Chapter 4 — Awakening of the Emperor's Warrior
A cold wind slowly drifted through the towering trees that stretched toward the sky.
A thin mist covered the vast forest, giving the surroundings a quiet and mysterious atmosphere.
In the middle of the ground covered with dry leaves, a massive figure lay motionless.
His body was enormous.
Far larger than an ordinary human.
Slowly, his fingers twitched.
Then his hand clenched.
A heavy breath escaped from the metal helmet covering his face.
"..."
Consciousness slowly returned.
The figure opened his eyes.
But what opened were not the eyes of a normal human.
Two red lights ignited behind the visor of his helmet.
Rogers had awakened.
Strange systems began activating inside the armor that covered his body.
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Bio-sign detected.]
[Primary organ functions stable.]
[Neural activity synchronized.]
[Power Armor Systems: Online.]
Rogers slowly rose from the ground.
Every movement produced the heavy sound of metal grinding together.
CLANK.
CLANK.
He looked at both of his hands.
Massive dark-blue armor covered his entire body.
Every part of it was decorated with intricate golden engravings.
On the chest plate was the symbol of a golden winged skull, both majestic and terrifying.
Rogers fell silent.
His last memories returned.
The burning apartment.
People screaming.
Jennie crying.
Little Tommy trapped inside.
And himself jumping out of the window.
Rogers remembered everything.
"...I died."
His voice inside the helmet sounded deep and heavy.
But it was no longer the voice of a normal human.
It sounded like the voice of a war machine.
Rogers stood fully upright.
He was now nearly two and a half meters tall—perhaps even more, almost three meters.
His body felt incredibly powerful.
Every movement felt light despite the massive armor he was wearing.
He clenched his fist.
The armor around his hand emitted a soft mechanical sound.
He could feel immense power flowing through his body.
Stronger than anything he had ever felt before.
Suddenly—
KRACK!
The sound of a branch snapping came from the bushes.
Rogers immediately turned his head.
His helmet sensors activated instantly.
Several symbols and holographic lines appeared across his visor.
[Motion detected.]
[Multiple lifeforms approaching.]
Rogers stood still.
From the bushes emerged three strange creatures.
Their bodies were thin.
Their skin was dark green.
Their teeth were sharp.
Their red eyes burned with hatred.
The creatures held crude spears and rusted knives.
Goblins.
One of them pointed at Rogers.
The creature spoke in a rough voice.
"Grrk! Human!"
Another goblin grinned wickedly.
"Food."
They slowly began approaching.
But Rogers simply stood there.
He observed them calmly.
Inside his mind, there was only one thought.
Threat.
An unfamiliar combat instinct began flowing through him.
As if his body already knew what to do.
The first goblin suddenly screamed and lunged forward.
"AAAGH!"
Its spear thrust toward Rogers.
But—
TANG!
The spear shattered the moment it touched Rogers's armor.
The goblin froze.
Rogers looked at it without emotion.
Then his hand moved.
Extremely fast.
He grabbed the goblin's head with one hand.
The creature didn't even have time to scream.
CRACK.
Its neck snapped instantly.
The body fell lifelessly to the ground.
The other goblins froze.
They stared at Rogers with wide eyes.
Fear began appearing on their faces.
But it was already too late.
Rogers stepped forward.
His steps were heavy.
The ground trembled slightly with each movement.
The second goblin tried to attack from the side.
Its rusted knife slashed toward Rogers.
But Rogers didn't even turn his head.
The blade left nothing more than a tiny scratch that barely existed.
Rogers raised his hand.
Then—
WHAM!
A single punch.
The goblin's body was sent flying several meters before crashing violently into a tree.
Its bones shattered instantly.
The last goblin immediately turned and tried to run.
"GRAAA!"
But Rogers extended his hand.
He grabbed the creature from behind.
Lifting it into the air.
The goblin struggled wildly.
But Rogers's grip was like steel.
Slowly, Rogers looked at the creature.
"Creatures like this..."
His voice was heavy.
"...are enemies of humanity."
His hand closed.
CRACK.
The goblin died instantly.
Rogers threw the body to the ground.
The forest became silent again.
He stood there quietly.
Looking at the three goblin corpses lying on the ground.
There was no guilt.
No hesitation.
Only calm.
The instinct inside him told him only one thing.
Enemies must be destroyed.
Rogers looked at his hands again.
"Is this..."
He remembered the being of light he had met earlier.
The figure who could be called the Emperor.
"...I have become a weapon."
The wind blew again.
The mist slowly moved between the trees.
Suddenly—
Another sound came from the distance.
But this time it was not goblins.
It was the sound of human voices.
"Captain! There's something ahead!"
"Prepare your weapons!"
Several figures emerged from behind the trees.
About five people.
They wore leather armor and chainmail.
In their hands were swords and spears.
They appeared to be adventurers.
But the moment they saw Rogers—
they stopped instantly.
Their eyes widened.
One of them whispered with a trembling voice.
"What... is that?"
The man who seemed to be their leader stepped forward.
But even he looked tense.
Rogers's height—nearly two and a half meters—already made him look like a giant.
Not to mention the massive armor he wore.
The captain swallowed.
"Look at the size of that armor..."
One of the adventurers whispered.
"That... is not a normal human."
Rogers looked at them.
His helmet sensors activated again.
[Humanoid lifeforms detected.]
[Threat level: Low.]
Rogers spoke.
"Are you inhabitants of this world?"
His voice echoed like that of a war machine.
The adventurers looked at each other.
One of them whispered quietly.
"He... can speak."
The captain nodded.
Then he looked at Rogers carefully.
"We are adventurers from the city of Eldoria."
He pointed at the goblin corpses on the ground.
"We were hunting these goblins."
Then he looked back at Rogers.
"You killed them?"
Rogers answered calmly.
"Yes."
The adventurers exchanged glances again.
Three goblins had been killed with their bodies completely crushed.
And all of it was done by one person.
The captain began realizing something.
If a creature like this were their enemy—
they would have no chance of survival.
But Rogers simply stood calmly.
He showed no intention of attacking.
The captain finally lowered his sword slightly.
"Then..."
He asked cautiously.
"Who are you?"
Rogers was silent for a moment.
He thought about his answer.
His old name felt distant now.
But one thing remained clear in his mind.
He raised his head.
Then replied.
"I am Rogers."
The wind once again blew through the forest.
The captain frowned slightly.
Then he asked again.
"And... what are you?"
Rogers paused briefly.
Then he answered in a heavy voice.
"I am a soldier."
He looked toward the cloudy sky.
Then continued.
"A soldier of the Emperor."
The adventurers did not understand the meaning of those words.
But one thing they knew.
The being standing before them—
was something far beyond an ordinary human.
And within Rogers's own heart, a new feeling slowly began to grow.
This was no longer his old world.
This was a new world.
A world filled with monsters.
A world that needed strength.
And if that was the reason he had been sent here—
then Rogers would do one thing.
Protect humanity.
And destroy their enemies.
Just like a true soldier.
A new chapter of his life had just begun.