Kael trudged home with the weight of the guild's rejection hovering over him like a storm cloud. The streets were dark and empty, quite in contrast to the chaos raging within his mind. He replayed the scene at the guild over and over, each word from the Guild Leader cutting deeper than the last.
"Coward."
"Worthless."
"You abandoned them."
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists at his sides. Anger was building inside him, and he could let it all come out. What else was I supposed to do? I really didn't have a choice!
Kael arrived at the small, forsaken apartment he called home. It was a simple place, hardly enough for anyone, but it was all he could afford as an E-Rank hunter. He threw open the door, the wood creaking on its hinges, and stepped inside. The silence of the room enveloped him, suffocating and heavy.
He flopped down on the old, beat-up couch, his head in his hands. It was like sadness and anger were wrestling inside him, and for the first time in ages, Kael actually let himself experience it all. The embarrassment. The feeling of being powerless. The heavy burden of feeling like a nobody.
"Is this really it?" he said quietly. "Is this all my life is ever gonna be?"
As the minutes dragged on, Kael couldn't help but think back to that dungeon. To the light. To the voice. To that rush of power he'd felt in that moment. He flexed his fingers, recalling how the blade felt in his hand. He couldn't quite put it into words, but it had felt. right.
Just when his thoughts started to go off the rails, a voice broke the silence.
"Kael Eryndor."
Kael jumped up, his heart racing. That voice? Totally not his. It was deep and had this heavy, old vibe that gave him goosebumps.
"W-who's there?" he fumbled, looking around the room like a scared cat. But nope, no one was there. Just the soft, golden glow of the moonlight sneaking in through the window.
"You've inherited my power."
Kael's breath caught in his throat. That voice wasn't coming from outside; it was all up in his head.
"Who are you?" Kael asked, his voice shaky. "What do you want from me?"
"I am Erythral," the voice replied, calm and commanding. "An existence long forgotten by this world. My name and power have been erased from history, but not entirely. And now, it's yours."
Kael's mind raced, the weight of the words crashing down on him. "What do you mean. mine? Why me?"
Erythral took a second before saying anything else. "You're the only one who can handle it now. The rifts, the monsters, all this madness—it's just the start. Some people might feel my power in you. Don't trust anyone. Right now, just think about surviving. Get tougher. And when the moment hits…"
The voice stopped, getting all serious.
"Get your revenge."
A chill crept down Kael's spine as the voice receded into the silence of his apartment. Erythral, a name that rang through his head like a dirge, was a weight, dark and foreboding.
Kael settled back on the couch, panting. He didn't have time to even start thinking about what just happened before a glowing blue panel materialized before him, suspended in mid-air.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Kael's eyes widened as he gazed at the display. It was like the hunter status screens he had seen before, but this one was different. The layout was sleek, the glow sharper, and the information it displayed left him stunned.
[NAME: KAEL ERYNDOR]
[LEVEL: 10]
[TITLE: The First Successor]
[STATS]
Strength: 45
Agility: 38
Stamina: 42
Mana: 50
Luck:???
Kael blinked. His stats were totally wild—nothing like he'd ever seen before. Back when he was just an E-Rank hunter, his numbers barely hit single digits. But now. man, they were on a whole different level.
"What the hell is this?" he whispered, reaching out to touch the glowing panel. It felt solid under his fingers, like cold glass or something. Then the system chimed again.
[NEW SKILLS ACQUIRED]
Predatory Instinct: Enhances senses, allowing for the detection of hidden enemies and weak points.
Crimson Veil: Reduces damage taken and amplifies damage dealt during near-death situations.
Reclamation: Absorb a portion of defeated enemies' power and skills.
Kael's mouth fell open. "I. I got their skills?" He thought back to the beast he'd killed in the dungeon—the one that had nearly torn him apart. "This is insane."
Another chime.
[OPEN MAP]
Kael blinked as a new screen appeared, displaying a detailed map of the surrounding area. Small glowing markers dotted the map, each one labeled with a rift's location.
"This shows me. rift locations?" Kael muttered, his fingers brushing against one of the glowing markers. The system responded instantly, displaying information about the rift—its rank, known threats, and estimated rewards.
"Unbelievable."
The system wasn't done.
[RESOURCE DETECTED: BEAST HORNS]
[Do you wish to exchange for currency?]
Kael froze. "Currency?"
A new screen appeared, listing the currencies available for exchange:
Bronze Paw Coin
Silver Paw Coin
Gold Paw Coin
Solarian Coin
The Solarian Coin caught his attention immediately. It glowed brighter than the others, its description catching his eye:
[Solarian: A rare, perfectly crafted coin of pure gold, radiating warmth. Stamped with the symbol of the sun. Highest level of currency.]
Kael hesitated for a moment, then selected the option to exchange.
[You have exchanged Beast Horns for: 10 Solarian Coins, 50 Gold Paw Coins.]
Kael's jaw dropped. "This. this can't be real." The coins materialized in a small, shimmering pile on the table in front of him. He reached out, picking up one of the Solarian coins. It was warm to the touch, its intricate design glinting in the dim light.
He had never seen so much money in his life. The exchange rate must have been astronomical.
The voice of Erythral echoed in his mind one last time. "Use it well, Kael. The path ahead is treacherous, but this power is your chance to change everything. To rise above them all. To prove them wrong."
And then, silence.
Kael just sat there, staring at the glowing screens, the coins, and all the other cool possibilities before him.
For the first time in ages, Kael felt a little flicker of something he thought was long gone for good.
Hope.