The night sky over Faust glittered like a sea of stars, and Kaelen walked the cobbled streets with a grin he just couldn’t hide. His steps were light, almost bouncy, like he was floating.And honestly? He had every reason to be that happy. His trip to the Faust Cathedral had been insane. Not only had he jumped from Level 3 straight to Level 6, but he’d also gotten his hands on the Spear of the Demon God—just thinking about it sent a rush of excitement through him.By the time he made it back to his mansion, he was still too hyped to sleep. So, of course, when Shia and the others showed up the next morning, they found him with dark circles under his eyes, looking like someone who’d spent all night thinking about loot instead of resting.Naturally, Jeka gave him an earful.“Antonio, what did you get?” Kaelen asked once everyone had settled in.Antonio’s face lit up. He pulled out what looked like a stick of dried wood—no gems, no sockets, nothing fancy at all.Kaelen blinked. “That’s… i

The city of Faust was quiet that morning, almost too quiet. The air carried that faint mix of old stone and incense you only notice when everything else falls silent. Inside Kaelen’s mansion, sunlight poured through the tall windows, sliding across polished marble floors until it hit the three people seated in the hall — Kaelen, Aunt Amelia, and Brennar.Kaelen reached into his space pouch and pulled out a gleaming shield. He placed it gently on the table in front of Amelia. “So, who was planning to take this one?” he asked, his voice calm but direct.Amelia smiled, that soft kind of smile she always wore. “I was,” she said easily. “It’s for Captain Gordon. I checked his old shield when I got back — this one’s a perfect match. Just name your price, or if you’d rather trade, tell me what you want.”“There’s no need for that,” Kaelen said, sliding the shield toward her. “You’ve looked after me since the start, Aunt Amelia. If you want it, take it. No payment, no trade.”Amelia frowned, s

The next morning, Kaelen rose with the first light. After a quick wash and a modest breakfast, he set off for Faust Cathedral.Along the way, he passed several other professionals, all heading toward the same place. They glanced at him briefly—some clearly recognized him. Kaelen, however, didn’t recognize any of them. He felt a flicker of curiosity as he approached the cathedral’s grand doors.“Aunt Amelia!” he called.Amelia stood at the center of the hall, beside a mage clad in a vivid crimson robe. A faint shimmer of magic danced around him, making it obvious he was a spellcaster.She was chatting casually with the mage when she turned at the sound of Kaelen’s voice. “You’ve come,” she said. Calm. Almost casual. No surprise in her tone.As Kaelen stepped forward, Amelia grabbed his hand and led him to the mage. “Let me introduce you—this is Finn, a genius of our Warblade Adventurer Team.”“And this,” she continued, gesturing to Kaelen, “is also a genius of our adventurer group—Kael

Bang!The wine glass slipped from Stephen’s hand and shattered on the marble floor, splintering into a thousand tiny shards that glittered like stars.“Stephen, seriously? Calm down,” a man said, his voice level but carrying that quiet edge of annoyance. He was handsome, eyes half-closed, lost in the soft rhythm of the zither playing somewhere nearby. When he finally looked up, irritation flickered across his face.The melody outside floated in like a breeze — light, lilting, and strangely sad. It wound its way through the Mermaid Tavern, softening the air around them.Down below, a young blonde girl sat on a small stage. Her golden curls spilled over her shoulders as she sang, her voice rich with emotion. The warm light bathed her face, and for a moment, the whole room seemed to revolve around her song.Their private room was perched on the tavern’s second floor, giving them a clear view of the hall through a half-open window. On the table in front of them sat bottles of fine wine, c

The heat hit first—thick, heavy, and suffocating. Then came the red. Everywhere.That was the Flame Cavern, a place that looked like fire itself had come alive.Most caves were cold, damp, and silent. This one burned. Literally. The walls glowed faintly, blanketed with clusters of crimson mushrooms that pulsed like beating hearts. Their eerie light danced across the stone, painting everything in shades of molten red.“Move out,” Kaelen said, glancing back at the team. With one smooth motion, he drew his Death’s Grinning Mask and Bloodthirsty War Axe.But this time, he wasn’t trying to impress anyone. The usual cocky glint in his eyes was gone. He let the bright glow of his weapons fade, dimming their brilliance until they looked ordinary—like a beast quietly waiting to strike.“Kaelen, be careful,” Aunt Amelia called out. Her tone was gentle, but firm—the kind that made you stop and listen. “It’s your first dungeon. Don’t rush it. Take one monster at a time. Everything inside is elite