《The Ring: Rogelio's journey》


 New World

    On a stormy night, Rogelio put on his coat and stepped outside to buy some snacks at the grocery store. When he arrived, the cashier greeted him warmly, saying, "Good evening, sir." Rogelio simply nodded in response.


    He picked up some bread and a chocolate bar, then proceeded to the counter. After paying, he returned to his small apartment. As he entered, Rogelio noticed a shadow in the corner of the table. Approaching cautiously, he was shocked to see a dying old man wearing a black robe.


    With a heavy breath, Rogelio demanded in a strong voice, "Who are you, old man? What the f**k are you doing in my apartment?!"


    The old man replied, "I am the sage from the world of Zandora."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The sage removed a ring from his finger and said, "This ring will give you power beyond anything you could imagine. Hold it."


    Still in a state of shock, Rogelio hesitated but eventually approached the sage and took the ring. As they both held the ring, the sage began to chant an incantation:


    "I, the sage, owner of the Ring of Time, pass its authority to the next holder."


    The ring began to shine brightly. The old man then instructed, "Young man, say the magic word."


    Confused, Rogelio blurted out, "Jonathan?"


    "No!" the sage exclaimed.


    Suddenly, Rogelio heard a whisper emanating from the ring. Understanding its message, he nodded and shouted loudly, "Authority, activate!"


    Rogelio''s body began to glow, and his clothes transformed into a black robe. As this transformation occurred, a portal suddenly opened in his apartment, sucking everything inside, including him.


    While being pulled into the portal, Rogelio glanced at the sage one last time. The old man smiled weakly and said, "Good luck, young holder."


    Rogelio then lost consciousness.


    Moments later, he opened his eyes, gazing upon a strange and unfamiliar new world.

 Into the Unknown

    Upon waking, Rogelio found himself on a hill overlooking an unfamiliar world. In the distance, he spotted a small town. Confused about what to do, how to survive, and worried about the old man who gave him the ring, Rogelio recalled the sage''s words: "This ring will give you power beyond anything you could imagine."


    Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "I got this! First, before heading to town, I need to test the ring''s power."


    Raising his hand, Rogelio shouted, "Fireball!"


    Nothing happened. He tried again, "Windstorm!"


    Still, nothing. Disappointed, he muttered, "This should be a magical world where I''m the powerful protagonist, like in those novels. Yet I''m powerless, and all I have is a glowing ring that only changes outfits. Great. I''m going to die early here."


    His stomach growled, interrupting his thoughts. "I should just go to town and find something to eat," he said with a sigh.


    When Rogelio arrived in town, he noticed it was filled with thugs and poverty. Suddenly, a bulky thug blocked his path.


    "What''s a Valorian apprentice doing in foreign lands?" the thug asked.


    "I think you''ve got the wrong person, sir," Rogelio replied, shocked that he could understand and speak the thug''s language.


    While Rogelio stood in stunned silence, the thug raised his hand, ready to strike. But an old man intervened.


    "Stop! If a Valorian knight hears of this, are you prepared to face the consequences?" the old man said.


    The thug hesitated, lowering his hand. "You''re lucky, young man," he muttered before walking away.


    The old man noticed Rogelio''s ring. "Follow me, young apprentice," he said firmly.


    "Um, sir, I think you''ve got the wrong¡ª"


    "Don''t say anything," the old man interrupted. "Just follow me if you value your life."


    Moments later, they arrived at a bar. The old man introduced himself.


    "I''m Jay, the owner of this bar. And you are?"


    "I''m Rogelio. I came from afar, but I''m not a Valorian apprentice. I don''t even know what that means," Rogelio replied.


    Jay raised an eyebrow but said, "I won''t ask for more. Since you''ve come to this land, you must need something."


    Jay offered Rogelio a drink, and Rogelio replied, "Thanks, but I don''t have money. That''s why I''m here¡ªI need a job."


    Jay chuckled. "That''s on the house. If you''re looking for work, try the Adventurer''s Guild. They''ll offer jobs even to people without proper backgrounds."


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story."Adventurer''s Guild? So this is a magical world," Rogelio muttered.


    "Pardon?" Jay asked.


    "Nothing. Where is this guild located?"


    "At the center of town. Look for the logo of a sword and shield," Jay replied.


    "Thanks, Jay. Before I go, what''s a Valorian apprentice? And where am I?" Rogelio asked.


    Jay smiled knowingly. "You really are from afar. This is the Zandora continent, divided into four ancient kingdoms and one central kingdom:


    Arcadia: A realm of eternal spring in the north.


