Silence returned to the chamber.
Kael regained his consciousness and control of his body.
But he didn't forget what happened when he lost consciousness.
Neither in his dream nor in reality.
Man, I feel as if my entire body is collapsing.
He barely had any time to relax when Miri collapsed on the ground.
Kael caught her before she hit the stone.
Her golden eyes trembled as she looked up at him. She whispered in a small trembling voice:
"…Kael?"
"You're alive," he said.
That was all he could manage to say.
Kael shifted his gaze from Miri to Rovan and Toma, letting out a heavy, weary breath
We are still alive.
But everything changed forever.
Roivan, who is a warrior, has one arm missing.
Toma, who is a shield guard, has one leg missing.
They have pretty much lost their future as adventurers.
The light around Kael faded.
But something remained inside him.
The blessing had awakened.
And the Dungeon…
Would never see him the same way again.
Kael returned to the surface at dawn.
Not by walking or standing, but carried on the shoulders of adventurers who came to rescue.
When they found Kael and his group, Kael was very much on guard against them.
As they could be adventurers who may be the ones who cause all this.
It was not until they explained that they were level 2 adventurers from the Ganesha Familia that they were understood.
Had they come to rescue them after someone reported them to the guild?
Only then did Kael let his guard down slightly.
Adventurers from the Guild escorted him through the gates with Miri on one side and the broken bodies of Rovan and Toma behind.
Blood had dried on Kael's clothes. His sword—what was left of it—was nothing more than a twisted shard at his side.
Lady Hestia was waiting at the dungeon entrance.
"Kael—!"
She gasped, the colour draining from her face the instant she saw him.
She ran to him, catching his weight before he fell.
"Idiot… reckless… stubborn idiot," she whispered, holding his head to her chest.
"You're not allowed to die."
Goddess Hestia said to him with her voice breaking in sobs.
Kael tried to answer.
Nothing came out.
———
Kael and others were escorted to the guild emergency room.
Multiple healers were casting healing spells and literally bathing them in healing potions.
Thank god, the guild will pay for this expense.
Otherwise, I'm gonna be broke.
Though, Roivan's and Toma's severed limbs were destroyed in the dungeon and could not be reattached.
After all that, Kael sleeps like a dead person the entire day.
That night.
In order to speed up Kael's recovery update his falna.
Hestia sat beside his bed,
Her thumb pressed to his back.
The Falna on Kael's back glowed.
Lady Hestia froze as she looked at his falna.
"…Kael."
Her voice trembled and her hands shook as she asked Kael:
"…What did you do down there?"
The Falna responded like wildfire.
Name: Kael Verdan
Familia: Hestia Familia
Level: 1
Strength: D 512
Endurance: C 601
Dexterity: D 487
Agility: C 623
Magic: E 362
『 Skills 』
Ancestral Regeneration — Active (High Stage)
• Rapid wound closure
• Fatal shock resistance
• resistance to the concept of death as long as Kael refused to give up.
• Healing scales with danger
———
Bloodline Blessing — Lumen Verdan (Stage I: Awakened)
• Light Magic Compatibility: S
• Growth Cap Removed
• Regeneration × Light Resonance
• Soul reacts to divine presence
———
Bond of Ascension — Stirring
• Growth responds to emotional bonds
• Power increases through trust and connection
———
Lady Hestia's hands shook.
"…This isn't just growth. This is a transformation."
She touched his head gently.
"…You're scaring me."
Kael opened his eyes to look at her, his eyes filled with fatigue.
"…Sorry."
She smiled weakly.
"…Don't apologise for surviving."