The taller boy broke the silence first, his voice light, almost amused.
"So this is where it is."
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
…What?
So this is actually it?
What's "it"?
He didn't let it show.
Just pretended to agree with them.
"Yes."
Then he stepped forward and crossed the threshold.
Not intend on waiting around here longer.
The darkness swallowed him gradually as he moved inside, the natural light fading behind him. The ground turned uneven, small stones shifting underfoot while strands of web clung briefly to his steps before snapping free.
He didn't slow.
If anything, he moved with more purpose now.
If he wanted any advantage, it would be here, inside the cave, where visibility was limited and the environment worked in his favor.
Behind him, he heard them follow.
No hesitation.
No discussion.
They entered as naturally as he had, their footsteps quiet and controlled.
Riven continued deeper. The cave narrowed slightly, the walls closing in as the webs thickened along the stone, layering over each other until parts of the surface were barely visible beneath them.
The air grew still.
Sound dulled.
The predator spider inside his beast pouch was squirming.
And soon the presence ahead became clearer.
More than one.
Several.
He adjusted his pace just slightly, not enough to draw attention, but enough to confirm what he was sensing.
They were close.
At the same time, he became aware of the shift behind him.
The taller boy had moved to his side without a word, keeping just enough distance to seem casual while subtly matching his pace. The broader one drifted a half step behind, close enough that turning back would be inconvenient. The girl took the opposite angle, her position giving her a clear line of sight on both Riven and the path ahead.
It looked natural.
Reasonable.
Even optimal for moving through a dangerous area.
Riven kept his expression neutral as his gaze settled on the path ahead.
The cave curved slightly, leading into a darker section where the webs grew denser, stretching across the passage in thick layers.
That was where the movement came from.
The first clear sign of what waited inside.
Spiders.
From the darker section ahead, shapes detached themselves from the web-covered stone.
Four of them.
Ironfang spiders.
Lesser ferals.
They were larger than normal spiders reaching up his knees, their bodies low and heavy, legs long and segmented with a faint metallic sheen. Their fangs were what set them apart—curved and dark, almost like polished iron, catching what little light reached them. Each movement produced a faint scraping sound as their limbs brushed against stone and web alike.
But what truly stood out—
Their eyes.
Too many.
Clustered tightly, reflecting light in uneven flickers, all locking onto the same target at once.
Riven.
For a brief moment, the spiders hesitated.
Riven noticed immediately.
…Of course.
He suppressed the thought.
Behind him, he could feel the trio's attention sharpen.
He looked back for a second.
There was no fear no nothing on their faces.
Lesser ferals such as the ones in front of them clearly weren't of any concern to them.
And that made one thing clear.
They weren't weak.
Probably at least Inner Condensation.
Just like him.
Riven stepped forward as the group slowed, not wanting them to realize how odd the spiders were reacting.
He would initiate the fight.
But a single thought passed through his mind.
…How does Alric fight?
The trio had apparently been there when Alric lost his arm.
So they would probably know his style.
Habits.
Movements.
If he got this wrong—
He wasn't too sure how to explain himself.
But as he looked ahead again, he realized he didn't have time to figure it out.
The spiders were still hesitating, their legs shifting slightly against the ground, their attention fixed entirely on him.
If this continued, the trio might notice something else.
So he moved first.
Riven stepped even closer, closing the distance in a straight line. He didn't draw on qi, didn't use anything refined. Just his body.
Simple.
Direct.
The least possibilites of making mistakes.
A forward step, weight shifting cleanly, his leg snapping out in a controlled kick that struck the nearest spider across its side.
The impact was solid.
More than enough.
The spider was thrown sideways, its body cracking slightly as it hit the stone.
Riven didn't pause.
He followed through immediately, stepping in again, his movements sharp but restrained. No wasted motion, no excessive force.
Just enough.
As he moved, he called out over his shoulder—
"You help too."
He didn't want to do all the work himself.
Especially when this was a perfect chance to learn about their strengths.
The response came instantly.