    Luminara: A land of twilight and starlight in the southeast.


    Valoria: A prosperous realm of brave knights in the south.


    Firelands: A volcanic region filled with danger and demonic humans in the west.


    The central kingdom, Eclipsia, hosts the Adventurer''s Guild headquarters. Where you stand now, however, is the Foreign Land¡ªa lawless region full of crime and syndicates. The thugs likely mistook you for a Valorian apprentice because of your black robe. True Valorian apprentices wear blue robes."


    "Thanks for the info, Jay. I''ll keep that in mind," Rogelio replied.


    As he left the bar, Jay called out, "If you need a place to stay, come back anytime."


    Following Jay''s directions, Rogelio arrived at the Adventurer''s Guild. The sword and shield logo confirmed it.


    Inside, everyone stared at him, mistaking him for a Valorian apprentice. He approached the front desk, where a woman greeted him.


    "How can I help you, sir?"


    "I''d like to apply to join the Adventurer''s Guild," Rogelio said.


    "Follow me to the testing area. By the way, I''m Sara," she replied.


    Sara introduced him to Baron, a B-rank adventurer who would test him.


    "It''s simple," Baron explained. "Fight me. I''ll rank your skill from D to B. If you''re better than that, you''ll face an A-rank adventurer. Choose a weapon from the rack."


    Rogelio picked up a sword. "A sword should do. I''ve always used swords in games and VR."


    Baron smirked. "A swordsman, huh? Take your stance."


    Before Rogelio could prepare, Baron dashed forward, aiming a stab at his chest.


    "F**k, he''s too fast!" Rogelio thought, panic setting in.


    Suddenly, the ring on his finger glowed faintly, and time seemed to slow. Rogelio, though startled, seized the opportunity and redirected Baron''s strike with a swing of his sword.


    Baron stepped back, visibly impressed. "To redirect a B-rank sword attack¡­ You''ve got something, kid."

 The Ring

    After redirecting Baron''s attack, Rogelio thought he could stop him again with the power of the ring. He braced himself for the next attack, but Baron, thinking Rogelio was stronger than expected, dashed toward him with all his might. Disappearing in a blur, Baron was too fast for Rogelio to see, and before he knew it, Baron had already appeared behind him. Baron then released a powerful blow to Rogelio''s side, sending him crashing into the wall.


    "F**k, that hurts! What''s up with this crazy guy beating up a newbie? And why didn''t the ring work?" Rogelio said, gritting his teeth.


    Baron, smiling at him in amusement, replied, "For someone who''s hurt, you look fine to me."


    Rogelio then realized that he wasn''t hurt at all¡ªnot even a scratch. It dawned on him that it must have been the ring''s power that made him durable.


    "Get up, there''s still plenty of time before nightfall," Baron said, and continued to beat him up until the night rose.


    Moments later, while Rogelio lay on the ground, exhausted, Sara arrived and approached Baron.


    Sara: "How''s the newbie?"


    Baron: "He lacks skill and experience, but he''s pretty durable."


    Sara: "For someone that durable, don''t you think he might be a prince?"


    Baron: "Maybe, but I doubt a prince from the ancient kingdoms would be hanging around in the Foreign Lands."


    "Still, put him in D-rank. That should be good for now," Baron added.


    Sara approached Rogelio. "Congrats, Rogelio. You''re now a D-rank adventurer. Please come back tomorrow morning to receive your official card."


    Rogelio smiled weakly and replied, "So, more beatings?"


    "Hey, don''t make it sound like I''m a bully," Sara said, grinning. "You can go home now, kid."


    Baron walked away, still amazed by Rogelio''s resilience. Rogelio then remembered what Jay had said: "If you need a place to stay, come back anytime."


    Rogelio walked back to the bar, and as he entered, the patrons stopped talking and stared at him, noticing his battered appearance.


    A girl''s voice called out, "A young man in a black robe... you must be Rogelio. I heard from my father you''d be coming back."


    "Father?" Rogelio replied, confused.


    Jay then appeared. "That''s Letty, my daughter. She helps me out here at the bar. What happened to you?"


    "I got beat up by Baron until nightfall," Rogelio said, exhausted.


    Jay laughed. "For someone who got beaten by a B-rank, you''re still moving."


    Letty glanced at Rogelio''s ring and muttered, "That must be it."


    "What?" Rogelio asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Nothing. You should head upstairs and wash up. Your room is on the right," Letty said.


    "But I don''t have any money," Rogelio replied.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll put it on your tab. You can pay it later when you start earning from the Adventurers'' Guild. By the way, did you get accepted?" Jay asked.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Yeah. I''m D-rank. They''ll give me the official card tomorrow," Rogelio said.


