After making enough money to buy a mansion or a sports car…
Kael still didn't feel like a rich man.
He had bigger goals.
Much bigger.
He wanted to become strong.
That was his true aim not luxury, not fame. Strength.
And the fastest way to gain strength?
Skill Stones.
If he wanted to fight, to protect, to survive he needed combat abilities.
Kael made his way to the Hunter Mall, a massive shopping complex built exclusively for Awakened individuals.
From weapons and armor to potions, scrolls, skill stones, and mana accessories, it was a hunter's paradise a one-stop shop for everything an adventurer could need.
The glowing halls buzzed with energy as Kael wandered through, wide-eyed.
Sleek mannequins wore legendary armor sets behind display glass. One suit in particular made him stop in his tracks:
A gleaming black-and-silver plated armor set, designed for barbarian-class swordsmen. It glinted under the display lights like a piece of art.
"Wow…" Kael muttered.
Then he saw the price tag.
Barbarian Armor Set (B-Rank)
Price: $30,000,tag
He let out a soft sigh.
"Still dreaming of wearing something like this…"
But he didn't linger.
No point drooling over gear he couldn't afford. Not yet.
Turning the corner, a massive digital banner lit up the ceiling above him.
It was a giant rotating advertisement Rowel and Anthony, front and center.
Two rising stars of the Awakened world.
Both had been declared S-Ranks just a year and a half ago, and they were already making international headlines.
Rowel stood with his signature smug grin, resting a massive, gleaming sword on his shoulder.
People loved him for it cocky, foul-mouthed, untamed. The kind of reckless genius that couldn't be controlled. That was his charm.
Next to him stood Anthony calm, sharp, handsome.
He wore a sleek A-rank robe tailored for agile swordsmen. His once-brown hair was now a striking white a side effect of awakening as an S-Rank Ice Mage Swordsman.
Girls all over the world adored them both.
Young. Handsome. Rich. Strong.
The screen flashed bold headlines:
"The Super S-Rank Rookies"
"The Blue Dragon and White Tiger Guilds Join the Major League!"
"Successfully managed to clear an S rank dungeon. "
Kael clenched his fists lightly.
He didn't feel envy.
Not even resentment toward Rowel, who had once mocked and bullied him.
What he felt was thrill.
A rising fire inside him.
"Just wait," he whispered. "I'll surpass both of you."
The video looped:
Rowel soloing a massive S rank Troll with terrifying ease.
Anthony freezing an entire swarm of A rank red orcs mid-air with a single sweep of his sword.
Kael smiled faintly.
Even his younger siblings couldn't stop talking about them especially Mel, his third sibling. That kid practically worshipped Rowel.
"Rowel's the coolest!" Mel once said, eyes shining. "I'm gonna be like him one day!"
Kael arrived at the Azure Guild's official store
a place known across the hunter world for one thing:
Skill Stones.
The shop had a sleek, futuristic vibe.
Clean white floors reflected the glow of floating displays, while walls shimmered with enchanted lighting. Behind glass counters sat rows of brilliant orbs tiny, coin-sized stones glowing with faint pulses of mana.
Skill Stones.
Each one held a random skill, sealed in crystal form.
They looked like miniature mana cores every color imaginable, some pulsing gently, others blazing bright. The stronger the glow, the more powerful the skill.
Kael walked deeper into the shop, eyes scanning the prices.
Skill Stones – Description
Extremely rare magical items that grant a random skill when absorbed. Once used, they are bound permanently and cannot be reused or traded.
Skill Stone Tiers (USD):
• Low-Tier — $50,000
• Mid-Tier — $500,000
• Advanced — $800,000
• Elite — $1,000,000
• Rare — $10,000,000
• Unique — $100,000,000
• Legendary — $1,000,000,000+
Kael exhaled slowly.
Power — real power sealed inside these stones.
He could feel it.
Waiting to be claimed.
But as he stood there, captivated, he began to sense the shift around him.
The store attendants were noticing him and not in a good way.
Wearing a plain black hoodie, faded jeans, and knockoff sneakers, Kael didn't exactly look like the usual customers many of whom wore enchanted armor or custom-fitted guild uniforms worth more than an apartment.
At the counter, Lucy, a senior attendant, clicked her tongue.
