Resurgence: eternal evolution

The tension in the room thickened as Vex stepped forward, carrying a sleek black device that shimmered faintly with an array of runes. Its polished surface reflected the dim light, giving it an air of authority.

"This," Vex began, his voice low and steady, "is a status assessment device. Place your hand on it. It'll give us a readout of your current status—rank, mana levels. It's standard protocol."

Kael hesitated for a moment. His mind raced with questions. What will it say? Have I changed? Am I still… me?

"Go ahead, Kael," Rael urged, his tone calm yet insistent.

Swallowing his apprehension, Kael reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as they hovered over the device. Finally, he placed his hand on it. The runes on the device flared to life, pulsing with a soft golden light as it began its analysis.

The room fell silent, the only sound the faint hum of the device as it worked. Rael, Elara, Vorn, and Vex leaned forward, their gazes locked on the screen.

After a few moments, the runes dimmed, and the device emitted a quiet chime. Vex's eyes scanned the results, his face a mask of calm. But Rael, standing behind him, frowned deeply.

"What's wrong?" Elara asked, noticing the shift in Rael's expression.

Rael's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried a weight that made everyone pause. "How can there be… no status window?"

Kael blinked, confused. "No status window? What does that mean?"

Rael didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pointed to the device's readout. "This is impossible. Every hunter—no, every human awakened as a hunter—has a status window. It's the foundation of our abilities, our growth, our power. But…" He gestured to the display. "There's nothing. No rank. It's as if you're—"

"—not even awakened," Elara finished, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Vex's sharp eyes shifted to Kael, his tone as unreadable as ever. "That's not all. Look at his mana power. It's 50."

Kael furrowed his brows. "Is that… bad?"

Rael let out a dry laugh, devoid of humor. "Bad? It's practically nonexistent. A mana level of 50 is what we'd expect from an ordinary human with no combat training. Even the weakest hunters typically start at 100 or higher. You're… no different from a civilian."

The weight of their words pressed down on Kael. His mind reeled. No status window? Mana power of 50? How can that be? After everything I've been through, I should be… something more, right?

He opened his mouth to speak, to demand answers, but before he could utter a word, Rael straightened and inclined his head slightly, a gesture mirrored by the rest of his team.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Hunter Kael," Rael said formally, his voice betraying none of the turmoil in his thoughts.

Elara nodded, her expression neutral. "We'll be in touch if we need anything further."

And just like that, they turned and left, their exit as swift and deliberate as their arrival.

Kael sat there, stunned. "What the hell just happened?" he muttered to himself. He stared at his hands, flexing his fingers as if expecting them to glow or spark. But there was nothing. I guess I really am still… me, he thought bitterly.

The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts. The door burst open, and two familiar figures rushed in—his mother, Yura, and his sister, Ah-In.

"Kael!" Yura exclaimed, her voice breaking as she ran to his side. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as if afraid he'd disappear.

"Mom," Kael said softly, his voice laced with guilt.

"You idiot!" Ah-In snapped, her voice shaking. She stood at the foot of the bed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Do you have any idea what you've put us through?"

Kael looked away, unable to meet her fiery gaze. "I'm sorry," he muttered.

"Sorry doesn't cut it, Kael!" Ah-In's voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes. "We thought you were dead! For a whole month, we had no idea if you'd ever wake up!"

Yura pulled back slightly, her hands gripping his shoulders. "Do you know how scared we were? When we got the call that you were found in the portal unconscious… Kael, I thought I'd lost you. First your father, and now you…" Her voice broke, and she pressed her forehead against his.

Kael's throat tightened. He placed his hand over hers, squeezing gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Ah-In wiped her eyes angrily. "Then stop being so reckless! Stop throwing yourself into danger just to make ends meet. We can figure things out together, Kael. You don't have to do this alone."

Kael closed his eyes, the weight of their words settling heavily on his shoulders. He wanted to promise them he'd change, that he'd stop putting himself at risk. But deep down, he knew he couldn't.

For his family, for their survival, he had to keep going.

Yura and Ah-In stayed with him for hours, catching him up on everything that had happened during his coma. The world had moved on, but for Kael, it felt like everything had changed.

As the room grew quiet and his family finally left to let him rest, Kael stared up at the ceiling, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

No status window. Low mana. Just what am I now?