The underground chamber slowly returned to silence.
Fragments of stone from the destroyed Eternal Stone Sentinel lay scattered across the floor.
Kael stood at the center of the hall.
The fragment of the Worldbreaker Gauntlets glowed faintly around his fists.
The power flowing through his body felt unreal.
Stronger.
Heavier.
Alive.
Behind him, the hunters were still staring.
The spear fighter broke the silence first.
"…Kid."
"What exactly did you just do?"
Kael looked down at his hands.
"I think I… inherited something."
The arcanist shook his head in disbelief.
"That relic came from the ancient civilization of Elytherion."
"Artifacts like that are priceless."
The fire elemental whistled.
"Kid just punched a relic guardian to death."
The telepath rubbed his temples.
"More importantly…"
"The relic released a massive spirit energy pulse."
Everyone turned toward the tunnel leading out of the dungeon.
"That means powerful hunters will detect it."
Kael's system flashed again.
Warning
High-level hunter approaching.
Threat Assessment: Unknown
Before anyone could react—
A powerful wave of heat surged through the cavern.
The temperature rose instantly.
Flames ignited along the cave walls.
Footsteps echoed from the tunnel.
Slow.
Confident.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
He wore white combat armor marked with a golden sun emblem.
Fire danced around his shoulders like living wings.
The arcanist whispered in shock.
"It's him…"
The prodigy known across Valtheris.
The rising star of elemental hunters.
Ardyn Solis.
Ardyn's golden eyes scanned the chamber.
They stopped on the broken sentinel.
Then on Kael.
Then finally on the glowing gauntlets.
His expression hardened.
"So…"
"You're the one who triggered the relic."
Kael didn't answer.
The fire elemental in Kael's party stepped forward nervously.
"Lord Solis, we were just investigating the dungeon—"
Ardyn raised a hand.
The man fell silent immediately.
Ardyn walked slowly toward Kael.
Every step radiated intense heat.
"You're a berserker."
It wasn't a question.
Kael nodded slightly.
Ardyn stopped a few meters away.
"You killed the relic guardian."
Another statement.
"Yes."
For a moment, the two young hunters stared at each other.
One radiated blazing elemental power.
The other stood like a silent mountain.
Then Ardyn smiled slightly.
"Interesting."
His gaze shifted to the gauntlets.
"Those belong to the Worldbreaker relic set."
"A god-tier weapon."
The arcanist looked shocked.
"You know about them?"
Ardyn shrugged.
"My guild studies relics."
His gaze returned to Kael.
"That item is dangerous."
"It should be handled by experienced hunters."
Kael crossed his arms.
"You mean you want it."
The temperature in the chamber rose.
Flames flickered around Ardyn's hands.
"I'm saying you don't understand what you're holding."
The system suddenly appeared.
Battle Instinct Activated
Opponent Threat Level: High
Kael felt the warning instantly.
Ardyn was strong.
Very strong.
Probably stronger than anyone Kael had fought so far.
But Kael didn't step back.
Instead, he cracked his knuckles.
"I understand one thing."
Ardyn raised an eyebrow.
"What's that?"
Kael's eyes glowed faint red.
"I earned it."
For a moment, silence filled the chamber.
Then Ardyn laughed.
Not angrily.
Amused.
"You've got guts."
The flames around him faded.
"I'm not here to steal your relic."
The hunters behind Kael visibly relaxed.
Ardyn looked at the broken sentinel again.
"Besides…"
"If you defeated that guardian, you deserve it."
He turned to leave.
But before exiting the chamber, he stopped.
His eyes met Kael's again.
"The Aetherion World Tournament begins next year."
"The strongest hunters from every continent will compete."
He smiled.
"You should enter."
Kael frowned.
"Why?"
Ardyn's golden eyes gleamed.
"Because I want to fight you."
With that, the Sun Heir walked back into the tunnel.
The flames vanished with him.
The cavern grew quiet again.
The spear fighter let out a long breath.
"…I thought we were about to die."
The fire elemental nodded.
"Picking a fight with Ardyn Solis would be suicide."
The telepath looked at Kael.
"But he acknowledged you."
"That's rare."
Kael didn't reply.
Instead, he looked down at the glowing gauntlets again.
His system appeared one more time.
New Main Quest
Participate in the Aetherion World Tournament
Reward:
Bloodline Evolution Progress
Legendary Skill
Access to World-Level Dungeons
Kael smiled slightly.
"So that's the next step."
Far above them, outside the dungeon…
The world was beginning to notice his existence.
And soon…
Every guild in Aetherion would be looking for him.