    "Congrats, then. You should wash up now," Jay said.


    Rogelio went upstairs, removed his clothes, and sat in the bathtub.


    "At this time of night, I''d usually be turning on my PC and playing," Rogelio said, remembering his life back on Earth.


    After washing up, Rogelio changed clothes and looked out the window, gazing at the town lights. He opened the window and said to himself, "This is my world now. I should get used to it."


    Letty''s voice called from downstairs. "If you''re done, come downstairs. Your food is ready."


    Rogelio went downstairs and started eating at the bar. While eating, he asked, "I noticed you two seem to know something about my ring. Do you know anything about it?"


    They exchanged glances, and Jay said, "Well, I''ve seen something similar to it."


    "Where?" Rogelio asked.


    "The Ring of the Valorian King, Valter," Jay replied.


    "So, you worked in the Valoria Kingdom?" Rogelio asked.


    Letty nodded. "My dad was a former Valorian knight."


    "Wow, a former knight? What happened? How did you end up here in the Foreign Lands?" Rogelio asked.


    Jay sighed. "Well, I couldn''t keep up with the younger ones, so I retired and started this bar with Letty."


    Letty then spoke up. "Rogelio, have you ever heard the story of the ancient kingdoms and how they were formed?"


    "No, can you tell me about it?" Rogelio asked, intrigued.


    Letty began the story:


    "A long time ago, the common people were oppressed by the first ancient kingdom in the west¡ªthe Fireland Kingdom. They conquered almost the entire continent of Zandora and enslaved all the commoners they captured. But then, a mage appeared. He took pity on the common people and created three rings. He gave these rings to three worthy individuals, each granting them the power to be more durable than any other human. The first ring was the Ring of Nature, said to give its holder the power to control anything on land. The second was the Ring of Solidity, which granted superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to fly. The third was the Ring of Thunder, which gave its holder the ability to control and produce lightning. With this power, the common people united and fought back against the Fireland Kingdom, successfully repelling them."


    "The Fireland Kingdom, on the brink of extinction, attempted to fight back by creating their own ring. The king of Fireland used the bodies of thousands of soldiers to create a pool of blood, into which he threw a ring, calling upon the darkness for power. The darkness answered, and the ring gained the ability to summon an aura of anger and hatred, making its holder more durable. With this new power, Fireland launched a counterattack, but with less force, forcing them to retreat and hide in the west."


    "After the war, the mage left, entrusting the three ring holders to keep the rings in case Fireland returned. The people thought peace had come, but the three kingdoms soon fought for leadership, leading to the Second War between them. The common people split into three groups, founding their own kingdoms. Thus, the four ancient kingdoms were born: Arcadia in the north, Valoria in the south, Lumira in the southeast, and Fireland in the west. Eventually, Fireland returned, stronger than ever, but the three kingdoms formed a truce to stop the war. Though they didn''t trust each other, the four kingdoms kept a wary peace."


    "Many people in each kingdom grew tired of the constant tension. These people united, regardless of their origins, to form their own organization in the center of Zandora. This became the Central Kingdom, Eclipsia, ready to fight Fireland''s army and maintain the peace we have now."


    "So, you''re saying this ring is capable of doing all that?" Rogelio asked.


    Jay nodded. "I don''t know for sure. But we''ve never heard of a fifth ring before. Where did you even get it?"


    Rogelio hesitated. "An old man who called himself the Sage of Time gave it to me. But I haven''t been able to use its power."


    Letty pondered, "Then I guess the ring still doesn''t think you''re worthy to use its power."


    Rogelio looked down at the ring, feeling a pang of sadness.


    Jay patted his shoulder. "Don''t worry, Rogelio. Since you were chosen, I''m sure the ring will recognize your worth one day. Just give it time."


    "Thanks, Jay," Rogelio replied. "So, only ring holders have magical abilities?"


    Letty nodded. "Originally, yes. But the descendants of the holders or the prince and princesses of each kingdom are rumored to inherit powers from their ancestors. For example, the Prince of Valoria is said to have superhuman durability and strength, while the Princess of Arcadia is rumored to have the ability to heal herself."


    Rogelio smiled and thanked Letty for answering his question.


    Jay added, "Just be careful. Don''t mention the ring to anyone. Others might try to steal it from you."


    Rogelio nodded in agreement. After hearing the story, he said goodnight and went to his room. Lying down, he stared at the ceiling and asked the ring, "What should I do to be worthy of you?"


