Resurgence: eternal evolution

Kael's muscles burned as he pushed himself to complete another set of push-ups. The park was quiet except for the occasional chirp of birds and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. His breath came in short, sharp bursts, sweat dripping down his forehead and soaking his shirt.

"Fifty," Kael grunted, dropping onto the grass and rolling onto his back. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he stared up at the sky, letting the ache in his arms settle for a moment.

"Kael?"

A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He propped himself up on one elbow and turned to see Lena, her auburn hair tied back neatly. She wore her guild uniform, the sleek black and gold design making her look every bit the capable hunter she was. Her expression, however, was a mix of amusement and concern.

"You're here again?" Lena asked, stopping a few steps away. "You just woke up days ago, and you're already out here trying to break your body again?"

Kael chuckled, though it came out strained. "Takes more than that to break me." He sat up, brushing the grass off his hands. "I can't afford to rest. I need to get stronger, Lena. ."

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, giving him a pointed look. "Stronger? Kael, you were dead a few days ago. Dead. And now you're out here lifting rocks and doing push-ups like it's some kind of punishment. Do you even know what the word 'rest' means?"

Kael shrugged, pulling himself to his feet. "Rest doesn't make me better. I've got too much to do. Every second counts."

"Every second counts?" Lena repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You sound like a protagonist in one of those cheesy action dramas. 'Every second counts,' my ass. You're going to end up back in the hospital if you keep this up."

Kael smirked, stretching his arms above his head. "Better the hospital than the grave."

Lena sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're hopeless. You know that, right? Stubborn and hopeless. And don't give me that look—you know I'm right."

Kael chuckled softly, but his tone turned serious. "Lena, I don't have a choice. If I don't push myself, who's going to protect my family? What if another dungeon break happens? What if something terrifying comes through ? plus I need to make money."

For a moment, Lena's teasing demeanor softened. She looked at him, her eyes filled with something between sympathy and exasperation. She stepped closer and flicked his forehead lightly.

"You idiot," she said softly. "No one's asking you to save the world on your own. There are other hunters, other guilds. You're not the only one fighting, Kael."

Kael looked away, his jaw tightening. "Maybe not. But it sure feels like it sometimes."

Lena sighed again, louder this time, and checked her watch. Her eyes widened. "Crap, I'm late! My guild mates are probably going to kill me." She turned to leave but hesitated, looking back at him. "Promise me you'll take it easy, okay? At least for today?"

Kael smirked, leaning back against a tree. "No promises."

Lena groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "You're impossible. Fine. But if I come back here tomorrow and find you passed out, don't expect me to carry you to the hospital ."

Kael chuckled as she started walking away. "Thanks for stopping by, Lena. Be careful out there."

She glanced back over her shoulder, her usual playful smirk returning. "You too, Kael. Try not to turn yourself into a corpse . It's not a good look."

As she disappeared down the path, Kael stood in silence, her words lingering in his mind. For a moment, he considered taking her advice. Then he shook his head, determination flaring in his chest.

"No time to rest," he muttered, picking up the rock again. "Not yet."

Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, his breathing steady as he completed his final set of push-ups. The sun had started its descent, casting long shadows across the park. He stood and stretched, a small smirk playing on his lips. His muscles felt tighter, stronger, more responsive.

Suddenly, a familiar black screen flickered into view before him.

[System Alert]

Reward for the Desperate!

Mana: +2

Speed: +2

Strength: +2

Kael blinked in surprise. He read the stats again, a slow grin spreading across his face. "So I can get stronger this way too..." he muttered, clenching his fists as energy coursed through him. "Not bad."

Just as he was about to leave, another notification appeared.

[New Quest Available]

Quest: Collect 50 E-Rank Monster Cores

Reward: +10 All Stats, Unlock Special Feature

Kael stared at the screen, a mix of excitement and dread bubbling inside him. "Fifty monster cores? That's a lot…" he murmured, scratching the back of his head. "Where the hell am I supposed to get those? "I don't have any money for gear or a team. How am I supposed to get fifty E-rank monster cores?"

