "Let me show you what real PvP is!"

The man's offensive suddenly accelerated, his fighting style as ruthless and cunning as a viper. He slammed his left leg into the ground, twisting his hips to generate power throughout his body, his right hand wielding a curved blade that drew a deadly silver arc. His lean body was almost parallel to the ground during the charge, moving so fast that it left afterimages in the air.

"Too slow!" The one-eyed man grinned maliciously, suddenly changing his move the instant Mochizuki Kaede raised his sword to block. He leaned back with astonishing core strength, while his left leg lashed upwards like a whip. This "inverted hook," a move incorporating the essence of Brazilian capoeira, was breathtakingly fast, the steel toe of his military boot aimed straight for the chin.

Mochizuki Maple's pupils contracted slightly as he reacted swiftly: he tucked his chin back three inches and thrust his right hand's thunder blade upwards against the wind.

"Zheng——"

Amidst the buzzing sound of metal clashing, the cold toe of the boot grazed the blade, leaving a trail of dazzling sparks.

The man used the momentum to execute a beautiful tactical roll, his scimitar leaving a trail of blinding sparks as it dragged across the ground. As he steadied himself on one knee, a flicker of surprise crossed his single eye.

The silver-haired boy in front of him was quite young, yet he was able to perfectly neutralize his deadly attack.

"Interesting." The man licked his dry lips, deftly twirling his scimitar in his palm. "Looks like we'll have to get serious."

A predatory glint flashed in his single eye, and his attack suddenly became even more ferocious. He lowered his body, his right fist lashing out with a standard Russian hook, but using the momentum of Mochizuki Kaede's block, he launched himself into the air, completing a perfect side somersault. The scimitar spun in an arc, slashing diagonally upwards.

"laugh--"

With a sharp whistling sound as the blade tore through the air, a thin, long gash appeared in Mochizuki Maple's armor.

Mochizuki Kaede's gaze was solemn. Every movement of the man was terrifyingly precise. When he raised his knee to block, his muscles were taut like iron, and when he swept his leg, his hip joint made a "crack" sound. His fighting style was nothing like game skills, but rather like real combat memory honed through countless trials.

"clang!"

When the Thunder Blade clashed with the Curved Blade again, it was deflected by the opponent's exquisite deflection technique. The man seized the opportunity to close the distance, his elbow strike hurtling towards his chest like a cannonball. Wang Yuefeng barely managed to turn to the side, only to see the elbow strike change direction mid-strike, transforming into a vicious Russian hook.

"boom!"

The heavy thud was particularly clear in the air. The punch landed solidly on Wang Yuefeng's left cheek, his head snapped to one side, and he staggered back two steps, his mouth filled with a strong taste of rust.

Nevertheless, Mochizuki Kaede's eyes grew increasingly clear.

The one-eyed man didn't pursue. Instead, he took two steps back, assuming a fighting stance, and tilted his head, revealing a cat-and-mouse smile. His breathing was frighteningly steady, as if the intense attack and defense just moments before were merely a warm-up.

This kind of battle-hardened sense of pressure is something that system monsters that only perform monotonous attacks can never match.

Mochizuki Kaede has always focused on defense, which involves constantly observing and familiarizing himself with his opponent's fighting style.

He slowly adjusted his breathing, the tip of his thunder blade slightly lowered, assuming a completely new starting stance. Only now did Mochizuki Kaede truly begin to take this duel seriously.

On the other side, Asuna quickly unscrewed the stopper of the high-grade healing potion, the crystalline blue liquid swirling inside. Just as she was about to bring the potion to Kissmel's lips—

"Whoosh!"

A third poisoned arrow, glowing with a purple light, pierced through the air.

Silica's short, brown ponytail arced through the air as her short sword parried at the last second. With a sharp clang, the arrow veered off course and embedded itself in the ground, its fletching still trembling violently.

"Thank you." Asuna immediately fed the potion to Kissmel. The blue light of the potion's effects flowed around the female knight, and the [Paralysis] and [Poison] icons in the status bar gradually disappeared. But when Kissmel tried to stand up, supporting herself with her kite shield, her slender legs were still trembling slightly.

"I'm fine." She took a deep breath, her dark purple eyes fixed on the battle in the distance. "Lady Asuna, please go and support Lady Mochizuki immediately."

Asuna nodded emphatically, her rapier twirling slightly in her palm, the blade reflecting a cold light. She moved with lightning speed, rushing into the fray like a silver whirlwind.

On the battlefield, the man was swinging his curved blade at a tricky angle. Mochizuki Kaede was about to raise her sword to meet him—

"Qiang!"

