KRAVEN_x

In a world where the strong reign and the weak are left behind, Riven is nothing more than an afterthought—a boy overshadowed by his powerful allies, mocked for his insignificance. Yet, beneath his seemingly ordinary exterior lies a strength he dares not unleash.

When a devastating battle sends him plummeting into a forbidden land where no one survives, his allies mourn his death, believing their weakest link is gone forever. But Riven’s fall is only the beginning. Rescued by a mysterious figure, he endures a year of relentless training, forced to confront the truth about himself, his power, and the unseen forces shaping his destiny.

Now, when his friends stand on the brink of destruction, Riven returns—not as the weakling they once knew, but as a force beyond their comprehension. The world will soon learn that the boy they overlooked is the one who will burn through the shadows and reshape their fate.

But will his newfound strength be enough to stand against the unseen forces pulling the strings from the dark?

The battle for survival has begun. And in the end, only ashes will remain.

"Ashes of the Unseen."

The dim candlelight flickered as Seren worked on decrypting the stolen drive, her fingers moving swiftly across a small laptop. The abandoned apartment was silent except for the occasional distant sound of sirens echoing through the city. Riven sat in a worn-out chair, his body stiff from exhaustion, but his mind refused to rest.

Lirian leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Seren work. "You know, for all the trouble we went through to get that thing, it better be worth it."

Seren didn't even glance up. "It's encrypted with a complex algorithm. Whoever owns this doesn't want anyone snooping."

Riven exhaled, his green eyes fixed on the drive. "Then it has to be important."

Seren adjusted her posture. "I'll need more time."

Lirian groaned, stretching his arms. "I hate waiting."

Ignoring him, Riven leaned back, his thoughts drifting. His shoulder ached from the earlier fight, but the pain was a dull throb now, a reminder that he had survived. His body had grown used to injuries. It was the weight of the past that still burned deeper than any wound.

A sharp beep from Seren's laptop broke the silence. She sat up straight, eyes narrowing as she scanned the decrypted files.

Riven and Lirian immediately moved to her side.

Seren clicked through the documents, her brow furrowing. "These aren't just weapon transactions… They're records. Detailed logs of every deal Torsen made with an organization called Echelon."

Riven's fingers clenched. He had heard that name before—whispers in the underworld, rumors about a faction operating in the shadows, pulling strings behind major conflicts.

"There's more," Seren continued. "They've been moving high-tech weaponry, but that's not the concerning part. Look at this." She clicked on a specific file.

At the top, Riven's breath caught.

His stomach twisted. It was impossible. His father had vanished years ago, lost in the chaos of war. Every trace of him had been wiped from existence. And yet, here was his name, buried in files connected to an underground arms dealer.

Lirian whistled. "Well… that's unexpected."

Seren glanced at Riven. "You recognize the name, don't you?"

Riven's jaw tightened. He wasn't ready for this. Not now. But there it was, staring back at him, demanding answers.

"I need more information," Riven said, his voice steady despite the storm inside him. "Where was this data last updated?"

Seren scrolled. "A warehouse near the city's old district. But if this file is accurate… Echelon is still active there."

Lirian grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Guess we're heading out."

Riven exhaled, steadying himself. He had spent years chasing shadows, looking for the truth. If there was even the slightest chance his father was alive…

No matter what awaited him in the dark.

"Shadows of the Past"