The battlefield roared again.
But something had changed.
The fear—
Was gone.
Replaced by something stronger.
Hope.
Riven stood firm.
Breathing steady.
"…He erased it… just like that…"
Godwin's power still echoed in his mind.
Unreachable.
But not impossible.
"…I'll reach that level…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…One day."
Around him—
The guild pushed forward.
Enemies fell.
The tide—
Was turning.
"…We're winning…!"
For a moment—
It felt true.
But then—
The sky cracked again.
"…Not again…"
Riven looked up.
And froze.
More.
Far more.
Hundreds of figures appeared.
Stronger than before.
Faster.
Deadlier.
"…This is insane…"
The battlefield trembled.
The allies noticed instantly.
The tall man frowned.
"…So this is phase two…"
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"…They're not holding back anymore."
The younger man smirked.
"…Good. I was getting bored."
Godwin stood still.
Watching.
"…So they escalated."
Silence.
Then—
The new enemies descended.
Faster.
More coordinated.
More dangerous.
"…Stay sharp!"
The guild tightened formation.
But this time—
It wasn't enough.
The new wave broke through.
Instantly.
"…What—?!"
Chaos erupted again.
But worse.
Much worse.
Riven moved.
Intent Vision activated.
Second layer open.
Paths everywhere.
Choices everywhere.
"…Too many…!"
But—
He didn't freeze.
Didn't panic.
He chose.
Moved.
Dodged.
Countered.
Fought.
Better than before.
Faster.
Sharper.
But still—
Not enough.
An enemy slipped past.
Attacked.
Riven blocked—
But barely.
"…They're stronger…!"
Another attack came.
Then another.
Relentless.
"…I can't keep up…!"
Then—
A voice.
"…Don't fight alone."
Riven turned.
The woman ally.
Already in motion.
She raised her hand—
The ground erupted.
Enemies were trapped.
"…Work with me."
Riven nodded instantly.
"…Got it."
Their movements synced.
She controlled.
He attacked.
Precise.
Efficient.
Deadly.
Enemies fell faster.
"…This is better…"
Riven adapted.
Not just to enemies—
But to allies.
Learning.
Growing.
Mid-battle.
Then—
Another shift.
Stronger presence.
Descending.
Riven felt it instantly.
"…Another one…?"
But this time—
It wasn't just one.
Three.
Three massive figures.
Even stronger than the last.
"…You've got to be kidding…"
The battlefield froze again.
Not completely—
But enough.
Godwin looked up.
Calm.
"…So this is your answer…"
The three figures spoke.
"…You destroyed one…"
"…Now face three."
Their voices echoed.
Cold.
Absolute.
Riven clenched his fist.
"…I can't fight those…"
Godwin stepped forward.
"…You don't have to."
A pause.
"…Handle the rest."
Riven froze.
"…You're taking all three…?"
Godwin didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
He moved.
Gone.
And the sky exploded again.
Shockwaves.
Energy.
Power beyond understanding.
Riven looked up—
And couldn't follow.
"…I still can't see him…"
But this time—
He didn't feel frustrated.
He felt motivated.
"…That's where I need to be…"
He turned back.
Focused.
"…Then I'll handle everything else."
He charged forward.
Into the battlefield.
Not as a survivor.
But as a fighter.
As someone—
Who belonged there.
The war raged.
Fiercer than before.
But Riven—
Didn't fall behind.
Not anymore.
Because now—
He wasn't chasing strength.
He was becoming it.
Far away—
The watchers observed.
"…He's growing faster than expected…"
"…Adjust the plan."
A pause.
"…Next phase begins soon."
Back on the battlefield—
The war continued.
But one thing was clear—
This was only the beginning.
To be continued…