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 blaring alarm echoed through the underground corridors, a relentless siren warning of their presence. Riven led the way, his mind racing as he searched for an exit.

Seren ran beside him, her tablet flashing warning signs. "Security doors are sealing off sections of the facility! If we don't get out now, we'll be trapped."

Seren tapped on her device, her brows furrowed. "There's an emergency access tunnel west of here. It leads to an old maintenance shaft that connects to the surface."

Lirian grinned. "Sounds perfect. Let's go before we get company."

They turned a corner, but the moment they did, gunfire erupted.

A squad of armed guards was waiting.

"Get down!" Riven yelled, diving behind a stack of metal crates.

Bullets ricocheted off the walls, sparks flying in every direction. Lirian pulled out his sidearm and returned fire, forcing the guards to scatter.

Seren crouched behind cover, her hands flying over her tablet. "I can disable their comms, but I need thirty seconds!"

"We don't have thirty seconds!" Lirian shouted.

Riven clenched his teeth. He had to act fast.

Drawing his dagger, he moved swiftly along the crates, keeping to the shadows. The guards were focused on Lirian's gunfire—exactly what he needed.

With precise movements, Riven lunged at the nearest guard, his blade slicing through the man's armor. The guard barely had time to react before he collapsed.

The remaining men turned, but Riven was already on them. He ducked under a wild swing and drove his dagger into the second guard's ribs.

Lirian took care of the last one, sending him sprawling with a brutal kick to the chest.

Seren stood up. "Done! Their comms are jammed."

Riven wiped his blade and motioned forward. "Move!"

They sprinted through the corridors, dodging sealing doors and automated turrets that activated as part of the lockdown.

The emergency access tunnel was just ahead. Seren rushed to override the final security lock, but before she could, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the hallway.

A single figure emerged from the darkness.

"You again," Riven said, his voice calm but sharp.

The masked man tilted his head. "I did warn you not to interfere."

Lirian scoffed. "Sorry, but we don't take orders from guys who hide behind masks."

The masked man chuckled. "Then let's see how much you've learned."

Before anyone could react, he vanished.

Riven's instincts screamed at him, and he barely twisted in time to block the masked man's incoming attack.

A dagger clashed against his, sparks flying. The sheer force sent Riven sliding back.

The masked man was faster than before—his movements fluid, unpredictable.

Lirian moved in to assist, but the masked man evaded his strike effortlessly, countering with a swift kick that sent Lirian crashing into the wall.

Seren was frantically working on the security lock. "Almost there!"

Riven had no choice but to keep the masked man engaged. He dodged, countered, and struck back with precision. But it was clear—his opponent was toying with him.

Finally, the lock released with a beep.

Riven feinted a final strike before leaping back. The masked man made no move to follow.

"Interesting," he mused. "You're starting to awaken."

Riven didn't reply. Instead, he turned and followed his team into the emergency tunnel.

As the door sealed behind them, the last thing he saw was the masked man standing there, unmoving, watching him leave.

The encounter had ended—for now.

"The Escape Route"