The journey to the surface took nearly half a day.
Kael walked at the front of the group while Gareth and the remaining Hunters followed several steps behind. The deeper tunnels gradually gave way to carved stone passages reinforced with iron beams. Rusted mining carts rested along abandoned tracks, their wheels frozen by decades of neglect.
Unlike the Lower Abyss, these tunnels showed signs of civilization.
Someone had once lived and worked here.
Now they were nothing more than ruins.
Leona caught up beside Kael, carrying a bundle of healing herbs.
"You've really never been through these tunnels before?"
Kael shook his head.
"No."
She looked surprised.
"Most Hunters know this route."
"I've... been away for a while."
It wasn't exactly a lie.
She accepted the answer without pressing further.
As they continued walking, Gareth suddenly raised a hand.
"Everyone stop."
The group immediately froze.
Ahead stood a massive iron gate embedded into the cavern wall. Ancient runes glowed faintly across its surface despite centuries of neglect.
"The Upper Abyss Lift."
Gareth smiled with relief.
"We made it."
Several Hunters hurried toward a series of enormous gears connected to the gate.
After years without maintenance, the mechanism resisted.
Metal groaned.
Dust poured from the ceiling.
Finally...
The gears turned.
With a thunderous rumble, the gate slowly opened.
Beyond it stood an enormous platform suspended by countless chains that disappeared into darkness above.
An elevator.
Kael quietly stared upward.
For the first time since falling into the Abyss...
He could see sunlight.
Only a tiny beam reached this depth, but it was enough.
Warm.
Bright.
Real.
He closed his eyes.
"I made it..."
The platform slowly began ascending.
Stone walls passed by in silence.
Hundreds of meters.
Then thousands.
As they climbed higher, the cold air of the Abyss gradually disappeared.
Fresh wind replaced it.
The scent of grass.
Rain.
Trees.
Kael had never imagined he would miss such ordinary things.
After nearly thirty minutes, the platform finally reached the surface.
Blinding sunlight flooded the chamber.
Kael instinctively raised one arm to shield his eyes.
When his vision adjusted, an endless forest stretched before him.
Blue skies.
White clouds.
Birds flying freely overhead.
He stood motionless.
The world looked exactly as he remembered.
Yet...
Everything felt different.
Gareth laughed heartily.
"Nothing beats breathing surface air."
The remaining Hunters nodded in agreement.
One of them pointed toward a stone road leading through the forest.
"Ravenfall is only an hour from here."
Kael silently followed.
The closer they came to the city, the more travelers they encountered.
Merchants.
Hunters.
Farmers transporting supplies.
No one recognized him.
Which made sense.
Most believed he was dead.
By late afternoon, the towering walls of Ravenfall appeared beyond the trees.
The city looked even larger than Kael remembered.
Massive stone walls surrounded countless buildings topped with crimson rooftops. Watchtowers overlooked the surrounding plains while banners bearing the Hunter Association's emblem fluttered proudly in the wind.
Merchants crowded the entrance.
Carriages entered and exited continuously.
Life carried on.
As though Kael had never existed.
The guards immediately recognized Gareth.
"Captain!"
One of them hurried forward.
"We heard your expedition was attacked."
Gareth nodded grimly.
"We lost good people."
The guard lowered his head respectfully.
"I'm sorry."
Then his eyes shifted toward Kael.
"I don't recognize him."
"An independent Hunter."
Gareth answered before Kael could speak.
"He saved our lives."
The guard immediately straightened.
"Then Ravenfall welcomes you."
He stepped aside.
The city gates opened.
Kael crossed the threshold.
His heartbeat quickened.
Every street brought back memories.
The bakery where his mother used to buy bread.
The blacksmith district where he had spent his childhood helping Rowan forge swords.
The fountain where Lena would always insist on feeding birds before training.
Everything remained exactly the same.
Except...
He was no longer part of it.
As they passed the central plaza, a large crowd had gathered around a notice board.
Leona tilted her head.
"What's everyone looking at?"
A merchant answered.
"The Hunter Trial results."
"They're still posted."
Kael's footsteps slowed.
His gaze naturally drifted toward the board.
There they were.
The names of every survivor.
Marcus Vale.
Elena Frost.
Darren Holt.
Finn Mercer.
Each had been officially recognized for completing the Trial.
Below them...
A smaller section listed the fallen.
Kael Draven.
Presumed deceased during Trial.
Body unrecovered.
For a long moment, Kael simply stared.
No anger crossed his face.
No sadness.
Only silence.
"So..."
"They really buried me."
Gareth noticed the direction of his gaze.
"You knew one of them?"
Kael looked away.
"I did."
Before Gareth could ask another question, loud cheers erupted from the opposite side of the plaza.
A luxurious carriage pulled into the square, surrounded by mounted Hunters wearing ceremonial armor.
People immediately began applauding.
"That's Marcus!"
"He's back from the Association!"
"I heard he defeated an Abyss Beast during the Trial!"
"They're saying he'll become the youngest Silver Hunter in years!"
Kael slowly turned.
Marcus stepped from the carriage wearing a brand-new black uniform embroidered with silver thread.
His posture was confident.
His smile flawless.
He accepted the crowd's praise as though he had earned every word.
Beside him stood Elena, Darren, and Finn.
Finn looked noticeably thinner.
His expression lacked the excitement of the others.
Almost...
Guilty.
Marcus laughed as a noble congratulated him.
"I only did what any Hunter should."
The crowd applauded even louder.
No one noticed Kael standing barely fifty meters away.
Not yet.
Kael quietly pulled the hood of his cloak over his head.
Gareth looked at him.
"Are you alright?"
Kael gave a small nod.
"There's something I need to do."
"What about your reward from the Association?"
"I'll collect it another time."
Without another word, Kael turned and disappeared into the crowded streets before anyone from the Trial could see him.
From a balcony overlooking the plaza, an elderly man wearing the golden robes of the Hunter Association watched the departing figure.
His cloudy eyes narrowed.
"...Interesting."
Although Kael had concealed his face...
The old man had seen the sword.
Eclipse.
A weapon he had not seen in over three hundred years.
For the first time in decades...
The Association Master left his seat in silence.