With a final squeal, the boar's massive body shattered like glass.
Despite the hiatus, Hachiman's skills hadn't rusted.
The Frenzy Boar, basically this game's slime, was easy enough, but what lay ahead was anyone's guess.
Catching his breath, Hachiman glanced around, overhearing a lively duo nearby.
"Woo! Man, I'm freakin' unstoppable! What do you think, Kirito? Pretty badass, right?"
"Congrats on your first win. But that boar? It's like a slime in other games."
"What?! Seriously? I thought it was a mid-boss or something!"
"No way."
(They're having fun. One sounds like Tobe, the other like Hayama. Wait, Hayama again? Is this secretly Hayama Online?)
Hachiman smirked, finding the likely newbie's enthusiasm oddly endearing.
(I had that phase once. Acting all high and mighty as a loner? Yeah, come back after leveling up. Sorry, self, my bad.)
Mentally playing out an Iroha-style skit, Hachiman refocused on hunting.
(Can I pull off Fadd Edge?)
The four-hit combo—side, side, side, vertical—was beyond his current skill level. He mimicked the motions, but the power was lackluster. Unusable for now.
(This damage is pathetic. But my proficiency's rising faster than average. Keep at it. Also, that Kirito guy's been staring…)
As a loner, repetitive tasks didn't faze him. Being alone was easier. And loners? They're hypersensitive to stares. Spotting Kirito's gaze was child's play.
After testing his dagger moves and gaining a few levels, Hachiman decided to call it a day and head back to town. Kirito's eyes followed his retreating figure.
(My read? That guy's a smooth-talking, lone-wolf type, Kirito thought.)
Hachiman hesitated but, feeling a loner's kinship, gave Kirito a slight nod before heading off.
(Wonder what food tastes like here. Back then, ingredients barely differed…)
Feeling peckish, Hachiman eyed a food stall. Then he noticed a player up ahead, looking lost and glancing around.
Staring absentmindedly, their eyes locked.
(Crap.)
Hachiman looked away, but too late—the player approached.
"Um, excuse me…"
Hachiman pretended not to hear, but the player circled in front of him.
"Sorry, I just have a quick question."
Resigning himself, Hachiman replied, "Sure, what's up?"
Thanks to some Christmas event grinding, he managed a normal response—a sign of growth. The player, maybe his age, had a youthful face reminiscent of Totsuka.
"Um, I want to log out, but… I don't know how…"
(Classic newbie. Annoying, but telling them to contact a GM feels cold. Besides, abandoning someone Totsuka-esque? The world might forgive me, but I wouldn't.)
"Right, do you know how to open the menu? It's down here…"
Checking his own menu, Hachiman froze. No logout button.
"It's… not there."
"Yeah…"
(Akihiko screwing this up? Impossible. That guy's a demon king, on par with Yukino's sister.)
Hachiman racked his brain but came up empty. "It's rare for a new game, but maybe a bug. Devs will probably announce something soon."
Surprised at his own smooth conversation—helped by the Totsuka vibe—Hachiman felt a spark of pride. Emboldened, he pushed further.
"Just got here? If you want, I can help with gear or give a quick tutorial till the announcement. Also, mind dropping the formalities? We're both guys, and I'm not great with polite talk."
Hachiman managed to say it without stumbling, mentally cheering for his sister's approval. The player, looking puzzled, glanced at themselves and nodded.
"Sure, sounds good!"
"Cool, same."
Thrilled by the Totsuka-like agreement, Hachiman helped pick gear, explaining harassment and anti-criminal codes. Matching hooded capes? Purely practical, not intentional.
They formed a party, and Hachiman noticed the name on his screen.
(Got caught up acting like a normie and forgot introductions. Sorry, Komachi, your bro's still trash…)
Recovering, he said, "My bad, didn't introduce myself. I'm Hachiman. Asuna, right?"
"Oh, sorry! I'm Yuuki Asuna. Nice to meet you. But… how'd you know my name?"
Hachiman quickly covered Asuna's mouth. "Idiot, don't use your real name here! You never know who's listening. Stick to character names!"
Asuna, realizing the mistake, apologized. "Sorry, I'm new at this. I'll be careful."
"Nah, my bad for snapping. I'm Hachiman Hikigaya. Now we both know secrets, so we're even. No harm done."
Asuna tilted their head, then smiled brightly. "Got it. Nice to meet you, Hachiman!"
(This kid's an angel like Totsuka. And… kinda cute for a guy…)
Addressing Asuna's earlier question, Hachiman explained, "When you party up, names show on the screen. Sorry for using yours first."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Alright, intros done. Let's do a quick combat tutorial."
At the hunting grounds, Hachiman explained, "Sword skills trigger automatically. Start the motion, charge a bit, then release when you feel it."
He demonstrated dagger skills. Asuna, a quick learner, nailed the rapier skill Linear after Hachiman adjusted their stance.
(What's with this kid? Not actually Totsuka, right? Why's their touch so soft? Am I stepping into new territory here? Or is it Totsuka?)
Hachiman's heart raced, but the real shock came next.
"Teacher! I'm getting the hang of it. Time to get serious!"
"Serious? What—"
Before he finished, a flash streaked by. Not as strong as Hachiman's full power, but blindingly fast—a literal flash.
"Like that?"
Seeing Asuna's smug look, Hachiman thought, (I want to protect that smile. Is this kid a genius? A genius Totsuka?)
"Hey, that was—huh?"
A menacing gaze made Hachiman instinctively grip his weapon.
(What's that? From above? Someone watching us?)
A bell chimed—ding-dong—and light engulfed them, teleporting them to a crowded plaza.
In that moment, the world changed forever.