Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

Ren wandered through the marketplace.

He couldn't stop thinking about why he played this game.

He needed money.

After paying off his debt, Ren was almost lost.

He had no degree, no real skills. His frail body made physical labor impossible.

Ren had dropped out of school at fourteen. He had tried to apply for countless jobs, but no one was willing to hire a child under the legal working age.

In the end, Ren could only work in closed-off factories.

Those working days had been a nightmare. The managers exploited him, forcing him to take on tasks far beyond his physical limits.

That was how he developed a severe lung condition at such a young age.

Two years passed, and the debt was finally repaid.

But when he looked back, Ren had nothing left...except the illness slowly eating away at his body.

With no other choice, Ren turned to the gaming industry.

Gold farming provided him with a meager income, but most of it went into saving for a NerveGear.

This was the only hope Ren could cling to.

Yet, even after exhausting all his resources, it still wasn't enough to buy the gaming helmet. As despair took hold of him, Tarek appeared.

But now, Tarek was dead...

There was nothing tying Ren down anymore.

Yet his body still felt heavy.

Then hunger struck, sharp, relentless. A gnawing emptiness spread from his stomach through his entire body.

Ren felt dizzy, his vision blurring at the edges.

His lips were dry and cracked. Every shallow breath sent a sharp, stinging pain through them, as if they were being torn apart.

He couldn't take it anymore.

Ren rushed to the fountain. Without a second thought, he buried his face in the clear water and drank.

Gulping.

The cool, sweet liquid rushed down his throat, filling the hollow emptiness in his chest.

This feeling… was overwhelming.

He had never imagined that water could taste so good.

It pulled Ren back to his past, back to the times when he pressed his lips against a rusty public faucet, cold droplets trickling down his throat as hunger clawed at him.

'So familiar…'

The hunger subsided, if only for a moment. Ren let out a sigh and leaned against the fountain's edge.

He knew this relief wouldn't last. He still needed food.

Ren swiped his finger to open his inventory. Once again, it was empty. A wry smile crept onto his lips.

'That's right… I have nothing.'

He sighed, his vacant eyes drifting over the bustling streets.

'Fifty cor left… How much is a loaf of bread?' he murmured, his feet moving instinctively toward the marketplace.

The scent of freshly baked bread filled the air. The lively chatter of buyers and sellers drowned out Ren's thoughts.

Yet, when he left the bakery, his face darkened.

"What the hell? A meal with three loaves of bread and a small bottle of water costs five cor?" Ren muttered, disappointment weighing heavily in his voice.

He looked down at the dark rye bread resting in his hand. Small, hard, and dry.

Ren swallowed, but his throat clenched in pain. The hunger still gnawed at him, like a bottomless void.

A cold wind swept through. He shivered, his already pale face turning even more ashen. Weak… and alone.

'Ten days…' Ren mumbled as he walked through the crowded streets.

'With this money… if I stretch it… ten days at most.' He sighed. He had to find a way to earn money.

What about quests?

A thought flickered in his mind.

Yes, he could do quests. Ren would prioritize simple errands.

He'd get a small payout and a bit of experience. But over time, it would add up, helping him level up.

Once he was strong enough to fight monsters, he could start hunting outside the plains.

'Yeah, if I reach level two, those level-one boars won't be as scary anymore.'

Nodding to himself, Ren sprinted toward the daily quest board.

It was a large wooden board set up near the town gate, plastered with quest postings from the town's NPCs.

Ren had no idea which NPCs would give him quests.

So checking the board was the easiest way.

He skimmed through each notice carefully. Cleaning… Gathering herbs… Delivering letters…

But then....

All the simple quests were already taken.

Ren stood frozen in front of the board, staring at the empty listings as if the words themselves were fading away, vanishing with every heavy breath he took.

It felt like the ground beneath him had crumbled, leaving only an endless, frigid void.

He looked up, his vacant eyes scanning his surroundings.

Other players huddled in groups, trading items, chatting loudly, laughing beside food stalls piled high with delicious meals.

