Ren sat by the campfire, quietly enjoying a simple yet comforting meal amidst the cold night.
The slightly burnt bread gave off a faint, smoky aroma, and the dried meat, once grilled, became softer and more flavorful compared to its stiff texture inside the inventory.
Thin wisps of smoke curled in the air, blending with the breath of the night and the flickering firelight.
He didn't rush his meal. Every movement was slow and deliberate, as if he wanted to prolong this rare moment of peace.
It had been a long day filled with too many things to worry about, fighting, guiding the other two, ensuring they could adapt to this world without facing unnecessary dangers.
But now, at least for this moment, he could afford to relax a little.
Then, a question suddenly shattered the silence.
"Ren… where are you planning to go next?"
Yuna's voice was soft, yet it made Ren freeze for a moment.
The warm bread in his hand halted mid-air, but he no longer had the urge to take another bite.
He had never seriously thought about it.
Since leaving the Town of Beginnings, he had simply moved forward, doing whatever was necessary to survive.
He fought, trained, sought ways to grow stronger… but he had never stopped to ask himself: Where am I going?
The only thing he was certain of was that… he couldn't stay in town forever.
"…I don't know." In the end, he admitted honestly. Ren's gaze drifted toward the vast, dark night, where the gentle winds continued sweeping across the distant grasslands. "I just know that I can't stay in town forever."
Yuna studied him intently, her violet eyes reflecting tiny flickers of firelight.
She didn't press further. She simply nodded as if she understood something.
Nautilus remained silent, but his expression grew more contemplative.
Ren wondered, did they have a goal? Was there a place they wanted to go?
Or were they just like him, walking forward without truly knowing where the path would lead?
Just then, Nautilus spoke, breaking Ren's train of thought.
"Oh, right." He rummaged through his inventory and pulled out a small notebook, its leather cover slightly worn but still in good condition. Without further explanation, he handed it to Ren.
Ren blinked, hesitating for a moment before accepting it. He flipped through a few pages, the flickering fire casting shadows over the neatly written lines of text, hurried yet legible.
"This is…?"
"Pretty much everything about this floor." Nautilus rested his chin on his hand, his tone indifferent. "Things like area maps, monster spawn points, safe zones, NPC quest lists… It's quite comprehensive."
Ren looked up at him, surprise evident in his eyes.
"I got it from some random players." Nautilus shrugged. "They were handing these out in town, saying it was to help beginners."
Whoever had created this must have put a lot of effort into it.
Even though Ren had no idea who compiled this information… he wanted to have a word with them.
Why had everyone else received something so useful while he hadn't?!
A mischievous face surfaced in his mind.
Perhaps… he already had a guess about who put this together.
Ren remained silent for a moment before flipping through a few more pages. The contents were even more detailed than he expected, hunting tips, strategies for avoiding danger zones, and even notes on some regional bosses.
"What do you think?" Nautilus asked, watching Ren's expression.
Ren quietly gazed at the fire, tapping his fingers lightly against the leather cover.
A strange feeling crept into him, as if an unseen hand was guiding players, ensuring they wouldn't lose their way in this vast world.
"Not bad." He murmured, the corner of his lips curving up slightly. "Maybe I'll read through it."
Slowly, Ren flipped to the first few pages of the notebook, his eyes following the neatly arranged lines of text on the slightly rough paper. The fire's glow cast flickering shadows across his contemplative face.
Each word was meticulously recorded, as if the person compiling them had spent an immense amount of effort gathering and organizing the information.
Under the dim firelight, the carefully structured characters painted a vivid picture of the land he now stood upon.
Geography
Unlike the upper floors of Aincrad, Floor 1 does not have a singular defining theme or terrain.
As the starting point for all new players, this vast floor is a mix of diverse landscapes, ranging from endless grassy plains stretching toward the horizon, dense forests concealing countless secrets, to perilous valleys where stronger monsters lurk.
At the southernmost edge of the floor, right at the border of the floating castle Aincrad, lies the Town of Beginnings, the first city for all players.
Taking up twenty percent of the entire floor's surface, this isn't just a densely populated area but also the hub for commerce, quests, and daily life for those who have yet to venture into the wilderness.
At the heart of the city, a grand plaza marks the location of the teleport gate, a crucial link to all future floors.
