Casfer, his father, and a few men made steady strides toward the gang member with the explosion ability. He needed to be taken out first if their plan was going to work.
Casfer didn't know why, but he couldn't stop staring at the blade his father carried.
He had never truly asked where the weapon came from, and his father had never tried to explain it either.
"You're wondering what your father has in his hand, aren't you?" a man who usually stayed by his father's side said as he walked up to Casfer.
"Yeah… yeah, I kind of am," Casfer admitted.
"It's something from the rest of the world."
"Wait—like he got it from the Pile?" Casfer asked.
The man shrugged. "We don't know how he got it. All we know is that it's powerful. Don't know much about how it works, but we do know it makes Crow stronger as well."
"Wait—it makes him stronger?" Casfer asked, confused.
"Yes. It's like the weapon's energy seeps into the person using it, allowing them to take more hits and deal more damage. And that's without even actively using the weapon. To put it simply, whatever your father is using is the pinnacle of weaponry."
As they made their way toward the battlefield, people backed away—not just because of the number of men with them, but because of who led the group.
Crow.
The gang leader walked forward with his sword held loosely at his side, ready for anything. There was an invisible pressure around him, a silent warning that if anyone got too close, they'd be cut down instantly.
When they reached their destination, Crow stopped, and the group halted with him.
"I can reach him in an instant," Crow said calmly. "Here's the plan. I want a perimeter around me. Stop anyone from interfering. We need these people alive—after this, they'll become our subordinates and add to our power."
He glanced back.
"Casfer, you'll stay with me. Don't get too close. You need to witness what the real world is like."
"Yes, sir," Casfer responded instinctively, like a soldier.
They were about twenty meters away from the man, yet Crow sounded completely confident. Before Casfer could process it, his father moved.
Crow burst forward, faster than Casfer had ever seen anyone run.
Cool… the boy whispered, struggling to keep up.
Crow appeared in front of the man just as explosions erupted around him. His sword swung down like a sentence of judgment—but the man detonated an explosion beneath his feet, propelling himself backward and narrowly avoiding the strike.
When the man recovered from his initial shock, he began to laugh.
"Ah—Crow. Is that you? It's been a while since our last fight."
Crow snickered. "You mean when you tried to ambush me and failed, Darren?"
"Oh, come on," Darren chuckled. "You can't blame us just because you weren't ready. And last time I checked, you ran."
"Last time I checked," Crow replied coldly, "you had fifteen people, and I was alone—and unprepared."
Darren used the moment wisely. He knew that once the explosions stopped, his gang would realize something was wrong.
"Where's your leader?" Crow asked, stepping closer, his sword thirsting for blood.
"Canin? No idea," Darren replied. "All I know is he wanted me to cause chaos—kill as many people as I could. That psychopath."
"He's trying to grow an army," Crow muttered to himself.
He knew Canin's abilities—and their limits. So why would Canin try to kill so many people when he knew he'd hit his ceiling?
He's pushing himself, Crow realized.
One way an Evolver could strengthen their abilities was by pushing them to the absolute limit. It damaged the body, caused severe backlash—but the payoff was massive. The ability could become nearly 1.7 times stronger.
Crow knew that tonight, two people had to die.
Canin.
And Nick—the leader of the Black Crown.
If Crow truly wanted control over Section D, they had to be eliminated. Their subordinates would need a new savior. Leaving either of them alive was too dangerous—especially Canin.
⸻
Riven couldn't understand how Jordan had killed the man so quickly.
But what unsettled him even more was Jordan's eyes.
There wasn't a single trace of doubt.
"Jordan…" Riven muttered.
"Don't worry," Jordan replied calmly. "He was already dead. What I did was mercy. Look—we just need to finish this quest and get out of here, okay?"
Riven nodded.
⸻
Dammit, Canin yelled internally.
This strength will only last ten more minutes. If I lose it, I'm dead… or defeated.
These kids don't have the eyes of killers. At least, I don't think they do. And they're just kids… damn it.
