Chapter—Shadows of Defeat
The evening air was cool, but the weight on Luke's shoulders felt heavier than the autumn chill. He walked back from college through the familiar streets of the city, where the usual rhythmic chaos continued—distant honking, commuter chatter, flickering neon signs—but for Luke, the world sounded muffled, as though someone had turned down the volume on reality.
The day had been ordinary. Lectures. Small talk. The same path home. Nothing indicated the world had shifted. Yet deep inside, Luke knew it had,.
Reason for this is Kael.
One who make this college look alive by his taunt and fight is now not coming school for a week.
As he approached a narrow alleyway flanked by looming brick buildings, his pace slowed. A familiar figure leaned against the damp wall—one of Kael's gang members. The boy who usually wore a permanent sneer now looked diminished, almost fragile.
The moment their eyes met, the gang member stiffened. His bravado evaporated, replaced by a flicker of fear.
"Hey," Luke said, voice calm but carrying undeniable weight. "Where's Kael? He hasn't shown up at college for a week."
The boy flinched, gaze dropping to the cracked pavement. "I… don't know," he muttered, voice thin.
Luke didn't move. He didn't need to flare his aura; his presence alone filled the alley. He stood still, eyes firm and unblinking, waiting.
After a long, tense silence, the boy released a jagged sigh, shoulders slumping.
"After you defeated him…" he began, voice trembling, "…he changed. Locked himself in his room. Doesn't talk to anyone. Doesn't answer calls. Won't even let us inside. He's just… gone."
The words struck Luke like a physical blow. He had braced for anger, threats, even a vow of revenge. Not this. Not total collapse.
"So… this is because of me," Luke whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
The realization tasted bitter. He had fought to protect himself, to draw a line. But the fallout was more devastating than the fight itself.
He asked for the address. The boy hesitated, clearly terrified of Kael's reaction, but under Luke's quiet, persistent pressure, he eventually scribbled a location on a torn scrap of paper and melted into the alley shadows.
**Kael's House**
The neighborhood was upscale—large homes, imposing gates—yet Kael's residence felt like a sealed tomb. Windows tightly shut. Heavy velvet curtains drawn against even the faintest daylight. The once-manicured garden had begun to surrender to neglect.
Luke stood at the front door and pressed the bell.
*Ding-dong.*
Silence.
He pressed again.
*Ding-dong.*
No footsteps. No voices.
A third press. The sound echoed hollowly inside.
Just as he raised his hand to knock, the neighboring door creaked open. An elderly man leaning on a cane stepped onto his porch, studying Luke with weary pity.
"It's useless, son," the old man rasped. "He won't come out. Hasn't for days."
"I just need to speak with him," Luke said.
The neighbor shook his head slowly. "I've lived next door for years. Ever since that incident… rumors spread fast. They say he was beaten by someone was average 1 star . For a boy with that much pride, that's worse than death. He barely leaves his bed, let alone the room."
Luke's hand fell. His fingers curled into a tight fist. The guilt that had stirred in the alley now sharpened into something cold and heavy in his stomach.
"I think," the old man added gently, sensing the turmoil, "you should leave him be for a few more days. Some wounds don't heal with words. He needs time to find himself again."
Luke nodded, throat tight. "Thank you."
He stepped off the porch and began the long walk back to the main road. The setting sun stretched distorted shadows across the pavement. One seemed to cling to his heels—a suffocating shadow of guilt.
**Dungeon Call**
Luke lowered his head as he walked, lips moving in a barely audible whisper to Auru, the steady inner presence that had become his constant companion since his awakening.
"Did I go too far, Auru? I only wanted him to stop… I didn't want to break him."
Auru offered no words, only a quiet hum of energy in the back of Luke's mind—no easy answers.
A sharp vibration in his pocket snapped him out of the spiral. He pulled out his phone.
**[URGENT]**
A C-rank dungeon just manifested in the abandoned industrial district. Unstable. Meet at coordinates immediately.
— Marin
The shift was jarring, but welcome. Luke forwarded the message to the team and broke into a run, boots pounding the asphalt.
**Inside the Dungeon**
The entrance was a jagged vortex of blue energy swirling between two rusted warehouse walls. The air crackled with static.
Marin, Liod, Chika, and Shuri were already there, checking gear. When Luke arrived, the mood was unusually somber. He had already shared the visit to Kael's house in the group chat.
