The ground trembled again.
Slow.
Heavy.
Each step echoed through the alley like distant thunder.
Renzo stood still.
Chrono Fang rested lightly in his right hand.
The Shadow Fang Dagger remained in his left.
His eyes focused on the darkness at the end of the alley.
Kensei-Ryu spoke quietly.
"Now that… sounds interesting."
Another step.
CRACK.
Concrete split under massive weight.
Then the creature emerged from the shadows.
It was enormous.
Nearly three meters tall.
Its body looked like a mix between an ogre and a beast.
Thick gray skin.
Massive muscles.
Two long tusks curved upward from its jaw.
Its hands were large enough to crush a human skull.
The system window appeared instantly.
Monster Detected
Type: Ogre Brute
Rank: E+
Threat Level: Mini Boss
Kensei-Ryu whistled.
"Oh."
"That is definitely stronger than the boar."
The ogre's red eyes locked onto Renzo.
It sniffed the air.
Then it roared.
The sound shook the alley walls.
Renzo rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Good."
Vulcanos spoke calmly.
"High quality materials."
The ogre grabbed a broken car door from the ground and lifted it like a shield.
Then it charged.
Each step shook the pavement.
Renzo didn't panic.
Instead, his mind began calculating.
Distance.
Speed.
Weight.
Attack range.
Twenty-three years of combat experience flowed through his instincts.
The ogre swung the car door like a giant club.
Renzo moved instantly.
WHOOSH.
The attack smashed into the alley wall, shattering concrete.
Renzo slid to the side and countered.
Chrono Fang flashed.
CLANG.
The blade struck the ogre's arm.
But the skin was tough.
Too tough.
The cut barely scratched it.
Kensei-Ryu laughed.
"Looks like you found a real fight."
The ogre roared again and swung its massive fist.
Renzo jumped back.
The fist smashed the pavement, leaving a crater.
Renzo's eyes sharpened.
"Thick hide."
Kensei-Ryu spoke.
"Then cut the weak point."
Renzo nodded slightly.
He switched his stance.
Lower.
Faster.
The ogre charged again.
This time faster.
Renzo waited.
Closer.
Closer.
At the last second—
Renzo dashed forward.
Not away.
Forward.
He slid beneath the ogre's swinging arm.
Then he struck.
Chrono Fang pierced upward into the gap beneath the monster's rib.
SLASH.
The ogre howled in pain.
But Renzo didn't stop.
He pulled the Shadow Fang Dagger across the back of the creature's knee.
STAB.
The leg buckled.
The massive body staggered.
Kensei-Ryu shouted.
"Now!"
Renzo grabbed the handle of the Iron Horn Greatsword from his back.
The massive blade came down with brutal force.
CRASH.
The greatsword slammed into the ogre's neck.
The horn-infused edge bit deep.
Bone cracked.
The monster froze.
Then its enormous body collapsed to the ground.
The alley shook as the creature fell.
Silence followed.
Then—
Blue windows flooded Renzo's vision.
Mini Boss Eliminated
+Level Up
+Level Up
+Level Up
Current Level: 13
Quest Progress: 7 / 10
Kensei-Ryu burst out laughing.
"Now THAT was a hunt."
Renzo exhaled slowly.
His heart was beating faster now.
That monster had been dangerous.
But worth it.
Vulcanos spoke calmly.
"Exceptional materials detected."
Renzo looked down at the massive corpse.
Thanks to Material Insight, the body glowed with several bright points.
"Ogre core — powerful forging catalyst."
"Ogre bone — high durability structure."
"Ogre hide — elite armor material."
Renzo smiled slightly.
Mini boss materials.
Far more valuable than anything he had forged so far.
But before he could begin refining—
A new system notification appeared.
Different from the others.
Hidden Quest Update
First Wave Survivor
Progress: 7 / 10
Bonus Objective Unlocked:
Defeat the First Gate Champion
Reward: Unknown
Kensei-Ryu spoke slowly.
"...Champion?"
Renzo's eyes narrowed slightly.
That meant only one thing.
Somewhere in the city…
A much stronger monster had just arrived.
And if Renzo killed it first…
The reward could be enormous.
Renzo slowly lifted his greatsword again.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Sounds fun."