The ogre lunged again, swinging his massive fist in a wide, brutal arc. Sena barely flipped sideways, feeling the whoosh of air as the punch missed him by inches. But the blast of wind sent him flying backward through the air.
He hit the ground hard, rolled forward to soften the impact, and scrambled to his feet. Glancing up, he locked eyes with the towering beast, who was already snarling and ready to strike again.
"Seriously?!" Sena muttered, wiping dirt from his face. "Can this thing take a break?"
[Warning: Combat intensity increasing.]
"Yeah, thanks for the heads-up, System."
The ogre roared and charged, fists raised. Sena braced himself, heart pounding.
The ogre let out a furious roar as it raised its massive fist and swung a fast, wide hook punch aimed straight at Sena. Reacting on instinct, Sena gritted his teeth and slammed both shoulders together, meeting the blow head-on.
The impact was overwhelming—the sheer power shoved him backward through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed onto the ground, skidding a few feet before coming to a stop.
Breathing heavily, Sena pushed himself up and muttered, "That… didn't even hurt."
[Of course. GOLD boosts your body beyond normal human limits—literally transcending them.]
He wiped the dirt off his shoulders, eyes narrowing as he prepared for the next attack.
The ogre pulled back its massive fist, planting its feet firmly into the ground to anchor itself. It let out a deep, guttural roar, warning of the power behind its next move.
[Be careful. The ogre is about to use its Heavy Smash—a devastating attack that channels all its brute strength into a single crushing blow. This strike can break through shields and leave even the strongest opponents staggered.]
Sena grunted in response. He instinctively pulled back his own fist, planting his feet solidly on the cracked earth beneath him to brace for impact. As he steadied himself, memories from his past life surged through his mind—not triumphant victories, but painful losses and moments of helplessness. Faces of people he had failed to protect, promises broken, and regrets that weighed heavily on his heart.
A quiet resolve settled deep inside him. "This time... I won't fail."
With every ounce of strength and willpower, Sena charged forward to meet the ogre's attack head-on. Their fists collided with an explosive crack that echoed through the clearing. The impact was so powerful that the ogre's left arm shattered, pieces of bone and sinew flying apart.
Sena staggered back slightly from the force but stayed on his feet, the pain in his own arm a sharp reminder of the brutal fight ahead.
The ogre staggered back, clutching its broken left arm, and let out a low, painful roar. Its strength seemed to waver for a moment—but then a sudden surge of fury lit up its eyes.
[Warning: Rage Buff activated—Berserker's Fury.]
[When the ogre is severely wounded, its rage flares uncontrollably. This causes its muscles to tense and its attacks to become more ferocious and relentless. It ignores pain and hits harder until the fury fades.]
Sena narrowed his eyes, realizing the fight was about to get much more dangerous as the ogre prepared to attack again with wild, furious strength.
The ogre's eyes shifted to a deep, glowing red, the unmistakable sign of unleashed fury. A guttural roar tore from its throat as it lunged forward, swinging its massive right fist with brutal force aimed directly at Sena.
Sena's instincts kicked in. He twisted his body just in time to dodge the crushing blow, narrowly avoiding being flattened. The air whistled past his cheek as the fist smashed into the ground, sending dirt and debris flying.
The ogre didn't pause. It unleashed a relentless barrage of punches with its right arm, each strike powered by the rage that numbed its pain. Sena weaved through the onslaught, blocking several attacks with his forearms, his muscles burning from the effort.
Then, spotting an opening amid the wild swings, Sena reached out and seized the ogre's wrist with a fierce grip. With a sharp crack, Sena's strength overwhelmed the ogre's injured arm, breaking its wrist. The ogre's roar turned into a grunt of pain as Sena yanked the broken limb hard toward himself, off-balancing the massive beast.
Using the momentum, Sena sprang forward. He pulled back his left fist, charging it with every ounce of his strength.
