Kael returned home, and the relief of earning $378 mixed with a new, tense urgency. He went to the warehouse. His body was tired, but the resilience gained from leveling up allowed him to ignore the fatigue. He checked his Status Panel. The numbers were a constant reminder of his secret.
"I can't continue with this fatigue. I need to be able to stay in the portal long enough to earn money fast," Kael thought. He decided that the priority was resilience, not damage.
He assigned his 5 available Stat Points: 4 points to Endurance to reduce exhaustion and 1 point to Vitality for survival.
Kael - Status Panel (Level 6)
Level: 6
Vitality (VIT): 13 (+3)
Strength (STR): 11 (+1)
Endurance (END): 15 (+5)
Dexterity (DEX): 11 (+1)
Mana (MNA): Infinite
Stat Points to Assign: 0
His power was a double-edged sword: it saved him, but it marked him as a mystery that the Hunter society would try to solve.
Kael put most of the portal money in an envelope and left some loose bills on the kitchen table.
Aria walked in, her eyes tired as she saw the pile of cash. —Kael... what is this?
—It's the payment. An old contact in the industrial zone gave me an urgent specialized cleaning job. It was dangerous, but well-paid —Kael lied.
Aria heard the word "dangerous" and grew alarmed, but the relief was stronger. —All right. We're buying meat today. And I'll pay the mortgage.
They ate decently that evening. The money had brought momentary peace, but Kael knew the fragility of his secret would expose him to attacks much worse than those in the portal. His practical mind, aided by Aria's advice from the night before, told him that the only way to get insurance, gear, and enough knowledge was to join an official structure.
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He left the house. It was three in the afternoon. He headed downtown, to the Arcadia Prime district, where the Hunters' power was concentrated.
He went to the Arcadia Guild and Applicant Association (AGAA). The building was modern, glass and steel, filled with newly awakened youths seeking fortune. Kael wore a linen shirt and clean trousers, the best clothes he had, trying not to stand out. Still, in his mid-thirties, he stood out among the teenagers and twenty-year-olds there. The air smelled of ambition, sweat, and the faint metallic aroma of mana.
While he waited, Kael overheard fragments of conversations that confirmed his hopelessness.
—The Warriors Guild scout asked me about my lineage. I told him my great-grandfather was a Wind Shifter (a low telekinesis affinity). He just nodded, said he'd call me —a blonde youth commented.
—Good luck with that. I just have Reinforced Skin —said another, feeling the slight hardness of his forearm. —At least they accept us at the Sacred Guild if our scores are high. Not like that old guy over there —he muttered, pointing at Kael.
Kael felt the sting. He went to the counter to formally register as an "Active Seeker." The receptionist asked for his age and Level. Seeing the number '6', her expression changed.
—Sir, Level 6 Hunters are usually twenty or younger. Your profile is... atypical. Are you sure about your registration?
Kael swallowed his pride. —Absolutely.
Throughout the afternoon, Kael tried to approach the guild scouts milling around the hall. Kael approached with the nervous hope of someone asking a vital favor.
Kael first went to the Sacred Guild booth. The scout, a muscular man with a gold emblem, barely looked up.
—Look, my name is Kael. I'm Level 6. I'm new, but I'm ready for hard work... —Kael began, feeling his hands sweat under the scout's penetrating gaze.
—Level 6. Great. But you're in your thirties. The growth system doesn't lie, sir. Hunters your age stop progressing. You need explosive strength, not a job for retirement. I'm sorry —he said, continuing to type on his datapad.
Kael felt humiliated but regained his composure. He saw a Warriors Guild scout and headed towards him, this time with false confidence.
—My affinity is Lightning. And... my mana hasn't been registered yet, but my Endurance is high, I can guarantee results.
The Warriors Guild scout interrupted him with a condescending smile, almost pitying.
—Friend, the Big Guilds aren't charities. At your age, growth stops. Go back to your... masonry job? Don't break your back dreaming of being a Hunter. The Association is for young people with a future. It's hard to get portals without a history. The risk simply isn't worth it for us.
The discouragement was physical. Kael was rejected repeatedly because of his age and the lack of verifiable information on his Panel. He had chosen secrecy over acceptance, and now he was alone.
