Even the sturdiest tree can fall to a mere breeze if its roots are not firmly planted.
Humans are no different. Without a solid foundation, they are bound to encounter unforeseen situations.
Just as the ultimate technique is useless if the body cannot support it.
'That's right.'
In my previous life, I was the strongest on the continent.
However, I didn't have the best physical body. To be precise, I couldn't.
At the time, the method to push a growing body to its limits was unknown.
But now, things are different.
I am currently five years old.
I know a superior method of growth compared to back then.
I understand how inefficient and wrong the training I received as a child was, and how to build a body stronger than anyone else's.
So, I must focus on training from now on.
I need to awaken parts of my body that cannot be awakened after reaching adulthood.
That's why I called my brothers to the training ground.
To build a body that would satisfy Brunhilde, with whom I would soon form a contract.
"Brothers, I need to ask a favor this one time."
I spoke as politely as I could.
Of course, I wasn't sure how it would appear to others.
"A favor, my ass. You're asking us to help with your training, aren't you?"
Tony, the fourth brother, furrowed his brows.
Following him, Johnny, the fifth brother, thrust his fist right in front of my face with a bewildered expression.
"Is this kid insane? Do you really want to die today? How dare you speak to us like that when we've been letting you off?"
Ronnie, the sixth brother, tried to calm them down, looking around nervously.
"B-brothers, calm down. If you mess with him, Sister Valentine might come."
Tony and Johnny answered simultaneously.
"We don't care if Sister Valentine comes or not!"
"Yeah, Mother said she'd protect us no matter what happens, so we don't need to worry!"
"Sister Valentine can't go against Mother."
"Exactly! Mother scolded us badly this time because of him."
Ronnie stepped back a bit, seeming dejected.
"Ah, okay."
I couldn't help but sigh at their conversation. Even at six years old, they were discussing how to keep me in check.
"Tony, I didn't come to fight today."
"What? You just said you wanted to spar with me."
"Yes, to spar, not fight."
"…So you want us to spar with you?"
"Yes."
"Crazy bastard."
"Why?"
"I heard you've been training with Beth lately. How am I supposed to win against someone training with a proper knight? You're just trying to mess with me, aren't you?"
"No."
"Bullshit!"
"Really, I'm not. And today, the sparring I want isn't about swordsmanship."
"…Then what?"
I handed wooden swords I had prepared in advance to Tony, Johnny, and Ronnie, continuing to speak.
"Dodging."
"…Dodging?"
"Yes, I want you three to attack me with those swords as hard as you can. I'll just dodge."
Tony tilted his head in confusion.
"What do you mean? You want us to hit you with these wooden swords?"
"Yes."
Johnny chimed in.
"You've really lost it. I thought it was strange when you asked to spar, but you want us to hit you while you dodge?"
"That's right."
Ronnie, seemingly excited, grinned and added.
"If it's just hitting, fine. Verdin, if that's what you want, I'll do my best."
Different reactions.
But none of them refused my request. It was their chance to release all the resentment they had built up.
The three brothers exchanged smiles and grabbed their wooden swords. We started the sparring session right away.
In the vast training ground, it felt like a game of tag. The three with wooden swords chased after me, trying to hit me, while I dodged and read their movements.
Whoosh— whoosh—!
Tony's sword seemed slow, like it had a heavy weight attached to the handle.
"This brat is annoyingly fast."
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Johnny's sword was quick, but he couldn't adjust the distance, so it never reached me.
"Damn it! Why can't I hit him?"
Swish! Swish!
Ronnie's stance was the best among them, but he repeated the same patterns, making it easy to predict and dodge.
"Grrr!"
It was easy. Too easy. Dodging was incredibly easy.
I could see all of their attacks. Like waves approaching from a distance, I could read and avoid them in advance.
As time passed, my body naturally reacted to their flowing attacks.
I didn't need to think; my body just moved and dodged.
This was the ultra-sensory technique later known as 'Dodge.' A limited ability that only a growing child could awaken.
Swish!
"Brothers, don't just swing. Try thrusting too."
Tony, frustrated, shouted.
"Dean, you didn't bring down a Guardian Spirit, did you?"
"Of course not."
I glanced at their cut-off fingers and continued.
"Why would I risk that?"
"…Annoying brat."
Still, those three were better than I thought. To have mastered swordsmanship to that extent at just six years old.
If I hadn't experienced my previous life, I might have been intimidated.
They were strong enough to top each grade level if they enrolled in the academy at their age.
