In the dimly lit room, Riven lay on the cold, hard ground, bound tightly with thick ropes. Around him, five other students were also lying on the ground, their expressions a mix of fear and confusion. The faint glow from a single flickering candle cast eerie shadows on their faces, highlighting the tension in the air.
Each of the students had been stripped of their weapons, their swords taken and placed out of reach. The absence of their trusted blades left them feeling vulnerable and exposed. The room was sparse, with only a few pieces of worn furniture scattered about. Shelves lined the walls, filled with dusty tomes and strange artifacts, hinting at the dark rituals that had taken place there.
Despite the dire situation, Riven remained calm and composed, his mind racing with strategies to escape. He thought still playing the unconscious, 'Well, this is quite the welcoming committee. I guess my captor didn't get the memo about showing up on time.'
The dimly lit room was heavy with tension, the only sound being the occasional drip of water echoing through the space. Suddenly, from the shadows, a figure emerged. Arthur stepped into the flickering candlelight, his presence commanding and sinister. His eyes glinted with a cold determination as he surveyed the bound students.
The students gasped in unison, their shock palpable. One of them, a girl named Lydia, mustered the courage to speak. "Arthur? You... you're the Vice President of the Student Council!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of disbelief and fear.
Arthur's lips curled into a smug smile as he regarded the students before him. His rank within the Student Council had provided him with a cover, allowing him to operate unnoticed. The revelation of his true intentions left the students reeling, their sense of trust shattered.
Arthur stood tall, his eyes gleaming with a twisted sense of pride as he looked down at the frightened students. "This magic circle," he began, gesturing to the glowing runes beneath them, "is a source of immense power. By channeling the energy within it, one can achieve unparalleled strength and abilities."
The students listened in fear, their eyes wide as they took in the intricate details of the circle. Arthur continued his explanation, his voice smooth and confident. "This ritual requires the strength of six individuals. Your sacrifice will fuel my ascent to greatness. It's a necessary step for true power."
Just as Arthur was about to delve further into the sinister details, Riven, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly intervened. With a calm, unbothered demeanor, he stood up and faced Arthur. "Strength achieved by sacrificing others is no strength at all," he said, his voice carrying a quiet intensity. "True power comes from within, not from the suffering of others."
"Why do you think I chose you?" he sneered, his gaze sweeping over the group. "You're all considered weak by the standards of this Academy. Easy targets, expendable... No one would suspect someone like me would need to take from the strong."
He paused, savoring the moment. "Weakness is often overlooked, ignored. It makes you invisible, which is precisely why you're perfect for my ritual. No one will miss you."
Arthur's eyes then locked onto Riven. "And you, Riven," he mocked, his voice dripping with scorn. "You've convinced everyone that you're as weak as they come. But the truth is, you're the weakest of them all. An easy catch."
Riven, maintaining his calm, unbothered demeanor, looked up from his position on the ground. "Oh, Arthur," he said, his voice cool and composed, "You really don't get it, do you? Weakness is a facade, a mask for the unobservant. You saw what I wanted you to see."
Arthur's confident smile faltered, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Riven slowly stood, dusting off his robe with deliberate, almost leisurely movements. "If you truly believe I'm the weakest," he continued, his tone dripping with casual indifference, "then you're more naive than I thought. True strength isn't about showy displays or obvious power. It's about control, patience, and the ability to see beyond the surface."
Arthur's eyes widened, the full weight of Riven's words sinking in. The other students watched in awe, their fear momentarily replaced by admiration for Riven's unshakable confidence.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Arthur," Riven said, his gaze steady and piercing. "And you've severely underestimated your opponent."
Riven, maintaining his cool and unbothered demeanor, locked eyes with Arthur. "You know, Arthur," he said casually, "I gain strength from consuming souls."
Arthur let out a mocking laugh, clearly dismissing Riven's words as a mere joke. "Oh, come on, Riven. Enough with the stories. You're not fooling anyone," he scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.
Unfazed, Riven continued, "Believe what you want, Arthur. But there's a reason I'm still here."
Arthur, still smirking, raised his hands and began chanting an incantation. The magic circle beneath them glowed ominously, the runes and symbols pulsing with a menacing energy. The air around them crackled with power.
Riven's system suddenly sprang to life.
[Warning: Magic circle activation detected. Analyzing...]
The system's tone grew urgent.
[Critical alert: Unable to block the effects of the magic circle. Prepare for impact.]
