"Do you hunt demons?" Kael asked and there was a glint in his eyes that made the question feel heavier.

Selena blinked, caught off guard. "What? No... I don’t hunt and fight," she replied quickly, shaking her head.

"I’m not like you or the others who wield swords and magic."

"Then what do you do? You only research?" Kael tilted his head.

"As a researcher, I am like the backbone of the group. I study ancient texts, analyze beast patterns, find safe routes, and sometimes even create tools for the fighters. Without knowledge, brute strength is wasted."

Kael’s lips curved into a faint smile. "So, you’re the mind behind the sword."

Selena looked away, embarrassed. "...Something like that."

Then they descended into the forge room.

The air grew warmer, heavy with the scent of burning coal and molten metal.

On a wooden rack to the side lay Kael’s sword, freshly reforged.

Its blade gleamed faintly, but what drew the eye most were the seventeen black lines running along its length—like dark veins, pulsing with an almost living energy.

The old blacksmith lifted the weapon with care.

"Here it is," he said.

"The reforging went well. The veins of obsidian steel bonded perfectly with the original blade. Stronger now, sharper... though I can’t quite explain those lines."

Kael stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the weapon.

He ran his fingers lightly along the hilt before taking it into his grasp.

(i want to test it) Kael thought.

"Thank you," Kael said sincerely, giving the old man a respectful bow.

"Next time, do come," the blacksmith replied.

"Your sword... it’s unlike any I’ve forged before."

Kael tightened his grip on the weapon.

(Seventeen lines already... It’s ahead of schedule. In the novel, this kind of evolution doesn’t appear until much later where demons use it too.)

"Selena," Kael called, turning sharply. "Let’s go."

Selena hurried after him, her notebook clutched against her chest.

"Wait—so fast? You didn’t even test it?"

Kael smirked. "I’ll test it soon enough."

They stepped out of the forge and into the fading daylight.

"Tomorrow," Kael said suddenly, "we have to clear demons from place to place. If I’m not ready, I’ll be useless. That’s why I need practice now."

Selena frowned. "Huh? But—where are we even going?"

Kael’s eyes narrowed, fixed on the darkening treeline ahead. "Somewhere the heroes don’t wander."

Then they walk into the forest.

Strange cries echoed from the shadows—low growls, rustling leaves, distant shrieks. Selena stayed close to Kael.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked again, nervously.

"Crystal Hollow Valley," Kael replied without hesitation.

Selena stopped in her tracks. "The Crystal Hollow?! That’s forbidden territory. Even the academy advises students to stay away. Do you have a death wish?"

Kael turned to her.

"Thanks to you... and thanks to the novel, I know exactly where everything is."

Selena’s brow furrowed. "The novel? What novel? What are you even talking about?"

Kael looked away, hiding the flicker of truth in his eyes. (If I tell her I’ve read the story of this world a thousand Chapters ahead, she’ll never believe me. Better to keep it to myself.)

"...Nothing. Just trust me."

Selena sighed, exasperated. "You’re impossible."

They continued their journey. Kael’s pace was steady, confident, as if he had walked this path countless times before.

But in truth, it was his memory of the story guiding him—he knew the layout and the dangers.

After nearly half an hour of weaving through terminals of glowing trees and rocky ridges, they reached it: the Crystal Hollow Valley.

The place shimmered with an eerie beauty. Jagged crystal formations jutted from the earth, glowing faintly in hues of blue and violet.

Selena’s eyes widened in awe. "It’s... beautiful."

"And it is also dangerous", said Kael.

But her admiration quickly turned to fear.

In the shadows beneath the crystals, dark shapes moved. The sound of claws scraping against stone, guttural growls echoing in the valley—demons. Dozens of them.

Kael’s hand shot out, covering Selena’s mouth just as she gasped.

"Shhh," he whispered.

"Demons will hear us."

Selena’s heart pounded as she nodded, her breath shallow against his palm.

He slowly released her, keeping his gaze fixed on the lurking figures ahead.

The demons here were unlike the ones students faced in routine hunts.

Their bodies were thin and long, like shadows given form, with glowing eyes that burned red in the darkness.

They prowled in packs and their movements were coordinated.

Selena gripped her notebook tightly. "Why... Why are we here? This isn’t like the training grounds. These things... they could kill us."

Kael unsheathed his reforged sword, the seventeen black lines along its blade seeming to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat. "That’s exactly why we’re here."

He stepped forward filled with determination. "If I only train where it’s safe, I’ll never surpass the others. To grow stronger, I have to take risks."

Selena stared at him, torn between fear and awe. "...You’re insane."

"Maybe," Kael admitted, glancing back with a faint smirk.

"But insanity is what keeps me alive."

The nearest demon growled, its body coiling as if ready to pounce. Kael adjusted his stance, raising the sword.

(This is it. In the novel, this is where the demon would stumble upon his hidden skill—but that won’t happen for thousands of Chapters. This time, it’s mine.)

Selena’s breath came in short, shaky gasps as she stared at the creatures crawling through the shadows of the Crystal Hollow valley.

The glowing crystals made them look even more terrifying, their red eyes glinting like burning coals. She pressed her notebook tighter against her chest, wishing she had never followed Kael here.

"Kael..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "We should go back. This isn’t the kind of place we’re supposed to be."

But Kael’s eyes never left the pack of demons ahead. His grip tightened on the reforged sword, and the seventeen black lines along the blade seemed to flicker with a faint light, as though reacting to the presence of the enemy.

"I told you," Kael said softly but firmly. "The heroes don’t come here. That’s exactly why I must."

Selena shook her head. "But if they don’t come here, doesn’t that mean it’s too dangerous even for them?"

Kael smirked faintly, his confidence unshaken. "Or it means they’re blind. Afraid to take the first step. I won’t make that mistake."

The wind whistled through the valley, carrying the sound of low growls.

One of the demons stepped forward like he heard something whispering from the woods. The others followed, circling slowly.

Selena’s knees weakened. "Kael... they’re surrounding us."

Kael shifted his stance, lowering the blade. His eyes gleamed with a fire that matched the

danger before him. "Good. Then I’ll have more to test my strength against."

Selena’s lips trembled. "...You’re truly insane."

Kael glanced back at her for just a moment. "Stay behind me. No matter what."