Chapter 45 | I, the Ogre

Ogre's calmness made Raging Bear feel a sense of crisis.

Failing to win the match even after three consecutive strikes meant—he really might lose!

‘It feels great to have my body keep up with my vision.’

Aside from the time he unleashed the Heartbeat Drum, this was the first time Ogre felt his body keep up with his vision.

The stimulation of the lightning body tempering also made Ogre's physical reactions more than a level faster.

The dodging before was purely his body's spontaneous instinct.

Ever since he ate the Electric Eel and his body underwent changes, Ogre had possessed a certain ability.

When another living creature stepped within half a meter of him, Ogre's body would instinctively sense its existence—whether it was behind him or a tiny firefly.

This perception was very faint at first, so faint that Ogre thought it was an illusion. However, as the electricity his body could release grew stronger, this perception became increasingly clear.

He vaguely sensed that this ability seemed related to electricity.

The dodging just now was Ogre's practical development of this ability.

“What are you doing?!” Raging Bear couldn't help but ask in astonishment as he watched Ogre's actions.

Not only was Raging Bear surprised, but even the spectators outside the arena widened their eyes.

Because Ogre had tossed his weapon aside, planting it into the ground.

This was equivalent to him giving up his weapon.

“A long weapon against knuckle dusters isn't fair. My weapon is much better than yours, and I'm worried I might accidentally kill you.”

Ogre spread his stance and took up a boxing posture.

It wasn't that Ogre was so arrogant that he felt he could win without a weapon.

Rather, he was worried he wouldn't be able to control his state of mind.

If he kept fighting with the spear, he would kill Raging Bear.

He didn't want to completely burn bridges with the arena just yet.

Although the probing just now had given Ogre the confidence to retreat in one piece.

The filter of immense power surrounding Professionals had also dissolved into air during those two brief exchanges.

“This is an arena match, not a life-and-death duel. My weapon will only be swung at my true enemies and those who are capable of killing me,” Ogre explained.

This was also why Ogre had always used a staff when he was in the Apprentice-level arena.

As long as there was no danger to his life, Ogre would not use methods meant for life-and-death duels in the arena.

When he first entered the arena, Ogre did not have that kind of assurance and confidence, which was why he had brought his spear.

But now, he only wanted to experience the true strength of a Professional Martial Artist to verify his own progress.

“What an arrogant guy. I really want to see what kind of face is under that mask of yours.” Having received an answer, Raging Bear did not attack immediately.

Instead, imitating Ogre, he took off the pair of knuckle dusters from his hands and threw them to the ground.

The sound of the knuckle dusters hitting the ground was extremely heavy, smashing a deep pit into the arena floor—this pair of weapons was clearly not as simple as they looked on the surface.

“Then let's do it this way!”

Raging Bear slid into a lunge, arms level and straight, taking up a boxing stance as well. His body still bore the shallow cuts sliced by Ogre's spear.

Raging Bear had indeed wanted to end this quickly earlier, but he hadn't degenerated to the point of bullying an unarmed opponent.

Ogre's words just now had also touched a nerve in Raging Bear—making him recall his original intention when practicing martial arts.

“Then I won't take advantage of you either.”

Unlike Lange's previous reckless style of attack, Raging Bear, having failed in his opening moves, had already prepared to change his strategy when he realized his speed was inferior to Ogre's.

‘Does he want to conserve his strength? Using defense as offense?’ Ogre saw through Raging Bear's thoughts, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly behind his mask.

“Then let's go!”

As Ogre's words fell, the second round of weaponless combat commenced.

This time, Ogre was the first to attack.

A straight jab!

Simple attacks, no matter how fast, were extremely easy to defend against. Vital energy and blood surged beneath Raging Bear's skin as he guarded his vital areas, taking Ogre's punch head-on without dodging.

‘A bit tough... As expected, trying to defeat an opponent relying purely on physical constitution is indeed quite difficult.’

Without a weapon, Ogre really lacked the edge to injure an enemy of a higher tier.

The spear Folke had given him was no ordinary item. When Ogre defeated the goblin Professional previously, the spear's armor-breaking capability accounted for thirty percent of the credit.

“Hahaha, kid, your punches lack power!” Feeling the damage from Ogre's strikes, the anxiety that had been lingering in Raging Bear's heart completely vanished.

He had really been bluffed by Ogre just now.

Seeing that Ogre couldn't even break his defense without a weapon, Raging Bear moved with confidence. His counterattack was an overhead hammer fist aiming straight at Ogre's face.

Ogre's body reacted in advance. Abandoning his attack, he dodged to the side, evading Raging Bear's fist.

The subsequent combination of punches was also evaded by Ogre one after another.

‘My body's instinct is ruling me... I need a hearty, thrilling battle to master this instinct.’

Having a self-dodging instinct after his body's mutation was undoubtedly a good thing in the eyes of others.

But Ogre did not think so; he felt that if he did not master this instinct now, he would suffer because of it sooner or later.

This was also one of the reasons he gave up his weapon and chose fist-to-fist combat.

“So agile. It looks like I have to use that move.” Missing several punches in a row, Raging Bear also realized he had to show some of his real capabilities.

“Take this!” Raging Bear bellowed, unleashing a combat technique that resembled a pouncing bear!

A soundwave bolstered by vital energy and blood erupted from his roar first. If an ordinary person were to take such a roar at close range, they would bleed from their seven facial orifices.

Ogre was naturally affected as well, but his powerful constitution ensured the impact was minimal.

...

“This Apprentice is going to lose...”

The same thought occurred simultaneously to the Professionals spectating from the stands.

Raging Bear's roaring strike and his pouncing posture were clearly a combination technique.

Affected at such close range, it was likely impossible for Ogre to escape unscathed.

However, a breath later, the scene most Professionals had envisioned did not happen.

“By Truth! How is that possible?!”

Because in this clash, the one sent flying was Raging Bear!

“How... how did you see through it?!” Kicked away, Raging Bear clutched his chest and scrambled to his feet.

“When a wild beast attacks, it is often also when they are most vulnerable. Although I can't see how your vital energy and blood are flowing, I know where you are weakest.”

Ogre stepped forward, unhurriedly closing in on Raging Bear.

‘Great... I controlled my body.’ This was the only thought in Ogre's mind at this moment.

He had successfully suppressed his body's automatic impulses.

“Then, my apologies!”

During the brief pause in Ogre's reply, Raging Bear suddenly lunged, lowering his stance and charging straight at Ogre in an attempt to end the fight with a grapple.