Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

Ren jolted awake in the dark, cold, and damp alley.

He was used to the cold.

It clung to him like a relentless predator, seeping into his flesh, gnawing at every breath.

But this time, the cold wasn't what woke him up.

What called Ren back to consciousness…

Were the faces… the twisted, lifeless eyes he had left behind in the dungeon.

One by one…

Ren hadn't taken their lives with his own hands… but he had played a part.

Their images flickered in and out of the darkness, as if watching him from some unseen abyss.

He shuddered, pressing himself against the icy stone wall behind him.

The chill seeped through his thin clothes, piercing his skin, making his body tremble....but it couldn't shake away the weight of those gazes.

The faces lingered in the shadows. Silent. Watching.

The glow of the streetlamp seemed weaker, swallowed by the surrounding darkness. Its light never quite reached where Ren sat.

Instinctively, he gripped the spear handle. His fingers were stiff, ice-cold. He shut his eyes, trying to steady himself… but the moment his eyelids closed, the images rushed back.

Scholar's face appeared. Eyes wide, mouth agape as if trying to say something...before the darkness consumed him.

Then Tarek… his face twisted, contorted beneath layers of crimson blood.

Those calculating eyes were now nothing but empty sockets.

Ren remembered it all, the way Tarek had looked at him, lips moving as if pleading for help, before the monster tore him apart with a final, desperate scream.

"No!"

Ren's eyes snapped open, his breath ragged.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest, threatening to burst.

The alley's cold still clung to him, biting into his every inhale, but it was nothing compared to the emptiness gnawing at him from within.

He should have been relieved to be free from Tarek.

But why… why did his face still haunt him? Both the smirking, scheming expression and the final, hopeless moment.

Tarek deserved to die.

Ren told himself. But the voice in his mind wavered, fragile and uncertain.

'If it had been the other way around… he would've left me behind too… if I hesitate now…'

"You deserved to die…" Ren whispered, as if trying to convince himself. But his voice cracked, suffocated by the guilt tightening around his chest.

He wanted to forget. He wanted to escape those images. But every time he closed his eyes, they returned, clearer and more vivid than before.

Ren lifted his head, staring at the pitch-black sky devoid of stars.

The darkness here was silent, peaceful. But inside him, it was screaming.....louder than any monster in the dungeon.

Slowly, he dragged himself toward the dim light of the streetlamp.

The weak yellow glow cast a small circle of light against the endless sea of shadows.

He sat there, unmoving. Staring at his own silent silhouette.

The cold still pressed into his skin, but Ren no longer felt it.

Only the hollowness, the biting emptiness consuming him from within.

His eyes, vacant and lifeless, stared into the void.

The darkness surrounded him, and even the weak lamplight couldn't chase away the weight of those lingering ghosts.

Ren sat there, beneath the lonely light, waiting.

Waiting for the night to fade, for the first rays of dawn to rise.

But he knew… the light of tomorrow wouldn't be enough to banish the ghosts clinging to him.

He sat there… until the first morning light touched his frozen skin.

'Day three… I've been trapped here for three days now.'

Ren slowly stood, his legs numb, shaking beneath him.

He dusted off the dirt and morning dew from his tattered cloak.

But no matter how much he brushed, he couldn't shake the weight pressing against his chest.

There was no time for weakness. No time to stop.

Ren clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palm until pain jolted through his nerves.

He had to keep moving… if not, those faces would return.

He ran as fast as he could, as if… once again, something unseen was chasing him.

His footsteps echoed through the empty alley, matching the frantic pounding of his heart.

His destination....the quest board.

Ren didn't dare look back. He didn't dare stop.

He sprinted straight toward the massive southern gate, leaving behind the cold morning light and the ghosts that haunted him.

His legs ached. When he finally came to a halt in front of the quest board, he stood there like a statue.

This time… he was early.

But once again… all the good quests were already gone.

Ren stared at the empty board, his chest tightening.

His stomach growled painfully.

He was too late… again.

All the simple, safe missions had already been taken.

There was no other choice.

Ren gritted his teeth, his gaze wavering as he looked at the only remaining quest.

Extermination Quest: Defeat 10 Frenzy Boars.

His throat tightened. Just thinking about those ferocious beasts made his body tremble.

Memories of the dungeon flashed in his mind....Tarek's twisted face… Scholar's lifeless eyes…

Ren instinctively stepped back, gripping his spear so tightly his knuckles turned white.

'No… I don't want to… I can't…'

But then, the cold of the alley returned to his thoughts. The hunger gnawing at his stomach. The loneliness eating away at him night after night.

If he didn't take this quest… he would have nothing left.

Ren bit his lip so hard he tasted blood.

He had no choice.

