When morning came and Olaf arrived by the forge, he was greeted by Samael's sleeping figure sitting beside the blast pit, layers of bandage covering his arms.

Approaching the man, Olaf kneeled as he checked the boy's arms only to realise something.

"Did he keep forging last night?" Olaf whispered as he shook his head. How can someone have so much willpower to endure the burn and the fatigue?

Rising up, Samael's eyelids began to quiver as he woke up from his sleep. Seeing Olaf, Samael rose up.

"Sir," Samael said. In return, Olaf nodded.

"You disobeyed my order and kept forging," Olaf said as he did a round of maintenance around the forge.

Samael fell silent for a moment. "...Yes."

Olaf shot a glance at the boy before he sighed. He did not know whether it was impatience that's fuelling him or just pure dedication to learn.

Looking at the boiling forge, Olaf lowered his gaze. When was the last time he was uncertain?

"Am I to be punished?" Samael asked.

Olaf tapped his finger over the steel platings of the furnace. "No," he muttered.

"What?" Samael asked, brows furrowed.

"Since it's come to this, then I suppose we can... turn it up a notch... I believe that's what you humans say," Olaf said as he began to rummage at a large storage box.

"And that means...?" Samael asked.

"That means no, I won't punish you... in the way you humans believe, I suppose," Olaf said.

"Can you be clear?" Samael asked.

"What I'm trying to communicate is that since you're so eager to learn, I'm going to put you through hell and back to grant you your wish," Olaf said as he took Samael's arm as he dragged him towards a metal table.

Seeing his indifference towards the pain, Olaf internally nodded.

Putting his arm straight in the table, Olaf could see the severe burns left by the heat of the furnace. Just how long had he been exposing himself?

Without saying anything, Olaf pointed a device in the boy's hand as he injected something straight into his flesh.

Samael's forehead creased. "What's this for?"

A cool sensation began to spread from the injection point outward, easing the pain and almost snuffing it out.

"This is a device I made infused with the power of a remnant. The device injects the power of the artefact, which can balance out the heat in your body, allowing you to last longer and be safer in the forge," Olaf explained. "From today onwards, you will arrive here at 4 in the morning to begin your training."

"Are we training today?" Samael asked.

"No, your arm is too battered to even lift a hammer; you'll only worsen your condition," Olaf said.

"But I can still wield a hammer," Samael said.

"No," Olaf said. "For now, heal. I won't take no for an answer. A healthy body is the treasure of an adventurer and a smith."

Left with no choice, Samael simply nodded as he left. Unsure of his next destination, he simply wandered around, considering Mendez's training is still some time away.

Walking blindly, he passed by multiple areas of the fortress. The cafeteria, multiple other forges, some weapon storage, and even a library. However, in the end he ended up standing atop the majestic wall of the sanctuary, looking over the horizon where the sun was currently rising.

The world was beautiful; if it weren't for the monsters roaming everywhere, he most likely would have been an explorer. Yes, he dreamt of becoming one before. But that's long past now.

"Why so melancholic?" A voice asked.

"Mendez," Samael muttered as he looked right.

The man sat by the edge, his feet dangling and swinging without fear, even though one wrong move was all it took for him to plummet dozens of feet down.

"Sup, boy," Mendez said as he took a bite from an apple. "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing, exploring, I suppose," Samael said.

"Nothing to explore in this shitty place," Mendez said. "There's nothing but steel here, and goodness, is it fucking hot?"

"What bought you here?" Samael asked in return.

"I got curious and followed you," Mendez answered.

"That's creepy," Samael said.

"Ironic, considering we live in a world where monsters can be found even in the toilet," Mendez said as his face became sour.

"Well, I guess your curiosity has already been satiated if you've shown yourself," Samael said.

"You read me like a book," Mendez said as he chuckled. "Well, although there's still some time before our scheduled training, but I'm bored anyway, let's go and get some heat in."

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A sigh escaped Samuel's lips. "Alright."

Following the man, they arrived at the training grounds as Mendez set it to appear like a coliseum.

"Alright, I already said what I'm going to teach you, so we begin with the eyes," Mendez said.

"How?" Samael asked. What Mendez is suggesting is honestly a little confusing, even for Samael. See weak points? Isn't that the culmination of a person's combat knowledge since it is already taught that places such as joints or eyes are naturally weaker?

"Nope," Mendez said as Samuel's brows furrowed. "Right now you must be thinking that a person's weakness is based on experience, yada yada, but no!"

"This ability, which I call sentry's eyes, isn't based on experience," Mendez said. "This skill is rather the culmination of being able to read, interpret, understand, and utilise information we gather using our vision."

"So how?" Samael asked.

