The forest was quiet again. Too quiet.The kind of silence that comes not from peace — but from fear.
Kelvin stood still, one hand resting on the hilt of his katana, the other brushing against the faint wind that moved through the trees. The sunlight that once poured warmly between the branches now seemed dim, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.
He frowned. Something was wrong.The mana around him… was changing.
Usually, mana flowed through nature like a calm stream — stable, soft, and full of balance. But now, it pulsed unevenly, thick and heavy like a storm waiting to break. It was unstable, swelling and twisting violently through the air.
Kelvin could feel it — every pulse beating against his skin.
(This isn't normal... the mana density is increasing too fast.)
He turned his head slightly, his sharp eyes scanning the forest. Not far behind him, Lucy and her friends were still making their way toward the main path, their laughter returning faintly now that the earlier threat was gone.
They didn't notice what he felt.But Kelvin knew.
Something was coming.
Lucy's voice reached him. "Kelvin? What's wrong?"
Kelvin didn't turn around immediately. His gaze stayed fixed on the forest's darker depths, his expression calm but tense."…It's nothing," he said finally, though his tone carried unease. "But I think you should all hurry and head back home. Now."
Lucy blinked. "Huh? Why? Did something—"
Before she could finish, the ground shook.A low, rumbling growl echoed through the trees — deep and monstrous, like thunder rolling beneath the earth. Birds screamed and scattered from the canopy. The air grew heavier with mana, almost suffocating.
Then, with a sound like a mountain collapsing, something enormous stepped out from the shadows.
The creature that emerged made even the previous ogre look pitiful in comparison.It stood nearly four times a man's height, its dark red muscles pulsing like molten iron under its skin. Its eyes burned an eerie yellow, and armor made from the bones of fallen beasts covered parts of its chest and shoulders.
A Warrior Ogre.
Kelvin's eyes narrowed. He had read about it before — in one of the thick books from the Reinhart family library.
(Warrior Ogre… a higher species of ogre that has survived countless battles. Physically, it surpasses even a low-rank beast by several levels. Intelligent enough to wield weapons… and strong enough to crush a building with its bare hands.)
Its presence alone made the ground quiver.
Lucy's friends screamed. One of them stumbled backward, falling to the ground. The creature lifted its head and let out a roar so powerful that the trees around it shuddered.
Kelvin turned slightly, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Ren," he said.
Ren — the older brother of one of Lucy's friends — stepped forward, his face pale but his eyes filled with courage. "Y-Yeah?"
Kelvin's gaze hardened. "If I'm not mistaken… your name is Ren, right?"
Ren nodded quickly.
"Good. Then I need you to take everyone — including Lucy — and run back to the estate. Right now."
Ren blinked. "Wait, what? You're staying here?!"
Kelvin gave a small smirk. "Someone has to hold it back."
Lucy's eyes widened. "No! I'm staying with you!"
Kelvin turned his gaze toward her — calm, serious, yet oddly gentle. "Didn't you say you hated me?"
Lucy froze, unable to answer. Her lips trembled slightly.
Kelvin smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Then don't argue. Go with them. That thing isn't something you can handle."
Lucy clenched her fists. "But—"
"Lucy," Kelvin said softly, interrupting her. "You're my sister. So just run."
Something about his words — simple yet full of warmth — made her heart ache. For the first time, she truly saw him not as the quiet boy who returned home recently… but as family.
Ren swallowed hard and grabbed Lucy's wrist. "Come on! We have to move!"
Lucy hesitated, staring at Kelvin one last time. He stood there with the sunlight glinting off his black katana, his back straight and unwavering.
Ren pulled her, and they ran — the rest following in panic, vanishing between the trees.
Once they were gone, the forest fell silent again. Only the faint rustle of leaves and the low growl of the Warrior Ogre filled the air.
Kelvin exhaled slowly and rested his hand on the hilt of his katana."I guess it's just you and me now," he murmured. "Though I'll admit… this might hurt a little."
The ogre's yellow eyes glowed brighter, and it let out a deafening roar before charging forward.
BOOM!
The ground cracked as its massive foot slammed down. It moved faster than something its size should be able to — like a boulder fired from a cannon. In the blink of an eye, it was in front of Kelvin, its giant fist already swinging.
