The 2nd floor of Aincrad was divided into two distinct regions: the north wide and open, the south narrow and rugged.
The northern part stretched like a vast plain, where gusts of wind swept across the grasslands, carrying thin layers of dust and the pungent scent of earth and stone.
In the distance, towering mountain ranges rose sharply, like pillars piercing the hazy sky of the floor.
On the mountain slopes were countless small caves, some hiding underground rivers that meandered through the rocks, producing echoing sounds of water, as if the earth itself sighed.
To the south, the terrain gradually narrowed into a strip wedged between cliffs and dense forests, shrouded in mist almost all year round.
The path through this area was riddled with deep ravines and narrow trails, barely wide enough for a single person to pass.
For this reason, most players preferred to camp and hunt monsters in the north, while the south, though less frequented, contained rare materials and monsters.
The atmosphere here had a peculiar quality: both wild and quiet, as if this floor had been created solely to test the courage of players.
Returning to the main settlement of this floor: Urbus.
A pale blue light emanated from the teleportation gate, spreading into wavering, water-like ripples.
In that light, Ren appeared first, his slender figure wrapped in a thin brown tunic, the hem lightly fluttering from the gentle breeze of the teleportation system.
Right behind him were Rowa and Hina, both still slightly dazed, taking a few seconds to regain their balance.
Urbus, the central town of the second floor, unfolded before them like a painting rendered in earthy and silver-gray tones.
The fortress walls were built from rough mountain stone, stacked tightly to form structures both heavy and ancient.
Along the narrow stone-paved slopes, groups of players passed by, their footsteps mingling with the clang of metal from nearby weapon workshops.
The air here was much colder than on the first floor, a dry chill carrying the scent of minerals and rusty iron, the distinctive smell of highland mountains.
Majestic mountains rose above the mist, their peaks obscured by the dim artificial light reflecting from Aincrad's dome.
Ren lifted his head slightly, taking in the surroundings. From the teleportation gate, he could see the central square, where sculpted stone columns in the shape of twisting dragons rose amidst the faint smoke drifting from eateries and smithies.
"So, this is Urbus…" Rowa murmured softly, his expression serious yet tinged with curiosity.
"The air… it's really cold," Hina tugged her cloak tighter, her voice soft amidst the noisy crowd.
Ren smiled slightly, his breath forming a thin mist in the chilly air.
"Yes," he replied softly, his eyes sweeping over the bustling square, "the setting here is a highland plain, so the climate is colder than usual. Besides… it's already late in the year."
His voice was low, carrying a hint of reminiscence.
Ren turned, glancing at the two companions beside him.
Rowa walked just behind, his tall frame standing out in the crowd.
Even wearing only a simple leather armor, he exuded the aura of someone who had survived many battles.
Every gesture, every glance around was careful, alert, the kind Ren had only seen in those who had survived long enough to understand the fine line between recklessness and wisdom… even though Ren himself had not lived that long.
Rowa gave Ren a sense of reassurance every time he saw him.
Then Ren looked at Hina, and almost immediately let out a soft sigh.
The red-haired girl was running between food stalls, her eyes sparkling like a child lost in a festival market.
Occasionally, she bent down to examine wild vegetables or dried herbs on display, then excitedly held them up to ask the seller about the price.
Ren frowned slightly, imagining both Hina and Yuzu in the same frame.
The more he thought, the more unbelievable it felt."Must be… genetic inheritance," he murmured, half amused, half exasperated.
In that moment, Ren realized he was beginning to feel more at ease.
"Alright, today's target is the Wild Tuskar."
Rowa skillfully guided Hina away from the crowded market while speaking in his steady, low voice. His broad shoulders moved with confidence through the crowd, as if accustomed to leading.
"The Wild Tuskar is a mini-boss inhabiting the southern lowland plains of this floor," he continued, checking the minimap with practiced fingers. "Based on the information I've gathered, its level is around 6 to 7."
He paused briefly, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Its hide is thick, resistant to most physical damage. Its HP bar is about 900, and its two forward-curving tusks can easily pierce even poor-quality wooden shields. That's why it's called the 'Wild Tuskar.'"
Rowa tilted his head slightly, speaking evenly but with the weight of experience:
"Its skill set isn't complicated. One: sprint forward and ram. Two: stomp to create a localized tremor. The area is small, but enough to unbalance someone, with about a 30% chance of inflicting Level 1 paralysis if within range."
