Crow didn't know exactly who Riven and Jordan were.
But he knew why they were here.
Revenge.
It was always revenge.
At some point, someone always came knocking. His gang killed a rival member… or some poor bastard just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Casualties were common. Normal, even.
Usually, the anger simmered for a week. Sometimes two.
Then it boiled over.
But these two?
They came after only a few days.
That was what bothered him.
What the hell is the Academy teaching these days? Crow thought as he deflected another wild strike.
Riven's swordsmanship was terrible—sloppy, chaotic, clearly untrained.
But his strength—
And worse—
His speed—
They more than made up for it.
Crow parried another blow, then twisted his body and drove a kick straight into Riven's gut.
The impact sent the boy flying.
Riven slammed into a concrete wall with a sickening crash, the structure cracking from the force.
"There's the problem," Crow muttered. "His strength surpasses mine."
Which meant only one thing.
I'll have to use my real power.
My ability.
And my speed.
But that created another issue.
Riven staggered upright, vision blurring as the familiar system warning flashed before his eyes.
⸻
[Energy: 15 / 36]
⸻
Damn it.
He couldn't afford Lightning Strikes anymore. One more heavy skill and his stamina would hit zero. At best, he had four—maybe three—minutes left before his body gave out completely.
Putting everything together…
Riven inhaled sharply.
My best bet is a sneak attack.
There were still plenty of Crow's lackeys left. Dozens of them surrounded the area, keeping their distance—too scared to get close.
Perfect.
They were bunched together, overlapping each other's blind spots.
And for someone with Riven's speed?
Every inch of this building was close range.
The black-and-green-haired boy burst forward, vanishing in a flash of lightning as he rushed straight into the crowd.
"Damn it—!" Crow's eyes widened. Is he planning on killing more?
It wasn't even Crow who'd delivered the final blow to Riven's father.
That had been Darren.
Crow had only given the order.
So why—?
Why was this kid slaughtering his men?
Crow knew rage. He knew grief. Losing someone close stripped away reason—turned people feral.
But this?
This wasn't blind fury.
This kid was thinking.
He's using strategy.
"Everyone—scatter!" Crow roared.
The gang reacted instantly, exploding outward in all directions.
Too late.
Riven was already moving.
He slipped through them like a shadow, so fast they didn't even realize he'd passed until blades pierced their backs and throats opened in silent sprays of blood.
Screams erupted.
Crow spun just in time to sense killing intent behind him.
Riven lunged, sword aimed straight for his back—
—but instinct took over.
Crow twisted, his blade sweeping behind him.
CLANG.
Steel collided.
The clash echoed through the building.
After cutting through countless bodies and enduring repeated impacts, Riven's Level 5 Beast Weapon finally reached its limit.
The tip shattered on contact with Crow's blade.
Fragments exploded outward.
The shockwave blasted Riven backward, throwing him across the room and skidding him away from the remaining men.
He gasped for breath, chest heaving, and deactivated Lightning Cloak the moment he created distance.
Silence followed.
"It's over," Crow announced calmly, pointing his sword at Riven.
"Your weapon is broken. And that lightning you're using—it's draining your energy. You're at your limit."
The gang erupted into cheers.
"Yeah! That's our leader!"
"Give him hell, Crow!"
"Kill this bastard!"
Crow raised a hand, silencing them.
"I have a question," he said, blade still leveled at Riven.
"Darren admitted to murdering your father. And I won't deny I played my part as the leader. But tell me this—why kill my men? Shouldn't they count as innocent?"
"Innocent?"
Riven laughed.
Not amused.
Not happy.
Just angry.
"None of you are innocent."
His voice shook with fury.
"I don't care if they did this to feed their families. I don't care if they wanted to keep their kids out of forced labor—or if their kid was rotting in a hospital bed."
His eyes burned.
"They supported you. They stood behind you after what you did. They knew it was wrong. They knew they could've reported you—ended this entire organization in an instant."
Riven's lips curled into a bitter grin.
"But they didn't."
"Why?"
"Fear."
"They chose to follow you. And they chose to keep following you after everything."
His grip tightened around the shattered hilt.
"That means they chose prison."
"They chose death."
"In my eyes, standing behind you makes them just as guilty as you… and Darren."
Riven exhaled slowly.
I'm running out of time.
But then—
An idea.
I killed around thirty of them.
That means there are still about one hundred and twenty left… including Darren—who's fighting Jordan—and this guy.
Riven glanced at Crow more closely.
There was a resemblance.
Don't tell me…
Is this Crasfer's father?
He shook his head.
Too late now.
I never liked that guy anyway.
An eye for an eye.
He killed my father.
So I'll make sure his son doesn't have one either.
Lightning surged back around his body.
⸻
[System: -14 Energy]
[System: +12 Energy]
⸻
"Nice," Riven muttered.
Lightning Cloak worked similarly to Electric Body—higher cost, higher return.
