The sun was rising slowly over the slums. The sky turned from dark gray to a pale blue, but the streets still smelled like dirt, blood, and smoke.
Kael stood near a cracked water pipe, washing off the dried rat blood on his arms. His body ached, but he felt stronger than ever. In the past day, he had done more than in his whole life.
He had leveled up, fought monsters, earned money, and unlocked skills.
He had changed.
But change always brings attention.
Word spread fast in the slums.
"Kael beat up three gang members last night."
"He survived a dungeon, they say."
"He's walking around like he's not trash anymore."
By noon, almost everyone in Low End had heard something about Kael. Some thought it was a lie. Others were curious. But one person was angry.
Jarek.
The same Jarek who had broken Kael's ribs three days ago. The same one who ruled the slum streets with his fists and his crew.
When he heard about Kael, he laughed. Then he got mad.
"That little rat thinks he can crawl out of the gutter?" Jarek growled. "I'll break both his legs this time."
He gathered his boys — six of them, all tough, all used to hurting people without feeling anything.
Kael was resting in the shack when it happened.
A rock crashed through the side wall.
Then another.
Then Jarek's voice.
"Kael! Come out, you little coward!"
Kael opened the door and saw Jarek standing in the alley, his crew behind him. People nearby stopped what they were doing. Slum fights were common, but this one was different.
Everyone knew it was coming.
Kael didn't run.
He stepped out into the open, pipe in hand.
Jarek raised an eyebrow. "Really? You still using that rusty stick?"
Kael didn't say anything.
Jarek grinned. "You got lucky last time, huh? Fought a few rats and think you're strong now?"
Still no answer.
"I'm gonna enjoy this," Jarek said.
Kael's system blinked.
> [DANGER ALERT: HOSTILE THREAT DETECTED – JAREK – LEVEL 7]
[BATTLE MODE: ON]
Kael's current level was 6. Close, but Jarek still had the edge.
Kael gripped his pipe. "Let's find out if you're still as tough as you think."
Jarek charged first, throwing a heavy punch. Kael dodged to the side using Shadow Step — his body blurred and moved instantly.
The crowd gasped.
Kael countered, swinging the pipe toward Jarek's ribs. The hit landed, but Jarek didn't fall. He grabbed Kael by the arm and threw him against the wall.
Kael groaned. Pain shot through his back.
Jarek laughed. "Not so special now, huh?"
Kael stood up slowly, wiping blood from his lip.
> [HP: 42/70]
He wasn't done yet.
The fight got faster.
Kael used his agility to dodge Jarek's attacks. He hit back with clean, hard strikes from the pipe. Every hit triggered his Street Fighter skill, dealing more damage than a normal blow.
Jarek grunted, bleeding from his shoulder now.
"You've changed," he said. "But not enough."
He charged again, this time feinting left then kicking Kael in the chest. Kael hit the ground hard, gasping.
> [HP: 23/70]
The crowd watched silently. No one helped. No one interfered.
That was the slum rule: fight your own fights.
Kael lay on the ground, eyes burning.
Old Kael would have stayed down.
This Kael didn't.
He rolled away just as Jarek tried to stomp on him. Then he activated Shadow Step again — appearing behind Jarek.
With a loud yell, Kael slammed the pipe into the back of Jarek's knee.
Jarek screamed and fell to one leg.
Kael didn't stop. He kept hitting — shoulder, ribs, jaw — every swing faster, sharper.
> [SKILL ACTIVATED: ENDURE PAIN Lv.1]
[BONUS RESISTANCE: +10%]
Even as Jarek hit him back, Kael kept moving. His body hurt, but his will was solid. Every second, he felt more alive.
Then the final strike — a full-power swing to the side of Jarek's head.
The big man fell.
Hard.
Silence.
Kael stood over him, breathing like a wild animal.
His pipe was bent. His clothes were torn. His face was bruised.
But he had won.
> [BATTLE WON: XP +120]
[LEVEL UP: Kael – Level 7]
He looked around. The crowd stared in shock.
No one had ever beaten Jarek in a straight fight.
Kael didn't smile.
He just said, "Stay down," and walked away.
Back in his shack, Kael opened the system.
Kael – Level 7
Strength: 12
Agility: 12
Vitality: 8
Intelligence: 6
Willpower: 8
Soul: ?
> [Skill Points: 2]
He used both on Vitality. He needed more health to stay in fights longer.
His health bar refilled.
> [HP: 80/80]
He leaned back against the wall and sighed.
He wasn't just surviving anymore.
He was becoming stronger.
Later that night, someone knocked on the shack door.
It was a girl, maybe 15, with short hair and dirt on her face.
"You're Kael, right?" she asked.
He nodded.
"My name's Mina. I saw you fight Jarek."
Kael looked at her carefully.
She handed him a folded note.
"Someone wants to meet you. Said you might be… different."
Kael opened the note.
It had only three words:
"We are watching."
His eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?" he asked.
But the girl had already walked away.
Kael sat in silence, reading the note again.
For years, no one cared about him. No one saw him as anything but trash.
Now people were watching.
Some were scared.
Some were curious.
And some… might be dangerous.
He looked at the sky through a hole in the roof.
"Bring it on," he whispered.
He was ready.
For challenges.
For dungeons.
For whatever came next.
End of Chapter 4