"It's time to sleep, my dear customer," he said coldly, eyes locked on the ogre.
With a powerful thrust, Sena's fist connected squarely with the ogre's head. The impact sent the creature flying backward, crashing heavily against a nearby tree with a sickening crack.
The ogre slumped to the ground, dazed and severely weakened. Sena stood firm, breathing heavily but ready for whatever came next.
As the ogre's body crumbled and vanished, a soft white glow lingered in the air. From the fading dust, a floating crystal emerged—small, pure, and pulsing with faint energy.
Sena stared. "What… is that?"
He reached out. The moment his fingertips brushed the crystal, it burst into radiant light, streaming straight into his chest.
Sena gasped, staggering back. "H-Huh?! It went into my… heart?"
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
> [System Notification: Artifact Integration Complete]
[Explanation:]
"Your heart is not ordinary. It is your Vesper—an ancient artifact personally bestowed by GOLD, the God of Life and Death."
"The Vesper is a living relic that resides within your chest. It absorbs the essence of enemies you defeat, converting that energy into skills and traits which become permanently bound to you."
Sena blinked. "Wait, so my heart... is an artifact?"
> [Correct.]
"This is why you survived the transfer between worlds. Your Vesper is the vessel of your life and growth. The stronger the enemy you overcome, the more powerful your heart becomes."
Another notification shimmered into view.
> [New Skills Acquired: Green Ogre Essence Absorbed]
> • Passive Trait – Thick Hide
The ogre's leathery skin offered natural resistance to physical harm. This trait is now part of your body. You'll endure more punishment and recover from injuries faster.
> • Skill – Heavy Smash
A brutal, strength-based attack designed to crush defenses and stagger foes. Requires full-body momentum to execute properly.
> • Skill – Ground Slam
A shockwave attack that destabilizes the terrain. Effective for knocking enemies off balance or breaking formations.
> • Rage Buff – Berserker's Fury
When your health drops critically, this instinctive battle state activates. Pain is suppressed. Strength and aggression spike temporarily—but once it ends, you'll feel everything.
Sena stood in the quiet forest, panting lightly. His heart felt… heavy, yet alive—pulsing with power that hadn't been there before.
"So this is just the beginning…" he murmured, clenching his fists as the wind stirred around him.
Sena staggered back, his breath catching.
His vision blurred.
A sudden wave of exhaustion crashed down on him, like his entire body had just realized it was still human—despite everything that had happened.
His knees buckled slightly.
"W-What… now?" he muttered, blinking hard.
> [Warning: User has reached their physical and mental threshold.]
[Status Alert:]
"Due to prolonged strain, dimensional transfer shock, first battle engagement, and artifact synchronization, user has exceeded safe operational limits."
[Mandatory Recovery Engaged.]
"User will enter forced sleep mode for full analysis and restoration."
Estimated time until reactivation: 8 to 9 hours.
Sena's eyelids grew heavier. His body no longer obeyed his will.
"A nap… already…?" he groaned with a weak grin. "Figures..."
> [Do not resist.]
"This rest is necessary to allow your Vesper to fully stabilize and integrate with your body. When you wake, your foundation will be solid."
The world around him tilted, green leaves and golden sunlight swirling together like paint.
He collapsed gently onto the grass, the forest air wrapping around him like a lullaby.
And then, everything faded to black.
As Sena slipped into unconsciousness, his breathing softened, his body lying still on the grass beneath the gentle forest canopy.
The wind rustled the leaves above, peaceful…
Too peaceful.
Somewhere in the bushes nearby—
Lick.
A long, wet slurp echoed faintly.
The tall grass trembled.
A shadow shifted.
Another lick—this time slower, as if tasting the air.
A low purring sound followed. Not feline. Not human either.
Something—or someone—was watching.
Drawn by the scent of blood… or perhaps the unique pulse now radiating from Sena's Vesper.
Then—
A soft giggle.
And silence returned, the forest pretending nothing had happened.