    Just as he closed his eyes, he heard a familiar voice calling his name. Shocked, he opened his eyes and saw the Sage of Time standing before him.


    "Old man??" Rogelio blurted.

 To Be Stronger

    Rogelio was shocked after seeing the old man who was supposed to be dead.


    "How are you still alive? What happened to you?" Rogelio asked.


    "Well, I''m dead. I just appeared in your dream. The reason I can still talk to you is because of the will I left in the ring," the Sage replied.


    Rogelio tilted his head. "Will?"


    "Yes, but I don''t think that''s the question you want to ask," the Sage said with a knowing smile.


    Rogelio cleared his mind of other thoughts and asked the question, "What do I need to do to be worthy of the ring?"


    The Sage smiled. "The reason you can''t use the power of the ring isn''t because you''re not worthy¡ªit''s because you don''t know how to use it."


    Rogelio, puzzled, asked, "So, I''m already worthy? How? I don''t even know the sign that the ring accepts me."


    The Sage explained, "The moment you activated the ring, it was a sign that it had already accepted you. The ring won''t activate if its holder isn''t worthy."


    Rogelio replied with excitement, "So, how do I use its power?"


    "Ask the ring, and it will tell you," the Sage said. He then smiled and continued, "Rogelio, holder of the Ring of Time and¡­"


    Before he could finish, the Sage stopped and said, "Say the magic word."


    Rogelio was about to reply when someone suddenly woke him up. Opening his eyes, he saw Letty standing before him.


    "I thought you were supposed to go back to the Adventurers'' Guild. It''s almost noon," Letty said.


    "What?!?" Rogelio exclaimed, jumping out of bed. He glanced out the window and saw the sun shining high. Hurriedly, he got ready to leave, but before he could step out of the bar, Jay called to him.


    "Jay?" Rogelio asked.


    "Don''t take a quest today. Come back here before you do," Jay instructed.


    Rogelio smiled and nodded before rushing off to the guild.


    At the Guild


    Rogelio arrived exhausted at the front desk.


    "Oh, it''s you, newbie. Here''s your Adventurer Identification Card," Sara said. "From now on, you''re officially an adventurer of the guild with a rank of D. You can only take D-rank quests from the board."


    Rogelio happily received the card and went to the quest board.


    "There are a lot of D-rank quests here. Hunting a dire wolf in the deep forest sounds good, but¡­" Rogelio thought aloud.


    He decided to check with Sara and asked, "Sara, is there a quest that involves traveling?"


    "There''s none at the moment, but in a month, there will be one," Sara replied. "It''s a job guarding a merchant traveling to Valoria Kingdom. It requires five B-rank adventurers, three C-ranks, and two D-ranks."


    "Can I take that one?" Rogelio asked excitedly.


    "Sure, I''ll reserve it for you," Sara said with a smile.


    Rogelio left the guild and returned to the bar.


    At the Bar


    "So, you''re back. That was quick. How was it?" Jay asked.


    Rogelio grinned. "I got my Adventurer ID. I''m officially an adventurer now, but I didn''t take a quest today, just as you said."You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Follow me," Jay said, walking out the door.


    Rogelio followed Jay into the forest. Jay tossed a stick to him and said, "The life of an adventurer is always dangerous. To survive, you need to be strong and skilled. Now, let''s see what you''ve got!"


    Understanding the challenge, Rogelio took his stance and said, "Alright, here goes nothing."


    Rogelio''s Training and the Ring of Time


    Rogelio raised his stick and dashed toward Jay, swinging it from left to right with all his strength. Jay effortlessly stepped back, dodging the attack. "He''s fast," Rogelio thought, frustration mounting as his strike missed. Gritting his teeth, he dashed forward again, attempting a direct stab. This time, Jay grabbed the stick mid-thrust and said, "Your footwork is a mess, and your swordsmanship lacks precision. Your swings lack power, and you''re skipping the basics. There''s a lot to improve."


    Rogelio stepped back, catching his breath. "Let''s test your defense now. Try your best to block or dodge," Jay instructed, a sly grin on his face. He dashed forward, aiming a punch at Rogelio.


    "He''s too fast! I can''t dodge, and if I block with this stick, he''ll punch right through it," Rogelio thought, panic rising. Desperately, he closed his eyes and gripped his stick tighter, focusing deeply. He remembered the sage of time from his dream and pictured everything around him freezing in place.


    Jay paused, puzzled by Rogelio''s sudden stillness. Rogelio murmured, "Ring, I know you''re there. Give me your strength." As Jay''s punch neared Rogelio''s face, a whisper echoed in his ear. Rogelio''s eyes snapped open, and he uttered the magic words, "Time Walk."


