Building The First Adventurer Guild In Another World

Chapter 322: Broken Pride

The air between them thickened, the clash of their powers creating a heavy tension as red and black energy ground against each other like two storms vying for dominance in the same sky.

But when Riven noticed the blood seeping from Valeria’s abdomen, his demeanor shifted dramatically. His earlier confidence sharpened into something more calculated. Instead of lunging at her like before, he straightened, exhaling slowly.

His blade dipped slightly as his gaze locked onto hers, a curious calm settling over him that felt oddly out of place amid the chaos surrounding them.

The ruined ground cracked beneath their feet, dust floating through the air as if the world paused to witness the confrontation. Then Riven broke the silence, his voice no longer light but colder, deeper, like a blade held against the throat without yet drawing blood.

"You really are something, Valeria," he said quietly, tilting his head slightly, studying her more than fighting her. "But do you ever stop to consider where all that strength originates? Or do you just pretend it’s always been yours?"

Valeria remained silent, her grip on her sword tightening as her crimson aura pulsed around her, its faint glow reflecting in her resolute eyes.

Riven continued, undeterred, his tone steady and measured, each word laden with intent as though he were digging for buried truths.

"Everything you possess, your strength, your control, even that icy demeanor. all of it came from the Clan, didn’t it? Without them, you’d simply be another stray, struggling to survive, maybe even dead like those weak people you claim to care about."

He released a short breath that resembled a laugh, devoid of humor. "You should feel grateful. Not everyone receives that kind of attention. The Clan saw your potential, chose you, shaped you, broke you, and then rebuilt you into something useful. That’s more love than most people ever know."

His words hung heavy in the air, sharp and biting. For a brief moment, even the wind seemed to hesitate, but Valeria’s expression remained unchanged.

Though the faintest flicker of emotion passed through her eyes, it vanished just as quickly. Riven noticed it, his grin slightly widening at her reaction.

"What?" he asked, his tone almost mocking. "Don’t tell me you’re still clinging to the past, those weak attachments to people who couldn’t even survive on their own. Your mother, your brother... they were nothing. The Clan understood that; they did what was necessary. That was the best training you could have received. They stripped away the weakness, the hesitation, the emotions that would hinder you, and look at you now."

He spread his free hand as if presenting her to the desolate ruins, "You’ve become something far greater. Stronger than all of them. Stronger than anyone still burdened by those useless feelings."

The moment those words slipped from his lips, the air shifted, not due to his power this time, but from something else entirely. Something colder, heavier. Valeria sprang into action.

There was no warning, no buildup; just a sudden step forward, and her blade sliced toward his neck with such speed that it tore through the air, forcing Riven to react instantly.

He raised his sword in a quick block, the impact ringing out with a loud clang as sparks flew between them. He slid back half a step from the force of her strike, but instead of fading, his grin widened.

With a swift push against her blade and a twist of his wrist, he redirected her attack to the side before stepping in close. His elbow snapped forward toward her ribs in a tight, controlled motion.

Valeria adjusted just enough to avoid taking the full hit. Her arm moved down to intercept his elbow with her forearm; while the impact was dull, it was still heavy as she absorbed it and immediately countered with a knee aimed at his midsection.

The movement was fast and direct, but Riven was already moving, his body pivoting with momentum as he stepped around her and hooked his foot behind her ankle in an attempt to throw her off balance.

She sensed it coming; her weight shifted instantly as she adjusted her stance. Her free hand shot out to grab his shoulder, using his own movement to spin herself out of the hook before driving her forehead forward in a sharp headbutt.

The connection made a solid thud that forced Riven’s head back slightly. But rather than retreating, he leaned into it, his grin unwavering despite blood trickling lightly from his forehead and brought up his knee toward her abdomen right where she had been injured.

Valeria’s eyes narrowed as she anticipated the attack; twisting sharply to the side, she pushed down on his thigh to redirect the strike just enough to avoid taking it directly. Even so, the edge of the impact brushed against her wound, sending a jolt of pain through her body that tightened her muscles for just an instant.

That brief moment was all Riven needed.

He shifted forward and slammed his shoulder into her chest in a close-range body check that forced Valeria back a step.

His sword followed quickly with an upward cut aimed at catching her off guard as she recovered, but Valeria didn’t give him that chance.

Her blade snapped up to meet his in a tight parry; metal clashed again as she pushed aside the attack and stepped in close once more. This time she dropped one arm slightly while shooting forward with the other hand, fingers curling toward his throat.

Riven caught her wrist mid-motion; despite having only one arm free, he gripped tightly and twisted outward while stepping to her side in an effort to pull Valeria off balance.

But she flowed with him instead of resisting,her body turning with the twist while sweeping low with one leg aimed at tripping him up.

He anticipated her move and leaped just enough to evade being taken down. However, in that brief moment of adjustment, he loosened his grip, allowing her to break free. She quickly snapped her elbow back toward his chest with a tight, controlled strike.

The hit landed solidly, a dull thud resonating as it struck him, forcing a sharp breath from his lungs. Yet he didn’t step back; instead, he absorbed the impact and leaned into it, dropping his head slightly before snapping it upward in a brutal motion aimed at colliding with her chin.

Valeria tilted her head just enough to dodge the direct hit, but the movement still grazed her, prompting her to shift her stance again. They separated for a fleeting moment, creating just enough space between them.

But the fight didn’t slow down. If anything, it became more perilous. With less distance and tighter movements, every strike was delivered with clear intent, to injure, to break, to end.

Riven moved first again; his body lowered as he dashed forward. His sword sliced through the air in quick succession meant to force Valeria on the defensive. But she met him head-on, her blade moving equally fast as she intercepted each strike with minimal effort.

Their swords clashed repeatedly in rapid succession, each impact sharp and heavy, echoing across the ruined ground as they exchanged blows at a speed that blurred their movements together.

At one point, their blades locked for an instant while they stood close together, faces inches apart.

Riven leaned in and spoke softly yet firmly: "You can pretend all you want, but you know I’m right. Everything you are... belongs to the Clan."

Valeria’s eyes remained unwavering; she didn’t respond, but her aura flared dramatically. A surge of crimson energy erupted from her body, pushing Riven back slightly as the pressure around her intensified.

Her sword pulled away from his as she stepped back just enough to create space—and then she moved.

Blood gathered around her, rising from the ground and from her own wound, shaping itself into forms that twisted before solidifying into five identical figures standing there with matching stances and cold eyes; each held a blade glowing faintly with that same crimson light.

For the first time, Riven’s grin faltered as he tried to discern which one was real amid the confusion.

They all advanced simultaneously, five figures closing in from different angles with perfectly synchronized steps, their blades cutting toward him from multiple directions. For a brief moment even Riven hesitated; his body reacted just a fraction slower than before as he tried to read their attack and that hesitation was all Valeria needed.

The real one slipped through unnoticed among the others; masked by their presence for just that single moment when she brought down her blade in a heavy strike aimed straight at his chest.

Riven realized his mistake too late. His body instinctively moved to block, and he raised his sword to intercept the blow.

But the force behind her strike was already upon him. The impact hit with a deafening boom, cracking the ground beneath his feet as he was pushed back, her blade slipping through his guard just enough to land a hit.

It was a heavy blow. Blood erupted from his mouth as the force drove through him, sending him sliding across the shattered earth until he finally came to a stop.

For the first time, his breathing was ragged. He tightened his grip on the sword, steadying himself as he slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers once more.