Location: Skyflare Academy – Hall of Merit
The marble walls gleamed with enchantments, pulsing with soft blue light. Riven stepped into the Hall of Merit alone, his footsteps echoing in the grand silence. Rows of crystal pedestals displayed relics, manuals, and cultivation pills — all exchangeable for merit tokens.
> "Welcome, Student Riven Kael," the crystal steward chimed. "You currently possess 5 merit tokens."
Riven barely heard it. His focus was elsewhere.
Standing near the pill section, examining a cultivation enhancer, was Dren Voss — a second-year student with a sharp tongue and a sharper grudge. A minor enemy in his first life. Nothing dangerous… back then.
But in this life, Riven needed test subjects.
The system pulsed in his mind.
> [Sinbound System Notification]
Target: Dren Voss – Mental Resistance: Low
Suggestion: Use Mind Hack for test activation.
Riven's eyes glimmered. Time to sin.
---
Target Locked: Dren Voss
Ability Activated: Mind Hack (Lv.1)
Duration: 5 seconds
Riven stepped forward. His gaze locked with Dren's. The world seemed to slow. A dull hum filled the air. In an instant, the light in Dren's eyes flickered.
> "Turn around," Riven commanded softly.
"Go to the prestige vault. Drop the Flamecore Pill behind the shelf."
Like a puppet, Dren obeyed.
One step.
Two steps.
Three…
Then his body stiffened. Eyes snapped wide.
"What… the hell?" he muttered, blinking in confusion. "Why am I—?"
> [Sin Completed: Mental Manipulation of Peer]
[+10 Sin Points Earned]
[New Trait Unlocked: Deceiver's Spark]
[Mind Hack upgraded to Lv.2]
Riven turned before Dren could notice him and slipped away.
---
🧠 SYSTEM UPDATE
Sin Points: 15
Trait Unlocked – Deceiver's Spark:
> Increases the effectiveness of lies and persuasion by 20% when used with malicious intent.
Mind Hack (Lv.2):
> Control target's mind for 8 seconds. Mental resistance threshold increased.
---
Location: Dormitory – Later That Night
Elric yawned across the room. "You didn't even touch your dinner, Kael."
"I had better things to taste," Riven replied, studying his system screen.
He could feel it now — the thrill of control. The pull of power.
In his past life, he'd been a calculating strategist who always played fair… until others didn't.
This time, he'd be worse than all of them.
---
FLASHBACK – Original Timeline: Two Years from Now
"Riven, I trusted you!" Dren's voice trembled in the abyssal dungeon. "Please… don't do this!"
But Riven's face was blank. "You sold me out for a promotion. This… is interest."
Betrayal Chain activated.
Dren screamed.
---
BACK TO PRESENT
Riven opened his notebook and drew two columns.
On one side:
✔️ People who betrayed me
On the other:
✔️ People who might
He would test them. Break them. Rebuild them.
And when they thought they had won again?
He'd twist the blade deeper.
---
Location: Professor Halberd's Office – The Next Day
"I heard about your performance," Halberd said, steepling his fingers. "Excellent work. Better than last time…"
"Thank you, sir," Riven replied calmly.
"Too good," Halberd said, narrowing his eyes. "Where did you learn tactics like these?"
Riven smiled. "Just studying human nature."
Before Halberd could respond, a loud BOOM echoed outside.
"Emergency at the vault!" someone shouted. "A Flamecore Pill has gone missing!"
Riven stood slowly.
> "Looks like someone committed a crime," he muttered with a smirk.
"Tsk. This academy really needs better minds."