The system chimed in with its usual indifferent tone:

[System]: How should I know? Figure it out yourself.

Kael groaned, throwing his hands up in frustration. "You're supposed to help me, not give me cryptic answers!"

No response. The screen vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"Fine, guess I'll figure it out," Kael muttered, pulling out his phone. He scrolled through a forum for dungeon raids, filtering results for E-rank portals. It didn't take long before a post caught his eye.

[Looking for Participants: E-Rank Dungeon Raid]

Team full, just need one more to meet the minimum 10 participants.

"Perfect," Kael muttered, quickly registering. Moments later, a message popped up with details about the location and time.

[Confirmation Received]

You're registered for the E-Rank Dungeon Raid.

Kael headed to the meeting spot, a quiet area just outside the city where low-rank portals frequently appeared. A group of hunters stood near the shimmering gateway, chatting and checking their equipment.

"Hey, you the last guy?" a burly man with a giant axe called out. His voice carried authority, and his presence screamed experience.

"Yeah, that's me," Kael replied, walking over.

The man looked him up and down. "You don't look like much, but whatever. We just need numbers. Stick to the back and don't get in the way."

Kael bristled but held his tongue. He was here to get stronger, not argue.

A young woman with short, fiery red hair stepped forward, grinning. "Don't worry about him. I'm Maia. If things get rough, just stick by me."

Kael nodded, feeling a little more at ease. The rest of the group gave him a mix of curious and dismissive looks, but he didn't care. He wasn't here to make friends.

The group stepped into the portal, and the world warped around Kael. His stomach churned as the scenery shifted to a dense forest teeming with hostility.

"Stay sharp," the leader barked. "These monsters might be E-rank, but they'll tear you apart if you're careless."

Kael gripped his basic sword tightly, his heart pounding. The first wave of monsters—a pack of shadow wolves—charged at them.

The team sprang into action. Spells erupted, arrows flew, and weapons clashed with claws. Kael found himself face-to-face with one of the wolves. It lunged at him, and he barely managed to dodge, swinging his sword wildly.

The blade connected, but it only grazed the wolf. It snarled and lunged again. Kael ducked and countered with a desperate thrust, this time stabbing it in the side.

"Focus, rookie!" Maia shouted, blasting a wolf near him with a burst of flames.

Kael nodded, his movements becoming more deliberate. With each swing, he felt his body adapting, his strikes growing more precise.

Hours passed, and the group steadily made their way through the dungeon. Kael, though exhausted, felt a strange exhilaration. He had taken down several monsters on his own, something he never thought possible.

Finally, they reached the boss chamber. A massive stone golem stood in the center, its glowing core pulsing with mana.

"Spread out!" the leader ordered. "Tank, keep its attention! Everyone else, aim for the joints and the core!"

The battle was chaotic. The golem's fists came crashing down, shaking the ground with each blow. Spells and attacks battered its rocky hide, chipping away at its defenses.

Kael darted around, slashing at its legs. The golem roared, swinging an arm at him. He narrowly avoided being crushed, the shockwave knocking him off his feet.

"Get up, rookie!" Maia yelled, her flames searing the golem's shoulder.

Kael gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet. He saw an opening as the golem staggered from a combined attack. With all his strength, he leapt onto its back, plunging his sword into a crack near its core.

The golem roared, flailing wildly. The team took advantage of its distraction, pouring their attacks into its weakened spots.

With a final burst of mana, the golem collapsed, its core shattering into fragments.

As the team celebrated their victory, Kael quietly picked up one of the glowing cores. The system immediately reacted.

[System Alert]

E-Rank Monster Boss Core Detected. Absorbing…

Kael's body convulsed as searing pain ripped through him. This wasn't like before—this was far worse. His muscles tightened, his vision blurred, and it felt as if his very soul was being burned.

"Kael? Are you okay?" Maia asked, her voice distant.

He couldn't answer. The pain finally subsided, leaving him gasping for air.

[System Alert]

Absorption Complete. 

Kael sat up, his body trembling but undeniably stronger. He clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes.

"I can do this," he whispered to himself. "I can get stronger."