'But.'
That was all.
Their skills were excellent among children their age. Their lacking stamina gradually slowed their movements.
Tony, the first to tire, breathed heavily and sat down.
Thud.
"Huff... Huff... I'm done here."
Johnny, taking his cue, collapsed beside him.
Thud.
"Bro... Me too..."
Unlike the others, Ronnie continued to attack me until the very end.
Even though his hands and legs were trembling, his eyes were still fierce. Among the three brothers, he had the best swordsmanship and the strongest willpower.
'He's different from back then.'
In my previous life, Ronnie relied on the Guardian Spirit due to his lack of swordsmanship.
I'm looking forward to seeing him become the lord of the underworld in the future.
I ducked low to avoid the horizontally flying sword, approached him, and grabbed the hilt of his sword.
Thunk.
"Brother, that's enough for today."
The training was over.
Having already mastered the technique, there was no need to continue training.
Ronnie, panting, met my gaze, then averted his eyes and lowered his sword.
"More."
"Later."
"Later? When."
"...Soon."
* * *
After Verdin left the training ground.
Tony and Johnny, still panting, exchanged words.
"Huff... That brat is really fast like a rat. How did we not manage to hit him even once?"
"Right, brother. That brat's movements have gotten a lot faster since he started training with Beth."
"Did he learn some special technique?"
"Maybe he learned how to run away to avoid getting hit by us. Honestly, without Sister Valentine, he'd be easy pickings for us."
Tony scratched his forehead with a bitter smile.
"Yeah, that's right."
Even though they knew how talented Dean was, they tried to deny it.
Acknowledging it would only cement their sense of defeat.
"Right, Ronnie. Don't you think so too?"
Johnny asked with a bright smile, but Ronnie, gritting his teeth, remained silent.
Even after the training had ended, he swung his wooden sword at the empty air.
Whoosh— whoosh—!
"Damn it! Why! Why is he always the special one?"
As he swung his sword in frustration, Tony stood up and kicked Ronnie in the stomach.
Thud!
Ronnie clutched his side and rolled on the ground.
"Ugh!"
"Stop it."
"B-brother."
"Ronnie, we are members of the Strange. Don't speak so weakly."
"...Brother."
"Dean isn't the only special one. You, me, and Johnny are all special. We've all awakened, haven't we?"
A dark smoke swirled behind Tony.
Shaa—
Ronnie, terrified, took a step back, his face pale.
"Okay, I get it. Calm down, brother."
"We might be weaker than Dean now. But in a year, we'll enter the academy first. Just hold on until then."
"..."
"Just wait a little longer, and we'll reach greater heights."
"...Yes."
"Hold on until then."
Tony helped Ronnie to his feet and patted his head.
"Brother Gunther said he would help us too."
* * *
Rox, the descendant of the great wizard Brunhilde and son of Galasvind, the leader of Ogre Fortress.
'Rox.'
He placed a red-hot soul stone on the anvil. The heat was so intense that sweat poured down his forehead like rain.
Phew—
Rox, ready, began hammering with all his might.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The strikes were so powerful that the shockwaves through the anvil cracked the ground. The blacksmiths watching were astonished, their mouths agape. It was a level of strength impossible for a human.
The master blacksmith thought.
With such power, he could forge anything in this world, even dragon skin.
A truly remarkable talent. He wanted to make him his successor.
Clang!
"Break already...!"
As the soul stone, battered by continuous impacts, began to glow. It appeared like a mere solid gem, but the soul inside started to react. As Rox ceased his hammering, the gem emitted a faint sound, tickling his ears.
Shush, shush, shush.
Like a sleeping baby breathing softly.
Wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand, Rox muttered.
"Ancestor... Time is running out. Please come out."
Perhaps hearing the desperation in his voice, the soul stone began to crack.
Crack.
A spiderweb of fissures appeared on its surface, making Rox smile. He quickly placed the soul stone back in the fire, then pulled it out with tongs and resumed hammering.
Before long, the soul stone containing the Guardian Spirit Brunhilde split in two.
Clang.
Simultaneously, a blinding flash shot skyward.
Boom!
The roof of the Strange Castle's forge collapsed from the impact.
Rumble.
Rox covered his head with both hands and lay flat on the ground. The debris fell, obscuring his vision.
That was as far as Rox's memory of the soul stone went.
"You've done well, son of Galasvind."
A strange male voice came from behind him.
"Huh?"
Something heavy struck the back of his head.
Thud!