Klaus and Riley stepped into the training room, the infinite expanse of white light illuminating the space as the door closed behind them. The room felt both endless and contained, an unchanging void designed for honing their skills. As they entered, Klaus called out for IV, his personal android instructor crafted by the gods.
Moments later, IV began to materialize. His form slowly emerged, solidifying into a strikingly familiar figure. The humanoid android was nearly a perfect replica of Klaus, though with a slight mechanical appearance. Metal replaced flesh, and his joints were hinges instead of organic ones, giving him a distinctively synthetic look.
"Welcome back, Klaus Walker," IV greeted, his tone and demeanor eerily similar to Klaus', though tinged with a digital undertone.
"Whoa," Riley said, eyeing IV with wide-eyed curiosity. "He looks just like you, Klaus."
"That's the whole point," Klaus replied, his expression unamused. "Doesn't your instructor look like you too?"
"Well, yeah," Riley admitted, tilting her head, "but it's still kinda weird."
"Hello, Riley Greene," IV said, turning his gaze toward her.
Riley's eyes widened further. "Woahhh. He knows my name?" she said.
Klaus sighed, pressing a hand to his face. "Of course he does," he began. "It's their job to have information about us."
"Oh yeah," Riley said before suddenly recalling something. "You used that advantage a lot during the tournaments, didn't you?"
"More or less," Klaus muttered.
He turned back to IV, who stood silently, waiting for orders. "How may I assist you today?" IV asked.
"I haven't kept up with my training for a while," Klaus began, "and things have been rough lately. I need to retrain my body and get it back to its optimal state. Also, Riley and I want to refine our abilities together and master our capabilities."
After hearing Klaus' words, IV scanned Klaus with an intense, glowing gaze, his eyes trailing over Klaus' form as he gathered data. "I understand," IV replied. "Your physical condition has indeed deteriorated significantly since your last session. Your nutrition levels are also alarmingly low, and your overall fitness is suboptimal."
Riley winced at the blunt assessment, but IV wasn't done. His glowing eyes brightened momentarily before he completed the scan. "However," he added, "your raw power has increased dramatically. In fact, with the exception of the gods themselves, I can confidently say that you are now the most powerful source of light energy in Higher World. And that is no small accomplishment."
"Whoa," Riley muttered, clearly impressed.
Klaus, while already aware of his capability to move at light speed during the day, a feat he had only recently achieved since the crisis, felt as though IV's confirmation only made this achievement feel even grander.
"I can also sense the infuriating rage you needed to surpass your limits and achieve this feat," IV continued softly. "Additionally, I can detect that the minimal enhancement bestowed upon you by the gods of Order may have assisted slightly."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Riley said.
"Same," Klaus admitted, the memory only now surfacing.
With Klaus' assessment complete, IV shifted his attention to Riley, his glowing eyes scanning her from head to toe. Riley fidgeted slightly under the scrutiny, her awkwardness palpable. "Uhh... hello to you too," she muttered, attempting to break the silence.
Moments later, IV retracted his gaze, his glowing eyes dimming slightly. "Your power is extraordinary, Riley Greene," he stated, his tone clinical but still managing to shock them both. "Based on my data gathered during the Divine Tournament, your current full power likely surpasses that of most other demigods."
Riley's jaw dropped. "Wait, seriously?" she questioned.
"However," IV added briefly, "like Klaus, you share a critical weakness. Neither of you possesses consistent emotional control to maintain a calm mind during combat."
Klaus and Riley gave IV their undivided attention as he began detailing their weaknesses. "For Klaus," IV started, "your issue lies in allowing anger or frustration, or both, to take over during combat. While these emotions can provide an adrenaline boost to your limits, they also disrupt your focus, preventing you from performing optimally. This uncontrolled aggression makes you sloppy and leads to significant errors at critical moments."
Klaus silently acknowledged the truth in IV's words. Managing his emotions in battle had always been a struggle, and he understood how much it hindered his progress as both a fighter and a demigod.
"For Riley," IV continued, "your problem is the opposite. You tend to underestimate your own abilities and approach battles with less seriousness than required. This underestimation causes you to hold back and ultimately underperform."
Riley was left speechless. She knew IV had hit the nail on the head; she often didn’t push herself as hard as she could. "Damn, he's good," she whispered to Klaus.
"You both need to focus on achieving mental clarity and balance during battle if you want to reach your full potential," IV explained. "And I am here to help you accomplish that."
