The forest just outside the settlement was alive with the sounds of evening. The rustle of leaves, the occasional snap of a twig, and the distant cries of wildlife created a natural rhythm. Riven adjusted the grip on his twin blades, the new leather of the hilts snug in his palms. The weight of the blades felt like an extension of his arms, a perfect synergy with the movements Astra had been teaching him.
"This will be your real test," Astra said, her voice calm but edged with authority. "We're not sparring to see who wins. We're sparring to see how much of yourself you can channel into these blades and how much control you can maintain."
Riven nodded, heart steady. "I'm ready."
Astra raised her hand and called out, the motion simple yet commanding. From between the trees, a figure emerged: the old man he had met in the tavern the broad-shouldered veteran, one of Astra's former partners. Even in his age, his frame radiated strength, every muscle honed and ready. His eyes locked onto Riven with a sharp, assessing gaze, one that carried both respect and the promise of challenge.
"You've been training," the old man said, voice low, measured. "I can feel it. Let's see what you've learned."
Without further words, he drew his weapona heavy staff, balanced with centuries of skill and charged. Riven met him with the twin blades, crossing their strikes with a clash of metal that rang through the forest. Sparks flew where the blades met the staff, and the trees shivered under the impact.
Astra watched silently from a short distance, noting Riven's stance, the fluidity of his movements, and the way he combined raw strength with precision. The old man was no easy opponent. Every swing, thrust, and block was calculated, yet powerful. Riven countered, rolling under a staff strike and slashing upward with a twin blade, narrowly grazing the veteran's chest.
"Good," Astra muttered to herself, a faint smile crossing her lips. "He's learning quickly. Control… power… technique… all coming together."
The sparring continued, their movements becoming faster, sharper, more intense. Blades struck wood and earth, ricocheting with deadly precision. Riven moved like a predator, each motion flowing into the next, his Night Wolf energy humming beneath his skin. The Dark Energy lingered at the edge of his control, restrained but ready, a latent power amplifying each strike by just enough.
Minutes stretched into hours as they tested each other. Neither gave quarter. They leaped, dodged, spun, and struck in a deadly rhythm, blending brute force, human martial arts, and the subtle surge of primal energy. Leaves fell around them in spirals, the earth itself groaning under the pressure of their strength.
By the time night fell, both Riven and the old man were drenched in sweat, breathing hard, muscles trembling from exertion. Astra stepped forward, raising a hand. "Enough for now," she said. "You've learned well, but tonight is not the end. You must always be ready for what comes next."
Riven's chest heaved as he lowered his blades, nodding in acknowledgment. "I can feel it… I'm stronger," he said, voice rough from exertion. "I can handle more than before."
The old man patted him lightly on the shoulder. "And you'll need every bit of it. The world isn't gentle. Not anymore."
Before anyone could react further, a shadow fell over the clearing. A dark figure emerged from the treeline with unnatural speed. Kael the lieutenant of the First, twisted by forbidden power moved with a grace that belied his monstrous intent. Large bone claws jutted from his hands, glinting faintly under the moonlight. The air seemed to warp around him, the faint hum of dark energy radiating outward.
The old man spun just in time to see Kael's claws pierce his chest. A single strike, precise and brutal. He gasped, shock painting his features as blood bloomed across his tunic. Kael shoved him aside effortlessly, sending the veteran crashing into a tree with a sickening crack. The forest fell into stunned silence.
Riven's eyes widened. He gritted his teeth, instinctively taking a battle stance, twin blades raised. "Who what !" he started, but Kael's voice cut through the night, low, distorted, and terrifying.
"Riven… at last," Kael hissed, his voice carrying malice and power. "Your head will be mine."
Kael lunged with terrifying speed, the moonlight catching on his bone claws. He leapt high above Riven, his body towering as he prepared to slam a drop jab down with all his weight.
Riven's reflexes snapped into action. He spun both blades in a defensive cross, meeting Kael's strike midair. The impact was cataclysmic. The blades impact shattered the earth beneath Riven's feet, sending a shockwave through the clearing. Trees swayed violently; roots cracked and splintered; even the distant mountain tops trembled.
From atop the mountain where he had been observing, Eryx's sharp eyes caught the tremor instantly. His gaze narrowed, recognizing the unmistakable energy signature. Something enormous was unfolding below.
Riven gritted his teeth, pushing his strength into the blades, channeling Night Wolf energy with the Dark Energy amplifying just enough to enhance the power of the strike. Kael landed hard, claws meeting blades in a screech of metal against bone. The sheer force threw both combatants backward, the ground trembling beneath their feet like an earthquake.
"Impossible…" Kael growled, shaking his head. His forbidden power twisted around him like a storm, distorting the air, giving him a grotesque, almost monstrous silhouette. But Riven didn't falter. Every movement, every strike, was precise, measured, yet infused with lethal energy.
Astra's eyes narrowed from the edge of the forest, watching intently. "He's ready," she whispered. "But Kael… he's not holding back."
Riven leapt forward, blades flashing in synchronized arcs, cutting through the night air with lethal intent. Kael countered, bone claws slicing, each impact sending shockwaves into the earth. Sparks erupted with every clash, leaves and dirt exploding outward. The forest around them became a battlefield of raw power, strength, and speed unmatched by ordinary warriors.
The night stretched on in a blur of motion, the combatants locked in a deadly dance. Riven's control over his energy was evident; every strike, block, and maneuver showcased the training Astra had poured into him. Yet Kael's forbidden power remained a terrifying constant a dark, looming shadow threatening to overwhelm even his newfound strength.
And above it all, unnoticed except by one, the distant tremor on the mountain signaled a reckoning that was only beginning.