Location: Skyflare Academy – First-Year Dormitory
Riven Kael shot upright in bed, heart pounding, breath ragged. Sweat soaked his sheets. Moonlight filtered through the dorm window, casting long, familiar shadows.
He looked at his trembling hands — smaller, softer. No scars. No blood.
This… isn't a dream.
> "I'm back," he whispered, voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and rage. "Five years before it all went to hell…"
Before the betrayal.
Before Aeron.
Before his genius was shattered for a secret he didn't even know he carried.
And now… now he knew.
> [Sinbound Protocol Activated.]
[Host: Riven Kael.]
[Timeline Rewound: 5 Years.]
[Main Mission: Avenge your downfall.]
Reward: Sin Points | System Evolution | Absolute Power
A flicker of light appeared before him — translucent, mechanical. A screen materialized.
---
[SYSTEM INTERFACE – SINBOUND]
Host: Riven Kael
Age: 17
Affiliation: Skyflare Academy – Rank 11 Prodigy
Primary Trait: Genius Strategist
Emotional State: Controlled Rage
Sin Points: 0
Active Abilities:
Mind Hack (Lv.1): Control a weaker mind for 5 seconds.
Shadow Archive (Locked): Unlocks at 10 Sin Points.
False Loyalty (Locked): Unlocks at 25 Sin Points.
Betrayal Chain (Locked): ???
---
> "A system that rewards cruelty, manipulation, and betrayal… they gave this power to me?"
He chuckled — low, broken, and dangerous.
> "The gods must be begging for war."
A knock sounded on the door.
"Kael, you awake?" a voice called. Familiar. Naive. Still loyal.
Elric.
His old roommate. His only real friend. The one who—
No. Not yet. Elric wasn't part of the betrayal. In this timeline, he was still a kind-hearted fool.
"Yeah. Just had a nightmare," Riven said, voice steady as he stood and opened the door.
Elric blinked. "Damn, you look pale. You sure you're—?"
"I'm fine," Riven interrupted. "Just… remembered something important."
Something like how everyone around him was going to stab him in the back. One by one.
But this time, he'd strike first.
---
Location: Skyflare Academy — Strategy Hall
Next day. The class buzzed with chatter. Students gathered around a central arena, where holographic war simulations played out.
Professor Halberd, a strict but brilliant mentor, paced before them.
"We will simulate a three-way siege. Riven, Aeron, Lira — you'll each command a faction. Top strategist gets 5 merit tokens."
Aeron stepped forward with a confident smirk. "This'll be fun."
Riven's eyes narrowed. The same smirk. The same arrogance. The same boy who would one day stab him through the chest in front of the entire academy.
But today?
Today would be different.
---
Simulation Start: Desert Citadel Siege
Aeron led the Red Banner forces. Lira took the northern cliff pass. Riven… controlled the crumbling fortress in the center — surrounded.
Everyone whispered that he got the worst position. Just like last time.
But last time, Riven had played fair.
This time, he played to win.
> [New Mission Unlocked: Outplay a Future Traitor.]
Reward: 5 Sin Points
He smirked. "Let's begin."
---
20 minutes later…
Lira's forces were in flames. Aeron's units had mysteriously turned on each other. Traps lined the battlefield. The Red Banner camp had fallen — to their own soldiers.
Professor Halberd stared, jaw slack.
> "What… just happened?"
Riven leaned back, arms folded. "They both assumed I'd defend the fortress."
> "You… paid off Lira's supply captain?" Aeron growled, disbelief on his face.
"Everyone has a price," Riven said. "Especially in simulations."
> [Mission Complete: Outplay a Future Traitor.]
[+5 Sin Points Earned.]
[New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Archive (Lv.1)]
---
[NEW ABILITY: SHADOW ARCHIVE]
> Read fragmented knowledge from a target's mind.
Limit: 3 times per day | Requires direct eye contact
---
> "Class dismissed," Professor Halberd muttered. "Riven… stay back."
As the students filed out, Aeron gave Riven a long, dangerous glare. "That wasn't strategy. That was manipulation."
Riven's smile was cold. "You have no idea what I'm capable of yet."
---
Location: Dorm Rooftop — Midnight
Riven stood beneath the stars, system screen hovering beside him.
Sin Points: 5
Abilities Unlocked: Mind Hack (Lv.1), Shadow Archive (Lv.1)
> "Five years… Five long years to crush them all."
His voice was a whisper. But it carried.
"They betrayed a genius. Now they'll see what happens when the genius becomes the villain."
The wind howled.
The system pulsed.
And the game had begun.