Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

[Name: Ren] Lv 1 (70/100)

Hp: 250/250

Armor: 15

STR: 10 (Strength)

VIT: 10 (Vitality)

AGI: 10 (Agility)

Ren stared intently at the floating status window in front of him, unable to tear his eyes away from the line: Lv 1 (70/100).

Just three more boars, and he would level up. It sounded simple, but Ren knew better than to underestimate the difficulty.

The memories of his previous battle resurfaced vividly.

He could still feel the sharp pain from the boar's powerful charge, ripping away a chunk of his HP.

His spear had trembled in his grip, every attack sluggish and clumsy. Ren had barely managed to dodge in panic before finally taking the creature down, by sheer luck.

"I'm too weak..." Ren gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on the worn-out spear, his knuckles turning white.

If he remained this weak, he would die… and never wake up again.

In Sword Art Online, all of Ren's stats were at the most basic level.

It felt as if he were standing at the edge of an abyss, where a single misstep would send him plummeting into eternal darkness.

No magic. No salvation. No escape.

In this world, there were no miracles or flashy skills.

Everything depended on physical strength and combat ability. These numbers weren't just meaningless figures on a status screen, they determined survival itself.

Ren's gaze moved across each stat, their significance gradually sinking into his mind.

STR - Strength

This stat represented a player's raw power.

The higher the STR, the stronger the attacks. But unlike conventional games, Sword Art Online didn't display damage numbers.

Everything adhered to realism.

Attack power depended on how one swung their weapon, the angle of the strike, speed, and accuracy.

Without proper combat skills, even high STR would be wasted.

Ren slowly raised his spear, feeling its weight pressing against his wrist.

Every swing left his arm sore.

He recalled the dull shock that rippled through his hands when his spear struck the boar's thick hide, only to fail to pierce it.

"I'm not strong enough..." he murmured, eyes clouded with frustration. Weakness weighed on his chest like a boulder.

STR didn't just affect attack power, it also dictated a player's ability to wield heavy weapons like greatswords, warhammers, or full-body armor.

Without sufficient STR, Ren would forever be restricted to lightweight gear, unable to defend himself against the crushing blows of stronger enemies.

Additionally, STR determined inventory capacity.

At his current level, Ren could carry only 20kg of items.

He glanced at his inventory, where a few slabs of boar meat had already consumed most of his carrying limit.

If he exceeded the weight limit, his movement speed would drop drastically, turning him into easy prey for monsters.

"I need to get stronger… or I'll just be a burden." Ren bit his lip, eyes burning with determination.

VIT - Vitality

VIT represented endurance and resilience. Every point in VIT increased HP by 25, allowing Ren to survive longer in battle.

The pain from the boar's attack was still fresh in his memory, so real that his legs had nearly given out beneath him.

He pressed a hand lightly to his stomach, the very spot where the boar's razor-sharp tusk had once pierced through.

Even though his HP had recovered, the phantom pain lingered.

"If my HP drops to zero… death is permanent."

A chilling thought crept into Ren's mind, sending a shiver down his spine.

Beyond HP, VIT also influenced stamina and resistance to fatigue.

Ren recalled the burning heaviness in his legs as he ran for his life. If his VIT remained low, he wouldn't have the stamina to dodge attacks or escape when needed.

"I have to be tougher… I can't collapse so easily anymore."

AGI - Agility

AGI determined movement speed and flexibility. It directly influenced attack speed, evasion, and combat fluidity.

Ren thought back to when he had frantically tried to dodge the boar's charge.

He had been too slow… too clumsy. Had he been faster, he could have counterattacked instead of taking the full force of the hit.

AGI also allowed for swift maneuvering on the battlefield, preventing encirclement or enabling a quick escape when necessary.

In a world without magic, speed was the key to survival.

"I need to be faster… more agile… or I'll be devoured by monsters."

Ren clenched his spear, eyes burning with resolve. He couldn't afford to be weak forever. He couldn't keep running away.

"Just three more boars… and I'll be stronger."

"I won't run anymore."

Ren took a step forward, slow but firm. He had made his decision.

Back to the Hunt in the Afternoon

The golden-orange hues of the setting sun bathed the vast grassy plains in warm light.

A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the scent of earth and wild grass.

Ren gripped his spear tightly, his gaze locked onto the boars grazing in the distance.

