As Kirito clashed with a pack of monsters, his blade flashing in rapid arcs, something caught his eye—a girl a short distance away, struggling against her own attackers. For a moment, the battlefield noise faded. She was strikingly beautiful, but her stance was shaky, her swings unrefined. It was obvious she wasn’t used to combat.

Kirito’s hesitation lasted only an instant. With a decisive strike, he cut down the last monster before him and sprinted toward her. In a blur of motion, his sword carved through her opponents one by one, scattering them with effortless precision. Within seconds, silence replaced the chaos.

He turned to her, his expression softening into a reassuring smile.

“I haven’t seen you around before. You holding up okay?”