Chapter 5 — The Giant of the Forest
The mist still covered the forest as Rogers stood quietly among the towering trees.
The ground around him was still littered with the bodies of the goblins he had killed only minutes earlier.
The adventurers from the city of Eldoria remained standing several meters away from him.
None of them dared to move too close.
They continued staring at Rogers with expressions that mixed awe, fear, and confusion.
The dark-blue armor covering his massive body looked like something forged by the gods themselves.
Even the smallest movement he made produced the deep echo of heavy metal throughout the forest.
The captain of the adventurer group continued watching Rogers carefully.
The man's name was Arlen.
A veteran adventurer who had hunted monsters for more than fifteen years.
Yet in all his life, he had never seen anything like this.
The being standing before them was far too large to be called a normal human.
He was nearly two and a half meters tall.
The armor he wore was even thicker than the armor of royal knights.
Arlen finally spoke.
"Rogers..."
Rogers slowly turned his head.
The dark visor of his helmet hid his face.
But two dim red lights glowed from within.
"Yes."
Rogers's voice sounded like the heavy echo of metal.
Arlen swallowed.
"You said you are a soldier..."
"Correct."
"Then... where do you come from?"
Rogers remained silent for a moment.
He looked up toward the mist-covered sky.
"From another world."
The adventurers immediately glanced at one another.
One of them whispered,
"Another world?"
But before they could ask anything further—
The ground suddenly trembled.
DUM.
Everyone froze.
Then the tremor came again.
DUM.
Birds from the trees immediately scattered into the sky.
Arlen instantly drew his sword.
"Everyone ready!"
The adventurers prepared themselves immediately.
Rogers turned toward the source of the tremor.
The sensors within his helmet activated.
Several red symbols appeared on his visor.
[Large lifeform detected.]
[Distance: 48 meters.]
[Approaching.]
The sound of snapping branches began echoing through the forest.
Then something enormous emerged from the mist.
The adventurers froze.
"...Ogre."
The creature was enormous.
Nearly four meters tall.
Its skin was dark gray like stone.
Massive muscles bulged across its body.
In its hand was a giant wooden club covered with iron spikes.
Its mouth opened, revealing large, filthy teeth.
The creature sniffed the air.
Then its eyes locked onto the group of humans before it.
The ogre smiled.
A smile filled with murderous intent.
Arlen cursed under his breath.
"Damn..."
He whispered to his companions.
"An adult ogre."
One of the adventurers immediately turned pale.
"Captain... there are only five of us."
Arlen knew that.
Facing an ogre with only five normal adventurers was extremely dangerous.
But they had no choice.
The creature had already seen them.
The ogre growled.
"GRAAAAA!"
Then it began running.
The ground trembled with each of its steps.
Arlen shouted immediately.
"Formation!"
The adventurers moved quickly.
But before they could attack—
A heavy step sounded in front of them.
CLANK.
Rogers walked forward.
Arlen was startled.
"Rogers—wait!"
But Rogers did not stop.
He continued walking toward the ogre charging straight at them.
The ogre noticed him as well.
The creature paused for a moment.
Perhaps even it was surprised to see another giant standing before it.
Then the ogre laughed.
"GRAAHAHA!"
It raised its massive club.
Then it charged even faster.
Rogers stopped about ten meters away.
He stood still.
Like a wall of steel.
The adventurers held their breath.
Arlen whispered,
"Is he insane...?"
The ogre leaped.
Its giant club raised high.
"RAAAA!"
Then it swung the weapon toward Rogers's head.
The attack was powerful enough to shatter a large tree.
But Rogers moved.
Fast.
His hand rose.
BOOM!
A massive impact echoed throughout the forest.
The ground around them cracked slightly.
The adventurers' eyes widened.
Rogers had caught the ogre's club with one hand.
The giant creature froze.
Its eyes widened in disbelief.
It tried to push harder.
But Rogers's hand did not move even a single inch.
His blue-and-gold armor showed no sign of damage.
Rogers looked at the ogre through the visor of his helmet.
"Large creature."
His voice was heavy.
"But slow."
Then Rogers twisted his hand.
CRACK.
The giant club snapped in half.
The ogre was stunned.
But before it could react—
Rogers stepped forward.
Then—
WHAM!
Rogers's punch slammed into the ogre's stomach.
Air exploded out of the creature's mouth.
Its massive body lifted from the ground.
It was thrown several meters backward.
The adventurers could only stare in shock.
An ogre that normally required ten soldiers to defeat—
had just been punched away like a doll.
The ogre stood back up with furious rage.
"GRAAAAAAA!"
It charged again.
This time attempting to grab Rogers with both arms.
But Rogers stepped to the side.
His movement was incredibly fast for a body that large.
Then he grabbed the ogre's arm.
With tremendous strength—
Rogers spun the giant creature.
BOOM!
The ogre was slammed into the ground.
The earth shook.
Dust exploded into the air.
But Rogers was not finished.
He lifted his foot.
Then stepped onto the ogre's chest.
The creature tried to stand.
But Rogers's foot was like a mountain.
It could not move.
Rogers looked down at it.
"A threat to humanity."
Then he raised his hand.
His massive fist tightened.
And—
BOOM!
The punch smashed into the ogre's head.
The sound of cracking bone echoed clearly.
The creature's body immediately went still.
Silence returned to the forest.
Rogers stood up.
Then removed his foot from the now lifeless ogre.
The adventurers still did not move.
They stared at the shattered body of the ogre.
Then they looked at Rogers.
Arlen finally exhaled deeply.
"...A god."
One of the adventurers whispered.
"He killed an ogre with his bare hands."
Arlen looked at Rogers with a new expression.
No longer fear.
But respect.
A being like this was not simply an adventurer.
He was a force capable of changing an entire battlefield.
Arlen slowly walked closer.
"Rogers."
Rogers turned.
Arlen looked at him seriously.
"The city of Eldoria isn't far from here."
He pointed west.
"Five kilometers."
Then he spoke again.
"You should come with us."
Rogers asked,
"Why?"
Arlen gave a faint smile.
"Because if people see you alone in the forest..."
He glanced at the ogre's corpse.
"They might think you're a monster."
The other adventurers chuckled quietly.
But Rogers remained silent.
He looked at the forest around them.
This new world was filled with danger.
Monsters.
Savage creatures.
War could exist everywhere.
But perhaps in that city...
he could begin to understand this world.
Rogers finally nodded.
"Alright."
Arlen smiled with relief.
"Good."
He turned to his group.
"We're returning to Eldoria."
The adventurers began moving.
But behind them, Rogers walked like a moving fortress.
His steps were heavy.
Yet steady.
And deep within the dark forest—
a pair of red eyes watched them from afar.
The creature grinned.
As if something far more dangerous had just taken notice of Rogers's arrival in this world.
Rogers's adventure had only just begun.
And this world would soon learn—
what it truly meant to face a Space Marine of the Emperor.