The sky trembled.
The city froze.
People stopped.
Breath caught.
Something—
Far beyond their understanding—
Had arrived.
Above—
Three figures hovered.
Silent.
But overwhelming.
Riven stood below.
Heart pounding.
"…This pressure…"
Even with his Intent Vision—
It was hard to focus.
Too much.
Too fast.
Too heavy.
Godwin stepped forward.
Calm.
"…Stay behind me."
Riven clenched his fist.
"…No."
Silence.
Godwin glanced back.
"…You'll die."
Riven nodded.
"…Maybe."
A pause.
"…But I won't run."
Silence.
Godwin smiled faintly.
"…Good."
Then—
He stepped aside.
"…Then don't fall behind."
Riven's eyes sharpened.
"…I won't."
The three figures descended slightly.
"…Interesting…"
"…The successor stands."
"…Even knowing the gap."
One of them raised its hand.
"…Let's test him."
Instantly—
It moved.
Faster than anything before.
Riven's eyes widened—
But—
He saw it.
A line.
A path.
"…Left!"
He moved.
Dodged—
Barely.
The attack destroyed the ground behind him.
"…I can see it…!"
But—
Another attack came.
From a different direction.
"…Too many…!"
He reacted again—
But slower.
A strike hit him—
Sending him flying.
"…Gah—!"
He crashed.
Hard.
Pain exploded through his body.
"…Tch…!"
He stood up again.
Barely.
"…I can't track all of them…"
Godwin moved.
Instantly.
Appearing between them.
"…Then don't."
He blocked one attack.
Redirected another.
Stopped the third—
Without effort.
"…Focus on one."
Riven froze.
"…One…?"
Godwin glanced at him.
"…The weakest."
Silence.
Riven looked up.
Through the pressure.
Through the chaos.
He focused.
His vision sharpened.
Lines formed.
Paths split.
And one stood out.
"…That one…!"
The third figure.
Slightly slower.
Less precise.
"…Got you…"
Riven moved.
Fast.
Focused.
He ignored the others.
Trusted Godwin.
And attacked.
The figure reacted.
But—
Riven saw it.
Every movement.
Every shift.
"…Not this time!"
He dodged.
Countered.
Moved again.
Faster.
Cleaner.
The gap—
Still there.
But smaller.
Much smaller.
The figure attacked—
Riven slipped through.
Barely.
But enough.
"…Now!"
He struck.
Clean.
Direct.
The figure staggered.
"…!"
For the first time—
It was hit.
The other two paused.
"…He landed a strike…"
"…Interesting…"
Riven didn't stop.
He pushed forward.
Strike after strike.
Not perfect.
But relentless.
Godwin handled the other two.
Effortlessly.
But watching.
Observing.
"…He's adapting mid-fight…"
Riven moved again.
But—
His body slowed.
Fatigue.
Damage.
"…Tch…!"
The figure saw the opening.
Attacked instantly.
Too fast.
Too close.
"…Move!"
Riven tried—
But—
Too late.
The strike landed.
Direct.
He dropped.
Hard.
"…I… can't…"
His vision blurred.
Body trembling.
"…Get up…"
The figure raised its hand.
Final strike.
"…Pathetic."
Riven's eyes narrowed.
"…Not yet…"
That feeling—
Returned.
Stronger than before.
Clearer.
Sharper.
"…I can still see it…"
Even now—
He saw the path.
The only path.
"…One chance…"
He moved.
At the last moment.
Dodged.
Barely.
Then—
Countered.
Everything he had.
All his strength.
All his will.
One strike.
It landed.
Silence.
The figure froze.
Then—
Cracked.
Fell.
Gone.
Riven collapsed.
"…I… did it…"
Breathing stopped.
Body gave out.
Godwin appeared instantly.
Catching him.
"…That's enough."
The other two figures stepped back.
Watching.
"…He killed one…"
"…Impressive…"
A pause.
"…But not enough."
Godwin looked at them.
Eyes calm.
"…You're done."
Silence.
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Then—
The two figures disappeared.
Retreated.
Not defeated.
But… satisfied.
The sky cleared.
The pressure vanished.
The city breathed again.
Godwin looked at Riven.
Unconscious.
Broken.
But alive.
"…You survived."
A faint smile appeared.
"…And you fought well."
Silence.
But far away
The other two watched.
"…He's growing fast…"
"…Too fast…"
A pause.
"…Next time…"
Their voices darkened.
"…We end it."
Back in the city
The war had begun.
And this time
There was no going back.
To be continued…