Titan had always been a rather large man. Many long years of manual labour had built him a big and strong frame, but he was now getting on in years. Not old enough to suddenly fall over and die, but old enough to be retired and have a lot of free time. Even his social obligations had been reduced drastically over the last one and a half year.

Spending more time with loved ones in Battleheart than reality was more common than it should be.

His children and grandchildren were worried about him when he first started playing. Things like 'It's too much for your heart.' and 'You should spend these years relaxing.'

It didn't matter. Titan did what he wanted. He always had.

He proved them all wrong. His performance was exceptional. Even thought he had started 3 months later than many others, he quickly caught up with top players.

Being in the top 100 out of the hundreds of millions or maybe billions of players was a giant achievement.

But his rank did not reflect his true power. His combat ability was without a doubt in the top 20. Even thought he was a godly player, few had seen him fight, which left him relatively unknown. But for those who had seen him in action, 'God of War' was a common nickname.

Starting late and being in a mediocre guild held him back, but it was all of his own violation. He didn't play Battleheart to be the best, he simply did it because it was enjoyable. It also allowed him to spend more time with his children and grandchildren who also played the game. Even his guild 'Blazing Glory' consisted solely of his family members.

He was currently on his way to a guild meeting in 'Pinewood Forest''. He held guild meetings in low-level zones because several of his family members were rather low level and he was worried they might get hurt in a higher level zone.

Walking along a stretch of grassland where slimes were roaming freely, he could see a figure in the distance. It was hard to make out at first, but the person seemed to have a mad grin as he looked at the slimes. It seemed like he was preparing to fight, but he was completely unarmed and even had holes in his beginner clothes.

'Doesn't he know? He'll get hurt.'

Titan's good nature wouldn't allow him to watch a beginner fight bare-handed against the acidic slimes. The young man didn't even have any armor.

He had to tell him. Now being close enough to be heard, he spoke.

"You'll get hurt, newbie."

He wasn't completely sure what newbie meant, but he had heard other people call beginners, newbies. He figured it was common slang among younger people and decided to use it to put the much younger Rust at ease.

"W-what?"

Titan saw the obvious confusion in the young man's eyes.

Of course, a beginner wouldn't know. He forgot the fact and explained. "The slimes are acidic."

"Huh?" The young man seemed even more confused.

What was going on? Didn't the man named Rust understand what he was saying?

"What do you mean 'huh'? Is the translator messing up?" He realized he might have sounded a little harsh, but a bug messing up the game when he was trying to help was annoying.

No, that couldn't be it. He had never even heard of there being a bug in Battleheart. It was one of the points which TechWave prided themselves in. He also saw Rust starting to nervously sweat.

'Maybe...'

"Are you perhaps?... I apologize. I didn't realize."

He was a fool. He hoped he didn't make the young man feel bad about his disability.

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"I-I'm sorry, but-" The young man tried speaking.

Titan lifted his arm. He wouldn't let this Rust person suffer anymore because of his ignorance. He understood.

'He's deaf.'

If Rust heard this he might have truly passed out. Titan's conclusion made little sense. This was a game and your ears weren't even real to start with. Hadn't Rust also turned his head when Titan had spoken?

All of those points seemed to be completely ignored as Titan tried to convey his words by moving and gesturing.

After living for as long as Titan had, embarrassment hardly had any effect on him anymore. He gave no extra thought to what his strange 'dance' might look like to onlookers.

But in the end, the person named Rust didn't seem to understand. He even seemed a bit scared.

'I'll show by example.'

Titan pulled the axe from behind his back.

He couldn't help but admire it slightly. It was one of his most prized possessions. Only through one of the hardest fights in his life had it been obtained.

'Gol't, The Guardian' was the protector of a high-level dungeon he found by accident. The creature was a human-sized stone golem with incredibly high strength and defense. On each side, it wielded large weapons. A 2-handed serrated blade on it's right and the axe he was currently holding on it's left.

