The following days passed in the same cycle of suffering. A thousand warm-up swings in the cold morning, followed by endless battles that always ended in crushing defeat. Weeks passed, seasons changed. Rian trained under the scorching heat until his skin darkened, and he kept training when cold rain poured on the field, turning the ground into slippery, heavy mud.
A month later, Rian felt a real change. The mana flow in his arms was now as stable as a calm river. Every swing felt sharper, heavier, and stronger. Yet, he still couldn't touch Bebegig.
Not even a single strand of hair.
His frustration peaked. He sat under a large tree, leaning against a protruding root. His wooden sword lay beside him, full of scratches and dents. Rian stared blankly into the distance, only listening to the sound of the wind howling softly through the leaves.
What must I do to defeat that creature?
By that creature, I mean old man Bebegig. I call him that because I don't think he's an ordinary human figure.
I really don't understand why he's like a caterpillar, his body is so flexible, dodging like a possessed squirrel, and hitting like a madman. His strength is no joke.
I really don't understand. I don't know how to defeat him, I can't even land a single touch.
His every movement is hard to read. So what should I actually do? How long will this kind of training go on?
With my current strength, it's already become easy to hunt boars, and I could even hunt other strong monsters with my current power.
Bebegig saw Rian brooding and gloomy. The old man sighed softly. He had realized that Rian was troubled by his inability to defeat him.
"Given up already?"
Bebegig's voice suddenly sounded behind him, calm and emotionless. Rian turned, looking at his master with weary eyes.
"Kakek, what else do I have to fix? I've done everything you commanded. I regulated my breathing, focused my mana, and can even guess some of your movements. But still... I can't touch you."
"Your resolve," Bebegig replied shortly.
My resolve? What does that mean?
Rian frowned. "My resolve? I train until I'm nearly dead every day. Isn't that enough?"
"Your resolve is still shallow," Bebegig continued with a sharp gaze. "You train to be strong, but you haven't answered the most important question: what are you seeking that strength for? Think carefully. Now, go bathe in the river. The cold water will help clear your head. Calm yourself, and reflect on your goal. While you're at it, find us some dinner."
The order sounded like a dismissal, but Rian knew this was also part of his training. He nodded and walked toward the forest. His movements were now agile, in tune with nature.
He leaped from branch to branch as if he were born there, landing on the boughs without a sound. As he went deeper into the forest, past his usual hunting area, a terrifying roar echoed. The sound was heavy and full of rage, shaking the trees until leaves fell.
What is that? Sounds like a troll? Is it really a troll?
Without hesitation, Rian ran toward the sound. From the top of the highest branch, he saw a shocking sight. In a small open field, a giant Troll, far larger than the one he had fought before, was in a fierce battle with a Wyvern.
The Troll was as tall as three trees, its skin as hard as rock and covered in moss. The Wyvern was sleeker, its scales shimmering blue-green, and its wings flapping wildly. Claws and fangs clashed, creating an ear-splitting explosion of sound.
The memory of Catty's death flashed through his head like a lightning bolt. Her destroyed face, her cut-off telepathic scream, and the guilt that burned his soul. His eyes narrowed, filled with cold revenge burning in silence.
I don't care how fast its wounds heal. I will kill it! Look at that winged creature with scales shining like gems.
Kakek said Wyverns are stronger than Trolls. But that doesn't matter. I will kill them mercilessly.
Without a second thought, he ignited his blue fire spell. 'BLADE FIRE!' His sword lit up instantly. The blue fire was smokeless, radiating heat that made the surrounding air shimmer.
He charged at both of them. With the help of wind magic he had now instinctively mastered, his leap was as fast as lightning.
While the Troll was busy withstanding the Wyvern's fire breath, Rian appeared from the side like a shadow. He didn't attack with raw power, but with precision forged from a thousand defeats.
One decisive slash, filled with focused mana, cut the Troll's neck. A ZZZTTT! sound was heard as the blue fire cauterized the wound while cutting.
The giant head separated before it could even make a sound. He then kicked off the Troll's still-warm body, launching himself at the startled Wyvern. With one clean vertical slash, he split the winged creature in two. The fight ended in three seconds.
Rian landed lightly on the ground, enveloped in sudden silence. He stared at the two monster carcasses, confused.
EHH? WHY?? Why were they so easy?
Even that Troll looked so weak... and that Wyvern... wasn't as strong as Kakek said.
He scratched his head, unaware that it was he who had become far stronger.