That was enough.
He charged.
Crow braced himself.
So the boy had a Beast Weapon, Crow realized grimly. Both him and his brother.
That explains how it lasted so long.
But how did he sneak it in? The Academy should've confiscated it.
Still—now that it's broken, whatever boost he had is gone.
Crow tracked Riven's movements as the boy suddenly leapt over him, diving back into the crowd.
"Trying the same trick again?" Crow scoffed. "It won't—"
He froze.
Screams echoed behind him.
Not screams of pain.
But choking.
Gurgling.
Men collapsing as blood filled their throats.
Crow turned slowly—
—and realized Riven was already moving again.
"Damn it!" Crow shouted, sprinting after the boy.
He's not trying the same trick, Crow realized.
He's trying to kill them all before I get there.
But why?
The black-and-green-haired boy's plan made no sense to him.
Is this some kind of final 'screw you'? Crow thought bitterly.
He knows he can't kill me… so he's wiping out everyone else instead.
Crow gritted his teeth.
If Darren were here, he could've blown half this place apart.
Sure, the explosion would've killed some of their own—but Darren would've died with them.
Crow tried everything—cutting off paths, charging ahead, attempting to intercept Riven—but the boy was always one step ahead.
Every time Crow positioned his sword in front of a man, ready to block another sneak strike like before—
Nothing came.
No blade.
No impact.
"Damn it…" Crow muttered.
He's predicting me.
Crow spun suddenly—
—and froze.
A man stood on the warehouse balcony above them.
"Sir! It's done! They're on their way!" the man yelled, clearly speaking to Crow.
Damn it, Crow thought.
I didn't want him contacting the rest of the Sunriot gang—not for a kid.
After Canin's death… after Nick's appearance… it had taken everything to merge the gangs and build this much power.
And now we're calling reinforcements… for a child?
We'll become a laughingstock.
No—this kid needs to die. Now.
Crow's thoughts cut off abruptly.
The man on the balcony slumped forward.
Then fell.
His body hit the ground with a wet crack, blood splattering across the floor.
Crow looked up slowly—
—and saw Riven standing there, staring at nothing.
"What…?" Crow whispered.
Then he turned.
More bodies.
More blood.
More of his men lying dead.
"He killed more of them…" Crow's grip tightened around his sword, rage finally boiling over.
"You little shit!" Crow roared.
"I was planning on just killing you after this—leaving the woman alive! I thought maybe God wanted her alive after she survived!"
His voice twisted with fury.
"But now? I'll kill that bitch after this—and—"
Riven vanished.
"Damn it—where is he?!"
Crow's thoughts stopped.
Pain exploded through his body.
A shattered sword tip burst out of his stomach.
"What—?" Crow gasped, blood spilling from his mouth.
Did he… get faster?
Crow raised his sword to counter—
—but Riven was already gone.
Gone from behind him.
Appearing in front of him.
Riven grabbed the shattered blade embedded in Crow's stomach and yanked it out.
The wound tore wider.
Crow coughed violently, blood spraying the floor.
He swung his sword down—
—and felt all strength leave his arm.
Not from exhaustion.
Not from unconsciousness.
But because his hand was no longer attached to his body.
Riven had closed the distance instantly.
Using proximity to his advantage, he sliced clean through Crow's wrist.
The sword clattered to the floor.
Crow screamed.
Before he could even process it, Riven snatched the fallen blade and stored it in his inventory.
"What did you do with my weapon?!" Crow screamed in rage, throwing punches wildly.
Riven dodged each one effortlessly.
Again.
And again.
Judging by his speed… Riven thought.
He's as fast as Harkel.
Without the sword and with Lightning Cloak, I can easily outspeed Harkel.
But with it… he was able to keep up with me.
Riven's thoughts cut off as another system drain ticked down.
Four energy gone in one minute.
I don't have time for this.
With the broken blade still in hand, Riven stepped in—
—and slashed once across Crow's neck.
Clean.
Decisive.
Crow's head separated from his body and rolled across the floor.
Silence.
"No way…"
"The leader… Crow was defeated."
"Not only that—he took Crow's sword."
"Doesn't that mean he's as strong as him?"
"No…"
"He's even stronger."
One man dropped to his knees.
"We—we'll follow you! Please! Be our leader! Just tell us your name!"
Riven didn't even look at him.
"I don't care."
He pulled the Level 5 Beast Weapon from his inventory.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, energy surged through him—warm, powerful, right.
It felt soothing.
Compatible.
Like the weapon was adapting to him… and offering something meant to last a lifetime.
Now I see why people keep high-level beast weapons close, Riven thought.
Without warning, he swung.
The kneeling man's head flew from his shoulders.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The remaining gang members froze in horror.
"Oh?" Riven said calmly, a faint smile on his face.
"What—did you think his death would change something?"
His eyes swept over them.
"Everyone in here is still dying."
And the rampage continued.