A silver glint flashed like a shooting star as the rapier precisely parried the scimitar, sparks illuminating Asuna's delicate face. Beneath her long eyelashes, her amber eyes burned with fury. With a deft flick of her wrist, the sword tip traced a graceful arc, forcing the man back three steps.

"Oh?" The man narrowed his one eye, looking at the chestnut-haired girl who had suddenly intervened with surprise. He tilted his head and whistled lightly, twirling his curved knife dangerously between his fingers: "This little kitten's claws are pretty sharp, two against one isn't fair."

Asuna ignored his provocation, her rapier steadily pointing at the man's heart. She parted her cherry lips slightly, her voice cold and clear: "We are both players trapped in this world, why must we kill each other?"

The man suddenly grinned, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth: "Why?"

He suddenly lowered his body, holding the scimitar horizontally in front of his chest: "Because that's the fun of the game!"

Before the last word had even landed, he swiftly charged forward. Asuna's rapier was already in a defensive stance, and sparks flew as their weapons clashed once more.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

The clanging of metal filled the air as Asuna's offensive was gradually suppressed. After a powerful clash, her rapier trembled slightly, revealing a fleeting opening.

"Got it!" The man grinned maliciously, his curved blade aimed straight for the girl's heart.

"clang!"

The Thunder Blade stood in front of the rapier with astonishing precision.

Amidst the exploding sparks, Mochizuki Kaede's eyes briefly met Asuna's. Without a word, the two nodded in unison, completing their tactical exchange in a split second.

Before the man could react, Mochizuki Kaede launched a counterattack. A lightning-infused blade swept out, forcing the man to hastily parry. But in that instant, Asuna's rapier pierced from another tricky angle, its tip aimed directly at the man's wrist holding the sword.

Mochizuki Kaede's thunderous strikes and Asuna's nimble thrusts complemented each other perfectly, one forceful and the other gentle, forcing the man to retreat repeatedly.

The one-eyed man's flippant smile finally vanished, replaced by a serious expression. He had to concentrate fully on dealing with this sudden, coordinated attack, his previous ease completely gone.

On Kissmael and Silica's side, three familiar figures slowly emerged from the mist before them.

"As expected... it was you." Kissmael's voice was icy cold, and the saber in his trembling hand remained as steady as a rock.

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Thank you to [fghjkop], [雾雨爱丽丝], and [沐春秋] for the blades and monthly tickets!

Chapter 44: Molt

Leading the group was the same whip-wielding messenger who had tried to steal their Emerald Key. To his left, the elven ranger's longbow was drawn to its full extent, the arrows wreathed in an ominous purple light. On the far right, the dual-wielding warrior assumed an offensive stance, his two curved swords crossed in front of his chest.

The whip-wielder lashed his whip, the barbed blade tracing a purplish-black path through the air. To his left, the elven ranger's bowstring trembled, and an arrow wreathed in an eerie purple glow hurtled through the air—

"boom!"

Kismael's kite shield intercepted the arrow precisely, the arrow exploding into a corrosive purple mist on the shield's surface. But the crisis was far from over; the dual-wielding warrior on the right lunged forward, his two curved blades unleashing a deadly cross-shaped slash!

"Miss Kizmel!"

Amidst Silica's gasp, the girl's petite figure suddenly appeared. Her short sword flashed with a dazzling emerald light, managing to deflect the sweeping thorny whip. The spikes on the whip scraped against the blade with a piercing sound, and the sparks that flew up illuminated Silica's resolute face.

"I...I won't let you hurt Miss Kissmael!" Silica gripped the sword hilt tightly with both hands, her hands numb from the impact, but she didn't back down an inch.

Taking advantage of the moment, Kissmael spun around, her saber clashing fiercely with the dual-wielding warrior's blade. A flicker of surprise crossed her dark purple eyes; the usually timid girl had suddenly displayed such courage.

The whip-wielder narrowed his eyes, looking down at the petite girl who was barely managing to parry his whip. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Ha, have the dark elves stooped so low that they need little girls to protect them? Let me teach you what real combat is—"

Before she could finish speaking, the whip flashed like a venomous python towards Silica's face!

At the same time, just as Kismael forced back the dual-wielding warrior with a fierce horizontal slash, she heard the sound of air being cut. She ducked, and her kite shield drew a perfect defensive arc above her head.

"clang!"

The purple arrow deflected off the shield, and Kismer used the momentum to perform a side roll, sweeping her saber horizontally and forcing the dual-wielding warrior, who was about to launch a sneak attack, to retreat repeatedly. Her dark purple eyes quickly scanned the battlefield: the whip-wielder's whip was relentlessly pursuing Silica, the elven ranger was reloading his arrow, and the dual-wielding warrior was poised to pounce again.

"Lady Silica, be careful and take cover!"

