I Level Up by Killing Gods

The Void Breach collapsed in an instant, it's violent ripple yanked Kael through before spitting him out onto solid ground. This time, he landed on his feet.

His boots hit cracked asphalt, and as he steadied himself, he realized he was back in the slums—but the scene wasn't what he expected.

Floodlights bathed the area in harsh white, making uneven shadows where the breach had been. Yellow hazard tape fluttered in the breeze, cordoning off the site, and a group of figures in Lightforged combat gear stood at the edge, weapons in hand.

For a moment, no one moved.

The Lightforged stared at Kael, expressions borderwd between confusion and caution, while he returned their gaze with a calculative stare. His eyes lingered on each face, as if committing them to memory.

The silence finally broke when one of them stepped forward. He was sharp and clean-cut, with slick black hair and a crisp white coat that looked out of place in the grime of the slums.

His voice cut through the tension.

"Who are you? And where the hell is Squad 164?"

Kael didn't move. His gaze only swept over the group again, measuring them, the intensity of his stare making some of the Lightforged shift uncomfortably. Finally, he spoke, a calm that carried an edge.

"Just a beggar from the outskirts... and 164 is dead."

His words hung over their heads. Unease passed through the group as they exchanged glances. The man in the white coat didn't react outwardly, but his jaw tightened.

The silence only grew heavier until someone else broke it.

"You're under arrest by the Lightforged Institute's Enforcement Division. Resist, and we'll detain you violently. Are you adherent?"

Tension grew. Weapons were gripped tighter, their Etherion-infused edges glowing faintly. Kael didn't answer right away, his sharp eyes scanning the group.

His vision flickered as gold text hung in front him:

> ◇ Lightforged (C Rank).

• "Common Core

• "Mid Threat Level

> ◇ Lightforged (C Rank).

• "Common Core

• "Mid Threat Level

> ◇ Lightforged (B Rank).

• "Refined Core

• "High Threat Level

His gaze settled on the man in the white coat, whose sharp eyes tracked his every move. For a brief moment, Kael's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, old habits trudging in him.

But then he let out a slow breath and released it. The blade clattered to the ground.

"Fine," he said, raising his wrists. "Come take me."

The Lightforged moved with no hesitation, encircling him with practiced precision. Two of them stepped forward and snapped heavy, rune-etched cuffs onto his wrists.

Kael heared the cuffs hum, and a relief settled on all present, perhaps in the assumptions the Etherion in his body was locked away...but Kael didn't have such a thing. He didn't resist, his face unreadable as they led him to a waiting van.

The drive through the outskirts was quiet, the decaying streets blurring into the background. Kael sat with his eyes closed, though his mind raced.

He could feel the wary glances of the guards around him, but no one said a word.

Everything changed when they passed through the force field. Kael opened his eyes as the sensation of crossing through washed over him, like stepping through a thin film of water.

The world outside had been bleak—oppressive air thick with Blight. But inside the city? It was like stepping into a different realm entirely.

The streets were pristine, lined with trees fluttering faintly with Etherion. Towering skyscrapers gleamed under a soft golden light, and the air was green and alive. People moved through the streets in immaculate clothes, their faces carefree and untouched by hardship.

Kael kept his expression blank, but beneath the surface, anger crept.

The stark contrast between this paradise and the rotting wasteland outside wasn't just unfair—it was infuriating. He could see it now: this luxury built on the backs of those left to suffer.

The van pulled up to a towering building at the heart of the city—the Lightforged Institute. It was an imposing structure, part fortress, and other part an architectural statement, gleaming an aura of power.

As the van stopped, Kael was dragged out, his boots clinking against polished marble.

The plaza was crowded, and as soon as he stepped out, every pair of eyes turned to him. Civilians, workers, and Lightforged alike stopped to stare at the disheveled figure in cuffs.

Some looked curious; others disgusted. Kael met their gazes without flinch, his back straight despite their judgment.

Inside, the building was grand, almost ostentatious. Statues of past Lightforged heroes lined the halls, their faces carved with reverence.

Crystals made soft light across the polished walls. Kael followed silently as his escorts led him through a maze of corridors until they reached a bare interrogation room.

They shoved him into a metal chair, and left without a word, the heavy door slamming shut behind them.

Kael leaned back, his gaze drifting to the camera in the corner of the room. He could feel the scrutiny, the questions swirling in their minds. Minutes passed, stretching into what felt like hours, but he stayed still, his thoughts racing.

Finally, the door opened, and the man in the white coat stepped in, clipboard in hand. He didn't bother sitting. Instead, he stood across from Kael, his eyes sharp.

"Let's start simple," he said. "What's your name?"

"Kael," he answered flatly.

"What were you doing in the breach?"

"Surviving."

The man's jaw tightened. "And Squad 164?"

"Also surviving I'd assume. They weren't very good at it apparently."

The man's eyes narrowed. "So, you're telling me some beggar survived a breach that wiped out an entire trained squad?"

Kael shrugged. "Guess I got lucky."

The man slammed the clipboard onto the table. "Don't play games with me. You're hiding something."

Kael met his gaze, calm and unflinching.

"Maybe I am. But if I were you, I'd focus less on me and more on why your squad got wiped. Might save the next one."

The man's expression darkened, but he said nothing. Picking up the clipboard, he turned and walked out.

Kael leaned back, he felt like his former self for the first time in sixteen years. Whatever the Lightforged wanted, he'd be ready to play along—for now.