Ohh, maybe they were already tired from fighting each other. Is this what they call luck again?
With that positive thought, he dismissed the possibility that it was due to his own strength. While cutting the best meat from both monsters and storing them into Storage, he started grumbling again.
Why is that nagging old man so hard to touch? I'm really annoyed thinking about it again.
After cleaning himself in the freezing cold river, he returned to the treehouse. It was approaching late afternoon.
Bebegig was sitting relaxed on the small veranda, sipping tea from his wooden cup, as if he had been waiting for him.
"Hey, Kakek, I met a Wyvern and a Troll fighting earlier. But they weren't as strong as you said. They fell with just one slash. Was it because they were already weak?"
Bebegig sipped his tea, a faint, meaningful smile painted on his face. "Could be," he replied softly, though he knew very well that a fight between those two monsters could last a full day before they were truly tired. "So, will you defeat me tomorrow?" he challenged, with a glint in his eye.
Rian straightened his back, his gaze as sharp as steel. "Of course! I will do it, even if it takes a thousand years to defeat you!" "Foolish boy," Bebegig said, laughing loudly, his husky voice echoing among the trees. "I won't live that long."
Rian fell silent, looking at the old man. For the first time, he saw his master laugh so freely. Unconsciously, the corners of his own lips lifted into a smile.
The next day, at the same training ground, Rian was waiting. The morning air felt fresh and clean. He had finished his thousand warm-up swings. "Come on, Kakek! I'm ready!" he shouted spiritedly. From the treehouse window, Bebegig smiled. "Yes, in a moment."
The morning wind swirled around them, dropping dry leaves that danced down as silent witnesses.
In the middle of the field of large roots, master and student stood facing each other, their postures as strong as the giant trees around them. "Ready?" Bebegig asked, his voice calm but laden with challenge. "Ready, Kakek," Rian answered, his breathing regular, his eyes sharp.
"ATTACK!" The command echoed, marking the start of the fight. Unlike usual, Rian didn't attack immediately. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing his mana until it felt like a warm river flowing from his chest to his arms and legs.
With one smooth exhale, he shot forward. The push from his legs was so strong that the ground beneath him cracked slightly. His sword came from above, slashing toward Bebegig's head with a force far exceeding previous days.
CLANG! Bebegig parried it, but felt a strong vibration travel up his arm. He dodged with a fluid movement, but his eyes showed surprise. Good. This speed and strength... Now, what else will you do? thought Bebegig, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Rian ducked, using the momentum to launch a sweeping kick. He predicted his master would jump. And sure enough, Bebegig jumped lightly into the air.
Rian was ready, slashing from right to left. Bebegig parried it in mid-air, then retaliated with a punch that sent Rian's wooden sword flying. A solid blow landed on Rian's head again.
"Good idea using your legs to bait a prediction. I like that. Continue," Bebegig praised, with a tone of pride. "One more time! This time I won't fail!" Rian exclaimed with burning spirit.
He repeated his movement. Advanced quickly and slashed from above. As Bebegig prepared to parry, Rian suddenly changed the pattern.
He spun, his leg kicking toward his master's waist. Bebegig managed to block, but Rian pressed his foot onto the wooden sword, using it as a pivot to spin and launch a kick from his other leg. The relentless series of attacks forced Bebegig to get more serious.
His smile now turned sharp. When Rian's second kick was blocked, he supported his body with one hand on the ground, while the other hand slashed from below. As he predicted, Bebegig jumped back. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
He focused mana in his left hand supporting his body, then pushed himself upwards like a spring. He floated in the air, attacking from above as fast as lightning.
Bebegig still managed to dodge, but this time... not fast enough. The tip of Rian's wooden sword managed to touch the skin of his master's shoulder, leaving a thin white scratch.
Silence. Bebegig stepped back and released his sword. The wooden weapon fell to the ground with a soft sound. "You win, Rian," he said, pointing to the scratch on his shoulder.
Rian stood frozen for a few seconds, trying to process what had just happened. Then he jumped high into the air, punching his fist toward the sky. "Finally! I did it! YES!"
Just a scratch, why am I this happy?
He mumbled, then nodded firmly.
Yes, because this was really hard. I deserve to be proud.
"Don't be too proud yet," Bebegig interrupted with a firm tone again. "You only managed to touch me, not defeat me." "Alright, nagging Kakek! So what's next?" Rian replied with a wide smile stretching across his face. For the first time in a long while, he felt truly alive.