He was no longer alone nor was he as weak as before. The fact that he could stare right in the eyes of these guild masters without feeling that powerful pressure like before, proved this point.
As he gazed at the numerous guild leaders, memories from that time involuntarily surged within his mind. At that time, in a different setting, they all watched him getting forced to grovel on the ground, accused of something he haven't even committed.
They all looked at him with those cold eyes of theirs as if he was some kind of heinous criminal. Even now, he could see the contempt and hatred flashing inside those eyes.
He could see it, but so what? He who had now accepted his truth was no longer bothered by these things. He had long crushed any naïve hopes remaining within his heart and embraced his current self.