    The world around him froze. Jay''s face, locked in a mid-punch expression of surprise, seemed comical. Rogelio smiled, stepping to the side, and released the ring''s power. Time resumed, and Jay''s fist met empty air.


    Jay staggered, stunned. "I assume that was the power of the ring?" he asked, impressed.


    Rogelio beamed. "Yes¡ª" But before he could finish, exhaustion overtook him, and he collapsed.


    Moments Later


    Rogelio woke up to Jay''s voice. "I guess using the ring''s power drained your energy. But that was impressive."


    Rogelio sat up, groggy. "So, should I call you ''teacher'' now?"


    Jay smirked. "You better."


    "Just so you know, Teacher," Rogelio added, "I have a quest coming up in a month. I''ll be traveling to Valoria."


    Jay''s expression turned serious. "Then we don''t have time to waste. I''m going to train you until your bones scream for mercy."


    Jay and Rogelio sat in a clearing in the forest. Jay began, "The first problem we''re addressing is you."


    "Me?" Rogelio asked, confused.


    "Yes. You have the strength of a B-rank adventurer and a durable body because you''re a Holder. But you don''t know how to use it. Or rather, you lack the will. Take earlier as an example. When I was about to punch you, you could have blocked it with your body or your fist. But you were too scared to face it head-on."


    Rogelio frowned. "So what do we do?"


    Jay''s grin returned. "I have just the solution." Moments later, Rogelio found himself doing push-ups with a massive stone strapped to his back.


    "Piece of advice," Jay said, watching him struggle. "Think of yourself as invincible. Your body will take care of the rest. Don''t be a baby. Face it like a rock."


    Surprisingly, Rogelio managed the push-ups. He followed them with squats, sit-ups, and other grueling exercises, all with the heavy stone. The sun dipped low as their training continued.


    Exhausted and gasping for breath, Rogelio asked, "What''s this rock supposed to teach me, Teacher?"


    Jay smirked. "Before we head back, I''ll roll this rock at you. Your job? Stop it head-on."


    Rogelio''s eyes widened. "That will kill me!"


    "No, it won''t. You just need the will to face it. Now, get ready."


    Jay rolled the rock. Rogelio braced himself, heart pounding. "I''m strong. I''m durable. I can do this!" he thought. Jay shouted, "Don''t close your eyes!"


    The rock hit Rogelio squarely, but to his astonishment, he stood firm. "Told you you''d be fine," Jay said with a smirk. "Now let''s head back."


    Back at the Bar


    At the bar, Rogelio groaned. "My body is killing me. I''m resting tomorrow."


    "You do that," Jay said. "Because tomorrow will be even tougher." Rogelio smirked as he trudged upstairs.


    Jay turned to Letty. "How''s the bar?"


    "Fine," Letty replied. "How''s the training?"


    Jay recounted the day''s events, including Rogelio''s use of the ring''s power.


    "Will he really be ready in a month?" Letty asked.


    "If he were a normal person, no. But he''s a Holder. Holders learn quickly and have innate talent," Jay reassured her. The two talked late into the night about Rogelio''s potential.


    The Next Day


    "What''s today''s training, Teacher?" Rogelio asked eagerly.


    Jay handed him a stick. "I want you to do a thousand slashes, a thousand stabs, and a thousand horizontal strikes."


    Rogelio grinned. "That''s easy."


    "Oh, I forgot to mention," Jay added with a devilish smile. "You''ll be wearing these." He handed Rogelio weighted gear.


    Rogelio''s grin faltered. "Great," he muttered, putting on the gear.


    Jay continued, "Tomorrow, you''ll repeat yesterday''s training, then continue sword practice. At night, I want you to meditate and use the ring''s power to extend the duration of your ability. This routine will continue every day for a month."


    Rogelio exhaled heavily but nodded with determination. "Yes, Teacher!"


    And so, Rogelio''s month of grueling, transformative training began.

 The Journey Begins

    After a month of grueling training, Rogelio emerged stronger, exuding an aura of confidence that made him seem like a completely new person.


    At the Bar


    Jay: "So, you only have five days before you leave?"


    Rogelio: "Yes. I only have a few things, so I don''t have much to prepare."


    Jay: "Since you''re free for a few days, how about testing out how your training worked out?"


    Jay tossed a sword to Rogelio, saying, "Here, I''ll give this to you as a present."


    Rogelio caught the sword and exclaimed, "Wow, this is cool! Thanks, teacher!"


    Jay smiled. "Glad you like it. That''s the sword I used when I was just an apprentice. Now, why don''t you go to the guild and hunt some wolves?"


