I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

A flicker of realization crossed Tetsuo's face, and he immediately adjusted his stance. The second hammer blow was clean and swift, smashing the monster directly into the rock wall. Sasamaru's spear then delivered the fatal blow, and the monster finally dissipated into fragments.

He was breathing heavily, fine beads of sweat on his forehead, but his grip on the gun was much steadyer. Tie Xiong held the warhammer and nodded thoughtfully.

"Good teamwork, but the rhythm needs further coordination." Mochizuki Kaede glanced at everyone. "Next, practice team coordination. Keita will be the main attacker, Tetsuo will provide cover, Sasamaru and Dakar will be responsible for containment, and Yuki will continue to practice precise thrusting."

With a flick of his wrist, he pointed the Thunder Blade at the next monster to spawn: "Remember, your advantage lies in teamwork, not in fighting alone."

The members of the Black Cat Gang exchanged glances, then responded in unison, "Understood!"

Under the guidance of Mochizuki Kaede, the [Moonlit Black Cat Gang] had a fulfilling two weeks.

Every day he would lead the team to a suitable leveling spot—an area that was neither too dangerous nor too dangerous, but where they could effectively increase their level.

"Maintain formation."

"Sasamaru, your thrust needs to be even faster."

"Tie Xiong, be ready to fill in at any time."

From the most basic formations and positioning to complex skill combos, he taught them how to support each other and work together. Under his guidance, the entire team gradually became more coordinated and organized...

On the day of parting, everyone gathered again at the familiar restaurant, marking the end of this mentoring period.

The members of the "Black Cat Squad" gathered around Mochizuki Kaede, their eyes filled with gratitude and reluctance, sincerely expressing their thanks to him.

After parting ways, Mochizuki Kaede embarked on another solo journey to track down the Red Name Guild. Just as he was conducting his investigation with all his might, the information broker Argo brought new information about the Red Name Guild. This time, the target was not the [Smiling Coffin] that he had been keeping a close eye on, but another notorious criminal guild—[Titan's Hand].

……

Recently, Soka's team welcomed a new member - Rosalia.

She is a female player who plays the gunner class, with red hair and purplish-red eyes.

"My marksmanship is pretty good." That's how she introduced herself when we first met, casually flashing a neat gun twirl. "We happen to be short of a regular team, would you mind adding me?"

Soka, as the captain, agreed almost without hesitation.

After all, in this brutal game, having an extra reliable teammate means an extra chance of survival. Especially since she's a skilled female player. Her teammates welcomed her, though privately they couldn't help but wonder: why would such a lone wolf expert choose to join their four-person squad?

"I guess he was captivated by my charm," Soka said half-jokingly, adjusting his hair in front of the water.

The other team members burst into laughter.

But this question, like a small fog, lingered in Soka's mind until a week later, when it finally received a clear answer.

That day, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Rosalia told everyone that she had obtained information about a hidden quest with a very generous reward. Hearing this, the team members' eyes lit up, as if they saw hope for improving their strength. So, led by Rosalia, the group, full of anticipation, ventured deep into a secluded forest.

As they continued forward, the surrounding trees became denser, and the light gradually dimmed.

“Rosalia, is this the place?” Soka stopped and looked around. The dense canopy of trees almost completely blocked out the sunlight, and the air was filled with the smell of damp, decaying leaves.

The red-haired woman in front finally turned around. Her bangs covered the right half of her face, and her left eye, which was exposed, was slightly narrowed, with a playful glint in its purplish-red pupil.

"Mr. Soka, we've had a pleasant time together these past few days~"

Soka paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked at his three teammates beside him.

They were equally bewildered; they had indeed gotten along well with Rosalia these past few days. As the only woman in the team, she was not only exceptionally skilled but also mature in character. Whenever loot was distributed, everyone would prioritize giving her the best equipment.

“However…” Rosalia’s fingers gently twirled the ends of her bangs, a dangerous smile curving her lips, “your value ends here.”

"What...do you mean?" Soka suddenly had a bad feeling.

Rosalia, however, continued to curl the ends of her hair at a leisurely pace, her tongue lightly tracing across her red lips. To Soka, her appearance exuded a strange and alluring charm.

"These past few days have been tough, having to pretend to be good friends with you bunch of good-for-nothings. I was hoping you'd accumulate more money on your adventures, but you're all so stingy. It's better to 'hunt' sooner rather than later, so as not to waste my time."

"Hunting...?" Soka's eyes widened; he couldn't understand what Rosalia meant. What was this woman trying to do? Bringing them here and babbling a bunch of nonsensical words.

"Snapped!"

Rosalia suddenly snapped her fingers, the sound echoing loudly in the silent woods.

In an instant, six figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the woods.

They held various weapons, their faces bearing mocking smiles, like cats catching mice. One of the burly men, carrying a giant axe, clicked his tongue and sneered, "Boss, the quality of this target is really poor. They're not even enough for me to chop a few times."