It was like a different world, one where they had each other, where everything could be shared.

And Ren… was alone. No one. Nothing.

"Only the dangerous quests are left…" Ren pressed his lips together, his voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze landed on the hunting board, filled with ruthless tasks, extermination requests, and material collection from monsters that had to be fought and killed.

A chill crept over him.

He had no choice but to take the risk. But risks always came with a price.

And him… did he have what it took to pay that price?

Ren's fingers trembled as he scrolled through his equipment. A heavy weight pressed down on his chest.

{Equipment: Leather Armor}

Type: Light Armor

Durability: 3/15

+5 Defense.

{Equipment: Wooden Spear}

Type: Weapon

Durability: 2/15

+5 Attack.

Both pieces of equipment had been through countless battles, the wear and tear visible in every detail.

Ren sighed, his heart sinking. These items were on the verge of breaking, just one more battle, and they would be completely useless.

This was all he had. A tattered leather armor and a worn-out wooden spear, as if they had endured endless years of relentless combat.

The recent clash with the boss had left them in ruins, and now, he had nothing left to rely on.

In Sword Art Online, the equipment system was unlike any other MMORPG.

Instead of having multiple slots for individual armor pieces like gloves, chest plates, pants, and boots, everything was merged into a single slot.

There was only one slot for armor and cloaks, but in return, a single armor piece could integrate everything, from boots to gloves.

Players could remove accessories from their bodies even while still wearing their armor.

This provided maximum flexibility in changing gear without interrupting combat.

For example, a player could equip a full-body steel armor with near-absolute defense. But in exchange, their movement speed and vision would be reduced.

However, they could remove their helmet while keeping the rest of their armor, reducing the defense stats from the helmet but improving their speed and visibility.

This system allowed players to easily adjust their stats according to the situation, creating dynamic and strategic combat opportunities.

These were the things Kirito had taught Ren on his first day lessons he hadn't forgotten.

'I wish I had a steel armor... wait... what am I even thinking?' Ren questioned himself, his mind swirling with tangled thoughts. 'What should I do next?'

He shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his thoughts and focus on reality. Leaning against the wall, Ren took a hesitant bite of his stale black bread, his gaze lost in the emptiness, as if searching for something to ease his unease.

'This isn't so bad... at least it tastes better than what I've had before...'

A part of him still longed for something better, but at the same time, Ren knew he couldn't keep chasing illusions. He needed to decide, he needed to move forward, even if he was afraid.

After a moment of hesitation, Ren sighed and told himself he couldn't stay still forever. He had to act. He had to push past his fear.

"Alright," Ren muttered, his eyes hardening as he glanced at the old spear lying beside him.

"Hunting. But first, I need to master this weapon."

The spear in his hands looked old and worn, the wooden shaft dulled and the spearhead slightly rusted.

It was the only weapon he had when he started the game, but he had never used anything like this before.

However, veteran players often said that the spear was one of the easiest weapons to wield. It had a long reach, allowing the user to maintain a safe distance and avoid unexpected strikes from enemies.

Moreover, in the right hands, a spear could become a deadly projectile.

"It's not an ideal weapon, but it's what I have..." Ren murmured, tightening his grip on the shaft.

He felt its weight, lifted it, then rotated his wrist to get accustomed to the balance.

He started thrusting into the air, each movement slow and deliberate, adjusting his strength and angles to find the proper technique.

He couldn't afford to be clumsy in battle. This world was full of dangers, and Ren knew he couldn't rely on luck.

Only practice, only mastering this weapon would ensure his survival.

Ren glanced around. The alleyway was too narrow; there wasn't enough space to train properly. The lack of room felt suffocating.

"Let's see... if I remember correctly... there's a training ground nearby." Ren pressed his lips together, trying to recall its location.

With newfound determination, he left the alley, making his way through the crowded streets, following his memory.

A mixture of nervousness and excitement welled up inside him.

Today would be the day he truly learned how to fight.