The dojo's floor gleamed beneath the warm afternoon light, each plank polished to mirror shine. The faint scent of sandalwood floated through the air, mixing with the quiet hum of anticipation. Students from the Sword Art Club gathered along the edges of the training hall, whispering to one another.
And in the center of it all—stood Maria Nexus.
Her long chestnut hair swayed with every subtle movement. Her eyes, sharp as tempered steel, fixed on the boy standing opposite her. Jordan Lethal. The new kid who apparently "wanted to join her club."
She tilted her chin slightly. "You want to join my club, huh?" Her tone was mocking yet curious. "Then you'll have to prove it."
Without waiting for an answer, she snapped her fingers.
"Bring two wooden blades."
One of the senior members rushed to fetch them, handing one to Maria and tossing the other through the air. Jordan caught it reflexively. The smooth weight of the practice sword settled into his palm, light but familiar.
Maria's stance shifted—precise, measured, flawless.
Jordan swallowed, shoulders tensing. "You're serious right now?"
"Dead serious," she said, her voice steady as she raised her blade into guard. "Defeat me, and you earn your place. Fail—" her lips curled faintly, "—and you walk out that door."
For a moment, silence reigned.
Then—thwack!
Maria lunged.
Her movements were blindingly fast—fluid arcs of motion that sliced through the still air. Jordan barely had time to lift his sword before her first strike slammed against his guard. The shock vibrated through his arm. He stumbled backward, breath caught.
She's fast!
Maria didn't let up. Her feet glided across the wooden floor, strikes flowing one into the next like a choreographed dance. Each swing was precise, deliberate—no wasted motion.
Jordan blocked, parried, and ducked, but every clash sent sparks of pain up his arms. His wooden sword trembled with each impact.
"Come on," Maria said between swings, her expression calm but eyes fierce. "Is that all the so-called 'instinct' you've got?"
Jordan gritted his teeth. "You talk too much."
He twisted his wrist, deflecting her next blow, then spun into a counterattack. His strikes weren't graceful—they were raw, unpredictable. He fought like someone who learned not from a teacher but from surviving chaos.
Maria's eyes widened slightly as she barely dodged his upward swing. The crowd gasped.
Jordan pressed on, striking again and again, his attacks fueled by adrenaline. The sound of wooden swords cracking against each other echoed across the hall, rhythmic like drums in battle.
Maria blocked two blows, ducked the third, but the fourth grazed her thigh. She hissed softly, retreating a step.
Jordan saw the opening—and raised his sword for the finishing strike.
But before it landed—Maria smirked.
"Okay… I surrender."
Jordan froze mid-motion. "Wait, what?"
She dropped her sword, raising both hands. "You win."
The spectators murmured in surprise. Jordan blinked, lowering his blade. "That's it? You're giving up that easily?"
He extended a hand to help her up—but the moment she grabbed it, her grip tightened.
In one swift motion, Maria twisted her hips and flipped him clean over her shoulder.
Thud!
Jordan hit the floor, the air whooshing out of his lungs.
"Ow—what the hell was that for?!" he wheezed.
Maria leaned over him, her expression calm yet unreadable. "Lesson one," she said quietly. "Never trust your enemy's words."
Her tone wasn't playful anymore. It carried the weight of memory. The echo of someone else's voice.
Show no mercy… and don't ever trust your opponent.
For a fleeting second, her eyes softened, haunted by something long buried.
Flashback — Seven Years Ago
The training hall had been larger then. Brighter. A girl of ten stood trembling, wooden sword raised awkwardly before a tall man in a black training gi.
"Again," said Edward Nexus, his voice stern but patient. "You hesitate, Maria. In battle, hesitation kills."
"I'm trying, Father!" she cried, lunging forward—but her small arms were too slow. Edward sidestepped effortlessly, tapping her shoulder with his blade.
"Too predictable." He smiled faintly. "Precision isn't speed. It's knowing where to strike."
Maria panted, tears of frustration burning her eyes. "You're too good… I can't beat you!"
Edward knelt, brushing her hair aside. "You will, someday. But remember this: show no mercy—and never trust an enemy's surrender."
Those words engraved themselves into her soul.
Back to Present
Maria blinked, snapping out of her memory. She noticed Jordan staring at her curiously from the floor.
"Uh… are you okay?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head.
She exhaled slowly, composing herself, then extended a hand. "You're persistent," she admitted. "And reckless. But…"
Jordan hesitated, then grasped her hand.
"…you've got guts. Welcome to the Sword Art Club, Jordan Lethal."
The onlookers burst into cheers. Jordan chuckled under his breath as he stood, brushing off dust. "So I passed, huh?"