This was supposed to be his night. His big play to reach the top.
But these kids ruined everything.
They had defeated
two of his strongest undead. He could only create 5 now. The other two were still fighting on the battlefield—but even then, they wouldn't make much of a difference.
Even if I let them go…
I just have to let this play out.
The man tried to end it quickly.
He went straight for the two brothers, twisting his body and throwing a double gut punch meant to crush them both at once.
Riven ducked low, barely avoiding the blow.
Jordan, however, didn't move.
At the last second, the man curved his sword, forcing canin to miss completely. When his feet hit the ground, he immediately followed up with a brutal back kick, trying to force distance between them.
Jordan jumped.
The kick passed beneath him, and in the same motion, Jordan twisted midair and brought his blade down toward the man's leg—aiming to sever it completely.
But the man reacted fast.
He shifted his body just enough that his upper torso slammed to the ground instead, the blade missing its mark by inches. Using the momentum, he rolled and kicked upward toward Jordan.
Jordan blocked the strike with his sword, steel screaming as the impact echoed through the night.
When the man pushed himself back up, the first thing he saw was a lightning bolt charging straight at him.
His eyes widened.
He threw up his guard just in time, electricity exploding against his defenses. The pressure forced him back a step, boots scraping against the ground.
When he lowered his guard—
Blue electrical claws tore through the air.
They slammed into his chest, slicing across his torso and drawing blood. The pain exploded through him.
Jordan followed immediately, dropping from above with another downward slash.
But the man twisted away at the last possible second.
"Dammit…" he muttered.
These two were far too proficient together.
"If this were a one-on-one," he thought bitterly, "I could take at least one of them out easily."
His gaze flicked to Riven first.
Then to Jordan.
A chill crept down his spine.
"I don't know what it is… but that boy got stronger," he realized. "He was never this fast. Never this strong—not during our the encounter with the first undead."
His eyes drifted to the dazzling sword glowing faintly in the night.
"…Dammit."
His teeth clenched.
"How the hell does someone other than Crow have a blade like that? It should be impossible—"
His thoughts froze.
"No… wait."
The realization struck him like a hammer.
"The two little shits looked surprised too when the sword came down from above," he pieced together. "That means an outside force interfered."
His expression darkened.
"But how did they get a weapon like that?"
Across from him, Jordan and Riven exchanged a brief nod.
Without a word, the two brothers began to circle him from opposite sides.
"I obviously can't win here," the man admitted, raising his hands slightly. "So how about we make a dea—"
He didn't finish.
The brothers charged.
"Hey, I said—!"
There was no time.
He lunged toward Riven, instincts screaming that he was the weaker of the two.
But Riven was already prepared.
Blue lightning crackled as Riven slashed forward with his electric claws.
"Is this kid an idiot?" the man thought at first. "There's too much distance—he can't reach me."
Then he realized.
The lightning extended.
The claws stretched unnaturally, ripping straight across his chest.
Blood sprayed.
"Dammit!" he snarled, staggering back.
Ignoring the pain, he forced himself forward, driving his fist toward Riven's head.
Riven didn't expect it.
He raised his guard too late.
The blow landed cleanly.
Riven was sent flying, smashing into the wall behind him with a thunderous crash. Blood poured from his nose, and a thin line ran down his forehead as his body slid down the stone.
"Good," the man muttered. "That's one down—"
He stopped.
Something was wrong.
Throughout the fight, explosions had echoed in the distance—Darren's work. Loud. Chaotic. Constant.
They had given him peace of mind.
As long as those explosions continued, his second-in-command was still active.
Still fighting.
Still alive.
But now—
Silence.
"…Dammit," he muttered. "Something's wrong."
His eyes widened.
"Darren must be in combat… but with who?"
One name surfaced immediately.
"…Crow."
"I need to get over there. Now."
He clenched his fists.
It wasn't just his strength that had increased—his speed had as well. At his current pace, he could reach the source of the explosions in under a minute.
There was just one problem.
Jordan stood directly in his path.