As evening fell, Kael found himself sitting on a bench near the exit, frustration a knot in his throat. He was about to give up when he noticed a small disturbance nearby.
A young woman with white hair was desperately trying to recruit a group of youths. Kael watched her secretly. Fatigue was evident in her posture, and Kael saw that her makeshift banner was blank, she only carried a pen.
—Listen up! Be the founders of a new Guild! We'll have the best portals, the best rewards!
—And who are you? —a cynical youth asked.
—I am the Guild Master —the young woman replied, her voice firm despite the lack of enthusiasm.
—A Guild Master without a Guild! And without a strong lineage? Wow, if you're already being rejected here, who's going to take you seriously in a portal? —the cynic scoffed. The others laughed, and the group dispersed, leaving Lilith alone.
Lilith sighed deeply in defeat and sat down on the same bench, six feet from Kael. She rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. She glanced sideways and was startled.
—Well, well, the old guy from the novice portal —she said, a bitter smile curving her lips.
Kael was surprised. —Do you know me? Have we met?
—I saw you at portal E. You stood out a lot because of your age. And you looked... very happy when you came out. Like you'd won the lottery.
Kael nodded. It was because, for the first time, he had real money.
He mustered his courage, his own desperation fueling one last attempt. —Why is no one joining? You were here all afternoon. I saw how they humiliated you. But you raised your voice again every time.
Lilith sighed, gathering her crumpled pamphlet. She looked at it with a mix of respect and pity.
—And you, the "old guy from the portal"? Why didn't you leave when those scouts told you to go back to being a bricklayer? We're both here for the same reason, aren't we?
—I guess —Kael said, nodding slowly. —But at least I don't have to convince anyone but myself. You carry the burden of ambition.
—And the weight of a name —Lilith said, looking at the floor. She looked up. —No one joins because my last name is a curse. I am Lilith Velmont.
Kael stood still. Velmont. Suddenly, the frustration and sadness on the young woman's face took on a historical weight.
—Velmont... —Kael murmured, recognizing the name that was only spoken in hushed tones in Hunter circles: a lineage of Pure Telekinesis that had fallen into disgrace and financial failure.
—That's right. My family lost the strength of our lineage a long time ago —Lilith continued, her voice now lower, more intimate. —My grandfather divided the inheritance among the grandchildren because there was no worthy successor to take the mantle of the fallen Guild. I took my share, refused to fight for that rotten inheritance, and decided to form my own Guild. People see my last name and see failure, not future. And my strength is limited.
Kael observed her. It wasn't brute strength that surprised him, but the tenacity with which she had stood in that room, alone, knowing her name condemned her. He, on the other hand, had hidden behind his age and his lies. Her honesty and courage were a form of power Kael hadn't seen in years.
—People are stupid —Kael said, firmly. His voice was not mere venting, but a statement of fact. —I saw how you stood firm against them. You don't have a guild, but you have more courage than all those scouts put together, who are only looking for a perfect lineage.
Lilith blinked, surprised by the sudden and sincere compliment. A faint smile appeared on her lips, one of pride.
—Thank you. But courage doesn't pay a Guild headquarters' rent —Lilith said, pointing with her head toward the empty hall. —They call me a failure, but I won't give up. Even at the cost of risking my entire inheritance. It's all I have left.
Kael understood the magnitude of the risk. She was as desperate as he was, but her desperation was public and bold.
A comfortable silence fell between them. The late afternoon sun filtered through the large windows. Kael ran his hand through his hair, feeling the weight of his own burden.
—I have two children and a mortgage that is suffocating me —Kael confessed in a low voice, staring into nothing. —All of this, the rush to level up, the risk I took in the portal... it's for them. The secret is to protect them. Failure for me isn't bankruptcy; it's not being able to go home.
Lilith listened carefully, nodding. Kael's confession, although vague, sealed a new level of mutual understanding. Both were fighting for something they couldn't lose.
—I understand —Lilith said, her tone soft. —I had to let go of my family. You are fighting for yours.
Lilith put down the pen. Her violet eyes met his.
—And you? —Lilith asked. —What will you do, Kael? The Association has rejected you because of your age, and the novice portal won't get you out of debt. How long do you think you can bear the secret alone?
Kael straightened up. He had found the reason. He had found the way.
