"Not bad," Ethan nodded, unsurprised.

He'd already read up online—Hawke family was a big deal. Powerful, influential, with businesses spread all across the Inner City.

And Pinnacle Academy? It wasn't just a school for elite Awakeners—it was a playground for the rich and powerful. Tons of students from major families went there, so running into someone from the Hawke clan wasn't exactly shocking.

But when Ethan glanced at Ricky, he noticed something new. The moment Dorian Hawke's name came up, a dark, smoky aura gathered between Ricky's brows—like a flicker of black fire. It wasn't just anger. It was something deeper. A strange energy, brimming with potential.

Ricky's pale face twisted into a grin, laced with venom. "Captain, teach me how to kill."

"Kill? You need to learn that?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. For him, killing was just another Tuesday. Nothing special.

In the Inner City, finding someone from the Hawke family wasn't hard. But since fate had already thrown Dorian into their path, why not use him as a stepping stone?

"Let's pay him a visit tonight."

"Hell yeah!" Ricky's pain vanished in an instant, replaced by a manic excitement. His fists clenched tight.

Power? Status? Who gives a damn?

He was ready to take Dorian down—no matter the cost.

Even if it meant trading his life for it.

...

Time slipped by. The moon rose, the sun set. Night in the Inner City was a spectacle in itself.

Neon lights bathed the streets in color. Holographic projections floated in the air, so vivid they looked real. Drones buzzed overhead in tight formations, scanning every alley and rooftop, keeping crime in check.

Ethan stood at the edge of the street. Not far ahead loomed Pinnacle Academy.

He reached out with his senses—yeah, there were plenty of heavy hitters inside. Most of them SS-rank or higher. Some areas were completely sealed off with psychic barriers, impossible to probe. Tight security.

"Captain, I got the info," Ricky came jogging up, breathless. "Dorian's not at school. He went home to throw a party. Lives in a villa not far from here."

"Perfect," Ethan said casually. "Let's crash it."

Ricky's eyes lit up. He looked like he could barely hold himself back. That dark energy between his brows pulsed stronger, giving him an almost sinister edge.

Dorian's life wasn't all that different from a spoiled rich kid back on Earth.

He'd show up at school just enough to keep up appearances, then head home to throw wild parties. Tonight was no different—he'd invited four or five classmates over. All of them good-looking, dressed to impress. Lena was there too.

She was from the Outer Zone, and this kind of luxury was everything she'd ever dreamed of. Now, she was living it.

Lena sipped from her glass of lime liqueur, the sweet and sour taste sliding down her throat. It was smooth, refreshing—and more than that, it tasted like success. Like she'd finally made it.

"Getting here... wasn't easy," she murmured to herself.

"What're you thinking about?" Dorian's arm slid around her waist, pulling her close.

"N-nothing," Lena said quickly, flashing a smile and shaking her head.

The other couples nearby were lounging around, chatting and laughing. One of the girls leaned in, eyes gleaming with gossip.

"Hey, I heard Lena's ex showed up today. Tried to talk to her, and Dorian totally put him in his place."

"Oh yeah, that happened," Dorian said with a chuckle. "Guy actually tried to throw hands with me."

He sounded amused. After all, no one had dared challenge him since he was a kid. Having someone actually try to fight him? That was new.

Everyone around him looked shocked.

"Wait, he started it?"

"Is he insane?"

"Dorian, you didn't kill him? Man, you went easy on him!"

"Seriously..."

Dorian waved it off. "School's boring. Having someone like that around spices things up. He didn't take the beating well either. I bet once he's healed up, he'll come back for more."

"Yeah, sounds about right."

They all got the message—Dorian wasn't worried. He just saw the guy as entertainment.

"Come on, come on—let's drink!" Dorian raised his glass with a grin, calling out to the group.

Everyone cheered in response, clinking glasses and laughing as the party kicked back into full swing. The crisp sound of toasts echoed through the room.

None of them had the slightest clue that, just outside, two shadowy figures stood silently on a small hill overlooking the villa. Like ghosts, they watched through the floor-to-ceiling windows, eyes locked on the scene inside.

"Captain, that's him," Ricky said, voice low and cold.

"Let's go," Ethan replied calmly.

The villa was extravagant, but it was just a temporary place Dorian used while attending school—security was minimal. A few servants moved about inside, but there were no guards worth mentioning.

Getting in? Child's play.

Ricky didn't even hesitate—he grabbed the front door handle and twisted it with brute force, snapping the lock with a loud crack. Then the two of them headed straight for the main hall where the party was going down.

Thump, thump, thump!

Ricky pounded on the door with heavy fists.

Inside, the group was mid-laugh, drinks in hand, when the sudden knocking cut through the music and chatter like a blade. The room fell silent.

"Who the hell is that?"

"No idea. Dorian, did you invite anyone else?"

"..."

Dorian glanced around, just as confused. "Nope. Everyone I invited's already here."

"I'll get it," Lena offered, already walking toward the door. She didn't think much of it—just another guest, maybe someone late.

She pulled the door open without hesitation.

And froze.

Standing there was a face she hadn't expected to see again—twisted with bitterness, lips curled into a crooked, almost sinister smile.

"Ri… Ricky?" Lena blinked, stunned.

But the shock quickly turned to irritation. Her brows furrowed, and her voice sharpened.

"You've gotta be kidding me. I told you it's over. What, are you stalking me now?"

"I'm not here for you," Ricky sneered, eyes cold. "Don't flatter yourself."

Lena's frown deepened. Something was off. He didn't just look different—he felt different. Like he wasn't the same person anymore.

From the couch, Dorian had already noticed the commotion.

"Well, well. That was fast," he said with a smirk. "I was getting bored of just drinking. Looks like the entertainment's here. Let 'em in!"

"Uh… okay." Lena stepped aside, still uneasy.

Ethan and Ricky walked in like they owned the place. Ricky, ever the gentleman, turned around and shut the door behind them—then locked it with a click.

Dorian didn't even flinch at the sight of the two of them.

"Brought backup, huh?" he said lazily.

Ricky's eyes locked onto him, and the dark energy between his brows thickened—no longer a haze, but a deep, inky black.

"Dorian," he growled, "I'm going to kill you."

Pfft!

Laughter broke out around the room.

"This guy's hilarious."

"Do you even know who Dorian is? You think you can just walk in here and kill him?"

"Dude, the Hawke family runs the city's entire security force. You're basically signing your own death warrant."

"..."

But Ricky didn't care. He didn't hear them. All he saw was Dorian. All he wanted was blood.

"Die, you bastard!"

His face twisted with rage, eyes wild, and he lunged forward like a madman.

Dorian didn't even move. He sat there, legs crossed, just like he had at lunch, watching with a calm, almost amused expression.

But one of the guys beside him stood up.

He was a speed-type Awakener—fast as lightning. In a blink, he stepped in, grabbed Ricky's wrist mid-swing, and twisted hard.

CRACK!

"AAAHHH—!"

Ricky screamed in pain, struggling with everything he had, but he couldn't break free.

Ethan just shook his head, watching from the side.

"Killing someone… that's not how you do it."

...

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