The exit of the Shadow Caves was crowded with tired, bruised recruits. Most were covered in soot, clutching small, low-grade Mana Stones like they were winning lottery tickets.
At the center of the camp, the Guild Master sat behind a heavy oak desk, his magical quill scratching names into a ledger. "Next!" he barked.
Jax and his group stepped forward, smug grins on their faces. Jax dropped three glowing stones onto the table. "Rank E stones, sir. And we managed to drive off a Shadow Spider."
The Guild Master nodded slowly. "Impressive for a group of Bronzes. Pass."
Jax puffed out his chest and turned to the crowd. "See? That's what real talent looks—"
His voice died in his throat.
The crowd parted as a lone figure walked out of the cave's mouth. Kael's clothes were shredded, and he was covered in black ash and monster blood, but he wasn't limping. His eyes, once downcast and dull, now held a sharp, predatory light.
"He's alive?" someone whispered. "How did the Zero survive?"
Kael ignored the murmurs and walked straight to the desk. He didn't say a word. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a jagged, pulsating core—the heart of the Bone-Claw Stalker. It was ten times larger than any Mana Stone brought out that day, and it hummed with a dark, violent energy.
The Guild Master froze. The magical quill snapped in his hand. "This... this is an Elite Rank E Core. This creature shouldn't even be in the rookie zone." He looked up at Kael, his eyes wide. "Who helped you kill this?"
"I walked in alone," Kael said, his voice calm but heavy with authority. "I walked out alone."
"Liar!" Jax screamed, stepping forward. "He must have stolen it! He's a Zero! He doesn't even have a class!"
The Guild Master stood up, pulling a crystal orb from his desk—the Truth Seeker. "Place your hand on the orb, boy. Let's see what the Heavens say about your rank."
Kael hesitated for a second. Would the Void show up? He placed his hand on the cold glass.
The orb didn't glow blue for Bronze or silver for Silver. It turned a deep, abyssal black. Cracks spread across the surface of the crystal until it shattered into a thousand pieces.
[Warning: System Interference Detected]
[Status: Hidden]
The Guild Master fell back into his chair, gasping. "The orb... it couldn't measure him."
Kael pulled his hand back, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He looked at Jax, who was now trembling.
"Call me 'Zero' one more time," Kael whispered, "and I'll show you exactly how empty a soul can be."