They stood far from the guild hall.
Far enough that the noise of the crowd faded into nothing. Far enough that no one could overhear what was about to be said.
Ahead of them loomed the entrance to an E-rank dungeon—its stone maw silent, patient, waiting.
Kael Draven faced them.
Riven.Lyra.Taren Vale.Calen Vire.
Four hunters who had once been invisible.
Kael's voice was calm, but it carried weight.
"All of you," he said, "are E-rank hunters now."
They froze.
"So don't speak," Kael continued. "Just listen."
Their mouths closed instantly.
"A while ago," Kael said, eyes sharp, voice steady, "you were F-ranks. Trash. Burdens. The kind of hunters guilds send ahead to die so others don't have to."
Lyra's fingers trembled.
Riven clenched his jaw.
Taren's head lowered.
Calen swallowed hard.
"I know," Kael said quietly. "Because I was there with you."
Silence pressed down on them.
"I can take you further," Kael continued. "Not just E-rank. Not just A-rank."
His gaze hardened.
"I can raise you to S-rank."
Their eyes widened.
Something ignited in their chests.
Hope.
Raw. Dangerous. Forbidden hope.
Riven's eyes shone like fire.
Lyra covered her mouth, tears forming.
Taren's shoulders shook as memories surfaced—mockery, beatings, being left behind.
Calen's tears fell freely. He didn't even try to hide them.
Years of humiliation.Years of discrimination.Years of being treated as less than human.
All of it came crashing back.
Kael let them feel it.
Then—
"I won't do this for free," Kael said.
Their attention snapped back to him instantly.
"I don't want gratitude. I don't want praise."
His voice dropped.
"I want absolute loyalty."
The air turned heavy.
"If I say die—you die.""If I say kill—you kill."
No hesitation. No doubt.
Kael's eyes burned.
"It's better than fighting for crumbs. Better than crawling for guilds that would abandon you without a second thought."
He took one step closer.
"I will give you power. Purpose. A future."
Then, quietly—
"What do you say?"
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then Riven dropped to one knee.
"I follow you."
Lyra followed instantly, tears still falling. "All the way."
Taren knelt, fists pressed to the ground. "I won't go back."
Calen bowed deeply, voice shaking. "Please… don't leave us."
Kael looked at them.
Four broken hunters.
Four burning wills.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Good," he said.
Behind them, the dungeon waited.
And for the first time in their lives—
They were no longer weak.