The sun had barely climbed above the city walls when Kael stumbled out of the dungeon.
Dust clung to his clothes, his sword was chipped again, and sweat coated every inch of his body. Yet inside, the Dragon Core hummed warmly, steady and alive. He had survived—not by luck, but by control, observation, and the system itself.
Behind him, the remains of the dungeon stretched silently, the golden glow from the deepest chamber fading into darkness.
---
Guild members had already gathered. Whispers floated through the air:
"Did you see him?"
"That E-rank actually survived an S-rank dungeon?"
"Impossible."
Kael ignored them. He dragged Mira and the others to the medical station, careful not to show the exhaustion that weighed on him.
Brock, covered in bruises and blood, stared at him with disbelief. "You… how?"
Kael didn't answer. He didn't need to. They wouldn't understand. Survival had nothing to do with strength; it had everything to do with control, and that was something they couldn't see.
---
At the guild hall, a message had already been sent. The guildmaster, a stern man with years of experience, scanned Kael's entry report.
"E-rank Kael… survived an S-rank dungeon solo?"
He frowned, running his hand down his beard. This was unusual—extremely unusual. Only a handful of hunters had ever returned from such dungeons alive, and even fewer without a team of higher-ranked hunters.
Kael remained silent as the guildmaster studied him.
"Keep an eye on him," the man finally said. "I don't trust luck. There's something… different about him."
---
By mid-afternoon, rumors had spread across the city. Hunters who had previously ignored Kael began whispering, curious, suspicious. Some came to see him, others to challenge him subtly. But Kael didn't seek recognition. He had learned long ago that attention was a weapon—it could help, but it could also kill.
Let them watch. Let them underestimate me. I'll grow in the shadows.
---
Kael returned to his small apartment, the city bustling outside. He had no fancy accolades, no flashy gear, but he had something stronger: a growing Dragon Core, new abilities, and a strategy that no one could match.
He activated the system quietly.
[Dragon Core Mastery Lv.1]
[Adaptive Influence Lv.3]
[Observation Lv.2 | Minor Manipulation Lv.2 | Calm Influence Lv.2]
He studied the dungeon map again, analyzing the patterns of monsters, predicting what lay beyond the core chamber. The system whispered probabilities, hints of potential outcomes. Kael's mind raced—not with panic, but with possibilities.
---
A soft knock interrupted him. Kael's hand instantly went to his sword, though no one was visible yet.
"Kael?" A calm voice. Female. Confident.
He turned. A young hunter, mid-rank B, stepped into the room. Her black armor gleamed faintly, and her eyes held sharp intelligence.
"I saw your report," she said. "You're… unusual. I want to see if you're as strong as they say."
Kael studied her silently. There was no hostility, just assessment.
"I don't… fight for attention," he said finally.
Her smile was faint, almost teasing. "Then I'll follow your lead and see for myself. Names Bell."
Kael's mind froze briefly. First ally… maybe.
---
The city didn't notice the small encounter, but the Dragon Core pulsed in approval. Kael knew that from this point on, he was no longer invisible. The guild, other hunters, and now potential companions were aware of him. Every step forward would bring attention, danger, and opportunity.
But Kael was ready.
Let the world see me now… quietly. But prepare to be shocked when the time comes.
The Dragon System whispered softly. Your path begins.
Kael nodded. It's time to grow.