Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

Ren completed the transaction.

The moment those 9,000 Cor vanished from his account, he felt as though segments of his intestines were being slowly pulled out and severed, painfully and without anesthesia.

"So this is what poverty feels like... But then again, what else do I earn money for?"

He stood there for a moment, eyes fixed on the system interface that had just confirmed the payment, drifting into a train of thought that leaned more toward philosophy than finance.

Agil, who was counting coins as if playing a lullaby on his fingers, looked up with a friendly yet well-practiced smile.

"Oh right, I just got in a few good armor sets too, if you're...."

"No, I'm not interested." Ren responded as if zapped by lightning, eyes narrowing slightly, his body already drifting instinctively toward the door.

Agil gave a sheepish chuckle but didn't give up.

"At least take a look, won't you? Some of them really suit your style. Or… if you like those flashy kinds, like that Black Beaster guy, I've got a few like that too."

Ren shot him a wary look. But Agil kept pressing, activating his ultimate sales move.

"Seriously though, if you're still wearing that leather armor from the first floor, it'll be rough dealing with the monsters here. But trust me, you'll earn back the cost in no time…"

"…No, thank you." Ren cut him off, gripping Windslash tightly in his hand as if it were the last thread of his life, then bolted out the store like a thief who'd just stolen the wrong item from a kind shopkeeper.

Agil watched his retreating figure and chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"I can feel the determination radiating off him. Good luck, kid."

...

It was now well past midmorning. Sunlight pierced through the foliage of three massive baobab trees, casting long shadows across the gray stone plaza.

Ren had no intention of resting.

No plans to grab a drink, no aimless market wandering, no sitting on benches like other newcomers. He walked straight to the quest board with steady, decisive steps.

His objective was clear:

Hunt monsters. As many as possible.

The western district of Zumfut faded behind him, replaced by the bustle of the central plaza. There stood the quest board, nestled against the roots of a massive tree, its green-gray stone etched with old lettering, faded with time as if it had stood for centuries.

A group of players who'd just taken a quest were busy arguing over reward distribution.

Ren slipped in quietly, eyes scanning the pinned slips of paper held by rusted steel nails, daily randomized quests, available without any NPC interaction.

Efficient. And no need to talk to anyone.

[Defeat 20 Horned Hounds in the eastern outskirts of the Mistwood Forest.]

[Eliminate 12 Glimmerflies, glowing night creatures.]

[Collect toxic Dryroot from the Woodbounder nests.]

[Hunt the Dusk-Lurker... appears only at dusk near the northern cliffside.]

Ren skimmed quickly, evaluating. He avoided any quests with specific time windows or that required long travel.

His only criteria were:

Focus. Kill. Grind levels. Extra rewards? Even better.

His gaze paused on a slightly crooked line:

[Defeat 15 Dire Wolves – Southern Mistwood Forest. Recommended Level: 10+]

[Reward: 1,500 Cor + 1 random item.]

Ren hesitated briefly, eyes locked on the Dire Wolf quest.

He was still Level 9. The quest recommended Level 10 and up.

A part of him wanted to turn away. But...

"Dire Wolves…"

The name was familiar. He'd slashed down dozens of them near the Starting Town's grasslands. They used to be a threat… but now, even if they landed a hit, Ren barely lost any HP.

But this was the third floor.

Different ecosystem. Different mobs. The "Dire Wolves" here wouldn't be so easy anymore.

Ren looked toward the Mistwood Forest. He couldn't see it, just the shimmer of sunlight through dense leaves and the noisy players in the nearby market.

He took a breath.

Every fight, every missed swing, all were experience. If he kept waiting until he was "ready," he'd never get anywhere.

Ren reached out, tore off the quest slip, folded it neatly, and slid it into his quest log.

The system chimed softly: quest added to active list.

But he didn't leave right away.

Instead, Ren stepped back and continued scanning the board, eyes flicking toward low-count quests with small rewards but matching the same region: gathering, harvesting, slaying. Anything he could stack in one trip.

"Dryroot… close to the Dire Wolf den."

"Mírlune dew seeds… grow near the southern forest edge."

Perfect.

Ren quietly tapped the two lines and accepted both quests.

One trip, three objectives.

Efficiency, more than anything, that was what Ren needed right now.

He left immediately, slipping away from the quest board before the group behind him could frown or mutter in annoyance.

They had nearly lost their patience, though Ren had stood there for less than a minute.

