--

True to his word, Ren didn’t waste time.

He began his mission to solo clear the entirety of everything up to stage 30. He just needed to clear the elite and boss stages; the ordinary stages were already a done deal, so he won’t be returning from them anymore.

His targets were stages 4 and 5, 9 and 10, 14 and 15, 19 and 20, 24 and 25, and finally, 29 and 30.

This was no easy feat. Ren might’ve grown stronger, but he wouldn’t just be competing with monsters; he would face tougher versions of them, plus the environment being against him, too.

But this has always been the plan. Ren would have to solo these stages sooner or later, anyway, so why not do them now so that he would have less to deal with later?

Besides, he actually needs to do this for the upcoming event he had in mind. It’s one of the requirements to get there, so he must also move fast.

He knew that he’d probably die a couple of times in his attempts, but he’d just have to get used to that. He’d be dying a lot in dungeons anyway. He’s spared from a permanent death in these beginner dungeons, which makes it easier for him. But beyond that, it’ll be scarier.

Ren didn’t dwell much on the difficulty. That’s not how he does things.

He went in there and started his mission. Since he’s moving alone, he has no reason to hold back; nobody’s slowing him down, and he doesn’t need to be methodical either.

Ren gathered resources and started punching every monster he saw. He displayed his full ferocity and incredible strength knowing that nobody’s watching.

He breezed through the slime elites, lords, and bosses. He did the same for goblins, and even orcs.

Ren didn’t rush too much, but even so, he cleared stages 14 and 15 pretty quickly.

He slowed down even more once he reached the kobold lairs because it’s more difficult for him to clear the stages alone from here onwards, especially since the environment will really start working against him.

If there’s a benefit, though, it’s that he could feel the pressure here since he’s alone. This pushes him to become stronger and faster, and Ren embraced that.

He didn’t bother hiding from the kobolds. He blew up their gates, alarming everybody. He faced their army while dodging artillery. He died a couple of times, but he didn’t mind since he woke up safe in sound in the plaza anyway.

Ren also didn’t bother looting too much. He’s not short on money. Of course, if there’s an opportunity, he wouldn’t miss. It’s just that he didn’t press himself too much about it. If he could get some, he would. If he couldn’t, no big deal.

Though, he always did get some, especially when he had a successful career.

Ren endured pain, agony, and death a couple of times in his runs. He had been stabbed all over, blown up by cannons, burned with torches, dropped to a sea of boiling magma, chopped into pieces, etc.

Any of these things will leave an ordinary person traumatized. But Ren wasn’t some ordinary guy. He’s a martial artist.

Sure, that doesn’t automatically mean that his brain chemistry was different, but this was something he’s going to experience at some point in his career anyway.

Besides, as primitive as this might sound, this tempers his willpower, and that is very important for him, especially if he were to continue in this career.

Although Ren failed more than he succeeded, he didn’t mind. That’s part of a dungeon explorer’s life.

What matters is that each time he stumbled, he got up and continued. And he returned stronger and wiser.

It took him weeks before he was able to handle the kobolds on his own without dying even once. By now, he knew kobolds inside out. He knew the variations of their world. He knew their habits, tendencies, and every mutation they could possibly have.

No kobold could kill him anymore. Even if they were in its favored environment. Ren faced a whole army of them by himself, led by the Boss, flanked by the lords and the elites, and mobbed by the ordinaries.

It’s only when it reached this point that he began grinding at the Snowy Plains of the Frost Wolves.

And that’s another round of dying multiple times and learning the behavior of the frost wolves and the snowy plains more intimately.

If there’s one thing, though. Ren’s never been caught by a blizzard by surprise. He doesn’t need Kaycee’s bloodline ability anymore because he’s got something to use.

That said, killing the Frost Wolf elites, lords, and bosses was still difficult for him to do on his own. He died multiple times because of this, but once again, he didn’t mind too much.

He was learning from every experience and was slowly growing stronger.

His actions proved to be right as he managed to reach the late-stage Bone Forging Stage recently. Again, he was earlier than he initially expected, and it’s no doubt because of the hellish training he’s putting himself into.

And since it has been proven that it’s effective, Ren had no reason to stop, so he kept going.

**

While Ren was busy throwing his body to danger every single day, he was still paying attention to his surroundings.

He was looking out for familiar faces. He wanted to see if he would see his ex-party members out here.

Alas, even after more than a month, he hadn’t seen any of them at all. Not even a single one. And he picked the usual time they go into the dungeons as well, just in case, but none of them showed up.

He was removed from the party chat, and none of them messaged him after they disbanded. To be fair, he also didn’t contact any of them either because he felt awkward doing so.

Maybe that was the issue all along...

Ren didn’t dwell on it too much. It is what it is, he supposes. That day might very well be the last time they’d truly see each other again.

"Holy crap! Who is that?"

"What a beautiful lady!"

"Hey, man! Go! Introduce yourself! Maybe your spring is here!"

"Shut up! Don’t talk too loud! Have you seen the people behind her? They look as if they’re going to stab anybody who dares to come close to her!"

"Man, if my girlfriend looked even 10% as good as her, I’d immediately propose to her."

Ren was startled by the sudden commotion around him. He just returned from clearing stage 25; he was a bit exhausted and spent.

He looked around, searching for the girl they’re talking about.

That’s when she saw her.

’Aria...’ he muttered to himself.

This is just like how she felt when she met Lily’s online avatar for the first time; she knew her even though this was the first time she ever saw her in person.

Celestine Aria Carmichael—the most talented prodigy of the Carmichael family, the true heiress of this historical and prestigious family even though she’s publicly known to be an orphan. And in the future, she’d be one of the most sought-after beauties in the entire world.

Seeing her now, there’s no doubt about that. Her violet hair and eyes were enchanting; her fair skin, soft and gentle features, and her stride could practically leave men dreaming about her.

Even though she’s wearing a stoic expression most of the time and her smile is only available for one pathetic guy, it doesn’t stop others from worshipping her beauty.

Aria was followed by a crowd, definitely coming from her family. All of them were practically her servants. Every single one will be willing to die in her stead.

She’s one of the very few people blessed to be born with a sacred grade martial physique. Everything she wants is practically handed over to her. She was one of the people destined to reach the very top of this world.

It’s no wonder that she’s highly valued by her family.

Although the truth was hidden from the public, Ren knew it. And it’s precisely because of this that he wanted to stay as far away from her as he could.

Other fans of this story might have a preference for her, but not him. If she continues to grow this way, she will become an ungrateful person. She is entirely willing to sacrifice her entire family for the sake of one person. And she wouldn’t even bat an eye about it.

He would never understand that.

Those eyes of hers can see through intentions. At some point, she’d even be able to read minds just by holding eye contact.’

’I’ve got no defenses against that; it’s better to stay clear from her for now.’

Ren didn’t look for too long; he was too wary of her innate talent.

As he walked away, Aria, who passed near the location where he previously was, suddenly paused and raised a brow.

She felt a faint sense of...something, but it faded too quickly.

"Is there something wrong, Miss?"

Aria thought for a bit before shaking her head and saying, "No, nothing. Let’s continue."