Arthur woke to the soft rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds. A soft golden light hovered in front of him, forming a letter that unfurled midair.
"Arthur," it read, in the same amused tone he had come to associate with ROB,
"Since you've been training without a Falna, your stats are already unusually high for a mortal, but your level is still technically one. I am granting you my blessing for three years. After that, you will need to find a god in Orario to take you under their care. Make use of this time wisely, and try not to destroy anything overly significant. — R.O.B."
Arthur blinked.
"Three years… a blessing from ROB? Hah, it's almost unfair… but I'll take it."
A rush of warm energy coursed through his veins. Every muscle, every tendon, every nerve was attuned for growth. He flexed his fingers, feeling the familiar hum of the spear from Gate of Babylon.
[Blessing of the Wanderer – Activated. Duration: 3 Years. Stat amplification: 250% growth rate. Skill proficiency accelerated.]
Arthur grinned.
"Looks like training just became a lot more… fun."
Year 1 – Testing the Limits
Arthur's first year was spent in the wild, exploring forests, mountains, and rivers. He experimented with the combination of his abilities:
[Great Sage] allowed him to analyze patterns of monsters, anticipate their attacks, and optimize his combat style. Dragon Slayer Magic amplified his mana control and elemental adaptability, allowing him to fight multiple creatures at once. Predator enabled him to track enemies, sense their weaknesses, and, when necessary, absorb skills and knowledge.
He faced dangerous monsters daily — wolves, giant serpents, and rogue elemental spirits. Though he refrained from excessive violence, any creatures that preyed on innocents met the sharp end of his spear, and his Demon Lord Seed slowly accumulated souls.
Halfway through the year, he encountered Takemikazuchi, traveling through the mountains. The god's presence radiated calm yet undeniable authority.
"Your weapon… extraordinary. Its power is unlike anything I have seen before."
Arthur nodded, smiling politely.
"Just a relic I came across. I've been practicing a lot to master it."
Takemikazuchi tilted his head, sensing the divine aura of True Longinus, yet he said no more. Arthur carefully kept his knowledge of the world to himself.
The encounter left Arthur both wary and exhilarated. He realized there were beings in this world far stronger than ordinary adventurers, and that Orario would be nothing short of a battlefield of gods and mortals.
Year 2 – Friends in the South
Arthur's travels took him south into the sun-scorched deserts, where he met the young Amazonian twins, Tiona and Tione Hiryute. Full of energy, spunk, and youthful determination, they reminded him of sisters he never had.
He trained with them, teaching them sparring techniques while quietly refining his own skills. Arthur laughed more in those weeks than he had in years.
"Your spear technique is incredible!" Tione exclaimed.
"You really are patient… I can't keep up!" Tiona added.
Arthur smiled, ruffling their hair.
"Keep pushing yourselves. One day, you'll be the ones everyone comes to watch fight."
They bonded over shared sparring sessions, survival exercises, and long nights under the stars. Arthur carefully phrased his advice and knowledge as things he had "seen in his travels" — never revealing he already knew the world's history or its future.
By the end of the year, the twins had improved tremendously, and Arthur felt a twinge of fondness and protectiveness.
"Little sisters, huh… I guess that's what this feels like," he murmured as he walked away, spear in hand.
Year 3 – Mastery, Power, and Morality
The final year of ROB's blessing was the most intense. Arthur pushed his body and mind beyond limits.
[Great Sage] unlocked dozens of new combat skills, analytical tools, and strategic options. Dragon Slayer Magic reached full capacity, increasing his mana pool and elemental versatility. Predator evolved further, giving him near-perfect perception of enemy capabilities. True Longinus, the spear he had wished for, was fully mastered; he knew every detail of its legendary power, from piercing divine beings to cutting through nearly any material. Demon Lord Seed approached a hundred souls, mostly taken from bandits, murderers, and monsters threatening innocent lives.
Arthur's training also tested his morality. He fought not just for growth, but for justice. Every battle hardened his judgment and honed his instincts.
Time passed differently for him — though he trained and lived three full years, his body remained the same, still fifteen, while his mind and abilities far exceeded his apparent age.
By the final day, Arthur stood atop a cliff overlooking a valley he had traveled. He balanced True Longinus in his hands, the wind catching his cloak.
"Three years… I've trained, explored, fought, and made friends. Tiona and Tione, Takemikazuchi… so many experiences. Time to see what Orario has become."
The blessing faded from his body, leaving behind the growth and mastery it had imparted. He adjusted his pack and spear, taking one last deep breath of the wilderness air.
"No Falna, no god… yet. But that's about to change. Orario awaits, and I'm ready."
Arthur descended toward the city, a fifteen-year-old boy with the strength of a legend, a spear in hand, and secrets he would never reveal. The story of his next life — a life in Orario — was about to begin.