Kelvin's instincts screamed. He barely had time to draw his katana — blocking the blow with both hands.
The impact was monstrous. The shockwave shattered the ground beneath him and sent leaves flying in every direction.
"—Tch!" Kelvin grunted as the force sent him hurtling backward. He hit the ground hard, rolling across the dirt before stabbing his katana into the ground to stop himself.
The blade sank deep, carving a line into the earth. Kelvin breathed heavily, his arms trembling from the impact.
(So strong…! Even with my Divine Body, my bones almost cracked.)
The ogre laughed — a guttural, mocking sound. It pounded its chest and took another step forward, its heavy club dragging along the dirt.
Kelvin stood up slowly, brushing the dirt from his cheek. Despite the pain radiating through his body, his expression didn't falter."Alright," he said quietly. "Let's try that again."
He pulled the katana free, mana beginning to flow through his body. The faint blue light returned, dancing along the blade's edge.
The ogre charged again.
This time, Kelvin didn't block.
He sidestepped, his body moving like flowing water, the wind bending around him. As the club missed by an inch, he swung his katana in a clean arc — slicing across the creature's side.
Blood sprayed through the air.
The ogre howled in pain, stumbling back a step. But the wound, though deep, wasn't enough to stop it. The creature turned, fury burning in its gaze.
Kelvin smirked faintly. "So, that actually hurt you. Good. This might be fun."
The battle raged through the forest.Every swing of the ogre's club tore through trees; every dodge Kelvin made left trails of blue mana scattering like fireflies.
Kelvin's movements were fast — faster than any normal human could ever hope to be. But even so, the monster's strength was overwhelming. Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.
At one point, the ogre slammed its club downward, and Kelvin barely leapt aside in time — the force of the blow created a crater several meters wide.
Kelvin's breathing grew heavier. His divine body granted him strength and speed, but his mana flow wasn't stable yet. His core pulsed erratically, burning too quickly.
(If this keeps up… my mana will drain before I can finish it.)
He tightened his grip. "No choice then."
Closing his eyes briefly, he focused his breathing — channeling the mana through his three dantians and his core simultaneously. He visualized it flowing like a river, merging and spiraling into one.
His katana began to hum violently, glowing brighter and brighter until it was enveloped entirely in blue light.
"Let's see how you handle this…"
He stepped forward and slashed.
A crescent-shaped wave of mana tore through the air — faster than sound, sharper than steel. It cut through the ogre's arm, severing it completely.
The beast screamed, staggering backward in rage and pain. Its blood sizzled where it hit the ground.
Kelvin stood there, chest rising and falling, his eyes glowing faintly with mana. "So this is the next stage… the fusion of mana sword and divine flow."
The ogre howled again and rushed at him one last time, swinging its remaining fist in pure fury.
Kelvin didn't retreat.
He whispered softly to his blade — "Katana… lend me your edge."
The sword responded, its light intensifying, resonating with his heartbeat.
When the ogre's massive punch came down, Kelvin moved.
One step forward —One breath —One slash.
Shing!
The sound echoed like thunder.
The ogre froze mid-attack. For a moment, silence reigned. Then, slowly, its massive body split cleanly from shoulder to hip, collapsing heavily to the ground.
The air grew still again. The wild mana that once raged throughout the forest began to calm, dispersing into the wind. The birds slowly returned, chirping faintly in the distance.
Kelvin lowered his sword, breathing heavily. His arms trembled slightly, not from fear — but from exhaustion. His divine body was strong, but his mana control had pushed him to his limit.
He looked down at the ogre's corpse, the faint glow of his katana dimming."That… was tougher than I expected," he muttered.
He turned his gaze toward the direction Lucy and the others had run.
(I hope they made it back safely.)
The forest smelled of iron and earth. The light of the setting sun painted everything in shades of crimson — as though the world itself bled with the fallen beast.
Kelvin sheathed his katana, the click echoing softly through the quiet.He exhaled, tilting his head back to look at the sky.
"Divine Body, Mana Sword… I've tested both today," he whispered. "But this still isn't enough."
The faint hum of mana surrounded him, swirling like mist.
He smiled slightly, almost peacefully. "If this is just the beginning… then I can't wait to see what comes next."
