The guild's heavy doors shut behind him with a groan of iron and stone. Stares clung to Kael's back like knives, whispers riding the wind at his heels.
*"The weakest survived… how pathetic."*
*"Why not the others instead of him?"*
*"There's no way he's telling the truth."*
Kael's jaw tightened, but his pace never faltered. He didn't look back. He didn't need to—their contempt pressed against him with every step.
If they knew what had really stood in that forest, their tongues would have frozen in their mouths. If they knew a **Bloodfang Bear** had been there, none of them would dare question him. But if he spoke that truth, the questions would never end. *How did you live? How did you escape? How did you survive?*
No. That secret had to die with his team.
*The Eye saved me. No—*I* saved me. If I want to keep breathing, I can't let anyone find out. Not yet. The wolves are enough of an excuse. Let them cling to that.*
The dirt road wound toward the edge of town, away from the guild's lanterns and prying eyes. Kael's boots crunched on loose stones, the creak of the Longfang Guild's sign fading behind him. His rented room waited at the outskirts, small and quiet—perfect for silence.
*Let them call me weak. Let them pity me. In the end, only strength matters. And the Eye… the Eye has shown me the path. If I must feed it to climb higher, then so be it.*
He shut the door behind him and slid the bolt into place. The room was still, the air heavy. Kael dropped cross-legged onto the floorboards, eyes closing as he forced his breathing to steady.
The world fell away—
And the Eye opened.
A faint golden glow pulsed in the darkness of his mind, spreading until it split apart the shadows. Words carved in blood-red light floated before him, sharp and undeniable.
**\[Bloodline Status]**
* Name: **Kael Ardyn**
* Clan: Ardyn (Extinct)
* Tier: **Mortal – High**
* Purity: **1%**
* Ability: **Blood Regeneration (Minor)**
* Potential: **Hidden**
Kael's breath caught. It hadn't been a dream.
Another ripple stirred the glow, and a second screen appeared.
**\[Origin Source: Bloodfang Bear – Rare High]**
* Extracted Trait: *Blood Regeneration (Minor)*
* Further Extraction: *Locked*
* Condition: *Feed the Eye*
The words burned like fire against his mind before fading into silence.
Kael opened his eyes. His hands trembled slightly—not with fear, but with the weight of understanding. The Eye wasn't passive. It was a predator. A devourer.
"Feed the Eye…" His voice was low, almost a whisper. "So it wasn't mercy. It was hunger."
His chest tightened. The Eye hadn't saved him out of kindness—it had claimed the Bloodfang Bear for itself, and through it, him.
A thought came unbidden. *If it could take from a Rare High beast… then it can take from anything.*
His gaze dropped to the dagger lying near his pack. Slowly, he picked it up and dragged the edge across his palm. The blade bit deep, red spilling freely—
Then, before his eyes, the wound knit itself closed. Muscle. Skin. Even the blood itself reabsorbed into his body, leaving only a faint scar.
Kael flexed his fingers. The faint ache vanished instantly. A chill thrill ran through him.
*It works. I can bleed and still stand. I can fight until my enemies fall, no matter how many wounds I take. This… this is only the beginning.*
His lips curved into the first true smile he'd worn in years.
He leaned back against the wall, eyes narrowing, thoughts sharp as blades.
*The Eye wants to feed? Fine. I'll feed it. Beasts, men, guilds, clans… whatever it takes. Let the world think I'm weak, pitiful, trash. In time, they'll see the truth. The Ardyn name will rise again—not through mercy or fate… but through devouring everything in my path.*
The silence of the room seemed to bend, heavy with a promise.
Kael closed his eyes, the faint golden glow of the Eye still burning behind them.
*This world belongs to the strong. And I will not die weak.*