At the forest,
Arthur and Drake were looking from afar.
Drake: "I've never seen someone improve that much within a year."
Arthur: "Me neither. To possess an A-rank strength would usually require 3–4 years of intense training, yet he did it within a year. It's either he's a genius or a monster."
He then added, "Let's go."
Drake: "Are we really leaving him?"
Arthur: "There are only B-rank and low A-rank monsters here, so he should be okay as long as he doesn't go deep within the forest. We'll be back in a month."
The two of them then left.
Meanwhile, Rogelio...
"So, my next training is to unlock my sixth sense," Rogelio said as he unsheathed his sword and raised it.
He closed his eyes and focused on his surroundings.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching him.
He opened his eyes and saw an ogre jumping mid-air, ready to bash him with a club.
Rogelio took a small step back, just enough to dodge the club that smashed into the ground. Gripping his sword with confidence, he performed a vertical slash, severing the hand holding the club in one swift motion.
The ogre roared in pain and staggered back. Rogelio dashed forward, cutting the ogre's feet, causing it to fall to the ground.
Rogelio then jumped onto its chest with a smile and cut its head off.
Rogelio: "Those hellish training sessions did pay off. But if I continue like this, I won't be able to unlock my sixth sen—"
Before he could finish, a group of ogres charged toward him, led by the ogre lord wielding a massive club.
Ogre Lord
3x bigger than a treeStrength: Mid A-rankSpeed: Low A-rankSkin Hardness: Low A-rank
Rogelio lowered his stance, preparing to defend.
The ogre lord dashed toward him, closing the distance instantly, and swung its club vertically.
Rogelio blocked the attack with a vertical slash, redirecting it with a swing of his sword.
The two clashed repeatedly as Rogelio waited for the right opportunity.
When the ogre lord swung vertically again, aiming to smash him, Rogelio saw his chance. He focused his strength on his feet, dashed quickly to dodge the attack, and performed a vertical slash, severing one of the ogre lord's legs. Despite the ogre's tough skin, Rogelio's strength prevailed.
The ogre lord lost its balance and fell. Rogelio jumped mid-air, spinning downward, and cut the ogre lord's neck. The other ogres had just arrived.
Rogelio looked at them and said, "Time for round two."
He dashed toward them, slashing every last one except one, which retreated for its life. Rogelio followed it slowly, intending to find the other ogres.
Eventually, the last ogre led him to their camp. Rogelio hid behind a tree and muttered, "Jay said that only an aura can hurt a holder besides another holder. Let's test that. Since there are only B-rank ogres here..."
With a bold idea, Rogelio wore a blindfold and walked toward the ogre-filled camp.
The ogre that had escaped signaled the others, informing them Rogelio had killed their leader.
The ogres saw Rogelio with a blindfold and, thinking he was mocking them, charged at him angrily.
Rogelio: "Okay, just trust your sen—"
Before he could finish, a club struck him, sending him flying into a tree, cracking it.
"That hurt, but I can handle it. I'm not bleeding, so—"
Again, before he could finish, another ogre grabbed his feet and smashed him left and right against the ground, then threw him into another tree, cracking it.
Rogelio: "F**k."
He maintained his composure, gripped his sword, and tried to sense his enemies and surroundings—the sound of the wind, the ogres laughing, and footsteps coming toward him. Rogelio dashed toward the sound and performed a thrust, stabbing the ogre's foot. The ogre retaliated with a punch to his side, sending him flying. Another ogre leaped high, aiming a powerful blow, but Rogelio kept standing.
Rogelio never gave up. He stood up, gripped his sword firmly, and focused on sensing his enemies' locations.
Another ogre dashed at him, attempting to smash him again. This time, Rogelio caught a glimpse of the ogre's movement and quickly stepped to his left, dodging the attack.
Rogelio: "What was that? I was able to see him for a moment."
The ogre, confused about how Rogelio dodged without sight, angrily dashed again and swung its club.
Rogelio caught another glimpse of its movement and dodged once more.
The ogre, now enraged, kept swinging wildly, but Rogelio's glimpses grew clearer and more frequent. Gradually, his sixth sense sharpened, allowing him to perceive not just the ogres but the entire surroundings—the trees, the animals, even the birds and grass.