Determined to improve, Klaus and Riley committed themselves to IV’s guidance, ready to confront their shortcomings. Over the next few hours, they followed IV’s instructions rigorously, training until the day ended. Afterward, Klaus continued his rejuvenation regimen, working to restore his body to peak condition according to IV’s recommendations.
The days that followed became a steady routine. Klaus and Riley trained together tirelessly, refining their techniques and addressing their weaknesses with precision. After each session, they’d unwind at the cafeteria, sharing meals and conversations before calling it a day.
This cycle repeated as they trained for seven straight days, splitting their time between intense sessions and moments of rest and conversations. Occasionally, Rose would join them for a brief chat at the cafeteria, but Riley remained the most prevalent presence in Klaus’ life during this period.
Though he wouldn’t say it out loud, Klaus began to enjoy training with Riley. Her dedication kept him motivated, and her lively personality made their time together engaging. He found himself enjoying their conversations after grueling sessions, intrigued by the new things he learned about her every day.
For Riley, the feeling was mutual. Klaus wasn’t much of a talker, but he was an attentive listener and always straightforward in his observations. His honesty, though blunt, was refreshing to her, a trait not many people appreciated. She respected his sincerity and how genuine he always was, clearly never harboring ill intent in his words. She could tell that Klaus cared deeply about those close to him, a trait not many recognized.
Riley also noticed how much Klaus cared about his family. Whenever his brother or mother were brought up, his expression would soften, and he’d grow momentarily distant, lost in thought. She found it endearing how easily his emotions surfaced in those moments, betraying his otherwise stoic demeanor.
"You miss them, don’t you?" Riley asked one evening as they sat in the cafeteria after their eighth day of training.
"Huh?" Klaus blinked, brought back to the moment by her question.
"Your family," she clarified. "You seem to zone out whenever they’re mentioned."
"Oh," Klaus replied lightly. "My bad. I didn't notice."
Riley smiled warmly. "No, it’s fine," she affirmed. "It's cute seeing you care about others."
Klaus shot Riley a look, but her grin didn’t falter, causing a small sigh of defeat from him. "If you say so," he muttered.
Riley laughed at Klaus' reaction. "See? Cute," she teased.
"Whatever," Klaus replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he chose to ignore her teasing.
"We could go back, you know," Riley said after a moment. "To Earth, I mean. It’s been a week, and I wouldn't mind going back to say hello."
"Are you sure?" Klaus asked.
"Yeah," Riley nodded. "My mom’s been asking about me too, so it’s a good chance to help her out a bit before we return."
"Sounds good," Klaus agreed.
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With their plan set, they parted briefly to freshen up from their training, then regrouped to make their way back to Main World together.
As they reached the Epicenter, where the transportation podium was located, Riley spoke up. "By the way," she said casually, "since it’s already past midnight on Earth, we could hang out a bit before heading home."
"We just did that," Klaus replied, his tone calm and even.
Riley gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her mouth. "Does that mean you’re already tired of my company?" she asked, her sarcastic tone unmistakable.
"I didn’t say that," Klaus replied, not catching on to her teasing.
"I know," Riley continued with a grin. "I just wanted to hear you say it’s not what you meant."
Klaus sighed, running a hand over his head. "Just give me the coordinates," he muttered, earning a soft giggle from Riley.
Once Riley provided the destination coordinates, the two transported back to Earth.
The moment Klaus opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of a breathtaking night sky stretching over the city. They had arrived on the rooftop of a towering building, the view of the sparkling skyline and stars leaving him momentarily in awe.
"It’s beautiful, isn’t it?" Riley said softly, standing beside him with a smile.
"It really is," Klaus murmured, his gaze lingering on the horizon before shifting briefly to her.
After a few more moments of admiring the view, Klaus and Riley began to make their way off the rooftop. As they moved, Klaus suddenly heard a voice.
"Klaus?" the voice called telepathically, revealed to be Quinn.
"Quinn?" Klaus questioned in his mind, surprised.
"Who else," Quinn replied smoothly before continuing. "I just sensed you arrived on Earth."
"Are you stalking me?" Klaus asked, a hint of confusion lacing his tone.
"It’s not that," Quinn replied, her tone calmer than expected. "I noticed you’re in the southeastern region of the city."
"Yeah?" Klaus said cautiously, his concern beginning to grow.
Riley noticed Klaus' sudden silence, her expression shifting as she quickly deduced he was likely communicating telepathically with Quinn.
"Well, that area is around the same vicinity as where Ace lives," Quinn explained. "It’s been two months since I last heard from him, and I’m starting to get worried."
