Chapter 33: Kael Vs Marcus

The Hunter Association’s training area occupied a large section of the building’s lower floors. Marcus led Kael through a secured corridor and into a spacious hall with reinforced walls, padded sections, and several marked training zones.

Some hunters were practicing with wooden swords, while others worked on their footwork as instructors corrected their movements. At the far end of the hall, two men were sparring inside a circular arena surrounded by a transparent barrier.

Their movements were fast enough that Kael struggled to follow them. One fighter ducked beneath a punch and swept his opponent’s leg. Before the fallen man could get up, the other fighter had already stepped back into position.

Kael watched the exchange for a moment, taking in the difference between their movements and his own. He couldn’t imagine himself fighting like that anytime soon.

"Don’t stare too long," Marcus warned him. "You’ll hurt your neck."

Kael quickly looked away. "Sorry, Instructor Vale."

Marcus stopped beside a rack of training weapons and turned to face him.

"Before we begin, I want to know something," Marcus said. "Why do you want to become a hunter?"

Kael considered the question before answering honestly. "Money is part of it. Hunters can earn more than ordinary workers if they build a good career."

"That’s one reason," Marcus replied. "What’s the other?"

"I want to become strong enough to protect my family," Kael answered.

Marcus studied him for a moment. "Your wife and children?"

Kael nodded. "Yes."

"Then you should understand something before you go any further," Marcus told him. "Becoming a hunter doesn’t automatically make you rich. Some hunters earn more than they can spend, while others spend their entire income treating injuries from missions they shouldn’t have accepted."

"I understand," Kael replied.

"No, you don’t. Not yet," Marcus corrected him.

Marcus pointed toward the sparring arena at the far end of the hall. "Those two have been training for years. Even then, one mistake could leave either of them in a hospital. Monsters don’t stop attacking because you’re tired, and they don’t care whether you have a family waiting at home."

Kael remained silent, listening carefully.

"I’ve seen talented people die because they thought talent was enough," Marcus continued. "I’ve also seen ordinary people survive because they listened, trained properly, and knew when to retreat."

He looked directly at Kael before adding, "If you want to become a hunter for your family, then don’t turn your family into an excuse to take stupid risks."

Kael remembered his conversation with Sera and the promise he had made to be more careful with his training. He didn’t want to make her worry unnecessarily, especially when they already had enough responsibilities with Noah.

"I won’t," Kael assured him.

"Good," Marcus said. "Now let’s see what you’re working with. Choose a weapon."

Kael approached the rack and examined the available options. There were wooden swords, practice spears, blunt knives, short staffs, and several other training weapons. Unfortunately, he had no idea what he should choose.

A sword looked useful, but he had never trained with one. A spear seemed simple enough until he imagined trying to use it against a fast-moving monster. After looking over the rack for a while, his eyes settled on a pair of short practice blades.

He hesitated before picking up one of the training daggers. The weapon he had received from the system was a dagger, and he had kept it safely stored. However, owning a weapon and knowing how to use one were two completely different things. He had no practical experience with either.

Marcus watched him select the weapon. "Short blades?"

"I thought I’d try them," Kael replied.

"Have you trained with a dagger before?" Marcus asked.

"No," Kael admitted.

"Have you trained with any weapon before?" Marcus asked again.

Kael shook his head. "No, I haven’t."

Marcus stared at him for a moment. "Then why did you pick that?"

Kael looked at the training dagger in his hand before answering. "Because I thought I might be less likely to stab myself with it than a spear."

Marcus remained silent for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"At least you’re honest," Marcus said after recovering from his laughter. He gestured toward the training arena. "Come on, then."

Kael followed him into the marked circle. Marcus removed his combat coat and handed it to an assistant standing nearby. Beneath it, he wore a fitted training shirt that showed the muscles in his arms. Old scars crossed his forearms, giving Kael the impression that Marcus had spent years fighting things that genuinely wanted to kill him.

Kael tightened his grip on the practice dagger as they faced each other.

Marcus noticed immediately. "Relax your hand."

Kael loosened his fingers.

"Your shoulders are too stiff, your feet are too close together, and you’re holding that thing like you’re afraid it’ll run away," Marcus pointed out.

Kael adjusted his stance and looked at his instructor. "Better?"

"Not really," Marcus answered bluntly.

He raised one hand and gave Kael a brief nod. "Don’t worry. I’ll start slowly."

Kael barely had time to understand what Marcus meant before the instructor moved forward and struck him in the chest with a fist.

The impact lifted Kael off his feet and sent him flying backward. He landed hard on the training floor and slid several feet before stopping. The practice dagger slipped from his hand and fell beside him.

For a moment, Kael couldn’t breathe. He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling as he tried to understand what had just happened.

Marcus walked toward him. "Get up," the instructor ordered.

Kael tried to sit up, but pain spread through his chest and forced him to cough. He looked at Marcus with disbelief.

"That was slowly?" Kael asked.

"For me, yes," Marcus replied.

Marcus held out a hand to help him up, but Kael forced himself to stand without accepting it. He retrieved the practice dagger and returned to the center of the arena, trying to ignore the pain in his chest.

The system had improved his physical condition, but most of his training had consisted of basic exercises in his apartment. He had never taken a punch from someone like Marcus, and the difference between them was embarrassing.

Marcus watched him carefully. "Your body isn’t completely untrained. You’ve got a little strength, and you recovered your balance faster than I expected. But you have no idea how to fight."

Kael didn’t argue because he already knew that was true.

"Again," Marcus ordered.

Kael raised the dagger and tried to focus on Marcus’s shoulders. When the instructor stepped forward, Kael moved to the side. For a fraction of a second, he thought he had avoided the attack, but Marcus changed direction and struck him across the ribs.

Kael stumbled, and before he could recover, a second punch hit his shoulder. A kick followed immediately afterward, knocking his legs out from under him and sending him crashing onto the floor.

The dagger bounced away from his hand.

"Too slow," Marcus remarked.

Kael clenched his teeth and pushed himself up. "Again."

Marcus’s expression changed slightly as he looked at Kael. "You’re stubborn."

"I’ve been told that," Kael replied.

"By your wife?" Marcus asked with a grin.

Kael froze for half a second, which was enough for Marcus to notice his reaction.

"Thought so," Marcus said, amused.

The instructor stepped forward again, and Kael tried to maintain his distance. However, Marcus closed the gap before Kael could react. A punch struck Kael in the stomach, forcing the air from his lungs, and another caught him across the cheek.

Kael staggered backward, his face throbbing and his arms growing heavier with every passing moment. He could barely land a clean touch on Marcus because the man was simply too fast. Worse, Marcus wasn’t even using a weapon.

Kael bent forward, struggling to catch his breath.

"That’s enough," Marcus said.

Kael slowly straightened and looked at him. "Already?"

"You’ve been hit enough times to understand the difference between us," Marcus replied.

Marcus walked toward the edge of the arena before turning back to face him.

"I saw what happened in the lobby," Marcus explained. "You were angry, and that anger helped you push through the pain. But I didn’t see any of that just now."

Kael wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth without answering.

Marcus folded his arms. "Why?"

Kael remained silent.

"Those men insulted your family, didn’t they?" Marcus asked.

Kael’s fingers tightened around the dagger, and Marcus noticed the change immediately.

’Ah, so that’s what it was’ Marcus Thought. He returned to the center of the arena and looked Kael over. "Let me guess. You’re an ordinary man who suddenly decides to become a hunter because he wants to protect his wife and child. Then a few idiots insult them, and you discover you can hit harder than you thought."