He had 3 bouts with 'Gol't'. The first had ended in a defeat caused by a surprise attack when Titan had first stumbled upon the dungeon.

The second ended in what could almost be called a draw.

Gol't was down for the count and all he needed was one last swing to finish him off. Unfortunately, Gol't's serrated blade had applied bleeding every time he got hit. In the end, it was the blood loss that fell Titan.

The third was a landslide victory. Titan was barely touched at all.

No one would have ever known if Titan continued living a normal life in the modern world, but he was a genius. A genius at battle. The speed at which he absorbed, adapted, and acted would make people yell 'Unfair!' and go green in the face.

The person himself, however, didn't even realize what he was. Was it willful ignorance? Or maybe he simply didn't care.

Upon death, Gol't had dropped the axe.

[Guardian Axe ☆☆☆☆]

Durability: 481/500

Attack Power: 988

Defense: 337

* The skill 'Protective Cleave' is added to your skill list.

* 'Guardian Axe' can function as a shield

The axe wielded by Gol't, The Guardian. It's large size and shape allows it to be used as a shield if the need arises.

User Requirement: Level 260 or higher. Intermediate Axe Mastery ☆☆☆☆ or higher. 1500 Strength or higher. 1000 Vitality or higher.

[Guardian Shield ☆☆☆☆]

Durability: 481/500

Attack Power: 337

Defense: 988

Block: 25%

* The skill 'Shielded Charge' is added to your skill list.

* 'Guardian Shield' can function as an axe.

The shield wielded by Gol't, The Guardian. An unconventional form to be sure, but it's sharp edges and shaft allows it to be used as an axe if the need arises.

User Requirement: Level 260 or higher. Intermediate Shield Mastery ☆☆☆☆ or higher. 1500 Vitality or higher. 1000 Strength or higher.

While Titan was lost in memories he carelessly swung his axe at the slime.

['Force of Destruction' has been activated.]

[Your attack power has been doubled for 2 seconds.]

[You have dealt 6,284 damage.]

[Due to your damage exceeding the target's health by 10,000%, 'Green Slime' has been pulverized.]

[You have defeated 'Green Slime']

[Due to a level difference of 200 or more, no exp or items have been dropped.]

Titan was a little shocked. 'Force of Destruction' activating was a complete mishap. It was a passive skill which had a very small chance of activating when he attacked. Because of that, the little slime had completely disappeared.

'It shouldn't matter'

Titan was only giving an example. What happened to the slime shouldn't get in the way of that. He was only trying to show that attacking with a weapon would leave you unharmed.

Next, he would show what happened if you fought them bare-handed. After removing his gauntlet he placed his hand carefully on the slime.

He made sure to do it slowly with no sudden movements. If the slime thought he was attacking it, it would fight back and he would have to kill it. Titan wanted to avoid that. Destroying more of the young man's exp would be improper.

Through his high defense and several passive skills, the pain was nearly unnoticeable. The skin of the slime felt a little prickly was all.

He glanced at the young man he was doing all this for.

'Good. He's watching.'

Titan felt satisfied as he equipped his gauntlet. Even a child should understand by now.

[Mistystep: Hey dad, when are you arriving? We're all here already.]

Mistystep was his 3rd youngest daughter, and also part of his guild.

He was unsure of how to convey he was done and had to leave for a guild meeting, so he simply used what he thought to be universal gestures and gave the young man a thumbs up and waved.

'What a strange experience.'

Things like these were the reason he wanted to play the game to start with. Being able to experience new things even at his advanced age brought him great joy.

'She'll be mad if I don't respond.'

[Titan: Soon. I had an encounter.]

[Mistystep: How many? Who sent them this time?]

Titan's willful nature and often strange conclusions had led to more than one disaster. He had several enemies in this world who sometimes sent PKers and assassins to target his life.

Naturally, none had succeeded so far.

[Titan: Not that kind. I'll tell you about it when I get there.]

If Rust knew this was only the first, and most reasonable, of many encounters, he would have cried tears of blood.