"We'll attack from two sides," Klein said, his sharp eyes never leaving the targets. "Ren, you stay at the rear. When they turn to flee, cut off their escape route."

"Don't rush...observe first."

Ren nodded, feeling cold sweat dampen his palms. He recalled his past failures and vowed to do better this time.

"Alright, let's go!"

With a swift hand signal from Klein, the group split up, maneuvering carefully to surround a trio of boars.

Ren crouched behind a thick bush, watching intently.

The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shimmering golden streaks on the ground.

Boom!

The earth trembled as the boars charged forward. Klein took the lead, his sword gleaming as he activated a skill.

"Horizontal!"

A brilliant arc of light sliced through the air, leaving a dazzling blue streak before striking the side of a boar. 

A pained roar echoed as the beast staggered back a few steps before instinctively turning to flee. 

That was the moment Ren burst out from the bushes, his spear aimed straight at the boar's throat. 

"Stay calm… Read its movements…" He recalled Klein's instructions: 

"Don't just look at their legs or heads. Observe their whole body, how they tilt, how their tail flicks, whether it's strong or weak… Once you understand their movement patterns, you'll predict their next move." 

Front legs lowered… 

Tail flicked sharply… 

Eyes darted to the right… 

It's going to dash left! 

Ren shifted his weight, dodging aside as he thrust his spear forward. His body felt lighter, more fluid than before. 

Swish! 

The boar's charge barely grazed his sleeve. Ren quickly twisted, planting his feet firmly before lunging forward with full force. 

"Haa!" 

Slash! 

The spearhead pierced through the boar's throat, striking its critical weak point. 

The beast let out a final, agonized cry before collapsing, its body dissolving into fragments of green data. 

[You have gained 10 EXP] 

Ren stood motionless for a moment, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. 

A surge of pride and exhilaration swelled within him. His eyes stung slightly. 

'I… I did it…' 

For the first time, he had slain a monster on his own, without anyone's help. 

"Well done, Ren!" Klein ran over and gave him a firm clap on the shoulder, his eyes full of pride. "You read its movements perfectly. Keep this up, and you'll master it in no time." 

"Not bad. But still not as good as me. I took one down on my first try, all by myself," Dynamm scoffed, though his eyes betrayed a hint of encouragement. 

"If you mean the time you got chased back to the safe zone by a whole herd, then sure," Issin shrugged with a smirk. 

"Hey, hey, no one asked for your opinion! At least let me have a little dignity in front of the newbie!" Dynamm fumed, stomping his foot on the ground, ironically looking just like an enraged boar himself. 

The group burst into laughter at his reaction. 

Ren panted, sweat dripping down his forehead, but his eyes gleamed with joy. 

The fear that had once gripped him was fading, replaced by a newfound confidence. 

"Thank you, Klein… and everyone. I couldn't have done it without your guidance." Ren smiled, gratitude filling his heart. 

"Don't mention it! We're a team." Dale grinned, pulling Ren to his feet. "Two more to go. Let's keep going!" 

Klein exhaled softly, glancing at Ren's grip on his spear. He didn't say anything, only giving a small nod of approval. 

The sun dipped lower on the horizon, its golden light deepening into a brilliant crimson, painting the sky and the grassy fields in hues of sunset. 

Klein's group resumed the hunt, methodically surrounding and taking down the wild boars. 

Ren gradually adapted to their rhythm, learning when to move and when to strike. 

This time, he no longer felt out of place. 

Each thrust of his spear grew steadier and more decisive. 

He could feel the synchronization between his footwork and attacks, reading the enemy's movements, dodging, and countering. 

Ren's eyes sparkled as he watched the final boar collapse before his spear. 

[You have gained 10 EXP] 

[Level Up: Lv 2] 

A soft blue glow enveloped his body, filling him with warmth and renewed strength. 

He could feel the power coursing through his limbs, his breathing lighter and steadier. 

"I leveled up…" Ren looked at his status screen, where the words "Lv 2" shone clearly before his eyes. 

It felt like a new door had opened. He had grown stronger, one step closer to surviving in this harsh world. 

"Congratulations, Ren!" Klein grinned, giving him a thumbs-up. "This is just the beginning. Keep pushing forward!" 

Ren glanced at Klein, then at his own hands. 

They were no longer trembling. 

A smile formed on his lips, filled with determination and hope. 

'…I will grow stronger… I will survive…' 

Ren's journey had only just begun.