The night was quiet, the faint glow of moonlight spilling across the rocky clearing. Kael stood in front of the mysterious man who had carried the corpse of the black dragon as if it weighed nothing. His heart raced, his fists clenched.
"Will you train me?" Kael asked, his voice firm, though inside he trembled.
The man didn't hesitate."No."
Kael's eyes widened. His jaw dropped. "Ahh—what did you just say? Did you even understand me? I want you to train me!"
"I heard you," the man replied coldly, his tone sharp as steel. "And I'm not interested in training weaklings who can't even handle monsters of C or D rank."
Kael bit his lip, a hollow laugh escaping. "Yeah… I am weak. I've never proven myself to anyone. I can't even protect myself, so how could I ever protect others? No matter what I try, I always lose. I see people around me getting stronger, achieving what they want… and when I try, I fail. Always."
The man's gaze sharpened. "Why do you care about proving yourself to others? The only one you need to prove anything to is yourself. People will come into your life and leave, but you'll always be there. You. So tell me, Kael… what about your family? Do they know you're wandering like this?"
Kael's voice cracked. "They'll never know… because I lost everyone. I'm all alone. No one's left."
The man sneered. "Yuck. I hate that kind of weakness. Emotions—attachments—they make you fragile. That's why I walk alone. Alone, with nothing but strength."
He stepped closer, eyes glowing faintly. "So why, boy? Why do you want me to train you? What's your purpose?"
Kael straightened his back, forcing courage into his trembling voice."I need to get stronger… to qualify for the Legion Force exam. And when I become one of them… I'll kill every last demon in this world."
The air froze. The man's expression shifted instantly—his cold indifference replaced with a chilling intensity. His aura surged, pressing down on Kael like the weight of a mountain.
"Hey, kid…" His voice was low, dangerous. "Do you even understand what you're saying? Killing demons? Don't you dare take them lightly. A single demon could end your life before you could even blink."
Kael's heart pounded. (His expression… it changed. Did I touch a wound inside him?)
The man turned his back, then glanced over his shoulder with a faint smirk."Even if I considered training you, I'd first need to see your power. Show it to me."
Kael froze, his hands trembling. "I… I don't have any power."
The man's eyes widened for the first time. His voice thundered through the night."What?!"
And the clearing fell silent.