Sirens echoed through Velkhar.
The streets were still in chaos, though the worst of it had slowed after Riven destroyed the supply van.
People screamed in the distance.
Some cried.
Others simply ran without knowing where to go.
Riven stood in the middle of it all, breathing heavily. Sweat ran down the side of his face as another drugged man stumbled toward him.
He shifted his stance instinctively—
Kethra Vein Art.
Aether gathered lightly into his arms.
The moment the man lunged, Riven redirected the momentum and slammed him harmlessly into the ground.
Unconscious.
Riven exhaled sharply.
"…How many are there?"
Then—
A familiar voice came from behind him.
"You know, for someone who almost dies every other day…"
Riven turned.
Ivan walked toward him calmly, hands in his pockets.
"…you're surprisingly hard to kill."
Riven stared at him for a second.
"…That's your opening line?"
Ivan glanced around at the burning street.
"I considered 'nice weather today,' but this felt more appropriate."
Riven clicked his tongue.
"You took forever."
"And yet," Ivan replied calmly, "the city still exists. Impressive."
---
Behind Ivan, several black vehicles stopped abruptly.
Doors opened.
Men and women stepped out wearing dark coats marked with the crest of the Kaelthorn lineage.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Professional.
Controlled.
One of them approached Ivan immediately.
"Young Master. The perimeter is ready."
Ivan nodded once.
"Lock down the entire district."
"At once."
Within moments—
Barrier devices were placed around intersections.
Roads sealed.
Communication channels disrupted.
The panic outside continued—
But now it was contained.
Riven frowned slightly.
"…What exactly is this stuff?"
Ivan looked toward one of the unconscious victims.
"A drug," he said. "One designed to force normal humans beyond their physical limits."
Riven's expression hardened.
"So that's why they moved like that…"
Ivan nodded.
"The body can't handle the strain properly. Their minds collapse first."
Riven looked around again.
The destruction suddenly felt heavier.
"…What if a supernatural took it?"
Ivan shook his head immediately.
"It wouldn't work."
"Why?"
Ivan glanced toward the broken capsules scattered across the ground.
"…That's what we have to find out."
---
One of the Kaelthorn operatives approached again.
"Young Master, withdrawal agents are prepared. We can begin suppression treatment."
Ivan nodded.
"Start immediately. Prioritize civilians with unstable pulse rates."
The operative bowed slightly before leaving.
---
Riven watched silently as specialized teams moved through the streets.
Some restrained infected civilians.
Others injected silver-colored serum into their necks.
Slowly—
The violent movements stopped.
People collapsed from exhaustion instead of rage.
Ambulances began entering the area.
The screams slowly faded.
---
Riven leaned against a broken wall, finally letting his breathing settle.
"…This world is insane."
Ivan stood beside him quietly.
"You've only seen a small part of it."
Riven glanced sideways.
"That's supposed to comfort me?"
"No."
"…At least you're honest."
A faint smirk appeared on Ivan's face.
Rare.
But real.
---
Riven's eyes drifted toward the shattered capsules scattered across the street.
"…Do you think this was random?"
"No," Ivan answered immediately.
"Then someone planned this."
"Yes."
"And someone funded it."
Ivan looked ahead silently.
That silence alone was enough.
Riven narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You know something."
Ivan didn't answer directly.
Instead, he looked toward the darkening sky.
"There are people in this world," he said slowly, "who believe chaos is the fastest way to change society."
Riven frowned.
"That's stupid."
"It's effective."
That answer bothered him more.
---
Hours later—
Velkhar finally began calming down.
The fires were extinguished.
The streets emptied.
The chaos had ended.
For now.
---
By the time Riven returned home, exhaustion had settled deep into his body.
The moment he entered, his sister looked at him suspiciously.
"…Why do you look like you fought a truck?"
Riven walked past her immediately.
"Because I lost."
She blinked.
"…What?"
"I'm kidding."
"Idiot."
His mother stepped out from the kitchen.
"You're late."
"Sorry."
She looked at him carefully for a moment.
"…Eat first."
Riven smiled faintly.
"…Okay."
For a brief moment—
Everything felt normal again.
And somehow…
That felt stranger than the chaos.
---
That night, Riven collapsed onto his bed almost instantly.
Within minutes—
He was asleep.
---
Elsewhere—
Ivan stood inside a dimly lit hall.
Several figures sat before him, their faces partially hidden by darkness.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Ancient.
Authoritative.
One voice finally spoke.
"…Report."
Ivan's expression remained calm.
"Drug distribution confirmed in Velkhar District. Effects forcibly elevate normal humans beyond standard physical limitations."
Another voice followed.
"Source?"
"Still unknown."
Silence.
Then—
"Casualties?"
"Contained."
A brief pause.
"And Ivan's friend?"
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He handled the situation better than expected."
The hall went quiet again.
One of the elders leaned forward slightly.
"Interesting."
Another voice echoed through the darkness.
"A newly awakened Ascendant adapting this quickly…"
Silence followed.
Then—
"Keep watching him."
Ivan said nothing.
But deep down—
He already knew things around Riven were beginning to move far too quickly.
END