Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

The air grew heavy, almost suffocating.

Ren followed the group into the dungeon. The narrow stone walls quickly closed in around him.

The damp, musty smell mingled with the oppressive darkness. Cold drafts seeped through the cracks, sending shivers down Ren's spine.

[You are among the first to set foot in this dungeon.]

[Experience gained will be doubled for the next 5 hours.]

[+10% drop rate for materials]

[+5% drop rate for equipment]

"Damn it. Look at all these notifications. Now I'm convinced those Beta Testers really had an unfair head start."

Tarek smirked triumphantly as he read each line of the system messages. He wasn't the only one. The others received the same notifications.

This was a small reward for those who arrived first.

And it was also the key to gaining an advantage over other competitors.

'I know… Life isn't fair. But… this is just too much. So that's why Kirito left the starting town so quickly...'

Ren felt a twinge of envy. But he couldn't let it consume him. He didn't want to know what stupid things he might do if he let jealousy take over... not again.

He checked his equipment and health bar. His fingers lightly swiped through the air, closing the system menu.

"Look who's getting excited. Double experience is time-limited. If you don't fully take advantage of it, it's useless," Scholar remarked with a mocking grin, casting a sideways glance at Tarek and his lackeys.

"You little...," Tarek started, then stopped, clenching his fist before letting it go. He knew he didn't have the authority to speak on equal terms with them.

They knew too much. He had to endure it, endure until he squeezed all the value out of these Beta Testers.

His instincts told him they were hiding something. Greed flashed in Tarek's eyes for a moment before a fake smile appeared on his face.

Scholar noticed Tarek's expression and sneered, as if everything was going according to his plan. No matter who it was, when faced with absolute knowledge—the kind that could help them rise above others—they would learn their place and bow down.

Then, Tarek's gaze shifted toward Ren.

"So, what's your name?" Eylis approached Ren, her brown eyes gleaming with curiosity as she stepped closer.

Ren flinched, slightly trembling as he instinctively backed away. For every step he took back, Eylis took two steps forward.

"R... Ren..." His voice was small and hesitant, with a slight stammer.

His breath hitched. How long had it been since he last talked to a girl? He couldn't remember.

His heart raced wildly, pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest. His hands fidgeted awkwardly before finally gripping his spear tightly.

"Cute," Eylis giggled, amused by Ren's flustered behavior.

Ren stepped back again, his eyes cautious as he looked at Eylis.

But her warm, friendly demeanor made him feel both uneasy and somewhat comforted.

"Ren, huh?" Eylis stared at his face with a playful smile. "Your name's cute... and so are you."

Ren stopped in his tracks, stumbling a bit. His face grew warm, the heat creeping up his neck. "W... what?"

Eylis laughed softly before turning away. "Your eyes are pretty too."

She skipped away toward the front of the group, where Copper and Scholar were leading the way, leaving Ren frozen in place.

He knew he shouldn't read too much into those compliments, but his heart still raced. Was it fake, or was she being genuine? Why did she approach him?

Ren tried to organize his chaotic thoughts, but all he could manage to say was, "Thank you."

His anxious eyes followed her retreating figure instinctively.

The group continued through the narrow dungeon corridor, the ancient stone walls covered in moss.

Their footsteps echoed off the damp floor, mingling with the sound of dripping water, creating an eerie atmosphere.

The faint glow from the moss was just enough to illuminate the path but not enough to reveal any traps.

Scholar suggested using an alternative light source. He pulled out a glowing crystal from his inventory. It was the same type of stone used in magic street lamps.

Its light was soft, not as harsh as a flashlight or torch. It seemed to emit a perpetual glow as long as it was held.

"Don't look at me like that. You can buy these at item shops. Just gotta keep an eye out for them. They're quite pricey, though," Scholar explained.

Tarek's greedy gaze shifted, replaced by a disappointed smile. Then he asked, "Does it have any weaknesses?"

"Yeah. Its range is limited, and it only lights up when you hold it. Not ideal during combat," Copper explained, his eyes sweeping over the group.

"Those who use one-handed weapons can carry it to light the way for others."

