Chapter 3: A New Path

Kael sat in the darkness, his back against the cold stone wall of the abandoned building. His body ached from the fight earlier, but pain was nothing new to him. It was a reminder—of weakness, of what he had lost, and what he needed to regain.

The Divine Order had betrayed him. He had spent years fighting for them, believing in their so-called justice, only to be discarded like trash the moment he questioned their truth.

But that was the past.

Now, he had another chance. And he wouldn't waste it.

He clenched his fist. His strength was pitiful compared to what he once had. The skills and knowledge were there, buried deep within his mind, but his body was that of a seventeen-year-old—a malnourished one at that.

"First, I need power," he muttered to himself. "Without it, I'm nothing."

The system—the mysterious Abyss—had granted him another chance at life. But unlike the Divine Order's holy blessings, this power came with a price. He had yet to understand its full nature, but he wasn't foolish enough to blindly rely on it.

No, he would forge his own path.

His mind raced through the possibilities. Strength wasn't just about raw power—it was about knowledge, influence, and resources.

He needed to start somewhere.

Survival in the Underground

Kael knew the city's underbelly well enough. In his past life, he had worked with mercenaries, assassins, and criminals—people who operated outside the law, beyond the reach of the Divine Order.

Now, he would have to use them.

There were underground fighting rings—illegal, brutal, and full of desperate men looking for coin. A perfect place for someone like him to sharpen his skills while making a name for himself in the shadows.

Then there were the mercenary guilds. Taking jobs, hunting bounties—it was dangerous, but it would allow him to build connections, gather information, and slowly infiltrate the noble circles.

And lastly, there was strategy. Not every battle was fought with a blade. Wealth, influence, and control over the right people could be far deadlier than a sword.

For now, his path was clear.

He would fight. He would earn. He would grow stronger.

And when the time was right… he would make the Divine Order pay.