(Meanwhile, Garron’s POV)
From atop the tree, Garron watched the final moments of the battle unfold, as although he had already accepted Riven’s death several moments earlier, what happened next completely overturned every expectation he had held.
The Night Panther’s body suddenly convulsed before a violent burst of Aether erupted straight through its back, as the resulting explosion instantly tore a massive hole through the beast before it collapsed lifelessly onto the boy beneath it.
For several long moments, Garron simply stood there in complete silence, as even after witnessing the Night Panther fall with his own eyes, he struggled to accept that the impossible had actually happened.
"What the hell kind of kid are you...?"
Garron muttered, as his eyes remained fixed upon the distant hillside where the boy still lay buried beneath the dead beast.
As someone who had spent decades training young cultivators, Garron understood better than most just how difficult the technique Riven had accidentally executed truly was.
Even the most gifted children currently training beneath him had yet to successfully perform the Aether release, as despite possessing far greater reserves of Aether than Riven, they still lacked the synchronization necessary to bring the technique together.
In Garron’s estimation, even his finest students like the sisters, likely required several more months of relentless training before they could successfully execute that strike under controlled conditions.
Yet somehow...
Riven had managed to perform it while standing on death’s doorstep.
"No..."
Garron muttered, as after replaying the battle inside his mind once more, he slowly shook his head before dismissing the idea that luck alone could explain what he had just witnessed.
As although there was a possibility that the final strike that he witnessed could have contained its share of fortune, what was undeniable was everything that led up to it.
The way Riven gradually retreated toward the cliff before the battle reached its climax.
The way he forced the Night Panther into attacking from a narrower angle.
The way he boldly stepped forward instead of retreating when the beast finally lunged.
Every decision had steadily increased his chances of surviving, as although each improvement had only been small on its own, together they had ultimately created the single opportunity Riven needed to gamble everything upon one final strike.
"That sort of strategy, that can’t be taught..."
Garron muttered, as after watching countless talented youngsters over the years, he knew that while techniques, discipline, and Aether control could all be developed through training, instincts forged in the middle of battle were something that could not be taught.
A warrior’s true nature only revealed itself when they were under the most duress, and based on what he observed about Riven, it seemed like at his core, he was a genius warrior whose mind became calmer the closer he came to death.
"You’re not the most talented child I’ve ever trained..."
Garron muttered, as a faint smile slowly appeared across his face.
"But you might just possess the finest battlefield instincts I’ve ever seen."
He concluded, as after taking one final look toward the hillside, he finally turned away from the battle.
"Well..."
Garron muttered, as he began descending through the branches.
"I’m glad I stayed to watch."
He concluded, as somewhere between watching Riven bring down the Night Panther and climbing back down from the tree, he had already made up his mind to turn back and rescue the boy, because in his eyes, Riven had proven himself worthy of the detour despite his original intention being to continue leading the remaining children toward the Valdrak Empire without ever looking back.
*Thud*
Soon afterwards, Garron landed lightly upon the forest floor, as before he had taken more than a few steps toward the group, Mary and Stacy were already hurrying toward him with anxious expressions.
"Instructor... it’s Riven, isn’t it?"
Mary asked, as her voice trembled with barely restrained worry.
"Is he in danger? Can we please go back and help him?"
Stacy pleaded, as she clasped both hands together while struggling to contain the panic rising inside her chest.
"He’s one of us..."
Mary begged, as tears had already begun gathering within the corners of her eyes.
"Please..."
She whispered, as Garron deliberately let out a long sigh.
*Sigh*
Despite having already made up his mind, he still pretended to deliberate for several moments before finally giving his answer.
"A quick detour."
Garron said, as he raised a single finger while maintaining a stern expression.
"The boy is roughly forty minutes behind us, so if we’re doing this, we need to make haste."
He continued, as his gaze slowly swept across every child standing before him.
"So unless we make that journey in thirty..."
Garron warned, as his expression hardened even further.
"None of you are getting a single break until tomorrow evening."
He concluded, as without waiting for anyone to respond, he immediately turned around before leading the entire group back toward the place where Riven had fought the Night Panther.
As while all the other students groaned and complained, with some even cursing Riven for the added journey, Mary and Stacy quietly exchanged relieved smiles, as despite knowing how tomorrow was about to become far more exhausting because of the detour, neither sister regretted asking him to turn back even for a single moment.
"We are coming for you as fast as we can Riven.....So please be safe until then."
Mary prayed, not knowing that Riven was no longer the one in danger, but rather had unknowingly become the danger himself.
As with his entire body now covered in the blood of a Night Panther, an Aether Beast and one of the undisputed apex predators of those forests, there was perhaps not a single creature roaming the surrounding wilderness that would willingly dare attack him anymore.
As just from his scent alone, Riven was going to appear like a terrifying hunter to every beast within the jungle, regardless of whether he truly was one or not.