Chapter 15: Broken Pride

Kael Ardyn returned to the outskirts of Astria after the grueling dungeon trials, his body exhausted but his mind restless. The city’s familiar sights should have brought comfort, yet he felt only a hollow ache. Whispers and jeers haunted his ears even from a distance.

“Kael the Weak… still alive, huh?” a hunter sneered from the guild hall steps.

Kael’s jaw tightened, pride stinging. He had survived, grown stronger, even leveled up—but the world still seemed to look down on him. The truth hit him hard: survival alone was not enough. Strength without recognition was meaningless.

He clenched his fists, staring at the glowing mark on his left hand. The energy pulsed as if sensing his frustration. “I can’t rely on pride,” he muttered. “I can’t let my ego blind me to my limits.”

The following days were relentless. Kael trained tirelessly, refining his skills, pushing his body past pain, honing both swordsmanship and strategy. Yet each time he ventured into the city or crossed paths with other hunters, a sense of inadequacy gnawed at him. They were faster, stronger, more respected. And he… he was still climbing.

One evening, while practicing in a secluded courtyard, Kael was ambushed by a rogue hunter, a skilled swordsman from a rival guild. The battle was brutal, forcing Kael to adapt quickly. Despite his training, he was thrown to the ground, wounded and humiliated.

Lying there, gasping, Kael felt the weight of his pride shatter. “I’m not invincible,” he admitted, pain radiating through his body. “Strength… it isn’t about proving others wrong. It’s about survival, growth, and understanding my limits.”

The rogue vanished into the night, leaving Kael alone with his thoughts. He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat and the pulsing of his mark.

“This… this broken pride will fuel me,” he whispered. “I’ve been humbled, but I won’t stay down. I will rise—not for recognition, but for myself. For the power I am destined to wield.”

As the city lights flickered in the distance, Kael stood, wounded but resolute. Each scar, each failure, each lesson learned was shaping him. The path of a hunter was not a straight line—it was carved through trials, setbacks, and the relentless pursuit of growth.

Kael Ardyn had learned humility, and from it, a deeper, more enduring strength began to form within him.