The atmosphere inside Blackwood Hills had changed.
When Emil first entered the region, he felt only silence.
Now...
He felt something else.
A hidden presence.
A danger waiting beneath the surface.
---
Kael Draven walked ahead without speaking.
Despite his old appearance, his movements were flawless.
Every step was balanced.
Every breath was controlled.
There was no wasted motion.
---
Emil observed him carefully.
This was not the movement of an ordinary hunter.
This was the movement of someone who had spent decades fighting for survival.
---
"You're studying me."
Kael suddenly spoke.
Emil stopped.
"I am."
The old hunter laughed.
"Good."
"Observation is the first step of becoming stronger."
---
Lyra walked behind them, still confused.
"Uncle, you usually don't care about strangers."
Kael glanced back.
"I don't."
"Then why are you helping him?"
---
The old hunter looked at Emil.
"Because I recognize something."
---
Emil tilted his head.
"What?"
---
"Loneliness."
---
For a moment, the forest became quiet.
---
Emil did not answer.
Because he understood.
---
They continued until they reached the location of the missing caravan.
Kael crouched beside the broken supplies.
"Look carefully."
---
Emil focused his senses.
The area revealed countless details.
Monster footprints.
Broken weapons.
Signs of struggle.
---
But something bothered him.
"The monsters didn't attack randomly."
---
Kael smiled.
"Good."
"They moved like soldiers."
---
Emil touched the ground.
"There were people here."
"Several."
---
Kael nodded.
"Bandits."
"But not ordinary ones."
---
He stood.
"Someone is organizing monsters and humans together."
---
That was unusual.
Monsters were usually controlled by instinct.
For them to cooperate with humans meant something else was happening.
---
As they investigated deeper, they found an abandoned underground passage.
The entrance was hidden beneath rocks and vegetation.
---
Kael looked serious.
"This wasn't here before."
---
They entered.
The tunnel was dark.
Cold air flowed from within.
---
Emil's senses immediately detected movement.
"Five ahead."
Kael smiled.
"Only five?"
---
Before Emil could respond...
Kael disappeared.
---
A moment later...
Several impacts echoed through the tunnel.
---
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
---
When Emil reached the area, he found five monsters unconscious.
Not killed.
Defeated.
---
Emil was surprised.
Kael had not used a weapon.
Only his fists.
---
"You fought without a weapon."
Kael shrugged.
"Of course."
---
"A hunter who depends only on equipment is not a true hunter."
---
Emil looked at the fallen creatures.
Their armor was damaged exactly where their weaknesses were.
Precise.
Efficient.
---
Kael turned toward him.
"Your turn."
---
Emil frowned.
"My turn?"
---
"Fight."
---
"Against what?"
---
Kael pointed forward.
A large creature emerged from the darkness.
A Stonehide Ogre.
A D-rank monster.
---
The creature roared and charged.
---
Emil immediately reached for his sword.
"Stop."
Kael's voice echoed.
---
Emil paused.
"No sword."
---
The ogre approached.
Heavy footsteps shook the tunnel.
---
Emil understood.
This was a test.
---
The monster swung its massive arm.
Emil avoided.
Barely.
---
Without his sword, his options were limited.
His instincts told him to attack.
But his body was not trained for it.
---
The ogre attacked again.
Emil moved backward.
---
"You're thinking too much."
Kael spoke calmly.
"Combat is not a calculation."
"It is a conversation."
---
Emil listened.
The monster's breathing.
The movement of muscles.
The shift before attacking.
---
The same principles as swordsmanship.
Only different.
---
The ogre attacked.
Emil stepped forward.
Not away.
---
He struck the monster's arm.
His fist connected.
But the result was disappointing.
The ogre barely moved.
---
Kael shook his head.
"Your understanding is good."
"But your body is weak."
---
Emil narrowed his eyes.
---
The next attack came.
This time, Emil used Sun God Breathing.
Energy flowed through his muscles.
His body strengthened.
---
He moved.
Blocked.
Redirected.
Countered.
---
The ogre stumbled.
---
Kael watched carefully.
"Interesting."
---
Emil was not learning from zero.
He was converting his existing knowledge.
Swordsmanship.
Senses.
Breathing technique.
Into another form of combat.
---
The battle continued.
Minutes passed.
---
Finally, Emil struck a weak point beneath the ogre's ribs.
The creature collapsed.
---
Ding!
Stonehide Ogre defeated.
Experience gained.
---
Emil breathed heavily.
Without his sword, the fight had been much harder.
---
Kael approached.
"Now you understand."
---
Emil nodded.
"My sword covers my weaknesses."
---
Kael smiled.
"Exactly."
"A sword should increase your strength."
"Not replace it."
---
That evening, they camped near the valley.
Kael sat beside the fire.
"Tomorrow, your real training begins."
---
Emil looked at him.
"Training?"
---
The old hunter nodded.
"I saved my niece."
"I owe you."
---
"But more importantly..."
He looked at Emil's sword.
"You have the talent to become something greater."
---
The flames reflected in Kael's eyes.
"I will teach you how to fight when you have no blade."
---
The system appeared.
Ding!
New Training Opportunity Detected.
Mentor:
Kael Draven
Rank:
A-Rank Hunter
Specialization:
Close Combat
Potential Benefit:
High
---
Emil looked at the notification.
Another path had appeared before him.
The path beyond the sword.
---
The next morning...
The Iron Fang Hunter would begin forging a different kind of warrior.