—I know what it's like to risk everything in the hope that something will work. I need a structure. And you need... a founding member who isn't afraid of failure, and who risks his life for a good reason.
Lilith smiled, this time a genuine smile, a smile of an ally, feeling she had found the only person in the city who saw her potential and understood her pain.
—Are you saying that... despite my last name, despite this guild being just a blank sheet of paper and a mortgage I can't pay...? —she asked, giving Kael a final chance to back out.
—I'm saying I don't care about your last name or the state of your sheet. I want to join your Guild, Miss Velmont.
—I accept, Kael. Two lone wolves. A start from scratch —Lilith said, and they shook hands.
A comical moment broke the tension.
—By the way, what's the Guild called? —Kael asked.
Lilith frowned. —I hadn't thought it through. I was going to call it The Arcane Star, but it sounds like a gossip magazine. Any ideas?
They threw names around.
—The Lightning of Hope? —Kael suggested. —Too cheesy.
—The New Dawn Guild? —Lilith countered.
—Too optimistic.
Finally, Lilith smiled, the glint of a strategist shining in her eyes. —Let's forget the Dawn. Let's forget the failure. How about The Ashen Guild?
—I like it —Kael said, feeling a little lighter.
They exchanged contact information. Kael said goodbye.
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Kael returned home that night and felt lighter than he had in years. It wasn't just the money; it was the alliance, the feeling of having found his place.
Aria met him at the door, a towel over her shoulder. She examined him closely.
—You're sweaty, but... —Aria tilted her head. —Why do you have that smile? You haven't looked like that since you got promoted at the construction site.
Kael laughed, a sound that had been absent for a long time.
—Good news. A contact from the old neighborhood got me a high-level security consulting position. It's remote, with flexible hours. I start tomorrow, and it's a decent salary, with potential for bonuses.
Aria dropped the towel and hugged him, relieved. —Oh, Kael! That's wonderful. Why didn't you tell me?
—It was last minute —Kael lied, hugging her back tightly. The feeling of his secret felt heavy, but Aria's embrace reaffirmed him. He needed tangible results before telling her the truth about the Lightning and the Guild.
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The next morning, Kael was already dressed in the linen shirt and clean trousers he wore the day before to go to the Association. He received a call.
—Kael, I'm at the office. Stop by the Velmont Trade building downtown. It's the only property I have left. You need to fill out the official form as the first member of The Ashen Guild.
Kael went to downtown Arcadia Prime. Lilith had rented the ground floor of a small building. The interior was elegant but dusty, indicating that the Velmont inheritance was limited.
—I rented it with my grandfather's inheritance for six months. In that time, we'll have to generate enough to buy and upgrade it —Lilith said, pointing to an old couch. The rent in this area is high. Six months of rent cost me about $50,000 of the inheritance.
Lilith handed Kael the form. When Kael reached the Lineage section, Lilith leaned in to look, more out of curiosity than distrust.
Kael filled out the form. He put his Name (Kael), his Age (36), and his Level (6). In the Lineage box, Kael wrote the name he had only seen on his system screen: "Law Breaker".
Lilith straightened up suddenly. She looked at the name, her breath catching in her throat.
—"Law Breaker"? —she whispered. —Kael, you have a lineage? And you unlocked it at this age. That's... extraordinarily rare.
—Yes —Kael said, nodding, keeping his tone as neutral as possible. —I unlocked it recently. People have their secrets, right? I didn't know I had a Lineage until my affinity manifested.
Lilith recovered, nodding professionally. —Understood. The Lineage is an advantage. I only remind you that, according to the Association, as an active Hunter, you must fill out this form every month to update your Level and any changes to your stats.
—Thank you, Lilith —Kael said, relieved that his secret was accepted.
He spent the afternoon on the couch, waiting. Lilith came out of a side office with a radiant smile.
—I've got it! After fighting with three medium-sized guilds, I secured a contract for a low-level portal for a month. The competition is brutal, Kael, but bureaucracy favors those with cash in hand.
She showed him the receipt: $10,000 for the portal concession for 30 days. It was a risky investment.
—It's not far. We're going to the Brightwood sector —Lilith said. —It's in the neighboring city, an hour away by car.