During peak hours like this, every second made the air feel more cramped. The clatter of boots, the chatter of voices, and those expectant glances turned the place into a tiny train station right before departure.

Ren wasn't tall, his frame was lean, quiet, as if he could disappear into any crowd at a moment's notice. Yet that silence gave him a kind of presence of its own.

Zumfut was lively, and this morning was no exception.

He veered down a narrow path less traveled, then paused to check his gear.

Armor: about 76% durability remaining.

Potions: 5 total – 3 HP, 2 stamina. The stamina potions were a new discovery from his morning market stroll. They restored about 25% stamina instantly, not much, but useful.

Running out of stamina had always been a fear for Ren. Even with added points in VIT, the fatigue after each battle never failed to shake him.

Food: 1 ration pack, 1 wax-wrapped crisp bread roll.

"Enough to last till evening," he thought.

Not luxurious, but not sloppy either. Everything in place, and Ren felt more... grounded.

A breeze drifted through the corridor between two massive trees, bringing with it the scent of resin, mold, and road dust. The unique scent of Floor 3,mysterious, wild.

Ren tightened his grip on Windslash, the cool touch of the hilt grounding him, sharpening his senses.

Time to move.

He descended into the forest below via broad wooden steps, lined with pale green moss and slick from lingering morning dew.

The smell of damp trees and earth mingled in the air, a silent welcome from the forest to any who dared enter.

Leaves rustled gently beneath his footsteps.

Then, a voice rang out behind him:

"Hey, are you doing quests solo? Want to party up?"

Ren paused. A small group of players stood a short distance behind.

Their gear was well-matched, and the triangular formation they stood in hinted at practiced coordination. A textbook party setup, possibly even members of a small guild.

Ren glanced at them briefly. He didn't dislike this kind of approach. In fact, it felt... warm. But it wasn't what he needed.

He tilted his head slightly, offering a faint smile.

"Sorry, my friend's waiting up ahead."

Without another word, he turned and continued south, toward the Mistwood Forest, where the trees formed a labyrinth ready to devour a lone wanderer.

Behind him, a soft voice murmured among the group:

"…He's got a cute smile."

Someone chuckled softly, and they too turned away, continuing their journey.

Ren followed a narrow dirt trail into the southern forest, a faint path through overgrown weeds, just wide enough for one person.

Tall grasses brushed against his boots and trousers, whispering dryly like the murmurs of a hidden forest.

Light filtered through the canopy above in muted patches, just enough to guide his way, never clear. The air was cool and damp, laced with sap and the faint sharpness of rotting fungi.

Ren quietly activated his stealth skill.

His figure faded, blending with the scenery like a blurred shadow in the green-gray mist.

No need to fight unless absolutely necessary.

As he walked, Ren scanned his surroundings, looking for materials mentioned in the side quests: herbs clinging to tree roots, dimly glowing fungi, or specific petals he could gather.

Unfortunately… his gathering skill wasn't high.

He paused beside several promising bushes, only to realize they were useless, or worse, required just a bit more proficiency to harvest without ruining them.

Soon, he reached the area marked on the quest map.

He stopped at a small bend where the path split, one narrow trail veering deep into the forest, nearly swallowed by the thick underbrush and canopy.

A curtain of greenery blanketed the entrance, as if daring anyone to step inside.

Ren didn't hesitate.

He veered off the main path, weaving through leaves and twisted roots one step at a time, moving slowly.

The air changed.

The wind stilled.

The ambient noise of the woods grew dense and heavy, only the faint hum of insects and his own footsteps remained.

According to the quest details, this was near a Dire Wolf den, where they clustered in numbers. Charging in would be reckless.

The best approach… was to isolate one.

Ren crouched behind a moss-covered tree trunk, eyes scanning the dense foliage ahead.Every movement was precise and deliberate, like a true hunter.

He didn't rush to strike. Just placed a hand gently on Windslash's hilt, leaning forward slightly, center of gravity ready to explode into action.

Just one, Ren thought. Just one to test where I stand…

A soft breeze stirred the leaves. Then, a low growl rumbled from beyond the underbrush.

Golden eyes gleamed.

A Dire Wolf stepped into view, far larger than those Ren had encountered on the first floor. Its fur was silver-gray tinged with green, taut muscles flexing under its thick hide.Jagged fangs protruded like fractures in solid stone.

It had seen him.

And it was advancing.