Marin looked troubled, her usual confidence dimmed. Liod stared at the ground, kicking a loose stone. Chika watched Luke with deep sympathy, hand hovering as though she wanted to offer comfort but wasn't sure how.
Only Shuri remained stoic, arms crossed, gaze piercing.
"Stop moping," she said bluntly, though her eyes were on Luke. "In our world, strength is the only currency. You defended yourself. You did what was right. If he couldn't handle the reality of his limits, that's his burden—not yours."
Luke met her gaze. The words were harsh, but he saw the truth beneath them but still,he feel the weight of Kael because he also have face this due to him only.
"Let's go," he said, voice regaining its edge. "We have a job to do."
They stepped through.
The dungeon interior was a vast subterranean cavern of jagged obsidian. The air smelled of ozone and ancient dust. Mana density pressed against their skin—classic C-rank pressure.
They hadn't gone far when the ground trembled. From behind a towering rock pillar emerged a massive C-rank Golem-Beast: fused stone body threaded with glowing purple mana veins. Its roar vibrated in their bones.
The fight began instantly.
Liod and Shuri took the flanks, dividing its attention. Chika provided support, her light abilities cutting through the gloom.
"Luke, use Aura Reversal!" Uno shouted, voice echoing. "End it fast!"
Luke glanced at the fractured obsidian ceiling—hairline cracks pulsing with the beast's energy.
"No!" he called back. "Full Reversal here will trigger a feedback loop. The whole cave collapses. We get buried."
Instead, he compressed his aura into a dense, vibrating sphere between his palms. He launched precise, high-velocity piercing strikes—chipping away armor without massive shockwaves.
The monster roared in frustration, stone fists smashing the ground. Luke moved like a shadow, guilt sharpening his focus into desperate precision.
After a brutal exchange, the golem staggered, purple veins flickering as its core destabilized.
"Luke, back!" Marin shouted, stepping forward. Her eyes glowed fiercely. "Let me try Aura Meteor today."
She raised her hand. The air warped.
"Aura Meteor!"
A radiant spere of condensed energy formed overhead, trailing white flames. It descended with a terrifying whistle and struck the golem's cracked crown.
The contained explosion was devastating. When the light faded, only inert rubble remained.
**Reward and Promotion**
The dungeon hummed, signaling closure. A glowing gold chest materialized amid the debris.
Inside: a set of silver-and-black bracers.
**Item: Aura Blocker Equipment
**Effect:** Nullifies aura-based attacks.
**Special:** Effectiveness scales with total power of previously absorbed attacks.
"This is incredible," Marin whispered, storing them carefully. "This could change everything for high-tier fights."
They exited into the cool night. The portal collapsed into a final spark.
Marin's phone rang immediately. Her eyes widened.
"It's Headquarters. Kaizen wants us. Now."
Minutes later, they stood in the sleek office of the Guild Overseer.
Kaizen regarded them from behind his desk, a faint smile in his eyes.
"Well done," he said, voice booming softly. "I monitored your guilde and you are performing well."
He placed five new ID cards on the desk.
"Effective immediately, Aurafiest is officially promoted to C-rank."
"A C-rank guild?!" Uno exclaimed, grinning as he snatched his card.
"Does this mean B-rank dungeons are open to us?" Marin asked, voice trembling with excitement.
Kaizen nodded. "You've earned it. But B-rank is where the games end. Congratulations."
They bowed in unison, pride momentarily washing away exhaustion. As they left, Liod and Uno already debated their next target while Marin updated the guild network.
They where happy about there promotion.
**Scene Shift – Kael**
Meanwhile, in the darkened room of the upscale house…
Kael sat motionless on the edge of his bed. Hours had passed. His eyes were hollow, body limp, pride stripped away until only an empty shell remained.
In the dark room a crystal with kael image appered.
From within, a shadowed figure stirred—obscured by shifting smoke, lips curled in a sharp, predatory smile.
"Poor boy," the voice whispered directly into Kael's mind, cold and oily. "Defeated by someone you believed beneath you. Abandoned. Broken. Alone."
The crystal pulsed in time with Kael's slowing heartbeat.
"So full of despair," the devil continued. "Such a beautiful, pure void where your spirit once stood."
A low, cruel laugh filled the room—soundless to the outside world.
"You'll make a perfect pawn."
Dark energy began to seep from the crystal, creeping across the floor toward the boy who had lost everything—and was now ready to surrender the rest.
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End of chapter.