The ogre swung again in frustration, but Rogelio calmly returned his sword to its scabbard, taunting the ogre with his finger.
Rogelio: "Now that I can see you better, it's time for payback. Come here, ugly!"
The ogre charged and swung vertically. Rogelio stopped the attack with one hand, shocking the creature. Rogelio then pushed the club back, dashed forward, and delivered a powerful punch to the ogre's stomach, sending it flying backward.
The other ogres, sensing danger, rushed at Rogelio to gang up on him. Using his enhanced sixth sense and speed, Rogelio dodged their attacks effortlessly, using the skirmish to further hone his abilities.
After several hours, the ogres became exhausted.
Rogelio: "I guess that's it."
He dashed at them and defeated every last one.
Rogelio: "I won't kill you this time since you helped me with my training."
He walked away from the camp, leaving the ogres behind.
Rogelio's Status
Strength: Low A-rank
Speed: Low A-rank
Swordsmanship: Master
Sixth Sense: Beginner
Aura: None
Determined to improve his sixth sense further, Rogelio kept his blindfold on.
Rogelio: "It's time to go deeper into the forest and face enemies much stronger."
Days passed as Rogelio wandered the forest, fighting various monsters. One night, he encountered a pack of Lord Wolves, each three times larger than a tree.
Lord Wolves
Strength: Mid A-rank
Speed: High A-rank
The wolves noticed Rogelio with their keen senses. One dashed at him with incredible speed, disappearing from Rogelio's sixth sense and reappearing right in front of him. Unable to react in time, Rogelio was struck by a powerful claw, sending him flying.
Rogelio: "My sixth sense can't keep up with its speed. I need to focus more."
He stood up, gripping his sword tightly, and tried to sense the wolf again. This time, he caught faint glimpses of its movements.
Rogelio: "Instead of focusing on my entire surroundings, I'll concentrate on just one target."
Focusing his sixth sense on the wolf, Rogelio began to see its movements more clearly.
Rogelio: "Now I can see you clearly."
The Lord Wolf dashed at him again. Rogelio predicted its movements, dodging its attacks and redirecting its slashes. The wolf used hit-and-run tactics, its speed overwhelming Rogelio.
Rogelio: "This wolf's speed is annoying. You're lucky I'm not using Time Walk, but I need to find a way to capture you so I can end this."
Suddenly, the wolf ran farther away, preparing to charge.
Rogelio: "Wait, is it running away? That doesn't make sen—"
Before he could finish, the Lord Wolf turned and dashed at him with all its power, surpassing high A-rank speed, comparable to an S-rank monster.
Rogelio, sensing danger, gripped his sword tightly. The wolf's momentum amplified its strength, turning its claw slash into a high A-rank attack.
Rogelio: "S**t!"
At that moment, time seemed to slow. Rogelio noticed everything around him moving sluggishly—the grass, the animals, even the wind.
Rogelio: "How is this possible? I didn't activate the ring's power. I shouldn't be able to see my surroundings since I'm focusing on the wolf!"
Realizing he had achieved mastery of his sixth sense, Rogelio could now see everything in slow motion. However, his body couldn't keep up with the wolf's speed. The Lord Wolf's claw struck him, sending him flying several miles. Trees were slashed away by the impact.
Rogelio, though hurt, stood up.
Rogelio: "F**k, that was painful."
The wolf prepared for another attack.
When the lord wolves was at his front
Rogelio: "I can see you in slow motion, but my body can't keep up with your speed. So, sorry, buddy, I'll have to do this."
Rogelio activated the ring's power, murmuring, "Time Walk."
The Lord Wolf froze . Rogelio raised his sword and performed a vertical slash, splitting the wolf in half.
Time resumed, and Rogelio exhaled heavily.
Rogelio: "Hah, damn, that was breathtaking."
Rogelio's Updated Status
Strength: Low A-rank
Speed: Low A-rank
Swordsmanship: Master
Sixth Sense: Master
Aura: None
Rogelio: "I've already mastered my sixth sense. Now it's time to test the power of this ring. No one will find me here—it's the perfect place to train."
With determination etched on his face, Rogelio ventured deeper into the forest, ready to face even greater challenges.