Kael stepped out of the carriage with George Henry. George pointed at the shimmering dungeon wall. "Okay, let's start!"
George raised his hands. Water swirled from the air and ground around him, forming twisting, powerful ropes of water. They slammed into the dungeon wall like giant, watery drills! CRUNCH! The wall shattered.
Kael stared. This guy is SS-Rank? He feels even stronger!
"Come on!" George ordered. Kael and the other D-Rank hunters followed him inside the damp, dark cave.
"Listen up," George told the hunters as they walked. "If you see a strong monster, TELL ME. Don't just rush in for money. It's too risky."
Suddenly, skeleton monsters appeared! Bones rattled as they shuffled forward.
George smiled slightly. Now the test begins. He watched Kael.
Kael gave a sharp, scary smile. Blue Flame! Four Clones!
[New Power: Clone Limit Increased!]
POOF! POOF! POOF! POOF! Four exact copies of Kael appeared beside him, *all* holding blazing blue fire swords!
George jumped. What?! Four clones?! With swords?! This boy was unreal. "I'll... be right back," George muttered, stepping back into the shadows.
"Sir?!" one hunter yelled after him.
"Don't panic! Guild Master William is coming!" George called as he vanished.
The hunters looked nervously at Kael and his clones. Okay... stick close to HIM.
Kael and his clones moved like lightning. WHOOSH! SLASH! TELEPORT! They flashed around the skeletons, cutting off heads and shattering bones. The hunters could barely see them move!
Outside the Dungeon:
William appeared beside George. "Well? How's the boy?"
George grinned. "Amazing, sir! Just amazing!"
William smiled. "Knew it. I'm going in." He vanished in a blur of speed.
Inside the Dungeon:
A skeleton almost killed a hunter! WHOOSH! A Kael clone appeared, cut the monster down, and pulled the hunter up.
"Th-thanks!" the hunter gasped.
Nearby, William hid behind a rock, watching. Clones AND teleportation? Incredible!
Kael finished the skeletons, breathing hard. He glared into the deeper darkness. The "Boss Room". Some terrified hunters ran back outside. Kael walked forward alone.
William watched him go. He walks like someone who's seen too much pain. What made him so strong... and so cold?
Kael entered the final chamber. A terrifying Lich (a powerful skeleton wizard) floated there.
[New Skill: Cinder Blades!]
Yes! Kael thought. Fiery red swords made of pure flame suddenly appeared, swirling around him – hundreds of them!
The Lich laughed, its voice like dry bones. "Human! Pathetic! I will eat your body! I crave your blood!"
Kael smiled his creepy smile. "You want my blood? I want to taste yours first."
He talks to monsters?! William thought, shocked.
"CINDER BLADES! ATTACK!" Kael yelled. Over a thousand fiery swords shot at the Lich like a storm! WHOOSH! BOOM!
The Lich screamed in rage. Kael made EIGHT clones now! They all charged!
The Lich used its magic: "CHRONO RIFT!" A weird, slow bubble appeared around Kael. Time seemed to drag! CRACK! A burst of force hit Kael, cutting off his leg and smashing him into the wall!
"Should I help?!" William almost jumped in.
Kael wiped blood from his mouth. He smiled again. His leg stump... began to glow! Muscle and bone regrew! In seconds, his leg was completely healed! He stood up.
He HEALS himself?! William was stunned. No healer needed?!
The Lich was furious, but helpless. One Kael clone used MIND GRIP, holding the Lich frozen in the air! The real Kael raised his blazing sword.
"THIS... IS... THE... END!" Kael roared. He swung down with terrible force. SCHLICK! The Lich's head and body shattered into dust.
William stumbled back from his hiding spot, his eyes wide with shock. "Kael Jones... what are you?"
(Chapter 14 Fin)