Ren listened quietly, his hand lightly touching the hilt of his Windslash at his side. Hina, meanwhile, squinted thoughtfully as she walked, seemingly trying to memorize every detail Rowa mentioned.
"Regarding speed," Rowa continued, "it's not fast, but don't be complacent. When its HP drops below 30%, its movement speed increases significantly. It's best to have a retreat plan ready, I've marked a lowland area with favorable terrain in the southwest of the plains."
His voice was firm, steady, without the slightest hesitation. Ren was briefly impressed, the way Rowa spoke, from organizing information to analyzing the situation, all bore the mark of someone who had commanded on the battlefield before.
They gradually left Urbus, walking along the wide white-gravel road leading to the southern gate.
Behind them, the settlement shrank into the distance, its pale yellow light fading into the gray mist rolling down from the mountains.
The monster fields around Urbus were actually quite safe.
Most players focused on leveling there; they killed so much that monsters were wiped out before they could respawn. The path out of the settlement held little more than old slash marks and a few leftover insect shells on the ground.
The three of them followed the trail marked on the minimap, heading toward the southern plains.
For a long stretch, they didn't encounter a single stray monster. Only after moving further from Urbus did the shapes of small creatures start to appear, deep green beetles, neutral insects that lifted their heads briefly before continuing to crawl as if humans didn't exist.
Ren had seen how Rowa fought; he attacked the monsters with his axe in clean, precise motions, always aiming for their weak points.
Every move seemed honed long before stepping into this world. Hina was the same, moving fluidly, coordinating almost perfectly with her own skills.
Ren didn't need to intervene. Before he could even draw his sword, it was over.
Because of that, the weight of worry that had been pressing on Ren slowly lifted.
These two… they really had skill. Aside from their relatively low levels and incomplete gear, just watching their movement, attacks, and coordination, Ren could see they were not inferior to the Clearers fighting on the frontlines.
Along the entire path out of Urbus, Rowa and Hina gradually opened up more to Ren.
They began to speak more, not just about combat or cooking, but about themselves.
Rowa left Ren with the impression of a quiet, reserved man, always keeping a calm gaze as if nothing could shake him.
He had been a soldier in the real world but left the military after a severe injury. Both in this world and the real one, he was haunted by memories of failing to protect his comrades.
From then on, he started cooking, a strange way to "keep his hands from trembling anymore," as he said in a hoarse voice.
Hina was completely different. Gentle, slightly stubborn, and carrying a certain "motherly" presence in the group, always reminding others to eat properly and rest when needed.
She had been a culinary student in real life, entering Sword Art Online out of curiosity about the rumored "simulated taste system."
Unfortunately, that curiosity became a prison with no escape, trapping them in this deadly game.
"What about you, Ren?" Hina tilted her head, her eyes shining in the pale sunlight. "I've never seen you around the Starting Town. Could it be… you left very early?"
Ren didn't answer.
Only the sound of wind sweeping across the plains and gravel crunching underfoot.
A moment later, he stopped. Then his whole body seemed to dissolve into the wind.
"Ren?" Rowa called softly, but at that instant, a sharp sound rang out in the air, like a blade slicing through the gusts.
Hina startled, looking up, her heart tightening.
Before them, Ren stood a few meters away, Windslash still faintly glowing with pale blue light along its blade.
At his feet lay six wind-bee corpses scattered around, their bodies cleanly bisected, as if torn from this world itself.
Red pixel fragments, the characteristic simulated blood, rose slowly, dissipating in the air like petals falling in the wind.
Ren silently sheathed his sword, the motion crisp and almost perfect, forming a scene of sheer artistry.
Only when the soft click echoed did time seem to resume flowing.
Rowa still could not speak. His eyes followed Ren's every movement, mixed with caution, astonishment, and awe.
Hina's mouth opened slightly, unable to believe what she had just witnessed.
Ren turned back, his voice calm, even a little embarrassed:"Sorry, it was instinct. I thought they were going to attack."
Rowa and Hina exchanged wide-eyed glances, unsure what to say, as if words were stuck in their throats.
The air still carried the echo of the sword, the thin rush of wind through the grass not yet dissipated.