    He added, "But only use your power when necessary or when your life is in danger. Don''t be a warrior who relies solely on power."


    Rogelio nodded, then excitedly made his way to the adventurers'' guild to get a quest for hunting wolves. He ventured into the foreign forest.


    In the Forest


    Rogelio: "So, I just need to kill five wolves and bring their fangs. I can also sell their meat. Nice! With this, I might be able to pay for my stay at the bar and have some money for my journey."


    Moments later, while wandering the forest, Rogelio encountered three wolves grinding their teeth, slowly surrounding him. He smiled, drew his silver sword, and took a defensive stance.


    The three wolves attacked simultaneously. Rogelio lowered his stance, focusing his strength on his feet, and dashed toward the wolf in front. Tightening his grip on his sword, he swung horizontally, slicing the wolf in half from its mouth.


    Seeing the dead wolf, the other two grew angrier and lunged at him. Rogelio stepped back to his left, dodging their attacks. He then take a back stance gripped his sword with his right hands and performed an upward slash, beheading one wolf. Using his momentum, he then lower his stance and dashed toward the remaining wolf and thrust his sword into its neck, killing it instantly.


    Rogelio, with a proud smile: "That was easy."


    He collected the wolves'' fangs and meat, then continued wandering deeper into the forest. This time, he encountered another group of wolves¡ªthree normal ones and a dire wolf, which was twice as large, fast, and powerful as the others.


    Unsheathing his sword, Rogelio remarked: "It usually takes three C-rank adventurers to take down a dire wolf, but¡­" He smirked. "I can kill it."


    The dire wolf charged at him, and Rogelio swung his sword horizontally. The dire wolf caught the blade in its jaws, immobilizing Rogelio. The other two wolves attacked from both sides.


    Releasing his left hand from the sword, Rogelio clenched his fist and delivered an uppercut to the dire wolf''s jaw, forcing it to release the sword. He quickly performed a downward slash, wounding the dire wolf''s eye, and stepped back to dodge the two wolves'' attacks.


    Rogelio, grinning: "Damn, that was fun!"


    He then lower his stance and dashed toward one wolf at his right and sliced it in half with a horizontal slash. The dire wolf charged at him headfirst. Rogelio raised his sword, gripping it tightly, and when the dire wolf was about to strike, he delivered a powerful vertical slash, splitting its head in two.


    The remaining wolf growled menacingly from a distance. Rogelio taunted it with a finger. "Come here."


    The wolf lunged at him, and Rogelio lowered his stance, stabbing the wolf through its throat.


    Rogelio: "That should be the last one. I bet this dire wolf will sell for a high price."


    He collected the fangs and meat, then headed back to the guild.


    At the Guild


    Sara: "Here''s your reward."


    Rogelio: "Thanks."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Sara: "Also, hunting a dire wolf alone? You''re stronger than most C-ranks."


    Rogelio joked: "So, will you promote me?"


    Sara replied: "Unfortunately, I can''t. You need to complete at least 50 hunting requests to rank up to C. Or rather, 49 more."


    Rogelio groaned: "That''s tiring. Is there a shortcut?"


    Sara: "Well, there is. If you hunt a monster equivalent to 49 quests, like a mega wolf, you could rank up directly."


    Rogelio thought to himself: "A mega wolf is three times stronger than a dire wolf. It would take someone at least B-rank to defeat one."


    Rogelio then asked: "So, how many quests do you need to rank up to B?"


    Sara replied: "To rank up to B, you don''t need to complete quests. You need to fight and defeat three B-rank adventurers. For A-rank, you need to unlock your sixth sense and defeat two A-rank adventurers. Finally, to reach S-rank, you must unlock your aura and defeat one S-rank adventurer or gain their acknowledgment."


    Rogelio smiled: "I guess I need to train much harder."


    He left the guild, thinking: "Since Jay is a former knight, he must know something about the sixth sense and aura. I should ask him."


    At the Meat Shop


    Before returning to the bar, Rogelio stopped at the meat shop to sell the wolves'' meat.


    Meat shop owner: "It''s still fresh! And you even have dire wolf meat. You didn''t steal this, did you?"


    Rogelio: "Do I look like a thief to you?"


    The meat shop owner laughed heartily. "I''m just joking, young man. Chill. My name''s Fred. Here''s your money. Come back anytime."


    Rogelio replied: "I''m Rogelio. And don''t worry, I''ll be back tomorrow."


    At the Bar


    Back at the bar, Rogelio asked Jay: "Teacher, do you know anything about the sixth sense and aura?"