Soka felt a chill run from his feet to his head, his whole body as cold as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. To his horror, he discovered that without exception, a glaring red symbol was floating above the heads of these people.

They're murderers!

"Let me reintroduce myself~" Rosalia's red hair looked like blood in the dim light, "I am the guild leader of [Hand of Titans]."

.

.

.

.

Thank you to 【似随流水逝】 for the monthly pass!

Chapter 118: The Advantage Lies With Me

Soka had heard many horrifying rumors about red-named players before. Those guys completely disregarded the law in this world, treating killing players as a kind of so-called fun, like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

But he had always felt those things were far removed from his own life, things he had never truly experienced. Yet now, it was as if he'd been struck by lightning, and he suddenly realized that Rosalia was actually an accomplice of the red-named players, a demon lurking among them!

Looking back now, the sudden addition of this exceptionally skilled female solo player to their otherwise mediocre team was undeniably suspicious. The green badge above her head was merely a disguise. Yes, she herself hadn't directly killed anyone, but she could use others to do the dirty work, manipulating everything from the shadows. Just like this time, she meticulously lured the team here, while her accomplices were already lying in ambush at the designated location.

Cold sweat trickled down Soka's temples, soaking his collar, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly uncontrollably.

He felt a chill run down his spine, as if countless cold ants were crawling on it, and a deep fear and regret surged into his heart like a tide. He regretted that he had so easily trusted this woman, and regretted that he hadn't been more careful.

His three companions were also visibly frightened, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, their eyes filled with terror and despair, like three lambs to the slaughter.

The six red-named players surrounding Rosalia had fierce eyes and exuded a chilling killing intent—the aura of true demons who had killed and whose hands were stained with blood. Soka and his mediocre team were no match for them.

Soka's legs were weak, and he could barely stand. He looked at Rosalia with a sob in his voice and said, "R-Rosalia, whatever you want, we'll give you anything. Equipment, money, anything. Just spare us, we'll do anything! Please!"

His companions, as if grasping at a straw, nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with pleading.

Rosalia's eyes flashed with a cruel light: "That won't do. You all know my true identity now. How can I let you go? What if you go out and tell on me?"

Soka collapsed to his knees with a thud, his knees slamming heavily onto the leaf-strewn ground. He shook his head frantically, swearing, "I swear! I swear on my life! We won't tell a word! Not a single word!"

Rosalia watched this scene with amusement, her crimson eyes narrowing into a pleased arc. Suddenly, she used the tip of her gun to lift Soka's chin, the cold metal pressing against his Adam's apple: "How adorable~ But... if I take care of you, not only will I get your equipment and gold, but my identity will also remain a secret forever. Wouldn't that be safer?"

Soka stared intently at Rosalia's mocking face, finally understanding that in this woman's eyes, their lives were nothing more than a game for amusement. He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, but he didn't even have the courage to stand up.

The burly man carrying the giant axe had already walked up to him, grinning and saying, "Don't be afraid, it'll be quick~"

The axe blade was raised high, casting a deathly shadow among the trees.

"rustle--"

The sudden sound of footsteps made all the red-named players turn their heads sharply. Rosalia's spear instantly pointed towards the source of the sound: "Who?!"

A tall, slender figure slowly approached through the rustling trees.

At first, they thought it was a large group, but when they saw it was just one person, the red-named players let out a disdainful sneer. But as the figure drew closer—

"Zheng!"

A sudden burst of blue-white lightning erupted, and the instant a longsword crackling with lightning was drawn, it illuminated the newcomer. Beneath the silver hair was a chilling, ghostly face. The hem of his black trench coat fluttered in the wind, like the wings of death.

"Th-that is...!" A player with a red name suddenly staggered backward, his voice changing.

"Silver hair, black clothes, a demonic face, and a thunder blade." The burly man with the giant axe's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his voice sounding like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth, "It's...it's that [Silver Asura]!"

"Impossible... How could the Silver Asura know our location?"

As if struck by lightning, the six red-named players froze on the spot.

The Silver Asura? Soka and his companions exchanged bewildered glances. They had indeed heard rumors of the Silver Asura, a harbinger of death lurking in the shadows, a being that hunted down players with negative player names. But they all thought it was just a horror story circulating in taverns, a fictional tale used to scare newcomers away from committing crimes.

Rosalia suddenly let out a sharp, cold laugh: "Don't be afraid! There are more of us, seven against one, the advantage is on my side!"

She swung her spear sharply, the tip tracing a crimson line: "Charge! Kill him!"

The six players with red names suddenly realized what was happening and grabbed their weapons.

Soka slumped to the ground, the battle scenes flashing before his eyes like a fast-forwarded movie.

The burly man with the giant axe charged forward, his heavy boots trembling the ground. The moment he swung his axe, Soka could even see the skill effects flashing on the blade—the [Heavy Strike] skill, which enhanced attacks. But just as the axe was about to strike, the silver-clad Asura's figure suddenly blurred.