Copper's gaze landed on Tarek. Tarek smirked and shrugged.

His weapon of choice was a single-handed axe, but he carried two of them.

His lackeys didn't use one-handed weapons. They wielded axes or maces paired with round wooden shields. One of them even carried a heavy shield, serving as the tank.

"Your turn, Prince. You take it and lead the way," Tarek grinned menacingly at Ren, taking slow, deliberate steps toward him.

Ren backed away, his shoulders pressing against the cold stone wall. Tarek kept advancing, his shadow looming over Ren like a predator cornering its prey.

His large hand reached out, not touching Ren, but its mere presence made chills run down Ren's spine.

"Take this and go ahead," Tarek's sinister smile grew, his figure expanding like a nightmare in Ren's mind. His head spun, the world tilting around him.

Ren's lungs felt paralyzed. He could smell the damp dungeon air, the stench of stagnant water and mold, yet he couldn't breathe. His blood felt frozen.

"But... my spear... it's a two-handed weapon..." Ren stammered, stepping back as he tried to explain.

Then his eyes met Tarek's cold, piercing stare. Ren's body shivered. He wanted to run, but his legs were rooted to the ground.

Slap!

The sharp sound shattered the suffocating silence.

Tarek's rough hand struck Ren hard across the face, sending him sprawling into a puddle.

[Hp: 220/250]

Ren's heart stopped when he saw his health points drop. This wasn't the safe zone anymore.

Each point of health felt like a thread of his life being cut away, amplifying his fear.

His cheek burned, a sharp pain prickling his skin like needles.

The foul taste of stagnant water clung to his tongue. Ren wanted to get up, but his body felt paralyzed.

He didn't dare lift his head. Didn't dare look at Tarek. Didn't dare think about resisting.

"You dare defy me?" Tarek leaned down, his eyes gleaming dangerously.

His thick hand reached out, ready to grab Ren's hair like a predator clawing at helpless prey.

Before Tarek could strike again, a cold blade pressed against his neck.

"What do you think you're doing?"

All eyes turned to the owner of the voice.

It was Eylis.

The blade gleamed softly under the crystal's light, resting against Tarek's skin.

Her voice was calm but steely, slicing through the tension.

Her eyes held no hesitation, only sharp determination.

Tarek slowly released his grip, his eyes flicking to the slender blade before locking onto Eylis's determined gaze. 

But her response sent a shiver down his spine. He was no stranger to that look... the same look he often saw in the eyes of thugs at the loan shark company he worked for. 

The eyes of someone willing to kill. 

A silent warning. 

Don't touch her prey. 

Tarek swallowed unconsciously. His jaw clenched, his eyes darkened, but the smile remained plastered on his face. 

"I'm just a bit irritated, that's all. You know, since entering this dungeon... we haven't seen a single monster or treasure chest..." 

"You know nothing," Scholar scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "This entrance is actually a trap. We're retracing our steps back to the trap, leading directly to the main path of the dungeon." 

His voice was slow and measured, as if testing Tarek's reaction. 

Scholar deliberately emphasized the last sentence, his words hissing out like a serpent's warning. 

He didn't look at Tarek, but his gaze alone was enough to make it clear that he knew more than he was letting on. 

Tarek pressed his lips together, his brows knitted tightly. He knew he couldn't act recklessly. But he also couldn't back down without putting up some resistance. 

Ignoring Tarek's attitude, Scholar continued, 

"That's why this path is extremely safe—no monsters spawn here. No other traps are hidden within, either. 

A handful of beta testers found this route when they fell into the trap. 

But we're the first to arrive." 

His sharp eyes gleamed behind his glasses, a sly, self-satisfied grin spreading across his face. Scholar basked in the admiring glances directed at him. 

"Everything is exactly like the beta test," he murmured. 

Whether intentionally or not, Scholar's voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear. 

But in the end, Ren was still pushed to the front, the glowing crystal clutched in his hand. 

Following Scholar's lead, the group climbed out of the trap pit, entering the main path of the dungeon. 

The game was about to begin.