Chapter 13: Level Up

Kael Ardyn emerged from the cavern, his body aching but his mind sharp. The Three-Eye Goblin’s defeat had left him exhilarated, a strange energy pulsing through his veins. As he flexed his hand, the faint glow of the mark on his left hand intensified.

Suddenly, a soft chime echoed in his ears, and before him, the Status Window flickered, updating with new numbers and abilities.

Level: 2 HP: 120 Skills: Void Slash (Unlocked) EXP: 0/100

Kael blinked in disbelief. “Level… up?” he whispered.

He raised his sword experimentally, testing the newfound surge of strength. His movements felt sharper, more precise. Even the air seemed to hum with energy, responding to his intent.

“This… this is real,” Kael murmured, a mixture of awe and determination swelling inside him. “Every battle, every scar… it’s all paying off. I’m becoming stronger.”

He remembered Lyra Selene’s words about endurance, adaptability, and survival. This Level Up was a tangible sign that his perseverance and hard work were not in vain. Each victory, each lesson, each risk taken in the dungeon had brought him closer to this moment.

Kael practiced the newly unlocked skill, Void Slash, swinging his sword with measured precision. A faint, dark energy shimmered along the blade, cutting through a discarded wooden beam with ease. The thrill of power coursed through him, but he kept his focus.

“I can’t be complacent,” he reminded himself. “Strength is not given—it is earned. And I will continue to earn it, no matter what stands in my way.”

With renewed vigor, Kael ventured deeper into the dungeon, each step filled with confidence and purpose. The mark on his hand pulsed in harmony with his heartbeat, a reminder of the path he had chosen and the power that awaited him.

Kael Ardyn, once the weakest hunter, now felt the first true taste of strength. And with it came a promise—to fight, to survive, and to rise beyond every limit the world had placed upon him.