"Shh-"

A flash of blue and white lightning streaked across the sky.

The burly man with the giant axe froze abruptly, his HP bar instantly dropping by two-thirds. He staggered a few steps, and the system determined that he had entered a [Severely Injured] state, his movements becoming sluggish.

"Ugh..." The burly man knelt down, and the giant axe crashed down in front of Soka with a loud bang, making him shrink back in fright.

The same applies to other players with red names; they are completely unable to get close.

Soka was dumbfounded.

These players, who were just moments before so menacing and aggressive, were now as powerless as children against an adult in front of the Silver Asura. It was a truly enormous gap in strength and experience. Each of the Silver Asura's attacks was precisely controlled to incapacitate them without killing them instantly.

“Monster…monster…” Soka heard his companion mutter to himself.

Rosalia's spear finally thrust out, but it was easily deflected by the lightning blade. Immediately afterward, the silver-haired Asura flicked his wrist, and a throwing knife flew out like lightning, accurately piercing Rosalia's body. Rosalia felt a sudden numbness throughout her body, and her body fell uncontrollably to the ground, the spear in her hand clattering to the side.

These players, who were just moments ago so arrogantly committing murder, now all had their health bars turned red or yellow. The Silver Asura stood in the center, his demon mask facing Soka.

Soka unconsciously held his breath. Was this the true power of the legendary [Silver Asura]?

Chapter 119: The Girl in the Sewers

On May 10th, the world of Aincrad continues to move forward amidst a mix of cruelty and hope.

More than three months have passed since he and Kismer became engaged, yet Mochizuki Kaede still returns to the Dark Elf Kingdom regularly. Kismer, the elven knight, has now become one of his most important bonds in this deadly game.

It's been a month since my first encounter with the [Black Cats of the Moonlit Night]. Since Mochizuki Kaede left, the [Black Cats of the Moonlit Night] have continued to grow stronger, striving to reach the level of their predecessors in the strategy team.

A week ago, Wangyue Feng's action of sending the entire [Titan's Hand] red-name guild to the Black Iron Palace prison further solidified the fearsome reputation of "Silver Asura." Now, those murderous players lurking in the shadows will flee at the mere mention of this name.

The strategy team has progressed to the twenty-eighth floor.

The news excited many players, who felt they were one step closer to beating the game. Everyone hoped to leave this deadly game as soon as possible and return to the real world.

But during this period, the front lines underwent tremendous changes:

The Aincrad Liberation Army, led by the King of Fang, advanced triumphantly, only to suffer a crushing defeat on the twenty-fifth floor. It is said that the entire vanguard was almost wiped out, with the surviving members forced to retreat in disgrace to the starting town.

Under Rinde's management, the Dragon Knights underwent a transformation. By absorbing several small and medium-sized guilds, they reorganized into the Holy Dragon Alliance. This guild's strength increased significantly, and its membership grew, making it a force to be reckoned with in Aincrad.

The most eye-catching is the newly emerging [Knights of the Blood Oath].

When the raiding party's morale plummeted due to a series of setbacks, the man calling himself Heathcliff made his debut with his guild. At the strategy meeting for the level 26 world boss, he displayed astonishing tactical acumen, quickly boosting the raiding party's morale. Even more astonishingly, in the subsequent boss battle, he single-handedly withstood the onslaught of the level's defending boss, showcasing a unique skill known as the "Holy Sword." From that moment on, the "Knights of the Blood Oath" instantly became the brightest new star on the raiding front.

……

The night was as dark as ink, and the stone pavement on the twentieth floor of the main city gleamed with a damp, cold light.

Mochizuki Kaede's figure blended completely into the shadows, the hem of his midnight coat silently brushing against the corner of the wall. He was like a wandering shadow, trailing the figure in the distance.

His Stealth skill, combined with the Midnight Coat that grants him night-walking abilities, makes it difficult for even the most alert person to realize they are being followed.

He was tracking a player with a red name (indicating a high-ranking player).

The target turned into the sewer area.

Just as Mochizuki Kaede was about to follow, she caught an unexpected silhouette in the shadows around the corner.

It was a petite figure huddled against a damp wall.

Wearing a light blue light armor coat and a concealing cloak, she hugged her knees with both hands, curling up like a baby bird soaked by the rain.

Mochizuki Kaede's [Target Acquisition] skill level is very high. Even from a great distance, he can still clearly see the girl's hunched shoulders and a few strands of black hair that have slipped down from the edge of her hood.

That appearance instantly reminded him of someone; that name, like a conditioned reflex, naturally surfaced in his mind:

--fortunate?

Why would she be alone in a place like this?

The red-named player he had been following had disappeared at the end of the passage ahead. Remembering the red-named player, Mochizuki Kaede was worried about Sachi's safety, so he slowly approached the girl.

"……fortunate."

Upon hearing the voice, Sachi's shoulder-length black hair swayed slightly. She slowly raised her head, her face full of surprise, and murmured, "Mr. Mochizuki..."