Riven knew one thing the moment he signed up to face Casfer alone.
He couldn't win.
And he was okay with that.
The reason he stepped in wasn't just because of the quest. It was because Joey was watching. Words wouldn't reach him—not when fear was rooted that deep. But seeing it? Seeing someone he considered a friend stand in front of an evolved ability and still move forward—that might be enough.
Everyone could get hurt by an evolved ability.
Strong or weak—it didn't matter.
And there was one more reason.
I need Joey by my side, Riven thought.
If what my other self—and the other Jordan—said is true, then we won't survive without him. His power is destructive… but we need it.
His jaw tightened.
If death really exists at the Academy… then I don't want him to die.
Truthfully, I don't want anyone to.
But hoping for that might be too selfish.
Riven dropped back into his claw stance and lunged, slashing at Casfer.
Casfer barely reacted.
He shifted his body just enough for the attack to miss, then drove a brutal punch straight into Riven's gut. The air was ripped from his lungs in an instant.
"Dammit!" Jordan shouted, stepping forward.
"No!" Riven barked, forcing his voice through the pain. "I told you and Nico to stay out of this—so do it!"
Casfer's expression darkened.
Did Riven really believe he stood a chance?
Riven wasn't on his level. No student was. Hell—some adults weren't either. That realization fed Casfer's ego, lightning beginning to crackle along his arm as power gathered.
Riven raised his guard.
But the lightning didn't fire.
It stayed coiled in Casfer's palm.
In the next heartbeat, Casfer vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Riven and drove an uppercut into his jaw, lightning exploding on impact. Riven's body lifted off the ground, his vision blurring as the dark, smoke-choked sky spun above him. Consciousness slipped through his fingers.
[-7 HP — CRITICAL]
[WARNING: User is near ZERO HP. Immediate action required.]
Riven never got the chance to read it.
He hit the ground hard, the system message fading as pain surged through him. He coughed, spit splattering the dirt—stained red with blood.
Through blurred vision, he saw Casfer standing over him.
The boy looked like he was easing up.
So Riven did the one thing he knew would make it worse.
With trembling effort, he raised his hand and flipped Casfer off.
A crooked grin pulled at his bloodied face.
And the rage in Casfer's eyes ignited like a storm about to break.
Casfer answered the gesture with violence—lightning snapped from his arm and crashed into Riven's ribs, the shock locking his muscles as his body convulsed against the ground.
Before Riven could even suck in air, Casfer grabbed him by the collar and slammed him down again, electricity surging through his grip, sparks crawling over Riven's skin like burning chains.
A lightning-charged kick followed, sending Riven skidding across the dirt, each bounce ripping another gasp—and another flash of pain—out of him.
Casfer didn't let up, appearing above him in a blur and driving a thunderous punch into Riven's stomach, the crack of electricity echoing as Riven vomited blood onto the ground.
With a final surge, Casfer planted his foot on Riven's chest and discharged lightning straight through him, pinning him there as smoke curled upward and Riven's vision fractured into darkness.
" maybe I didn't think this through" riven thought to himself as he fell to the ground and collapse, the boys help with zero yet he wasn't dead instead he was knocked out but that's not worth another thought Jordan could see riven health Not when the beaten was happening, but after It fell to zero he could finally see what his HP was on He didn't know what came over him. He didn't know Why? Crasfer went So far all because of what an ego
[1/3]
Jordan was confused about the method at first until he realized Keith was waking up right beside him. The Boy quickly delivered A devastating kick to Keith Torso making The boy get back knocked out
[2/3]
Jordan Greeted his teeth, but not ones of sadness no ones of anger
Maybe I didn't think this through…
The thought barely finished forming before Riven's body hit the ground.
He collapsed, unmoving.
His HP had dropped to zero—but he wasn't dead. Just unconscious. That distinction didn't matter right now.
Jordan hadn't been able to see Riven's health during the beating.
Only after it hit zero did the number appear.
And something inside him snapped.
He didn't understand why Casfer had gone that far.
Didn't understand how ego alone could push someone to enjoy hurting another person like that.