Riven's calm facade never wavered. He closed his eyes briefly, activating his Soul Eater ability via the system. A chilling energy surged through him, and the ground beneath him seemed to come alive. Shadows twisted and coiled, forming a black coat that rose dramatically from the earth, enveloping his form in a shroud of darkness.
Arthur's eyes widened in shock as he watched the transformation. The once-dismissive confidence faltered, replaced by a dawning realization that he had severely underestimated Riven. The other students stared in awe and fear, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Riven stood tall, the black coat billowing around him like a cloak of midnight. His presence was commanding, a stark contrast to the image of weakness he had carefully crafted. "This is the power you mocked, Arthur," Riven said, his voice resonating with an otherworldly strength. "Now, let's see whose strength prevails."
With a swift motion, Riven began to absorb the souls of the other students. Their essence flowed into him, enhancing his power with each passing second. The room was filled with an eerie glow as their life force was drawn into Riven, leaving only Arthur untouched.
Arthur, cornered and desperate, steeled himself. I won't go down without a fight, he thought, his hand reaching for the sword that lay discarded on the ground. With a determined grunt, he picked it up, the blade glinting ominously in the dim light.
Riven, his expression unbothered, merely watched. His stance was relaxed, almost casual, as if allowing Arthur this final act of defiance. "Go ahead," he said calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Show me what you've got."
Arthur lunged, his movements fueled by a mix of fear and resolve. He swung his sword with all his might, aiming for Riven's exposed side. But Riven moved with a fluid grace, easily sidestepping the attack. His black coat billowed around him, adding an almost theatrical flair to his movements.
Arthur pressed on, launching a flurry of strikes. Each one was met with the same effortless evasion from Riven. It was as if he was dancing around Arthur's attacks, his every move deliberate and calculated.
"Is that all?" Riven taunted, his voice calm and unbothered. He ducked under a particularly wild swing, pivoting smoothly to land a light tap on Arthur's shoulder, more a reminder of his presence than a true strike.
Arthur growled in frustration, renewing his efforts. He poured everything he had into his attacks, but it was clear he was outmatched. Riven's every movement seemed designed to showcase his superiority, his calm demeanor never wavering.
With a final, desperate lunge, Arthur aimed for Riven's heart. Riven moved like a shadow, twisting aside and bringing his hand up to catch Arthur's wrist. With a swift, almost lazy motion, he disarmed Arthur, sending the sword clattering to the ground.
Arthur stood there, panting and defeated. Riven's grip on his wrist was firm yet almost gentle. "You see, Arthur," Riven said quietly, "strength isn't about brute force or flashy moves. It's about control."
Riven stood over the defeated Arthur, his black coat billowing around him like a cloak of darkness. The room was filled with an eerie silence, the tension palpable. Arthur, realizing the gravity of his mistake, looked up at Riven with a mix of fear and resignation.
Riven's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light as he prepared to unleash his final move. "You wanted power, Arthur," he said, his voice calm and unbothered. "Now, you'll see what true strength looks like."
With a swift motion, Riven activated his Soul Eater ability. The air around them crackled with energy as he began to draw Arthur's soul into himself. Arthur's eyes widened in horror as he felt his life force being pulled away, his strength fading with each passing second.
The room was filled with an eerie silence as Arthur's soul was drawn into Riven. The once confident and arrogant student council vice president was now reduced to a mere husk, his life force consumed by Riven's dark power. The transformation was complete, and Riven's eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity.
As the last of Arthur's essence was absorbed, Riven stood tall, his black coat billowing around him with an almost supernatural force. He turned his gaze to the rest of the room, the energy crackling around him.
With a wave of his hand, the shadows that had risen to form his coat spread out, engulfing the room in darkness. The ancient runes and symbols of the magic circle ignited, their energy being redirected by Riven's will. Flames erupted, consuming the remnants of the ritual and setting the entire place ablaze.
The fire spread rapidly, the heat intensifying as the old wood and dust-laden shelves caught light. Riven walked through the inferno with calm, unbothered steps, the flames parting around him like obedient servants. As he exited the burning building, he glanced back one last time, the glow of the fire reflecting in his eyes.
The once-dim room was now an inferno, a testament to Riven's true power. Arthur's folly had been exposed, and the consequences were laid bare for all to see. Riven walked away, leaving the burning wreckage behind, his strength now bolstered by the souls he had consumed.