    Jay explained: "The sixth sense heightens a person''s awareness, allowing them to sense people from afar. In battle, it lets you detect an enemy''s every little movement, making it possible to predict their next attack."


    "As for aura, it transforms a person into a superhuman. It manifests their will into power. A single slash from an aura user can kill a thousand warriors. It''s also said that aura users can defeat a Holder."


    Rogelio, curious: "You could kill a thousand warriors in one strike, teacher?"


    Jay nodded: "Yes, if I wanted to. If you''re curious about it, I can teach you aura when the time comes. For now, focus on building your strength and swordsmanship."


    Rogelio smiled and agreed. He returned to his room and began meditating.


    "I can now use Time Walk for five minutes before collapsing, but in battle, I can only maintain it for three minutes. I need to train more!"


    For the next four days, Rogelio continued hunting to gain experience.


    The Fifth Day


    At the bar, Letty said: "I guess this is goodbye, then."


    Rogelio joked: "Don''t cry. I''ll be back someday."


    Letty punched him on the shoulder. "Who said I''m crying?!"


    Rogelio laughed. "For a middle-aged woman, you have quite the punch."


    Jay interrupted, handing Rogelio a letter. "Here, give this to the knight''s office. Someone there will continue to train you to improve your swordsmanship since you only know the basics."


    Rogelio replied: "Thanks, teacher."


    He handed Jay some money for his stay, then left the bar with a smile.


    At the Adventurers'' Guild


    Sara: "Hey, Rogelio! You''re late."


    Rogelio joked: "Sorry, I overslept."


    Sara: "Whatever. Anyway, I''ll introduce you to your temporary party. Until you reach Valoria Kingdom, your mission is to protect a merchant."


    Sara introduced the party:


    Jacob: The leader, a B-rank adventurer who uses a sword and shield.Ralf and jen: Another B-rank swordsman.Dean: A B-rank archer.John: A B-rank dagger specialist.


    Sara: "They''re known as the Mist Party, a group of B-ranks with incredible attack power."


    Next, she introduced the C-rank adventurers:


    Ben, Ran, and Joseph: All swordsmen.


    Finally, she introduced Thea, a D-rank adventurer wearing a green robe that covered their face.


    Jacob: "We''re glad to have you join us, Rogelio. We''ve heard you''re quite strong for a D-rank."


    Rogelio smiled, thanking Jacob and shaking hands with everyone. They began preparing for their journey.


    On the Road


    While riding in the carriage, Rogelio asked: "So, which city or town will we stop at?"


    Ralf replied: "We were supposed to go to Garron City in Eclipsia before heading to Valoria Kingdom, but the merchant requested that we avoid towns and travel straight through the forest."


    Jen added: "You should prepare yourself. Without an A-rank, we don''t know what lies ahead."


    Jacob reassured him: "Jen''s just trying to scare you. Don''t worry¡ªwe''re an experienced party, and we''ll protect you if anything happens."


    Rogelio: "Then I''ll be in your care."


    Noticing Thea''s shy demeanor, Rogelio asked: "Are you new here too?"


    Thea replied coldly: "Yes."


    Feeling awkward, Rogelio decided to mind his own business.


    Nightfall


    The party decided to stop and camp near a large tree beside the road. As everyone got out of the carriage to set up camp, an arrow suddenly flew toward Jacob''s head.


    Jacob blocked it with his shield and shouted: "Enemies! Prepare yourselves!"


    Meanwhile, in Valoria Kingdom


    An apprentice knight approached a superior with a report:


    "Sir, the item has been located in a foreign land''s black market. It''s said to be carried by a merchant traveling here."


    The Valorian knight ordered: "Find them and bring that item to me before anyone else gets it!"

 The Journey Begins 2

    In the Forest at Night


    A group of bandits dashed out of the forest, heading straight for the party.


    "Jen, let''s intercept the enemy! Ralf, stay here with Dean and surround the carriage. Protect the merchant and the goods!" Jacob commanded.


    Then, turning to another, he added, "John, head into the forest and find the archer who shot at me. All C-rank and D-rank adventurers, follow Ralf''s orders! Now, let''s move!"


    Everyone shouted in unison, "Yes, sir!"


    Jacob and Jen charged at the bandits in front.


    Jacob, with brute force, bashed into the center of the bandits with his shield, while Jen stayed behind him, providing cover and slashing down enemies.


    Meanwhile, more bandits appeared at the back and left sides of the carriage.


    "Rogelio, defend the left side! Dean, support him. Thea, come with me! C-rank adventurers, protect the merchant!" Ralf ordered.


