Chapter 29

Naoki didn't pay too much attention to the details. The forest wasn't exactly a smooth journey—along the way, there were still some nameless bugs crawling around.

Perhaps out of some sense of compassion, these arthropods weren't made to look particularly ugly. On the contrary, they leaned toward a cute, almost charming design.

At least Asuna didn't scream and run away the moment she saw them.

The bugs weren't strong—weak enough that a casual swat could take them out. As they reached the center of the valley, the towering trees gradually thinned out, revealing bare rocks exposed beneath.

This area belonged to the man-eating flowers, a zone considered a higher-tier resource for small monsters. Several unique creatures roamed here.

The man-eating flowers weren't densely packed, but their levels were relatively high. Taking on more than three at once was a death sentence.

Of course, that applied to a newbie like Asuna.

As for Naoki ? Well, you'd have to knock out his very last drop of health to bring him down.

Massive stems and thick roots coiled across the ground.

[Man-Eating Flower]

[Level: 4]

A few lines of text popped up above its head.

The man-eating flowers had enormous maws, and some even sported a vibrant red fruit atop their heads.

They weren't impossible opponents, but when Naoki spotted the red fruit, a bad feeling crept up on him.

He'd watched Sword Art Online before, though it was a long time ago. Even with his soul having undergone some kind of elevation, his memories remained a bit hazy.

Still, since this was just a testing phase, he turned to Asuna and said, "Asuna, go attack the one with the bright red fruit on its head."

Asuna nodded and stepped forward, engaging a man-eating flower with a fruit atop it.

Then, with a loud bang, the fruit exploded, releasing a cloud of pink mist. The surrounding man-eating flowers immediately closed in, drawn like sharks to the scent of blood.

"So that's it—it's a lure," Naoki muttered to himself, nodding in realization.

Asuna's expression was a sight to behold. She glared at Naoki and snapped, "You set me up!"

Naoki quickly grabbed her arm and bolted, dragging her behind him.

As they ran, Asuna pinched Naoki hard.

Wincing in pain, Naoki nearly let go of her. Facing her fury, he gave an awkward laugh and said, "How could I call it setting you up? Look, we got out, didn't we? And you didn't lose a level."

"Hmph." Asuna let out a cold huff, her face as icy as it could get.

Naoki hurriedly tried to soothe her. "It was just trial and error. Trial and error is necessary."

Asuna huffed again. "Next time, you're not allowed to use me for your experiments. If you want to test something, do it yourself."

Naoki nodded quickly. "Alright, alright, I'll handle it next time."

Only then did Asuna relent, sparing the boy further grief.

After escaping the man-eating flowers' aggro range, they waited half an hour before sneaking back in.

The flowers that had clustered together earlier had dispersed, leaving only three or four scattered in the center.

Naoki let out a heavy breath and said seriously to Asuna, "I'll go clear them out."

Asuna hesitated, then asked, "Are you sure you can handle it?"

Naoki replied confidently, "No problem. Trust me."

His beginner's iron sword appeared in his hand. He crept around to the back of a man-eating flower and landed a clean backstab.

Unfortunately, Naoki's attack wasn't enough to one-shot the thick-skinned flower. The three nearby flowers immediately lunged at him.

Gripping his sword tightly, Naoki took a deep breath, leaned forward, and stepped with his right foot. His sword slashed out like a piercing rainbow, a cold gleam slicing through the air as the massive strike hit the flower's stem.

The first flower he'd ambushed lost all its HP and dissolved into blue light.

Two more flowers quickly closed in on him. Naoki stepped back, a deep blue glow flashing across his sword—the telltale sign of a sword skill activating.

Basic Sword Skill: Diagonal Slash – Single Diagonal Strike.

His stance adjusted automatically, his movements speeding up as an unseen force guided him.

Naoki's eyes lit up. So this was the system's assistance?

His body felt lighter. Naoki thrust his sword forward, his figure darting like a phantom to the flower's right. The iron sword slashed upward diagonally.

After the strike, he seamlessly switched skills. Another deep blue light shimmered along the blade.

Follow-Up Skill: Horizontal Slash – Single Horizontal Strike. Taking advantage of the flower's brief stagger, he swung again. A burst of cold light erupted as the slash connected with the flower's body.

The flower's HP dropped rapidly, though it still clung to life.

It couldn't be helped—Naoki's weapon hadn't been upgraded. He was still wielding the basic iron sword from the starting village.

Another flower closed in, its massive maw snapping toward him. Naoki retreated, gripping his sword with his right hand once more.

This time, he'd make it work.

He was starting to grasp the system's sword skill mechanics.

SAO boasted the most realistic physics engine in the world. In theory, any sword technique achievable in reality should be possible in the game. His first attempt hadn't earned the system's recognition, which could only mean his execution wasn't perfect.

Sword skills weren't limited to the system's predefined moves. Wasn't the Sword God Style a legitimate technique? Naoki's golden eyes gleamed with brilliance as he darted and weaved with swift precision. His real-world training paid off—not only were his base stats higher than average, but his control over his body was near flawless.

He pressed the iron sword to his side, gripping the hilt with his right hand in an iaido stance.

Sword God Style: Sword Draw.

The Sword God Style was all about decisive, one-hit kills, demanding swift and resolute action.

A breeze brushed past, and the sword left its sheath.

Blue light flashed once, then again, the blade fully enveloped in a radiant azure glow.

A massive circular slash tore through the air, cleaving the man-eating flower in two. Its HP hit zero instantly.

[System Notification]

[You have comprehended a new sword skill]

[???]

[Charge, Sword Draw]

[Effect: Damage increases with charge time, up to 500% of a basic sword attack]

[Cooldown: 10 seconds]

Naoki smirked knowingly. Just as he'd suspected.

It seemed he was on the right track—this gave him a path to explore.

The skill wasn't bad. It was fast and powerful, capable of one-shotting small monsters with a full charge, and the wind-up could be canceled if needed.

More importantly, it was only a Level 1 skill. Plus, his original self knew this sword style. If he could replicate the full Sword God Style here and refine it with the system's assistance, his real-world counterpart would surely be thrilled.

Asuna stood nearby, dumbfounded as she watched the boy take on three enemies at once.

His movements were fluid, like those of a seasoned warrior.

Dressed in simple cloth armor, with soft, dazzling golden hair and a handsome face—

He almost seemed like a legendary adventurer, a hero straight out of a tale. Though this "hero" hadn't yet left the beginner's village, had just tricked her a little, and had a rather mischievous personality.

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