The 5-on-5 match began, and the first to move was Nico. Flames burst from her hands, launching her forward with explosive speed.
She landed in front of Riven in an instant, but he barely managed to dodge the attack.
"My stats... I haven't looked at them since before the exam."
[Riven Harlow]
HP: 100/100
Strength: 15 (Party Up Active)
Speed: 31 (Party Up Active) (Weightless Active)
Durability: 29 (Party Up Active)
Energy: 75/100
Thanks to his new ability-Weightless-Riven's speed was increased. The skill used 25 energy but boosted his speed significantly, now enhanced further by the Party Up trait.
Riven dashed forward. He never thought he'd hit a girl, but she started it. He threw a punch enhanced by gravity, increasing his strength drastically.
-15 Energy
+19 Strength
With 34 strength, his punch could easily shatter ribs. But before it landed, he felt intense heat-like touching a stove-and yanked his arm back. Nico stood, fire blazing around her body and a wicked grin on her face.
She went to punch, but a lightning bolt intercepted her.
It was Wren.
Her short black hair blew in the wind, expression calm. But her mind was racing.
'My lightning... it's faster than before. Maybe I've improved.
She shot another bolt-this time it hit Nico dead in the chest with a deafening boom. Nico was out.
Jordan rushed to Riven, but his medical ink couldn't heal burns. That's when Joey stepped in. He placed his hand on Riven's arm, and the burns began to vanish. Even Riven's energy restored itself, and his strength boost vanished
- resetting him to his earlier state.
"Thanks," Riven nodded, then ran straight at Luka. On the way, he passed Wren and shouted, "Appreciate the save!"
But he wasn't alone. Another figure was running beside him.
"Harkel?"
"You think you're the only one with something to prove?" said the blue-haired, golden-eyed boy, hair spiked wildly.
They stopped. Harkel threw a punch, a gust of air exploding from his fist, tearing up the terrain. Luka responded by slamming his hands into the ground-vines and flowers sprouted from the desert.
"How is this even possible? We're in a desert!"
Riven dodged, but Harkel was captured by the plants, vines wrapping around his body.
'Did he just kill him? No... I'd have gotten a system warning if he did.
Six ink wolves burst from behind Luka's wall.
They rushed at the enemy team. A lion made of ink appeared next, protecting Jordan.
'Did Jordan make all this? That jump to level 5... or maybe his awakening made him this strong.'
Turning Weightless back on, Riven charged forward. But Skye let out a deafening scream, pushing back the ink beasts and destroying
some.
A lion raced to Riven and hoisted him on its back.
"Don't back down now," the lion said.
"How... can you talk?" Riven asked, stunned.
"It's Jordan. Somehow, I'm in this lion's body."
Riven looked back. The other lion was still guarding Joey and Jordan's unconscious body.
"Let's go, brother," Riven said, and they charged.
Skye stepped forward and screamed again.
They barely dodged. Jude-who hadn't used her power yet-stepped up. With a swipe, ice shot from her hand, creating a barrier and launching spikes. Riven leapt over it and punched Jude, knocking her out.
25/100 Energy
"Damn... I need to get back to Joey."
He jumped back on the lion. "Can you take me to Joey, lil' lion?"
Jordan, in the lion's body, shook him off. "Go yourself. I'm helping Wren."
"C'mon, it was a joke!" Riven yelled after him.
Suddenly, the air shifted. Riven turned-Skye was absorbing air, then unleashed a massive blast. Everyone covered their ears and eyes... except Damien, who watched gleefully.
"Looks like we've got a lot of promising students. Well... except one."
Tessa, a dark-skinned girl with curly hair, was crouched and trembling.
As the scream ended, everyone looked at Riven
-surprised he was okay. Ink swirled around him. One of the ink lions stood near Luka, the other protected Jordan and Joey.
'Skye's passed out. That's why she vanished like Jude.
Only Luka and Tessa remained.
Riven approached Tessa. "I don't want to hurt you if I don't have to."
Before she could answer, Luka was finally defeated by Wren and Jordan. Tessa raised her hand.
"I surrender."
She, too, fell through the floor-followed by Luka. With Luka's defeat, the vines
disappeared, and Harkel collapsed, exhausted where A man in a hoodie walked up and began healing them. Riven wondered why he came to him-until he looked at his arm. He had thought it was already healed, but the hoodie man placed a hand over it, and a warm glow spread through the skin. The pain faded instantly.
Another healer was working on Harkel nearby, and Riven could hear a third voice in the distance, calling out, "Anyone else need healing?"
This confused Riven.
"Shouldn't it be rare for people to have the same ability-especially a healing one?"