Her eyes scanned Kael from head to toe with open disdain.
"Another broke window shopper," she muttered. "Seriously… those shoes? I can see the glue line."
She folded her arms and turned to the newbie staff member.
"Kath! Deal with him."
"Him?" Kath blinked.
"Yes, him. He's clearly not buying anything serious, so don't waste your time. Just give him the basics and move him along."
"But what if he's actually"
"Look at him," Lucy cut in with a roll of her eyes. "The only thing he's buying is disappointment."
"...Alright."
Putting on a practiced customer-service smile, Kath walked over to Kael.
"Hi, sir! Looking for a skill stone today?"
Kael turned, a little surprised.
"Uh… yeah. Just checking what's available."
Kath nodded and gestured to the nearest display.
"This one's our Low-Tier Skill Stone $50,000. It usually gives a basic skill, like Light, Kick, or Sword Slash. Not amazing, but helpful for starters."
Kael peered into the glass.
Inside sat a faintly glowing, pale blue crystal. Coin-sized. It looked like a tiny mana core.
"The color can hint at the element," Kath continued, "but the skill is always random unless you buy from the premium section."
She moved down the case.
"Mid-Tier is $500,000. Higher chance of getting combat skills. You might even get a magic attack skill if you're lucky. Good value for the price."
"And this one" she lowered her voice slightly, " Advanced Tier. $800,000. It unlocks rare and powerful skills. Very popular with experienced C-rank hunters and up."
Kael listened, nodding slowly.
Then his gaze drifted to the end of the case toward the section labeled RESTRICTED.
Behind the black-tinted display were two glowing stones pulsing like miniature stars.
Kath followed his gaze.
"Those are Elite and Rare-Tier skill stones," she said. "They're priced at $1 million and $10 million, respectively. Usually, only B-rank and higher hunters buy them."
"As for Unique and Legendary, you'd need to visit our guild HQ directly and be A-rank or above to prove you can handle them."
Kael didn't respond.
He was staring at the stones.
$20,000,000.
That was his current balance.
He had more than enough to buy one Rare stone… maybe more.
Back at the counter, Lucy sighed, watching the interaction from afar.
"She's actually explaining everything?" she muttered. "Ugh. What a waste of time."
"Annoying beggar."
"Foolish newbie."
Meanwhile, Kath was still finishing her overview.
"Let me know if you have any questions, sir. We also offer"
"I'll take that one," Kael said, cutting in gently.
He pointed at the Elite-tier skill stone the one glowing faint red.
Kath blinked.
"S-Sorry?"
"And five Rare-tier stones too," Kael added. "I want one of each color, if possible."
"Sir…?" Kath said again, still in disbelief.
Kael nodded to himself.
"Hmm… I still have enough, but I'll stop there for now."
His eyes lingered on the red crystal.
It pulsed like a heartbeat, sealed in glowing mana.
"That one. The red glow… it feels right," he said quietly. "It's my first time trying, so I'll only pick the one that shines the most."
Without hesitation, he pulled out his hunter card and held it out.
"Can I pay now?"
Kath looked stunned.
"Y-Yes! Of course. Right this way!"
She led him to the counter, her tone no longer routine now edged with surprise.
Most first-timers hesitated, stared at the stones for an hour, or came back another day.
Kael?
He just bought $15 million worth of skill stones on the spot.
"Alright," she said, swiping his card. "$15 million… transaction complete."
She retrieved the red Elite stone, then carefully placed it in a reinforced mana box. One by one, she packed the five Rare-tier stones as well each in their own container.
"Here you go, sir. Thank you for your purchase. I hope they bring you something powerful."
Across the store, attendants glanced over.
Lucy froze mid-eye-roll.
She stared as the confirmation slip printed out.
$15,000,000.00 – Complete
A legit sale.
And she had passed it off.
Her jaw clenched.
"Tch."
She said nothing.
But her face said everything.
The 1% commission on that sale?
She had just lost $150,000… because she judged him by his shoes.
Kath, on the other hand, was glowing.
"Let me know how it turns out! I'm usually here Sundays are my only day off."
Kael nodded and exchanged contact info with her.
He'd be back. That much was certain.
With a quiet grin, he turned and walked out of the shop the stones stored safely in his subspace.