The battlefield fell silent.
Dust settled slowly.
The air grew lighter.
Riven lay on the ground—
Breathing heavily.
His body refused to move.
"…I seriously… can't get up…"
Godwin stood nearby.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"…Then don't."
Riven let out a weak laugh.
"…Great advice…"
Silence.
For a moment—
Everything felt normal again.
But only for a moment.
Godwin's eyes shifted slightly.
"…It's still here."
Riven frowned.
"…What is?"
No answer came immediately.
Godwin looked into the distance.
Far beyond the horizon.
"…Something's watching."
Riven's body tensed slightly.
"…Another one?"
"…No."
A pause.
"…Something worse."
Silence.
Riven slowly pushed himself up.
"…You're serious…"
Godwin nodded slightly.
"…That thing you fought…"
"…Wasn't random."
A pause.
"…It was sent."
Riven's eyes widened.
"…Sent…?"
"…Yeah."
"…And now…"
Godwin's expression turned sharper.
"…They know about you."
Silence.
Riven clenched his fist.
"…Who are 'they'…?"
A long pause.
Then—
"…Something that shouldn't exist in this world."
The wind shifted.
Cold.
Unnatural.
Riven felt it.
"…This feeling…"
Godwin turned.
"…We're leaving."
"…What? Why?"
"…Because if it comes here…"
A pause.
"…You die."
Silence.
Riven didn't argue.
For the first time—
He understood.
There were levels—
Beyond him.
Far beyond.
They moved.
Back toward the city.
Faster this time.
Riven struggled to keep up.
"…So what now?"
Godwin didn't slow down.
"…Now you get stronger."
"…And them?"
"…They get closer."
Silence.
The tension grew.
Not from battle.
But from something unseen.
Something waiting.
Far away—
In a place untouched by normal existence—
Something opened its eyes.
Dark.
Deep.
Ancient.
"…So…"
A voice echoed.
"…He has returned."
Another voice responded.
"…And not alone."
Silence.
"…The successor has begun to grow."
A pause.
"…Should we interfere?"
The first voice laughed softly.
"…No."
"…Let him grow."
A darker tone followed.
"…The stronger he becomes…"
"…The more interesting it will be."
Silence.
Then—
"…And what about the one behind him?"
A pause.
A long pause.
Then—
"…He is not the same anymore."
The air trembled.
"…He is beyond our reach."
Silence.
"…For now."
Back in the city—
Riven collapsed onto a bench.
Completely drained.
"…I hate this training…"
Godwin stood nearby.
"…You love it."
"…Yeah…"
Riven sighed.
"…I do."
A pause.
"…But that thing you mentioned…"
"…Those 'they'…"
He looked at Godwin seriously.
"…Can I beat them?"
Silence.
Godwin looked at him.
For a moment—
Not as a student.
But as someone walking a path.
Then—
"…Not right now."
Riven nodded.
"…Figures."
A pause.
"…But I will."
Godwin smiled faintly.
"…That's the idea."
Silence.
The city continued as normal.
People moved.
Laughed.
Lived.
Unaware.
Of what was coming.
Godwin looked at the sky.
"…This world won't stay peaceful for long."
A pause.
"…And this time…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…It won't be just monsters."
Riven slowly stood up.
Still tired.
But determined.
"…Then I'll be ready."
Godwin glanced at him.
"…You better be."
Because far beyond
Something had already begun moving.
Something far stronger.
Far more dangerous.
And this time
It wasn't just watching.
It was coming.
To be continued…