Before he could process it, movement caught his eye.
Keith was waking up beside him.
Jordan reacted on instinct.
A single, devastating kick slammed into Keith's torso, driving the air from his lungs and knocking him back into unconsciousness.
Jordan clenched his teeth.
Not in sadness.
In anger.
"Well?" Casfer sneered, rolling his shoulders as he slipped back into his boxing stance. "You want the same fate as your brother? C'mon—let's get your beatdown over with."
Casfer blinked.
Jordan was already beside him.
Shock flashed across Casfer's face—then pain exploded as a pipe smashed directly into his head. Casfer crashed to the ground, stunned.
That's impossible, Casfer screamed internally.
I can outrun a car without my weights—so how the hell did he move faster than I could react?!
Panic flared.
Lightning erupted from Casfer's hands as he fired blindly, trying to end it fast.
The attack didn't hit Jordan.
When the dust cleared, a black, inky shield stood between them—rippling, alive.
Then it changed.
The shield twisted and sharpened, reforming into long, jagged spears.
Casfer rushed forward, teeth clenched. He knew he couldn't fire another lightning blast without draining his stamina completely.
Before he could land a punch, a spear slammed into the ground inches from his face—halting him dead in his tracks.
From that spear, dozens of smaller ones erupted, curling and snapping toward him.
He dodged desperately.
Not all of them missed.
Thin cuts opened across his body as the spears grazed him.
Then the massive spear lifted into the air again.
No one understood why.
Jordan didn't stop it.
"He's going to kill him!" Joey cried, panic spilling out. "This—this is what I was afraid of! Powerful abilities like ours can't be controlled—they just control us!"
"Are you stupid?" Nico shot back sharply.
Joey froze.
"Your ability doesn't control you. You control you," Nico said coldly. "People who say otherwise just want an excuse to go wild—and that doesn't give them an alibi."
She gestured toward the battlefield.
"Riven told Jordan and me not to interfere. Not you. This entire thing was for you. He wanted to show you that no matter what ability you have, it's dangerous."
She stepped closer.
"So what if you're dangerous? Everyone is. Give a baby a knife—they're dangerous. Give a monkey a shotgun—it's dangerous. It's not about what someone has. It's about whether they know how to use it."
Nico sighed, noticing Joey's expression shifting—understanding finally creeping in.
"Jordan's never been this strong," she continued. "Seeing Riven get hurt like that probably pushed him over the edge."
She turned away.
"But I know one thing. If Jordan kills Casfer, he won't say some bullshit like my ability made me do it. He'll take responsibility."
She paused.
"Would you blame him?"
Nico started walking off.
"Where are you going?" Joey asked weakly.
"I don't know if he's going to kill Casfer or not," Nico replied, flashing a peace sign over her shoulder. "But I'm not sticking around to get involved in a murder case. Deuces."
Joey stayed behind.
He thought about what Nico said.
About Riven.
About Jordan.
They hadn't known each other long—but they cared. Not just about keeping him alive… but about how he felt inside.
Tears welled up as the realization hit him.
And for the first time, Joey understood just how wrong—and how small—his fear had made him feel.
The black, inky spear launched straight toward Casfer's chest.
He didn't have time to dodge.
Didn't have time to think.
All he could do was throw his arms up in desperation.
The spear pierced straight through both forearms.
Pain exploded through him—white, blinding, unbearable—like his arms were being torn apart from the inside. His legs nearly gave out. Every instinct screamed at him to drop, to let go.
But he didn't.
If he did… he would die.
Then—
The spear stopped.
It hovered there, frozen mid-air, trembling slightly.
Casfer blinked in disbelief.
Jordan stood behind the attack, his ink trembling as he forcibly halted the motion. But Jordan hadn't stopped because of mercy.
He stopped because he heard a voice.
When he turned, his breath caught.
A black-haired boy lay on the ground, struggling to push himself up.
"Riven—?"
"No, Joey. Don't think that."
Riven's voice was weak—but clear.
It was like he could hear Joey's thoughts.
"You're not pathetic. You never were. Your fear makes sense. Anyone would be afraid."