"Well, first we observe," Mendez said. "Attack me."

Samael nodded as he charged at Mendez, unsheathing Crimson Raven as he drew a vertical line.

Mendez simply dodged without doing anything different.

"Do I keep... attacking...?" Samael asked.

"Nope, I'm going to explain now," Mendez said.

"When you attacked, I discerned the movements you made. From the way you drew your blade to the twitch of your muscles as you took position," Mendez said as he mimicked Samael's movements. "Observe."

Doing as Samael did but slower, Mendez carefully showed and pointed at every little move. From the beginning as he drew his weapon to how his muscle fibres twitched. He also pointed out his form and even his breathing.

"Sentry's eyes is basically the most masterful way of observation that I made. With all this information I gather, I am able to pinpoint weaknesses in your body," Mendez said. "To elaborate further, from the moment you sheathed your weapon, I already saw that the path your hand took and your faulty use of your explosive strength greatly slowed your drawing time."

Approaching Samael, Mendez tapped a few parts of his body. "With that slow upstart, I'm fairly confident I could've struck your elbow, your liver, and even incapacitated you by injuring your leg since you put too much weight on it."

Samuel's brows rose. Did he get that much information in such a short time?

"Bingo! That's Sentry's eyes!" Mendez said.

"Are you reading my mind?" Samael asked.

"Nope, I'm just good at guessing," Mendez said. "But I reckon you understand the premise?"

"Yes," Samael said. "But the process, how?"

"Well, we must first train your eyes to withstand the strain I'm about to put on them so that you don't go blind," Mendez said.

"Then?" Samael asked.

"Then we go and train your eye tracking speed, which in turn will also impact how much information you can procure at once," Mendez said.

"Then...?" Samael asked again.

"Then the last part, which is to utilise your essence to create a kind of glasses to enhance your vision," Mendez followed.

"Create a lens. Why not infuse your eyes?" Samael asked.

"Well, I've theorised it before, but it's too dangerous. I tried once, and my results were... bad," Mendez said. "Our eyes are too weak to handle the energy, and even if they can withstand it, you would need to monitor, control delicately, and a bunch of other shit just to make sure the essence won't fry your brain."

"I see," Samael said. Is it possible, Codex?

Yes, upon calculations, it is indeed possible to do such a feat, but as Mendez suggests, it is too difficult and time-consuming to be done in combat, but...

But?

The Void is watchful. One of its domains is absolute dominion of the eyes and visions. As such, the Void is highly tailored for such abilities, and this in turn allows for the possibility of the host creating an ability that is incomparably stronger than sentry's eyes.

I won't question how. But lead me like always.

Understood.

"Let's not waste time," Samael said.

"Hoho! Look at Mr. Strong pants over here," Mendez said. "If you're that eager, then let's get this entire thing on the road!"

"Now open your eyes."

***

"Arghhh!" Samael hissed as he held his head, his eyes riddled with red throbbing nerves.

"That's the nasty part," Mendez said as he sucked his teeth. "But I'm surprised. You lasted quite a long time, like a really long time."

Samael took a couple of deep breaths as he looked at his reflection in the steel floor.

The training to increase the strength of his eyes was quite simple. All he needed to do was withstand Mendez injecting his essence into his eyes as it began to destroy him.

Fortunately, due to his innate talent in ocular abilities, Samael had quite the strong resistance leading to Mendez jumping straight at the higher stages, which could not only blind Mundane people but even kill them, something he himself took years to arrive at.

"Man, I'm so jealous," Mendez said.

They have done it roughly three times already. According to the man, this should be his limit for now since he might really get blinded.

"Anyways, good job, and uh, don't look for me; I'll find you myself," Mendez said before his figure turned to a blur.

Samael sighed as he leaned back, his eyes throbbing in pain. It was as if the ache was burrowing deep in his eye sockets.

But he didn't feel satisfied. He knew he could probably do more.

Codex, can you replicate Mendez's teachings?

The codex went silent for a while before answering.

Upon calculations and inspections, it is possible to try and configure Mendez's teachings. After some refinement and virtual testing, I was able to procure a similar but better method.

Elaborate.

This method was created through the use of the Codex's access to the body of the host, which will allow me to alter and configure some of your body functions. Pair it with the use of higher purity Void matter, and we are able to achieve the same effects.

I will alter your sensitivity to pain and increase it's sensitivity to maximise the effects. With the use of void matter, we are able to regulate the damage done, but only if the user stays awake.

Does that mean you can numb the pain when I fight? Samael asked.

Yes, it is possible if you allow me access.

Do you even really need to ask? But don't numb the pain. Pain is an old friend.

Very well, commencing project "Void bearer's eyes."

Then the pain came.