Klaus felt a bit of uncertainty washing over him. "Why didn’t you just contact him telepathically instead of me?" he asked.
"That’s the thing," Quinn said, her voice tinged with unease. "When I first tried a few months ago, I couldn’t establish a connection at surface level so I assumed he was just unwilling. But as time went on, I got curious and tried searching deeper to connect directly. However, I couldn’t find his consciousness at all."
"Maybe he’s somewhere in Higher World," Klaus suggested, hoping his assumption was potentially correct.
"That’s the thing," Quinn said firmly. "I can sense the presence of every demigod at any moment in time because of my established connections. This is different. It’s like he’s no longer present in reality."
Klaus’s expression shifted, a flicker of shock crossing his face as he processed her words. Riley, watching him closely, began to grow concerned.
"Maybe it’s nothing," Klaus said telepathically after a moment, hoping to ease the situation. "Ace is incredibly fast. I doubt anything could happen to him."
"I hope you’re right," Quinn replied, though her tone remained uncertain. "But I still wanna ask you for a favor."
"You want me to check his place and see if he’s there, right?" Klaus guessed, already anticipating her request.
"Can you do that for me?" Quinn asked. "You can go with Riley as well since you're both there."
"Sure," Klaus said. "Just tell me the address."
After Quinn provided the address, Klaus refocused on his surroundings, noticing Riley's concerned expression.
"Everything okay?" Riley asked, studying his face. "That was Quinn, right?"
"Yeah," Klaus confirmed. "She’s worried because she hasn’t been able to contact Ace for a while."
"Same here," Riley said, her brow furrowing. "I haven’t seen him in months either."
"That’s why she asked if we could check on him," Klaus explained. "His place isn’t far from here."
"That’s fine," Riley replied casually, showing no hesitation about accompanying him.
The two quickly set off for the location Quinn had shared telepathically.
Since the human extinction crisis had ended, Link had taken measures to wipe the addresses of all known demigods from public records, ensuring their safety. While this was largely irrelevant for someone as famous as his family, whose last name was already widely known, it provided a layer of anonymity for Ace, whose whereabouts were kept secret.
When they arrived at the apartment building, Klaus and Riley made their way inside, following Quinn’s detailed directions. They eventually stood before Ace’s door, marked with his room number. A small pile of unopened mail sat near the entrance, confirming their suspicions that Ace hadn’t been home in a while. Exchanging a silent glance, the two hesitated briefly before deciding to continue.
Klaus knocked on the door and called out Ace’s name, waiting for a response. After a few moments of silence, he knocked again, but there was still no reply. Eventually, Riley reached for the doorknob.
"It’s unlocked," she murmured, turning it and slowly pushing the door open.
They stepped cautiously into the darkened apartment. The faint glow from the hallway illuminated a few feet inside, but Riley squinted, searching for a light switch. When she couldn’t find one, she paused.
Klaus, however, had no trouble navigating the darkness. His enhanced vision allowed him to see clearly, even in minimal light. After overcoming his limit, he was also able to see perfectly without having to use contact lenses anymore.
Using his power, Klaus manipulated photons around the room to amplify his sight, his eyes faintly glinting like a flashlight as he scanned their surroundings. Seeing this, Riley decided to follow his lead.
As they ventured deeper into the apartment, Klaus confirmed that it was empty. He recalled that Ace had mentioned living alone, so the lack of any presence at all made sense.
In the living room, they noticed the television still on, its dim light casting an eerie glow. It gave the impression that Ace may have left in a hurry. Klaus relaxed his powers since the screen’s glow provided enough visibility, and Riley began to look around for anything that could hint at where Ace might have gone.
Klaus, clearly uncomfortable with having to search the home uninvited, wanted to leave as soon as possible. "Are we really going to snoop around in someone else’s home?" he asked, watching as Riley scanned through the room.
"We’re here to find clues," Riley replied without looking up.
"We’re not the mystery gang, Riley," Klaus muttered after a sigh. "If Ace isn’t here, then he’s somewhere else. Poking through his stuff isn’t going to tell us where."
"Who knows, maybe he ran out to a convenience store," Riley said, her eyes still roaming the room for hints.
"For two months?" Klaus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Riley replied, turning to him with a playful grin. "Maybe it’s a really far convenience store."
Klaus groaned, placing a hand over his face in exasperation. Riley chuckled softly at his reaction.
CONVERSATION
Riley: Oh, come on. That was pretty funny. You know... cuz he's fast?
Klaus: I don't think I'd call it that.