Kissmael shouted a warning, simultaneously parrying the dual-wielding warrior's crossed slashes with her saber. With a flick of her wrist, her blade grazed the opponent's, sending sparks flying.

Silica deftly leaped backward to dodge the whip, her short sword slicing through the air with a vibrant green light: "I... I can handle this!"

The whip-wielder sneered, and the whip suddenly changed its trajectory, circling behind Silica like a living thing: "Too naive!"

Although Silica barely managed to dodge the whip's strike, the sharp point at the tip still left a bloody gash on her body. The girl groaned in pain, but stubbornly bit her lower lip without backing down.

"Heh." The whip-wielder let out a contemptuous sneer, twirling his whip leisurely in his hand. "You dare block my way with such meager strength?"

He tilted his head, revealing a cruel smile: "Little girl, didn't your teammates teach you that the weak should obediently hide in the back?"

Silica blinked hard at her blurry vision.

Not far away, Kissmael was fighting two opponents alone, her kite shield and saber drawing defensive trajectories in the air.

Further away, Asuna's rapier blurred into a silver afterimage, perfectly complementing Mochizuki Kaede's lightning blade. Their combat skills clashed in the air as they faced the one-eyed man.

“Everyone is working hard.” Silica gripped her short sword tightly.

Seeing this, the whip-wielding messenger became even more sarcastic: "Look at the way you're holding your sword, you haven't even mastered the basic skills, have you?"

He let out a piercing laugh, and his long whip lashed through the air, creating terrifying whip crackles.

Just as he raised his whip, preparing for the final blow, the surrounding mist suddenly churned violently. More than ten fully armed dark elf guards appeared, their sharp longswords gleaming coldly in the shadows.

"……what?"

The Thornbringer stared in astonishment, his eyes wide. Before he could react, he heard the elven ranger's scream behind him. Three dark elf guards had already pinned him to the ground, crushing his bow and arrows to pieces.

On the other side, the dual-wielding warrior tried to break through in a panic, but was knocked to the ground by a precise shield bash from Kismael, whose saber was then pressed against his throat.

"We've fallen into their trap." Cold sweat beaded on the Thorn Messenger's forehead. He turned to flee, only to find his escape route completely blocked. A dozen knives were pointed at his vital points simultaneously, forcing him to drop his whip and surrender.

Kissmael walked slowly forward, a triumphant glint in her dark purple eyes: "We knew you wouldn't give up the Emerald Key so easily."

She looked down at the Thorn Messenger, who was pinned to the ground: "This ambush was meticulously prepared for you."

Silica finally couldn't hold on any longer and knelt on one knee, panting, but a relieved smile appeared on her face.

Meanwhile, the battle between the one-eyed man, Molt, and Mochizuki Kaede and Asuna continues.

Although his scimitar was sharp, he was increasingly surprised by the coordination between the two before him. The chestnut-haired girl's rapier was as swift as silver lightning, while the silver-haired boy's thunder blade was as heavy as thunder. One was fast and the other slow, one was light and the other heavy, and they perfectly compensated for each other's weaknesses.

"Interesting." The man licked his lips, his single eye gleaming with excitement. "I've never seen such teamwork during the closed beta."

"Qiang——!"

The final, heavy strike was skillfully deflected by Asuna's rapier, and the man used the momentum to leap backward. Just then, he caught a glimpse of the dark elf guards emerging from the mist.

"They've finally arrived." Mochizuki Maple lowered his lightning blade slightly, a victorious smile spreading across his lips.

The man looked around and suddenly let out a sneer: "Looks like I should leave."

"Aren't you going to leave your companions?" Asuna's rapier remained on guard.

"Companions?" The one-eyed man grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth, as if he'd heard a joke. "Just a few NPCs."

His one eye turned to Mochizuki Maple, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "My name is Molt, what's yours?"

Mochizuki Kaede stood with his sword held horizontally, lightning crackling across its blade: "Mochizuki Kaede."

"Hahaha, good!" Molt suddenly burst into laughter. "I'll remember you, Thunder Blade brat."

He turned and walked into the depths of the mist, his figure gradually blurring: "We will meet again."

Asuna took a half step forward: "Should we go after them?"

Mochizuki Kaede shook her head, her gaze fixed on the figure gradually disappearing into the mist: "Even if we catch up, we can't do anything to him. Besides..."

The lightning on Lei Dao gradually subsided: "Who knows how many accomplices he has hiding in the shadows."

Molt's figure vanished completely into the thick fog, leaving only his hoarse laughter echoing through the forest. Mochizuki Kaede sheathed his Thunder Blade, turned to look at the subdued forest spirits, and this sudden encounter finally came to an end.

Chapter 45: Reencounter with Argo