And Jordan wasn't letting him leave.
When he tried to escape the alley, Jordan appeared in front of him, blade slicing through the air.
Canin didn't even have time to duck.
He jumped back instead, barely avoiding the strike. His heart slammed against his ribs. Riven was already down—out of the fight. That meant there was only one enemy left.
Jordan.
And that was the problem.
The boy held a weapon that shouldn't exist inside the Walls.
Damn it… whatever tier that sword is, it's high. Way too high.
Canin's eyes darted around the alley, searching desperately for a way out. Jordan noticed immediately.
He's trying to escape.
"I can't let him get away," Jordan thought.
He's seen Riven's face. If he leaves, he'll find out who our parents are. He'll wait. Or worse—he'll go after Mom and Dad.
Jordan clenched his jaw.
Riven doesn't have the heart to do this. Hell… I don't either.
His grip tightened.
But I'll force my heart to change tonight.
You won't be the one who kills him.
I will.
Jordan burst forward.
Canin reacted instantly, leaping to the side and springing off the alley wall—then the opposite wall—then another. He used the narrow gap between buildings to propel himself upward, scrambling toward the rooftop.
"No!" Jordan shouted.
He followed.
But Jordan was faster.
When Canin reached the top, a twisted grin spread across his face. Relief. Triumph. Cockiness.
"This isn't over," Canin snarled. "After tonight, I'll find that kid's parents. I'll kill them after he enters the academy. That'll be his punishment for defying me."
Then—
Fear replaced joy.
A man stood there.
Red and white uniform. Calm posture. Unmoving.
Before Canin could react, the man delivered a swift kick, sending him flying backward—off the rooftop.
"Sorry," the man said with a chuckle. "But I can't allow you to escape. If I did, you'd cause a lot of harm."
As Canin fell, his mind raced.
No—no—this bastard… so he was the one. He gave them that sword.
Damn it… tonight was meaningless.
Fine. Even if my gang falls, I'll hide. I'll rebuild. I'll grow stronger. I'll suppress every—
The thought ended abruptly.
His head hit the ground.
Or rather—
It didn't.
Jordan stood above the body, sword dripping.
Canin's head rolled to a stop.
Jordan didn't question why Canin had fallen from the roof. He didn't question the interference.
All he knew was that this ended here.
When he climbed to the rooftop and looked around, there was nothing there—only darkness.
Yet… something felt off.
Like something had escaped.
Jordan glanced down.
The sword was gone.
"I'll be taking that," a voice echoed.
Jordan's eyes widened. "What?"
"I suggest you check on your brother," the voice continued calmly. "That man's strikes weren't weak."
Jordan looked down.
Riven was coughing violently.
When he looked back, the rooftop was empty—nothing but shadows.
But he understood.
"…Thank you."
Jordan leapt down, gripping the wall to slow his descent.
"Riven!" he shouted, rushing to his brother's side.
A faint green aura surrounded Riven's body.
"I—I'm okay," Riven said.
But his face told a different story.
"What's wrong?" Jordan asked.
Riven didn't answer.
He was staring at the severed head.
"I had no choice," Jordan said quietly. His voice was cold. "He saw your face. If he lived, do you think he'd leave us alone? He would've waited. Or gone after Mom and Dad while we were at the academy."
"I know," Riven sobbed. "Damn it… I'm so weak."
His fists clenched.
"Someone had to die because of me."
"No," Jordan said.
Riven looked up, confused.
"I don't know why," Jordan continued, glancing toward the end of the alley, "but something tells me today was going to be his last day—whether we interfered or not."
Jordan exhaled slowly.
"Let's go. We'll check the rewards later."
He lifted Riven onto his back.
"And besides," Jordan muttered, "if anyone's to blame… it's me. I'm the one who wanted to come out here so badly."
As the brothers walked past Canin's lifeless body—
A system notification appeared before both of them.
[SYSTEM: Enemy defeated.]
[This enemy possesses a compatible core.]
[Would you like to absorb it?]