Riley: *mumbling* Well, I thought it was pretty good.
Klaus: It's definitely not your best, that's for sure.
Klaus' words caused Riley to return her gaze to him, growing a grin.
Riley: So you do think I'm funny.
Klaus: I never said that.
Riley: *smiling* Aww, don't be like that. I've made you laugh a few times, haven't I?
Klaus: Why does this even matter?
Riley: It matters to me. You wouldn't get it since you're such a buzzkill.
Klaus: What? I can be funny sometimes.
After Klaus made his statement, a moment of silence passed before Riley erupted in laughter.
Riley: Okay, that was funny.
Riley laughed hysterically, clearly amused by Klaus’ insistence, wiping a tear from her eye. Klaus watched her silently at first, then a small smile crept across his face despite himself.
"You know, you can be really annoying sometimes," he remarked, his tone dry but his expression soft.
"Yeah?" Riley shot back, her grin widening. "Well, it’s better to be annoying than to be a buzzkill."
"I’m not a buzzkill," Klaus countered, though his smile lingered.
Riley stepped closer, the teasing glint in her eyes growing more playful. "Are too," she quipped, leaning in slightly as her grin challenged his claims.
"I’m not," Klaus replied, standing his ground and looking down towards her with a similar smile.
"You don’t even believe that," Riley said softly, her voice dipping to a near whisper as her gaze held his.
"Yes, I do," Klaus murmured, his voice mirroring her softness.
"No, you don’t," Riley muttered, her words barely audible now.
"Yes, I do," Klaus repeated, their eyes still locked as the silence between them stretched and thickened.
The teasing smiles on their faces began to fade as something unspoken lingered in the air. Their expressions softened, and for a brief moment, the world around them seemed to fall away. Riley leaned in ever so slightly, and Klaus instinctively did the same, lowering his face to the level of hers. Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingling in the delicate space between them.
"Yes... I do," Klaus whispered, his voice almost a caress.
Slowly, both of them began to close their eyes, the moment inching toward something inevitable, something neither had planned nor fully understood as they tilted their heads sideways. But just as their lips were about to meet, a loud, startling crash shattered the silence, causing both of them to flinch and whip their heads toward the source.
The sound had come from the dining area. Without hesitation, they rushed toward it, finding a baffling sight waiting for them. Something, or someone, had slammed into the wall beside the table.
As Klaus approached, his sharp eyes quickly identified the figure. "Ace?" he called out, his tone a mix of disbelief and concern.
Ace had slammed into the wall, appearing as if from nowhere. The sheer suddenness of it left Klaus momentarily stunned; his senses should have picked up the movement, yet they hadn’t. He and Riley instinctively moved closer, their concern etched plainly on their faces.
The dim light made it difficult for Riley to discern the full scope of what had happened. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice carrying both confusion and genuine worry.
Klaus, however, noticed something almost immediately; there was someone else. His eyes locked onto the figure in Ace’s arms as they approached. Ace, crumpled against the wall and clearly in pain, was clutching a girl tightly. Her presence drew Riley’s attention too as she stepped nearer, both of them now staring in bewilderment.
The girl was utterly unfamiliar. She appeared to be around their age, perhaps a bit older at around her early twenties. Her features were refined and strikingly serene. Her long, snow-white hair cascaded down to match a flowing white dress, creating an ethereal, almost ghostly appearance. Her beauty was otherworldly, but it was marred by her unconscious state.
Ace’s breaths were ragged, a harsh contrast to the calm, playful demeanor he usually exuded. The strain on his face, the way his chest rose and fell as he struggled to breathe; it was a sight neither Klaus nor Riley had ever associated with someone like him, someone who was incapable of exhaustion.
“What the hell just happened?” Riley muttered, her tone reflecting the turmoil in her thoughts.
Meanwhile, Klaus remained silent, his expression suddenly shifting as realization struck him. His shock was palpable. Ace wasn’t exhausted or winded; he was terrified. Klaus stared at his friend’s face, and for the first time, he saw something he had never imagined he would: raw, unfiltered fright.
Ace was trembling, his eyes wide and unfocused, as if haunted by something unseen. His entire demeanor screamed of someone who had just escaped a nightmare. Klaus couldn’t fathom it. He had never seen a demigod feel fear like this; especially not someone like Ace. Yet here he was, shivering as if the very essence of his being had been shaken.
“What... the hell is going on?” Klaus whispered, his voice carrying the disbelief and unease that gripped him. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from Ace, whose terror told a story they had yet to understand; one that felt far darker than either of them was prepared for.