He opened his eyes. He had always adjusted to the morning light as it seeped through the curtains. He reached out, touching his muscles that rippled under his fingertips like waves. This odd sense of disorientation felt like his body was different somehow. He felt. stronger.
He gasped a little as he got out of bed and walked over to the mirror. What he saw totally stopped him there.
Who is that?
Kael gazed at his reflection and couldn't believe his eyes—dude, his body was all kinds of muscular, looking super defined like never before. Those broad shoulders, sculpted arms, and that strong build were such a change from the skinny guy he used to be. Even his face looked different. His jawline was way more chiseled, his eyes had this sharpness to them, and overall, he just looked. way better, kinda intimidating even. He raked a hand through his hair, still totally shocked.
Where's the old me?
Then the system's voice jumped in, kinda playfully.
"Whoa, Kael. You look. hot." It whistled like a girl checking out a guy, and Kael turned red out of pure embarrassment. He automatically tried to cover up, acting like the system could really see him.
"Relax, Kael. It's natural. Your new form is a result of the intense growth from the Rift. You're stronger now, both physically and mentally."
Kael stared at himself, still trying to comprehend the changes. He wasn't just stronger; he was a different person. The difference was so stark, he almost couldn't recognize the person looking back at him.
"Is this even real?" Kael muttered under his breath. "Am I really that strong now?"
"Of course, you are!" the system replied proudly. "You've ascended to levels beyond your wildest imagination. You're the heir of Erythral, and this power is just the beginning."
Kael shook his head, trying to pull himself together. Focus. It's just a change in appearance. This power. it'll take time to get used to it.
After a while, Kael decided it was high time to get his day started. He really needed to get his life together. So, he went into the kitchen and began preparing some breakfast, his head full of questions and ideas. What's he gonna do now? He wasn't in the guild anymore, and it felt like his choices were pretty slim.
Then the system chimed in again, sounding a little more serious this time. "Kael, you're up early. Did you sleep well?
"Yeah, I'm good right now even though I'm a bit erratic." I gotta get to work." Kael snagged a couple of eggs and started cooking, but his head was still swirling with thoughts. He really had to sort out what to do with those beast bodies. He couldn't just let them hang around.
"Hey, System, what the heck am I supposed to do with all these creature bodies I've killed?" Kael said, flipping the eggs in the pan while he talked. "I have no clue where to sell them now that I'm out of the guild. If I try to sell them, they might not even wanna buy them. I seriously don't know who I can trust anymore."
The system paused for a moment before replying. "Isn't there anyone you know who can help you, Kael?"
Kael thought for a second, trying to remember anyone who might be able to assist him. Then it clicked.
"There is one person." Kael said, his voice a bit more hopeful. "When I first joined the guild, there was this guy who gave me his card. He told all the new hunters that if they ever needed help selling beast materials, they should reach out to him. He said he'd help us find the best market for it. I think he'll be able to help me now."
The system's voice seemed to lighten, almost amused. "That's a good start. You should contact him. But first, you've unlocked a piece of your full armor—the helmet. You can use it to hide your identity if you want to stay under the radar for now. You can also change your appearance. I've tweaked it a bit so that it's gonna look like you have some kind of Oni design covering your face. It'll fully cover your face, but in style.
Kael raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Oni teeth design, yeah? I guess that might be useful if I want to go incognito.
"Totally. Remember, you're not just some random hunter anymore, Kael. You've got power now. People are gonna wanna know who you are. But for now, keeping it on the down-low is super important."
Kael nodded as he finished his breakfast and cleaned up. He didn't know if he felt elated or anxious with all the changes happening around him. But of course, there was one thing: he had to be careful. The power that he now wields is no laughing matter. People knew who he was, and that would definitely bring unwanted attention to himself.
So, after Kael finished his meal, he went to his room and took a minute to check out the armor he had. The helmet really caught his eye—it was all sleek and had this cool dark shine. He could totally feel that ancient power flowing through it, just like with the sword he used. It was part of Erythral's legendary gear. He couldn't help but appreciate how well it was made. With just a thought, he summoned the helmet and popped it on his head.
Just like that, the helmet materialized around his face, and the Oni design materialized around his mouth and eyes. He looked scary but felt he was embracing a new identity-a mask that would hide his real self. He looked in the mirror again. The change was complete.
Taking a deep breath, Kael turned on the communicator he got from the person who helped him when he was starting out as a hunter. He punched in the number and hung tight for the call to go through.
It wasn't long before a rough voice picked up on the other side.
"Yeah, who's this?" The voice felt familiar, but Kael just couldn't figure it out.
"Hey, I'm a hunter and someone told me you could help me sell some stuff," Kael said, trying to sound chill. "I've got a few beast bodies I wanna offload. Can you point me to a decent market for them?"
There was a quick pause on the line. Then the voice came back, sounding way more intrigued. "Beast bodies, huh? What kinda beasts are we talking about? I usually don't mess with low-tier stuff, but. you seem like you might have something interesting. Where you at?"
"I'm close to the old city district. Not in any guild anymore," Kael said, trying to keep things a bit mysterious.
"Got it." The guy laughed. "Okay, I'll send someone over to you. Just hang tight. We'll set up the sale, and you'll snag the best deal we can do. But seriously, don't mess this up, okay? This isn't a game you can just jump into without being ready."
Kael nodded, his mind already buzzing with possibilities. This could be the beginning of something big. The first move in really using the power he'd gotten.
As he hung up the phone, Kael couldn't stop thinking about his fight in the Rift and that crazy power he felt. It was still tough to wrap his head around how much he leveled up—like, his body, his skills, his stats—everything flipped in a snap. He could totally feel this massive power inside him, and this was just the start.
Let's see where this road takes me, Kael thought, looking out the window. The beginning of the journey had just unfolded, and with new powers coming at his command and an entire world at his disposal, no one would ever stand in his way again.