The heavy, rusted iron doors of the dungeon groaned as they slowly slid open, echoing through the desolate valley like a dying beast. Outside, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the clouds in shades of bruised purple and blood-orange.
A few meters away from the gate, the three guards who had forced Aether into the pit were sitting around a warm campfire. They were laughing, drinking from silver flasks, and splitting the gold coins they had earned by sacrificing him.
"Do you think the kid screamed much?" one of the guards sneered, tossing a gnawed bone into the fire. "Shadow Wolves usually start with the legs to keep the prey alive longer."
"Who cares?" the leader replied, leaning back with a cold smirk. "He was a 'Null'. His life was worth less than the dirt under my boots. At least today, his death served a purpose. He distracted the wolves while we made our escape."
Suddenly, the laughter died down. A heavy, rhythmic sound echoed from the dark tunnel.
Thud... Thud... Thud...
The footsteps weren't those of a panicked boy. They were steady, heavy, and carried a weight that made the ground tremble. A figure slowly emerged from the dust and shadows. His clothes were shredded, soaked in the dark, thick blood of monsters. His skin was covered in grime, but his stance was different—straight, powerful, and predatory.
"Impossible..." the leader gasped, his flask slipping from his hand and spilling onto the dirt. "Aether? You... you're still alive?"
Aether stopped ten paces from the fire. His hair fell over his glowing golden eyes, and a chilling aura radiated from his body.
"You left the gate open," Aether said. His voice was no longer high-pitched with fear; it was deep, resonant, and cold as the winter wind.
"How?!" the younger guard shouted, drawing his Rank-C iron sword in a panic. "A Null can't survive a Rank-D dungeon! You must have hidden in a hole like a rat while the real hunters did the work!"
The guard lunged forward, his sword glowing with a faint blue aura. In the past, Aether would have closed his eyes and prayed for mercy. But now, everything was different.
[Skill Activated: The King's Gaze]
[Analyzing Target: Rank-C Guard]
[Weakness Detected: Slow footwork, over-extended right shoulder.]
To Aether, the guard moved as if he were underwater. Every muscle twitch, every shift in weight was visible. As the sword swung toward his neck, Aether didn't even draw a weapon. He simply tilted his head to the side, the blade whistling inches past his ear.
Before the guard could recover, Aether's hand shot out like a lightning bolt, grabbing the man's wrist.
CRACK.
A sickening sound of breaking bone filled the air.
"AAAAAARGH!" The guard shrieked, falling to his knees as Aether's grip tightened like a hydraulic press. The iron sword clattered uselessly to the ground.
"The next time you throw someone into the dark," Aether whispered, leaning close to the guard's terrified face, "make sure they don't find a light."
With a casual flick of his wrist, Aether threw the grown man—who weighed at least 90kg—five meters across the camp. The guard slammed into a thick oak tree and collapsed, unconscious.
The other two guards stood frozen, their hands trembling on their sword hilts. They didn't see a boy. They saw a ghost—a vengeful spirit that had returned from the abyss to collect its debt.
"Is there anyone else who wants to call me 'trash'?" Aether asked, his golden eyes scanning them.
The leader, the man who had kicked Aether into the dungeon earlier, fell to his knees. "Please... Aether... we were just following orders! We'll give you the gold! Just let us go!"
Aether didn't even look at the gold. He walked past them, his footsteps silent on the grass. He didn't need their gold; he had something far more valuable now. He had a path to the top.
[Quest Completed: Survive the Betrayal]
[Reward: +500 EXP]
[New Title Obtained: 'The One Who Returned']
[Current Level: 3]
Aether walked toward the distant glowing lights of Archon City. Behind him, the fire flickered and died. The 'Null' was gone. A legend was beginning to wake up.