We continued with the same loop of fighting monsters. But to increase training efficiency, we took more frequent rests.
After I became comfortable with D-Rank monsters, I decided to try C-Rank.
Now, let me be clear—anything beyond E-Rank, and even some stronger E-Ranks, were beyond my level without Nature Force.
Ideally, I should also practice without Nature Force. But switching off Sixth Sense isn't possible. It's a passive ability, always active, as I've already explained.
So finally, about C-Rank monsters… they have tougher skin, greater speed, and far more strength. I had to be careful. Since with such great strength even a single contact means death
We soon found a suitable one.
In front of me stood a cat-like monster. I mean the cat family type—like lions or leopards. So just imagine a large feline.
I felt its intention—it would run toward me, but at the last second, use its flexibility to slip past and aim for my back. I even felt a tingle there. This cat was speed-type, and its strategy clearly revolved around that.
I readied my stance, prepared to slice through this overconfident beast.
The cat moved—but all I saw was a blur. I slashed, but the blade didn't connect. I knew because there was no reaction. Yet, strangely, there was no wound at my back either.
When I urgently turned, I saw a faint scratch at the end of its tail. Its speed was so overwhelming that even though I had predicted the move, I only managed to graze its tail.
Now, the cat realized I wasn't fast enough.
Gone was its complex strategy—it no longer needed one.
I felt its intent again. This time, it would come straight at me, claws swiping with maximum power.
And it did. The cat blurred forward.
I began moving my arms even before it did, but compared to its speed, my swing felt painfully slow.
The cat closed in, paw raised—
But I was gone.
The cat's fur bristled with alarm—it sensed danger and tried to dodge, but it was too late. Its legs were severed.
Now, the "fast" cat wasn't so fast anymore. It was still as quick as a D-Rank even with three legs, but that wouldn't help.
And then I vanished again. This time, the fight was over.
---
From my perspective, here's how it went:
The cat came like a blur and rushed past me. I swung my sword, then turned quickly, only to see a scratch at its tail.
Raven had readied his bow, while Lucas prepared his magic—just in case.
I swung again.
The moment the cat moved, I teleported—appearing behind it. My sword was already mid-swing, carrying momentum, and it was only an inch away from its legs.
And so, the leg was cut clean off.
The cat, creating distance, realized its speed was crippled.
I teleported once more, this time above its back, and thrust my sword into its head. Being a speed-type, its defense was weak, and it died instantly.
I teleported again, avoiding the fall, and appeared beside its corpse.
And that was how I claimed victory over my first C-Rank monster.
We rested for an hour before searching for the next.
---
We soon found another.
This one was humanoid in shape, but couldn't really be called human. It was around ten meters tall, and looked like a balanced-type fighter. It had yellow eyes and two teeth were visible coming out. It's palms and soles had a tougher skin,this was something I could see .
I prepared myself.
I felt its intent—but when it moved, it was much faster than expected. Not as fast as the cat, but still fast for its size. That's to be expected of a C-Rank.
I gave up the idea of fighting without teleportation.
The moment it reached me, its fist came zooming in—but of course, I was gone.
I teleported above its neck and slashed, but it ducked. I thought I at least nicked it, but there wasn't even a scratch. His skin was tough.
I teleported back to the ground.
It tried to kick me like one would kick a pebble. I teleported again—this time near its left Achilles tendon. Enhancing my sword with a wind spell for cutting power, I slashed with all my strength.
The cut was deep enough to hurt. But this only slowed it a little.
Damn it… this thing isn't even defense-type.
Now I had angered it. It began uprooting trees and hurling them at me.
I kept teleporting again and again, avoiding the chaos.
I can't keep this up. I need to end this.
I thought of attacking its eyes, like I did with the ape, and teleported toward its head. But before I could swing, it tried to slam me with its forehead.
Reading its intent, I quickly teleported away.
Now I was truly unsure of what to do.
I tested some spells—fireballs, wind blades—but nothing worked.
The Claw members watched intently, which only irritated me further.
Then I got an idea.
I attacked its tendons and muscles to restrict its movement.
Then I pulled back, forcing it to chase me.
I repeated this in a loop, tiring it out.
Finally, I teleported near its eye. Again, it tried the forehead strike.
But this time, I teleported slightly backward and lower, right into the path of its oncoming eye.
The monster was tired, its reactions dulled, and its momentum unstoppable.
Its eye shook in panic, but it couldn't stop.
I wrapped my sword with slicing wind and thrust it deep, burying the blade so far it wasn't even visible.
I teleported away immediately, landing safely on the ground.
Damn. It would've been so good if I could teleport others without their permission. If I could, I'd just throw this bastard a kilometer into the sky. But sadly, it doesn't work that way.
I was utterly exhausted.
Teleportation gave me the edge against the speed-type cat, because it had weak defenses.
But this humanoid monster… it gave me hell.
Raven soon came and said,
"The previous one was a low-level C-Rank. But this one was one of the strongest in its class. Rank doesn't always matter—but it's obvious you still don't have the strength to break through even low-level defense-types in C-Rank."
I nodded and said,
"Well, soon that problem will be solved."
Lucas then spoke,
"Let's move. Though we are just escorts and it doesn't matter much, I'd rather not have you arrive late, sir."
Emily then approached the 10 meter giant monster. And slashed her rapier. The slash was such that it was dissected vertically. But the dissection made my sword visible.
Claw members grinned again.
I had to then take the sword and clean it .
Then finally we were again ready to leave
So I rode on Flash, and the others mounted their Sky Dogs.
And like this we flew in the sky , i however also rested my body while riding since I was very tired.
Soon, I sensed two presences.
When I focused, I saw a knight riding a Sky Dog.
I felt his next move with my Sixth Sense and confirmed it with my eyes a second later. The knight slashed, releasing a sword aura straight toward me.
Already anticipating it, I commanded Flash to descend. With its incredible speed, we avoided the strike.
I reached the ground and leapt off. Behind me, the Claw members descended too, quickly forming a barrier around me.
Then the knight descended, jumping from his Sky Dog.
He was Relliks Black. Of course, Adrian didn't know him. But he assumed the Duke was finally getting serious.
Relliks said,
"It's rude of me not to introduce myself. But the circumstances force me to act like this. I apologize."
Emma replied sharply,
"Slashing like that was far more rude."
Relliks nodded.
"You are right. But if possible, I wish to finish this quickly. This kind of work does not suit a knight."
He stood 100 meters in front of me. Raven was 50 meters ahead, essentially a barrier Relliks would need to cross.
Relliks announced,
"Adventurers, I don't want to hurt you. You may leave—I will not attack you."
Lucas replied,
"Like we'd believe that. It's not like you're doing something glorious here."
Relliks shook his head.
"That's why I removed my crest. If I were defeated while wearing it, there would be evidence. Without the crest, I'm just a knight. You can walk away."
Raven shook his head firmly.
"In any case, we can't abandon a client. So we'll have to refuse your offer."
Relliks sighed in disappointment.
"I always thought adventurers were spineless. Had we met in other circumstances, you might have been a great asset. It's a shame. But as a farewell, know this—I respect you."
Then the knight took a stance, his whole body glowing with protective aura.
From A-Rank onward, the difference is immense. They learn to form aura around their bodies.
Even B-Ranks can manifest aura, but it flickers weakly, still far from mastery.