The taller boy moved first, his casual demeanor slipping just slightly as he stepped forward to intercept one of the spiders.
Only now did Riven notice it.
A sword.
Resting at his side.
It hadn't stood out before—not with how the robe had been sitting above the whole time.
His hand moved, and the blade slid free in one smooth motion, catching what little light reached them.
His movements were fluid and precise, the sword cutting through the air in controlled arcs. He didn't waste effort. A slight shift, a deflection, then a clean strike that severed one of the spider's legs before the follow-up pierced straight through its head.
Refined.
Disciplined.
Knight's Order.
Riven's gaze shifted.
He expected the others to also reach for their sword, the weapon of choice for most Knight's Order disciples.
But the broader one didn't do that.
Even though Riven could see a sword at his waist.
Instead, his arm shifted slightly, his sleeve moving just enough to reveal something hidden beneath.
A compact crossbow.
Strapped along his forearm.
Before Riven could process it fully—
The shot came.
A sharp crack echoed through the cave as the bolt tore forward, striking the spider mid-motion. The force behind it was immediate and brutal, punching straight through the creature's body and driving it into the stone behind it.
No buildup.
No warning.
Just instant power.
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
If it got to a fight...
He'd have to deal with that one first.
The girl moved last.
Just as quiet.
Just as controlled.
Like the taller boy, a blade appeared in her hand—drawn so smoothly Riven almost missed the motion.
Her steps were light, her timing exact. She moved only when the spider committed, slipping into its range without resistance. One clean strike followed, precise and measured, ending the fight without excess.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Each of them took one.
Just like that.
Riven's eyes flicked between them briefly as he finished off his own opponent.
…Yeah.
This wouldn't be easy.
He couldn't tell their exact realms from this short fight, but he expected them to all be around the middle Inner Condensation realm.
Riven's gaze dropped to the corpse at his feet.
The ironfang spider twitched once before going still, its legs curling inward as the faint metallic sheen of its body dulled.
…What a waste.
A small part of him felt the loss immediately.
For his predator spider to grow, it needed to kill its prey itself. To bite, to inject, to feed.
That had been the plan.
Weaken them first.
Then let it finish the job.
But—
Riven's eyes flicked briefly toward the trio.
Not like this.
He straightened, letting the thought go.
Behind him, a voice broke the brief silence.
"Why aren't you using your sword?"
The taller boy.
Riven turned slightly.
Before he could answer, the broader one added, his tone flat—
"I don't even see you carrying one."
Riven stilled for a fraction of a second.
Then—
An answer came.
Simple.
Clean.
"I'm not used to it yet."
He lifted his left arm slightly, then tilted his head toward the empty space where his right should have been.
"I'm right-handed."
A brief pause.
"…Was."
Silence followed.
Then the taller boy let out a quiet sound of understanding.
"Ah."
He nodded once.
"Makes sense."
Riven held his gaze for a moment longer before looking away again.
He secretly exhaled.
So he is actually right handed...
Riven stepped toward the corpse at his feet and crouched down, reaching toward his robe as if pulling something from within.
A blade appeared in his hand.
Yue Lin's dagger.
He angled it cleanly and cut into the ironfang spider's body, the tough outer layer parting with some resistance. His movements were quick and practiced, searching through the internal mass.
If there was a beast core—
He wasn't leaving it behind.
Behind him, the others didn't move.
Didn't follow.
They watched.
"…What are you doing?" the taller boy asked.
Riven didn't look up.
"Looking for a beast core."
He continued for another moment—
Then stopped.
Nothing.
No core.
Tch.
He withdrew the blade and stood.
Behind him, the broader one clicked his tongue faintly.
"Stop wasting time on scraps."
The girl didn't say anything, but her gaze lingered briefly on the corpse in front of her before shifting away.
"You won't have space for the important things later," the taller boy added, his tone still light, but with an edge beneath it.
Riven's eyes flicked toward the other three spiders they had killed.
Then back to them.
"…True."
He didn't know what he agreed with.
But for now—
agreeing felt like the best choice.