Kael emerged from the edge of the Forbidden Abyss just as the sun began to rise. To anyone else, the sunlight was a blessing, but to Kael, it felt like the cold gaze of the Gods who had abandoned him.
He reached the gates of Oakhaven, a frontier city known for its adventurers. He wore a hooded cloak stolen from a dead bandit, hiding his glowing silver eyes and the jagged 'Vanguard's Broken Blade' on his back.
[System Note: Stealth Mode Active.]
[Level 12 reached during the climb. Stats updated.]
At the gate, a guard stopped him. "Identification or Mana Signature."
Kael didn't have mana. He reached into his pouch and pulled out the core of a Void Hound he had killed. The guard's eyes widened. "A Level 5 core? Fine... pass through. But keep your trouble outside."
Kael walked into the city. He needed a place to grow stronger in secret. He found a job at a local blacksmith's shop. To the world, he was just a nameless laborer carrying heavy iron. To the System, he was training.
[Daily Task: Carry 10,000 lbs of Iron.]
[Progress: 2,500/10,000]
[Reward: +2 Strength, +1 Stamina]