Encircling the town is a semi-circular wall, separating it from the untamed lands to the north, where danger begins to escalate.
Sprawling beyond the town is the Grassland, a vast open field lush and green during the day but turning treacherous at night.
Wild boars and wolves are the most common creatures in this region, alongside monstrous insects such as giant earthworms, iron-shelled beetles, and swarms of aggressive wasps wandering the area.
Further northwest, the grasslands transition into a deep forest, where sunlight is dimmed by thick, intertwining canopies, creating an eerie, humid atmosphere.
The deeper one ventures, the greater the threats lurking within the foggy depths.
Meanwhile, to the northeast lies a massive lake, its surface calm yet concealing countless mysteries in its depths.
To advance further, players must traverse either of these two biomes to reach the next danger zone, the sprawling northern mountain range.
This is where the terrain grows treacherous, with narrow winding paths along cliffs, ancient ruins abandoned long ago, and valleys where powerful creatures lie in wait.
At the farthest northern edge of the floor stands the First Floor Labyrinth, one of the most imposing structures of this level.
With a 300-meter diameter and a height of 100 meters, this labyrinth is a section of the central tower leading to Floor 2.
Composed of twenty levels, its corridors form an intricate maze, growing increasingly perilous with each ascent, culminating in the boss room at the very top, the true challenge of the floor.
Ren flipped through more pages, but he had already gained a clear picture of the floor's layout.
He is already familiar with certain areas, such as the grasslands and the town, but the farther regions… the deep forests, the lakes, the treacherous mountains, those remained uncharted lands in your journey.
And most importantly, the labyrinth… the place all players would eventually have to face if they wanted to advance further.
Ren lightly touched the edge of the page, his fingers unconsciously tapping in a slow rhythm.
He still didn't have a specific destination in mind.
But at the very least, now he had a detailed map of this vast world, a direction to consider, a starting point to choose from.
"If we turn a few more pages, we'll see some specific locations… the most notable areas," Nautilus added.
Under the flickering glow of the campfire, Ren flipped to the next page, his eyes quickly scanning the descriptions of the three locations Nautilus had just mentioned.
Town of « Tolbana »
The second-largest town on the First Floor, Tolbana spans roughly 2000 meters, large enough to accommodate hundreds of players at once.
Due to its proximity to the First Floor's Labyrinth, it has become an ideal resting point for players preparing to venture deeper into the maze or participate in the first boss raid.
The town's most distinctive feature is its massive windmills, standing tall atop the hills, their blades turning slowly with the passing breeze.
This peaceful scenery might seem completely unrelated to the brutal battles ahead, but in truth, Tolbana is the center of critical strategic activities.
For those eager to reach the front lines, this could be the perfect stepping stone.
Village of « Horunka »
Located deep within the sparse forest northwest of the Town of Beginnings, Horunka is a small village, secluded from the bustling heart of the town.
There are no crowded streets or busy marketplaces, just a few dozen simple wooden houses, home to a small number of resident NPCs.
However, hidden beneath this quiet exterior are exclusive quests that players can undertake.
These quests reward powerful equipment or rare items, which could make a significant difference in the early stages of the game.
Unfortunately, the number of times these quests can be claimed is limited, opportunities exist only for those who are fast and determined enough.
Village of « Medai »
Compared to Tolbana and Horunka, Medai is far less prominent.
Located to the west of the Town of Beginnings, it is one of the most remote settlements on the First Floor.
There isn't much information about this place, but from what Ren could gather in the notebook, Medai primarily serves as a resting point on the path leading to even farther regions.
And more importantly, it was their current destination.
Ren tapped his fingers lightly against the book's cover, lost in thought.
Each location had its own unique value.
If he chose Tolbana, he could reach the First Floor's Labyrinth sooner, take advantage of its abundant resources, defeat stronger monsters to level up quickly, and observe the strategies of the pioneering groups.
If he went to Horunka, he could attempt to complete an exclusive quest, aiming to obtain a rare weapon or armor an invaluable advantage in the upcoming battles.
As for Medai… an unknown place with uncertain potential. But if it was already on their current route, it might be worth exploring.
He exhaled lightly, glancing at Nautilus and Yuna.
"Three choices. Where do you two want to go first?"