    Ralf and Thea then clashed with the bandits at the back. Ralf, swift and precise, cut through the enemies with ease, with Thea fighting beside him.


    Rogelio''s Fight


    Seeing the approaching bandits, Rogelio smiled. "Alright, let''s do this!" he said confidently.


    Lowering his stance, he dashed toward the oncoming enemies.


    Dean, stationed at the rear, fired arrows at the bandits, taking them down one by one.


    A bandit swung horizontally at Rogelio, but Rogelio intercepted the strike with all his strength, responding with a vertical slash that forced the bandit to step back.


    Wasting no time, Rogelio dashed forward and swung his sword horizontally, decapitating the bandit.


    Another bandit attacked from Rogelio''s left, aiming to stab him. Rogelio quickly deflected the thrust with a horizontal swing, redirecting the enemy''s blade, then countered with a swift thrust to the bandit''s chest, killing him.


    From a distance, a bandit archer took aim at Rogelio. Before the arrow could be released, John appeared, swiftly slashing the archer with his dagger.


    "I can''t let you do that," John said calmly.


    Jacob vs. the Vice Captain


    Back at Jacob''s side, he and Jen continued cutting down enemies. Suddenly, a robed bandit lunged at Jacob, attempting to stab him.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Jacob blocked the attack with his shield, then deflected the sword and performed a vertical slash. The robed bandit stepped back.


    "It''s the vice captain!" one of the bandits shouted.


    Jacob turned to Jen. "I''ll handle this one. Defend me from any interference!"


    Jen nodded and took up a defensive stance.


    Jacob charged at the vice captain with his shield. The vice captain swung his sword horizontally, striking the shield then stepping back to his left to reposition. He lunged again, aiming a thrust at Jacob''s side.


    Jacob redirected the thrust with his sword and bashed the vice captain in the face with his shield, sending him flying backward into a tree. Jacob advanced, attempting a thrust, but the vice captain dodged, causing Jacob''s sword to embed in the tree.


    Thinking Jacob''s sword was stuck, the vice captain moved to stab him. But Jacob tightened his grip, swing his sword with all his might, and performed a horizontal slash, cutting through the tree and the vice captain''s neck in one motion. The surrounding bandits stared in shock.


    Rogelio vs. the Bandit Leader


    While Rogelio fought off bandits, a leader wielding a greatsword appeared, releasing a powerful horizontal slash. Rogelio raised his sword to defend, but the strike was so strong it pushed him back.


    Dean, noticing the leader''s strength, shouted, "Rogelio, that''s their leader! Retreat! Let me handle him!"


    Rogelio, determined, replied, "I''ll face him. Support me, Dean!"


    The bandit leader sneered. "You? A pipsqueak like you will face me? Hah!"


    Smirking, Rogelio lowered his stance and dashed forward, thrusting his sword. Dean fired arrows at other bandits to prevent interference.


    The leader blocked Rogelio''s thrust with his greatsword, laughing. "You''ve got some strength, little mouse!"


    "Thanks, ogre," Rogelio retorted.


    "Who are you calling an ogre?!" the leader roared, swinging his greatsword vertically. Rogelio blocked the strike, holding his ground as cracks formed beneath his feet.


    Dean, impressed, exclaimed, "Damn!"


    Rogelio gritted his teeth. "All that training paid off," he muttered, pushing the greatsword back.


    The bandit leader lunged forward with another thrust, but Rogelio redirected it with his sword. Gathering all his strength, Rogelio dashed and performed a horizontal slash aiming at the head , leader who got caught off guard use his left hand to block the horizontal slash cutting the leader''s left arm.


    "Damn you!" the leader shouted, swinging his greatsword one-handed in a desperate vertical strike. Rogelio dodged to the side, letting the blade crash into the ground, then dashed in and slashed horizontally, slicing the leader''s head.


    Seeing their leader fall, the remaining bandits shouted, "Retreat!" and fled.


    The party regrouped, relieved but wary of another attack.


    Jacob praised, "Good job, Rogelio. I knew you had it in you."


    Dean added, "Blocking that attack? That was incredible!"


    In Heist City, Lumira Kingdom


    An agent reported to his duke.


    "Sir, scouts report a fight between bandits and adventurers protecting a merchant caravan in the forest near us."


    The duke heist stroked his chin. "Taking that route¡­ they must be hiding something. It must be the item rumored to have been purchased from the foreign black market."


    He turned to another agent. "Razel, take some men and intercept them. Do not let that item reach Valoria."


    Razel, an A-rank agent, smirked. "Yes, sir!"