Riven forced himself to his feet, legs shaking, but he smiled anyway.
"I just wanted to help you come out of your shell. Not force you. If you don't want to use your ability… then don't. That's your choice."
"Riven—!"
Jordan rushed forward, grabbing his brother and pulling him into a tight embrace. For a moment, he genuinely thought Riven was gone.
Casfer didn't waste that moment.
With a grunt, he ripped the spear from his arms. Blood poured down his forearms, splattering onto the ground.
Lightning surged violently around both of his hands.
"Let's see if you can stop this."
He slammed his palms together, compressing every ounce of energy he had left. The lightning swelled—unstable, massive—before he thrust his hands forward.
A blinding blast tore across the space.
Jordan reacted instantly, shaping the remaining ink into a shield reinforced by the spear.
But he could see it.
Cracks.
Damn it…
I used the rest of the ink in the bottle.
I can't reinforce this anymore…
Then—
A warmth washed over him.
"Drop it."
Jordan froze.
Joey stepped forward.
His entire body was glowing gold.
"Are you sure?" Jordan asked quietly.
Joey nodded. "Yeah. I'm sure."
Jordan let the shield fall.
The lightning blast struck Joey—
And bent.
It curved upward, ripping through the sky and splitting a cloud clean in half before dissipating. The cloud slowly drifted back together, like nothing had happened.
Casfer's eyes widened in terror.
"You're… using it."
He had always bullied Joey for one reason.
Fear.
Joey's power scared him. He thought it was wasted. Thought it should have been his instead.
Joey walked forward calmly, golden aura still surrounding him.
"You lost, Casfer. Please don't make me hurt you more than I already have to. I don't know if I can control myself if I do."
Casfer snarled and lunged.
Joey dodged effortlessly.
Casfer swung again. And again. Faster. Wilder.
Jordan could barely follow it.
Riven struggled—but noticed something else.
Casfer was slowing down.
Not adapting.
Running out of energy.
"It's over," Joey said softly, turning away. "Please… don't make me—"
"DON'T IGNORE ME!"
Casfer charged.
What happened next wasn't intentional.
It was instinct.
Joey stopped.
And punched.
The impact hit Casfer square in the gut.
The shockwave rippled outward, rattling the ground beneath them.
Casfer flew back and crashed hard—vomiting blood the moment he landed.
"Shit—"
The golden light around Joey flickered… then faded.
"Shit… shit… shit…"
He stared at his hands, panic flooding back in.
"What have I done…?"
Casfer continued coughing violently, blood staining the ground. It was clear—something inside him was badly damaged.
No one knew what to do.
Until Riven spoke.
"I might."
A system window appeared before him.
⸻
[SYSTEM: Enemy defeated.]
[This enemy possesses a compatible core.]
[Would you like to absorb it?]
Riven's heart dropped.
Core…?
Heart?
"No."
Another message appeared.
[SYSTEM: A core is not the heart.]
[It is the primary vessel in which an ability resides.]
More questions flooded his mind.
Why could I absorb Charlie's core?
What happens if I take all of it?
The system answered.
[SYSTEM: Full absorption may permanently remove the target's ability.]
[Due to system desynchronization, partial absorption is available.]
[Options: 1/2 or 1/4.]
Riven exhaled shakily.
One quarter…
That should be enough.
He chose 1/4.
A soft green light burst outward.
A green aura lifted from Charlie's body and flowed into Riven's chest. It didn't feel like power.
It felt like something adding itself to something already there.
⸻
[SYSTEM: 1/4 Nature Core absorbed.]
[Healing attribute increased.]
[Healing — Level 2 acquired.]
⸻
[SYSTEM: You may now heal party members.]
[Healing others will be slow at low levels.]
Exactly what he needed.
Riven knelt beside Casfer, who had already passed out from blood loss. He didn't know how to heal—
So he didn't think about it.
The green aura flowed naturally.
Wounds began to stabilize.
Breathing evened.
"Riven…"
Joey stepped closer, voice shaking.
"How are you doing that?"
[system: 3/3 quest completed]