The wind brushed through his hair as he began walking back toward the Reinhart estate — his katana resting at his side, its faint blue light flickering with each step.
The night had fallen.The forest that had once roared with battle was now wrapped in silence. Only the faint whisper of the wind and the distant call of owls filled the air.
Kelvin stood alone on a high ridge that overlooked the endless canopy below. The moonlight washed over him — pale and cold, painting his figure in shades of silver and shadow. His katana hung loosely in his hand, its edge still glimmering faintly with residual mana.
The ground beneath him was splattered with blood — both monster and his own. His clothes were torn, his chest heaving softly as he tried to breathe through the pain.
For a long while, he said nothing.Then, quietly, his voice broke the silence.
"…So this is what it feels like," he whispered, his crimson eyes fixed on the moon. "To almost die."
A breeze passed through, rustling his hair. His expression remained calm — but there was a strange emptiness in his gaze, as if he were staring not at the sky, but at something much farther away.
Kelvin lowered his head, staring at his trembling hand. Dried blood clung to his skin, dark against the pale moonlight.
(Back then… when I was the God of War… this kind of wound would've healed instantly. No blade, no spear, no divine weapon could pierce my body. My divine flesh was indestructible — eternal. Even time couldn't touch me.)
He clenched his fist slowly, feeling the sting of torn muscles and the dull ache that spread through his arm.
(So why… why did I die?)
The question had haunted him since his reincarnation — a thought buried deep but now resurfacing as pain reminded him he was no longer divine.
(A god can't die unless by his own will… or by a power greater than divinity itself. But I never wished for death. I never surrendered. So how? Who—or what—killed me?)
He raised his eyes to the moon again, its light reflecting faintly in his scarlet irises. For the first time, he felt something he hadn't felt in countless ages — fragility. The chill of mortality seeped into his bones, sharp and undeniable.
A faint smile curved his lips. "So this is it… the feeling of being alive."He laughed weakly — not in joy, but in irony. "Funny… I never knew how fragile life was until I lost immortality."
The forest rustled behind him.Footsteps — fast, urgent, echoing against the quiet.
"Kelvin!"
The voice broke through the silence like thunder.Kelvin turned his head slightly, his expression softening.
From between the trees emerged Cain Reinhart — his older brother — his golden hair shining under the moonlight, his breath uneven from running. The moment his eyes found Kelvin, his face twisted with alarm.
"Kelvin—by the gods, what happened to you?!"
Kelvin blinked slowly, his voice steady despite his exhaustion."Oh… Cain. So Lucy told you."
A faint smirk touched his lips. So she actually did tell him.(Not bad. At least she's starting to care…)
Cain didn't smile. His gaze fell upon Kelvin's blood-soaked clothes, the torn fabric, and the dark bruises running across his arms and shoulders. The smell of iron in the air was unmistakable.
"Don't tell me you fought that monster alone?"
Kelvin looked away. "It was… nothing I couldn't handle."
"Nothing you—?!" Cain's voice rose sharply. "You're covered in blood, Kelvin!"
He stepped closer, reaching out to inspect his brother's wounds. Kelvin brushed his hand away gently."I told you… I'm fine."
But as the words left his lips, a sharp pain surged through his chest. His vision blurred for a moment.
Then—
—Cough!
A spray of crimson spilled from his mouth, splattering across the dirt. The metallic taste filled his throat.
Cain's eyes widened. "Kelvin!"
Kelvin staggered, clutching his chest. "Heh… guess I might've… pushed myself too far."
His legs trembled, strength draining rapidly from his body. His knees gave out, and before he hit the ground, Cain darted forward, catching him by the shoulders.
"Hey! Stay with me!" Cain's voice was trembling now — desperation breaking through his usual confident tone. "Kelvin, damn it, you're not fine!"
Kelvin tried to speak, his voice faint. "Cain… I guess… I still have a long way to go."
Cain gritted his teeth. "Don't you dare close your eyes, you hear me?!"
Kelvin's eyelids were heavy. The pain was distant now, fading into something like warmth. His heartbeat slowed, each pulse echoing in his ears.
(So this… is what weakness feels like.)
