The pressure didn't drop. If anything, it got worse. Riven stood there, right in between them, chest rising slowly, eyes steady even though everything around him felt like it was about to collapse. Lanks—or whatever was controlling him—tilted his head slightly, like he didn't understand what he was looking at. "…move," he said, calm, almost bored. Riven didn't. "…no." The air tightened. "You don't get it," that voice came again, not fully Lanks, something layered under it, something deeper. "…that power isn't yours." Riven let out a small breath. Not tired. Not scared. Just… thinking how to say it. "…yeah," he said quietly. "…I know." That made it pause. Even the beast behind him went still for a second. Riven shifted his stance slightly, not to fight—but to stand properly. "…he's not mine," he continued. "…never was." The chains rattled faintly. "…and he won't be." Silence stretched. "…but he's not yours either." That landed differently. Riven's voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. "…I know he's been there," he said, eyes lowering just a bit, like he was remembering something instead of arguing. "…when I was out… when I couldn't move… when I didn't even know what was going on…" A small pause. "…he was still there." The beast didn't say anything. Didn't interrupt. Riven scratched the back of his neck lightly, almost awkward. "…I also know he's not some random power I can just use." Another pause. "…he was someone else's friend first." His eyes lifted slightly. "…Naruto Uzumaki." The space shifted faintly. "…and before that…" he hesitated a little, then shrugged. "…yeah, that Otsu—whatever guy." No one corrected him. Riven exhaled through his nose. "…point is…" His gaze hardened just a little. "…I don't want him for power." The pressure tried to push back. Harder this time. "…I don't need a weapon." His voice dropped slightly. "…I just want him as a friend." That was it. No big speech. No perfect words. Just that. "…because we both need it," he added after a second, quieter now. "…to move forward in this world." A pause. Then, almost under his breath—but clear enough to carry—"…this is my way."
Something shifted.
Behind him—
A memory surfaced. Not his.
A lonely kid, standing in the middle of a village that refused to look at him. Smiling anyway. Acting loud. Acting strong.
Time moved.
That same kid, older now. Still smiling. Still stubborn. Fighting people stronger than him. Losing. Getting back up. Again and again.
Then—
That voice.
Clear. Certain.
"This is my nindo… my ninja way."
The words echoed. Not loud. But they stayed.
The memory broke.
Back to the present.
The chains didn't feel as tight anymore.
"…tch…"
A low sound came from behind Riven. Not annoyed. Not exactly. Just… something changing.
Riven didn't turn. He just stood there.
Heavy steps moved forward. Closer. Then stopped beside him.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then—
A fist came forward.
Simple. No drama.
Riven blinked once… then smirked faintly and bumped it back.
"…I'm not 'Nine Tails'," the voice came, lower this time, clearer. "…I'm Kurama."
The name settled in quietly.
"…and don't mess it up again, idiot."
Riven let out a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh. "…no promises."
Something changed right after that.
Not sudden. Not violent.
Just… spreading.
Aura.
Not just orange anymore.
Something deeper mixed into it. Purple. Soft, but steady. Not clashing—blending.
Riven felt it immediately. Not overwhelming. Not unstable.
Balanced.
"…guess that's new…" he muttered.
No answer came. But it didn't need to.
In front of them—
That presence shifted again.
Not calm anymore.
"…so that's your answer…"
Riven stepped forward this time.
"…yeah."
The space cracked. Light broke through.
And just like that—
He was back.
Floor 299.
The air hit him first. Then the weight. Then the sound.
Everything rushed back at once.
Riven stood there, aura flickering around him—orange and purple weaving together like it had always been that way.
In front of him—
Lanks stood still.
But this time—
Riven didn't hesitate.
Not even a little.
The chapter ends. 🔥