As they walked towards Lilith's car (an old but well-maintained model), Kael's phone rang.
—Hello? —Kael answered. —Kael! How is your first day of consulting going? Everything okay? —Aria asked, worriedly, since the job was "high-level." —Yes, honey. The work is a bit demanding, but everything is fine. I'll call you when I get back. —Kael lied, feeling the weight of the untruth. —All right. I love you. Come home soon.
Lilith, who heard the conversation, looked at Kael with surprise.
—You haven't told her you joined a Guild?
—No. I want the results to speak first. I want her to see that it works, that it's safe.
—It's your decision —Lilith said, nodding respectfully.
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Portal B-12: The Viscous Wilds
They arrived at the portal hangar in Brightwood. The portal Lilith had secured was surrounded by guards.
In front of the entrance, a young man in an overly tight Hunter suit was protesting loudly to a guard.
—It's an injustice! My Guild had that portal reserved for the week! Just because that lineage-less Velmont paid more...
The young man turned and saw Lilith and Kael. His face contorted with anger. —Look! There's the lineage-ruiner! And with an old laborer! What a fall, Velmont!
—It's ours, kid. My Guild won the bid —Lilith said coldly.
—Guild. You and your dead grandfather. I hope you die in there —the young man spat, just before the guards escorted him out.
Lilith sighed, turning to Kael. —That was the son of an old rival of my father's. You see why people don't join.
—People are stupid —Kael said, feeling a burst of anger for Lilith, though she stopped him with a hand.
They headed to the security officer. They presented the concession contract.
—All right, Hunters. Portal B-12, Level 3 to 30. Maximum duration of 30 days. If you return and the portal is clear, the concession is permanent. Good luck, The Ashen Guild —the officer said, opening access.
Lilith turned to Kael. —I'm Level 23. I can defend myself. Don't stray. I'll take care of scouting; you cover me. What are you carrying in the backpack, by the way? It weighs a lot.
Kael nodded calmly. —Yes, don't worry. I've got your back.
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They crossed the portal.
The air was heavy and smelled of burnt incense and sea salt. Kael gasped. The sky was dominated by three suns of different sizes, staining the landscape a crimson and amber hue. The ground was purple mud, and there were bright turquoise lakes everywhere. The surrounding trees were tall, with black trunks and viscous, intense purple leaves. They were in The Viscous Wilds.
Lilith closed her eyes, and her body tensed slightly. A faint wave of violet energy spread around her, her Telekinetic lineage scouting the environment.
—There's no immediate activity around the entry point —she said, opening her eyes. Then she turned to Kael, with a more serious tone. —It's a Level 3 to 30 portal. Don't separate from me.
Kael crouched down and pulled his steel chains from the backpack. The short chain wrapped around his right fist. The moment his mana flowed, Kael's chains crackled with blue electric sparks, an audible hum in the air.
Lilith stood still, her violet eyes fixed on the spectacle.
—Lightning Element? —she whispered, a mix of surprise and awe in her voice.
Kael squeezed his fist, feeling the power. —Yes. I told you, you didn't make a bad choice.
Just then, Lilith's detection failed. An amphibious creature, a kind of six-legged crab with a dark blue shell, which suddenly emerged from the purple mud, lunging towards Kael with a growl. Lilith hadn't detected it, focused on the surface and distracted by the Lightning affinity.
[Skuttler – Level 10]
[HP: 100/100]
[Attack: 25]
[Defense: 15]
—Watch out! —Lilith yelled, reacting.
Kael didn't hesitate. Infinite Mana flowed with a power that exceeded all expectations. The sparks on his chains turned into a blinding Thunder whip.
The impact of the blow was devastating. The Level 10 Skuttler was hit by the Lightning blast, and the air filled with the smell of burnt flesh. The creature was completely charred, falling to the ground with a dry thud.
[You have defeated a Skuttler – 500 XP]
[You have reached Level 7]
[You have reached Level 8]
[Obtained: Skuttler Shell x1, Mana Crystal [Medium] x1]
Kael felt flooded with power.
Lilith stood there, her violet eyes fixed on the monster's smoking body, her expression now one of pure amazement.
—It's... it's impossible —she murmured, unable to believe the attack's strength. —It c-can't be that powerful.