The moonlight blurred above him. For a brief moment, he thought he saw another figure standing beside it — tall, radiant, cloaked in divine light. A reflection from his past life.
The God of War watching himself fall.
(Heh… look at me now.)
And then, everything went dark.
For Cain, the moment felt like eternity.He looked down at Kelvin's still body — his brother's breathing shallow but present. Relief mixed with fear as he pressed his hand to Kelvin's chest, feeling the faint rhythm of a heartbeat.
"Damn it, Kelvin… you idiot."
Cain's usually confident expression hardened. His golden eyes reflected the moonlight, filled with both anger and guilt.
(He saved Lucy. He faced that beast alone… and I wasn't there.)
He clenched his jaw, the veins in his hands tightening. "You always try to carry everything by yourself, don't you?"
Gently, he lifted Kelvin onto his back. The younger boy's head rested weakly against his shoulder, blood still damp against his clothes.
Cain looked up at the moon — bright and watchful above the treetops."Don't worry, little brother," he whispered. "You're not dying tonight. I won't let you."
He began walking — no, running — through the forest. Each step echoed against the dirt, branches whipping against his arms as he pushed through. The weight of his brother felt heavy, but not unbearable.
(He's lighter than I expected… too light.)
As he ran, Cain's mind raced. If that was a Warrior Ogre, then how the hell did Kelvin even survive? He'd fought beasts before — but that kind of monster took entire squads of knights to bring down.
Yet, when he arrived, there was only one body lying lifeless on the ground.The ogre's.
Cain shivered. Don't tell me he actually killed it…
He looked over his shoulder — at Kelvin's still, peaceful face. Despite the blood and bruises, there was a faint, unyielding calmness there.Even unconscious, he looked composed.
"Just who are you really, Kelvin?" Cain muttered softly.
When Cain finally emerged from the forest's edge, the Reinhart estate loomed in the distance, its lights flickering warmly against the dark horizon. He shouted for the guards — his voice sharp and commanding.
"Get the physician! Now!"
The servants rushed out, alarmed at the sight of the heir carrying his wounded brother. The manor's great doors opened wide as Cain brought Kelvin inside, laying him gently upon the grand hall's couch.
Maria, their mother, rushed down the stairs, her eyes widening in horror. "Kelvin?! What—what happened?!"
Cain took a breath. "Monster attack. He fought it… alone."
Maria covered her mouth, tears forming instantly. "My poor child…"
Lucy appeared next, her face pale and tear-streaked. "I-I told brother Cain! I didn't know he would—"
Cain placed a hand on her head, his tone softening. "You did the right thing, Lucy. He's alive because of you."
Lucy's eyes fell on Kelvin's still form — his once neat black hair now messy and his shirt torn. She bit her lip, her guilt twisting deeper.
The family physician arrived moments later, checking Kelvin's pulse, his breathing, his mana flow."His wounds are severe but not fatal," the physician said finally. "However… his mana circuits are… unusual."
"Unusual?" Cain asked sharply.
"Yes," the man replied, brows furrowed. "They seem… reinforced, far beyond that of a normal human. It's as if his body is resisting collapse through sheer willpower."
Cain looked down at Kelvin again, eyes narrowing slightly.
(Reinforced? What the hell are you hiding, Kelvin?)
Hours later, the household quieted again.Maria had finally gone to rest, and Lucy sat by Kelvin's bedside, her small hands clasped tightly around his.
Cain stood near the window, the moonlight spilling across his face.
He looked out — to the silver glow washing over the forest in the distance. The same forest that now held a crater, torn trees, and the corpse of a monster too powerful for ordinary men.
He whispered softly to himself, "If you can kill something like that in your state… then maybe, just maybe… you're destined for something greater than any of us."
Behind him, Kelvin's fingers twitched faintly — a small movement, but enough to make Lucy gasp.
Cain turned, watching as Kelvin's chest rose a little more steadily.
The moon's light touched Kelvin's face gently, and for a moment, it looked as though he were smiling in his sleep.
Cain exhaled. "Rest well, little brother. Tomorrow, you can explain everything… or don't. For now, just live."
The wind outside whispered softly through the open window — as if the world itself was listening.
And beneath the silver moon, the God of War reborn as man slept, his body weak but his soul burning brighter than ever.