Chapter 192: Beginning Of The Exploration [2.]
Kael could feel every eye in the vicinity focused on him.
Kael didn’t make them wait.
"Sorry, but I think I can handle it myself."
The words had barely left his mouth when the atmosphere around them seemed to become slightly heavier.
The stern-faced man’s expression immediately soured. The faint trace of goodwill that had remained on his face disappeared, replaced by undisguised displeasure.
"Ignorant newbie."
He didn’t bother saying anything else. He simply turned around and walked away, his team following behind him as they headed deeper into the rift. The mage woman glanced toward Kael for a brief moment but said nothing either. She soon turned and left with her own team, following a completely different path.
Ignas was the last to leave.
He stopped for a moment and looked back at Kael, the faint smile returning to his face.
"I wish you luck."
With those words, he too turned around and disappeared in another direction with his team.
Within moments, the three groups had gone their separate ways, leaving Kael and his own exploration team standing where they were.
Kael watched their backs disappear into the distance before scoffing inwardly.
They must have really thought he knew nothing.
Jonas had already explained the nature of this trial to him. The entire event was a ritual of sorts, one designed to evaluate a newly promoted S-rank hunter.
That alone made the stern-faced man’s offer impossible to misunderstand.
On the surface, it sounded generous. A veteran S-rank hunter offering to protect a newly promoted S-rank hunter during his first exploration was something that could easily be interpreted as goodwill.
But Kael knew better.
It was a structured trap.
If the stern-faced man genuinely believed Kael was his equal, there would have been no reason for him to offer him protection in the first place. By asking Kael to join his group under his protection, he was essentially establishing a hierarchy before Kael had even taken his first step into the rift.
He was placing Kael beneath himself.
And that wasn’t all.
Among the S-rank hunters, numerous factions existed, each possessing their own interests, connections, resources, and influence. Every newly promoted S-rank hunter would naturally become a target for these factions. Before they were formally invited to join, they would be observed, evaluated, and tested.
The stern-faced man was most likely acting as a representative of one of those factions.
Accepting his offer would therefore mean far more than simply allowing another team to watch his back.
It would mean placing himself beneath their banner.
Kael had absolutely no interest in involving himself with that kind of political struggle.
He shifted his gaze toward his own team and was just about to give the order to move when Oswald suddenly spoke.
"Shouldn’t you have accepted the offer?"
Kael’s eyes moved toward him.
Oswald seemed unaware of the danger in his words and continued, "You just became an S-rank hunter, and you don’t know much about this place. Accepting their protection would have been the best choice. It’s one thing to be confident, but you have people under you that you need to look after."
Kael’s brows furrowed.
His expression gradually darkened.
The next instant, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body.
BOOM!
The pressure slammed outward like an invisible mountain collapsing from the sky.
Oswald’s entire body stiffened as the terrifying aura crashed down upon him. His knees nearly buckled beneath the pressure, yet the same force wasn’t limited to him. Every member of the main exploration team was struck by the aura at the same time.
Only the specialists were left untouched.
Kael’s voice was calm, but the pressure behind it made every word feel heavier than the last.
"Are you questioning my authority?"
Oswald’s pupils shrank.
Panic immediately flooded his mind.
He had messed up.
He had thought that reaching the peak of A-rank meant he had already stepped close enough to the S-rank realm that he wouldn’t need to fear a newly promoted S-rank hunter.
That thought had been completely wrong.
This aura wasn’t something he could resist.
He couldn’t fight back.
He couldn’t even move.
Oswald finally understood just how enormous the gap between A-rank and S-rank truly was.
It wasn’t a matter of being slightly stronger.
It was an entirely different level.
Oswald could only stand there beneath Kael’s pressure, his body drenched in cold sweat as the terrifying thought of death slowly took root in his mind. At that moment, he felt less like an experienced hunter and more like a helpless animal waiting for its execution.
Kael allowed the pressure to remain for several seconds before finally reducing it enough for Oswald to breathe.
Oswald immediately gasped for air.
"I was wrong!" he hurriedly cried out. "Please spare my life!"
Kael stared at him coldly.
"Hmph."
The pressure disappeared.
The members of the exploration team immediately regained control of their bodies, several of them stumbling slightly as they took deep breaths. Their faces were still pale from the experience, but the moment they recovered, their eyes turned toward Oswald.
Anger.
Resentment.
Hatred.
Those emotions were unmistakable.
Oswald had been the one who challenged Kael’s authority, yet every member of the main team had been dragged into his punishment.
None of them were pleased about it.
Kael noticed those expressions and remained silent.
That was exactly what he wanted.
A team wasn’t merely a collection of individuals following orders. If he was going to lead them into an S-rank rift, they needed to understand one fundamental rule.
Everyone had to keep each other in check.
If one person decided to act recklessly, the consequences could affect everyone.
Kael didn’t need subordinates who blindly challenged his decisions. He needed people who understood the weight of following orders and the consequences of breaking formation.
He didn’t waste any more time.
"Oswald."
Oswald immediately straightened.
"Yes!"
"Go scout the surrounding area. Don’t waste any more time."
Oswald nodded rapidly.
"Understood."
He immediately turned around and left.
The other members of the team watched him disappear, and Oswald could already feel their gazes following him. After what had just happened, remaining in their presence was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
He needed to get away from them.
Kael simply waited.
Several minutes later, Oswald returned and gave his scouting report.
Kael listened quietly before nodding.
"Okay. Let’s head that direction."
He turned toward the rest of the exploration team.
"All non-combat teammates, move to the center."
The specialists immediately began moving.
"The rest of you form a circle around them. Keep them in the center and protect them."
Everyone moved into position without hesitation.
The specialists gathered together while the combat-oriented hunters spread themselves around them, forming a defensive circle with their weapons ready and their attention directed toward the surrounding environment.
Kael looked around at the formation.
"Okay. Everyone keep an eye out. If you detect anything unusual, report it immediately."
His gaze swept across the team one final time.
"Let’s begin the exploration."
The moment the order was given, the entire group started moving.
Their formation remained intact as they advanced deeper into the rift, the specialists safely surrounded by the main team while Kael walked with them, his senses continuously extending into the unfamiliar environment.
They had finally begun their exploration.