"Barely," she teased, smirking. "You're rough around the edges. But there's… potential."
He grinned. "Guess that's better than nothing."
Later That Day
Classes ended, the sun beginning to dip behind the horizon.
Jordan slung his bag over his shoulder, stepping out into the fading golden light. He was halfway down the path when a familiar voice called out.
"Hey! You—Jordan!"
He turned. Maria jogged toward him, hair glowing silver under the sunset.
"Can we talk? While we walk?" she asked, slightly out of breath.
"Sure," he said, adjusting his bag. "What's up?"
They strolled side by side down the quiet path leading to the main gates. The air was warm, filled with the scent of blooming sakura.
Maria glanced at him. "Where'd you learn to use a sword like that?"
Jordan shrugged. "Video games."
She blinked. "Wait—video games? You're joking."
"Nope," he said with a half-smile. "There's this old title called The Sword of Ancient Assassin. Learned a lot from it. Guess my thumbs are better trainers than real teachers."
Maria raised an eyebrow, then couldn't help but laugh softly. "That's… absurd. But kind of amazing, actually."
"Yeah. Nexus Gaming really nailed that combat system," Jordan said casually. "Their stuff feels real."
At the mention of Nexus, Maria's expression dimmed. Her eyes drifted to the ground.
"Yeah… Nexus."
Jordan noticed the shift in her tone. "You okay?"
She forced a smile. "Yeah. Just… remembering."
Her Memory — Age Ten
The lab was cold and filled with blue light. Her father stood before a massive holographic display, coding sequences reflecting off his glasses.
"Dad… dinner's ready," Maria said softly, holding a tray of food.
"Just a minute, sweetheart," he said, never looking away from the screen. "Almost done."
But the minute stretched into hours.
That night, she ate alone. Again.
And by the time she turned eleven, Edward Nexus was gone—vanished into his work, chasing a dream she couldn't follow. Their calls became brief, distant. His voice more mechanical than fatherly.
"Show no mercy," he had told her once.
But he'd shown mercy to everything except her loneliness.
Back to Present
"Maria!" a deep voice called from outside the gates.
Her head snapped up. Standing there, wearing a sharp gray suit and a smile both warm and guilty, was Edward Nexus himself.
"Dad?" she whispered.
Her composure shattered. Without a word, she dropped her bag and ran.
Jordan froze as Maria threw herself into her father's arms, tears glistening in her eyes. For a moment, the world blurred into golden light—father and daughter reunited after years apart.
Edward chuckled softly, hugging her tight. "I told you I'd make it to your campus this time."
"You never do…" she mumbled against his chest.
He smiled sadly, brushing her hair. "Guess I finally learned mercy."
Then Edward's gaze lifted—and met Jordan's.
"Ah. And who's this young man?" he asked with a teasing grin. "Your boyfriend?"
Maria's cheeks flared bright red. "No! He's just… a friend!"
Jordan awkwardly pointed to himself. "Me? Uh, yeah. Just… a friend."
Edward laughed heartily. "Well, any friend of my daughter's is a friend of mine." He reached into his coat pocket and handed Jordan a sleek black card engraved with gold circuitry.
A VIP Pass—Nexus Gaming Company, 5th Anniversary Gala.
Jordan blinked in disbelief. "Sir, this is—wow. Thank you."
"Consider it a thank-you for keeping an eye on her," Edward said kindly. "You'll see something… extraordinary there."
Maria looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Dad…"
Edward ruffled her hair gently. "Don't stay up too late, alright? And maybe be nice to your new club recruit."
Then he turned, escorted by sleek black cars and security drones, fading into the glow of the evening lights.
Maria stood there quietly, arms folded, pretending not to watch him leave.
Jordan glanced at her. "He seems… like a big deal."
She sighed. "Yeah. He's Nexus. He's always a big deal."
Her voice trembled slightly—but she hid it behind a small smile.
Later That Night
The city lights flickered through Jordan's apartment window. He sat on his bed, the VIP pass glinting on his desk.
He stared at it for a moment, fingers brushing over the embossed logo. Nexus Gaming Company. The creators of The Ultimate Warrior Online.
He smiled faintly. "Small world, huh?"
Then, with a deep breath, he slipped on his VR helmet.
"System," he said softly. "Log me in."
The world dissolved into pure light.
His heart quickened—the sensation of falling through infinity.
And as his consciousness sank into the digital void, the familiar words echoed through his mind like a call to adventure:
< WELCOME BACK. JORDAN LETHAL >
The Ultimate Warrior Online awaits.
The light swallowed him whole.