No matter the fear, no matter the ghosts clinging to him, he had to keep living.

He remembered how Kirito had taken down a boar in a single skill attack.

The way he moved, fluid, as if reading every motion before it even happened. Even the way he used his sword to deflect its charge.

'It looked so simple,' Ren had thought, watching him.

But… only when he tried it himself did he realize how everything spiraled out of control.

The boar's movements were wild and erratic. Its bloodshot eyes radiated a deadly killing intent that froze him in place.

But luckily, Frenzy Boars were neutral monsters.

They would only retaliate if a player attacked first.

Then, a flicker of determination lit up in Ren's weary eyes.

He reached out, yanked the quest sheet from the board, and stuffed it into his cloak.

No weakness allowed.

[Quest: Frenzy Boar Hunt]

Reward: 50 EXP

200 Cor.

He would defeat them. No matter what.

'If I fail… I'll try gathering something to sell instead…' Ren thought.

But first, he needed to repair his gear.

He couldn't afford for it to break the moment a monster struck him. And given its current durability, that was highly likely.

Ren sighed, pouting slightly as he looked at the remaining coins in his possession.

45 Cor.

That was his entire fortune.

Dragging his feet, he headed toward the old blacksmith shop tucked deep in the western alley of town.

The wooden door creaked as he pushed it open…

The sharp clang of a hammer striking metal made Ren flinch slightly. 

Inside the shop, the flames from the forge flickered, casting an orange-red glow on the blacksmith's rugged face. 

A thick, unkempt beard peeked out from behind an old leather apron. His rough, calloused hands gripped the heavy hammer firmly, raising it high before bringing it down hard on the glowing red metal. 

Each strike was powerful, precise. 

Sweat beaded on his forehead, glistening in the firelight like tiny drops of glass. 

Ren swallowed dryly. This scene... it was too real. 

Not like the stiff, lifeless NPCs from other games he had played before. 

Every movement, every furrow of the blacksmith's brow… felt as vivid as a real person. 

The blacksmith slammed the hammer against the metal once more, the sound reverberating through the small workshop. 

Then, he turned, his sharp gaze sweeping over Ren. 

"What do you need, adventurer?" 

His voice was deep and raspy, tinged with irritation, as if Ren had interrupted something important. 

Ren froze. 

He stood rooted to the spot, unsure how to react. 

The blacksmith… was talking to him? 

Not in the hollow, pre-programmed dialogue of an NPC, but as if a real person were speaking to him. 

"I… need this repaired." 

Ren stammered, his gaze still fixed on the blacksmith's face. 

Slowly, he unequipped his worn leather armor and handed it over, his hands trembling slightly. 

The blacksmith took the armor, frowning at the tattered edges and frayed leather. 

"You want to fix this junk?" 

His voice was laced with disdain, his piercing eyes locking onto Ren with a look of utter contempt. 

The mocking tone stung, as if ridiculing Ren's weakness. 

Unconsciously, Ren took a step back. 

The pressure weighing down on him was suffocating, he wasn't standing before a mere NPC, but a real person. 

"This spear, too…" 

The blacksmith lifted Ren's chipped spear, turning it in his hands as if assessing its worth. 

"A dull edge, scratches all over… worthless scrap." 

Ren felt his face grow hot at the words. 

He bit his lip, his fingers curling into fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. 

His pride flared, urging him to snap back....but no words came out. 

Not because he was afraid of this NPC… 

But because the scorn in the blacksmith's eyes felt too real. 

Ren unconsciously glanced down at his old spear and tattered armor. 

Were they really… that worthless? 

"Are you sure you want to fix this pile of junk? Or would you rather buy something better?" 

The blacksmith's voice was laced with amusement, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing through Ren's thoughts. 

Ren swallowed hard, feeling completely overwhelmed. 

How… could an NPC be this intimidating? 

He had to remind himself....this was just a system-generated character… but why did it feel so real? 

Taking a deep breath, Ren steadied himself. 

"...Just fix them." 

His voice wavered slightly, but his eyes were firm. 

He didn't have the money for better gear. 

More than that… he wanted to prove that he could still fight with these, no matter how worn or broken they were. 

The blacksmith let out a low chuckle, the disdain in his eyes barely concealed. 

"Fine… but don't come crying to me when they fall apart the moment you step outside." 

Turning away, the blacksmith began working on the repairs. 

Ren stood there, watching his broad back, unable to say another word. 

A heavy feeling pressed against his chest, like something was squeezing the air from his lungs. 

Was this really… just an NPC? 

Ren simply nodded, carefully placing each piece of equipment on the wooden counter. 

The blacksmith glanced at them briefly before scoffing. "This old junk… even if I fix it, it won't last long." 

Ren knew that. But he had no other choice.