Chapter 5 – The Person I Was Is Gone | Part C(FInal Volume 1)

The afternoon sun blazed overhead as Kaivan and Ethan stepped off the minibus near the gang’s hideout. The air was thick with laughter, smoke, and the stench of arrogance. The moment they appeared, sharp eyes turned toward them.

"Look who’s here," sneered a tattooed man, grinning at Ethan. "Back again with the kid we scammed yesterday? You want another round?"

Laughter sliced through the air. Ethan clenched his fists, his body trembling. Kaivan, on the other hand, stood tall. His gaze was cold. He stepped forward.

"I came to take back what’s mine," he said quietly, yet firmly. "My money. My bike. And compensation."

One of them scoffed. "Ask Ethan. He’s the brains here."

Kaivan remained calm, unshaken. Ethan edged closer, whispering shakily, "They won’t give it back. Your money’s long gone."

The tattooed man stepped forward, glaring down at Kaivan. "If we say no, what’ll you do? Cry here?"

Kaivan remembered Felicia’s advice: Aim for the jaw. Quick and hard. He moved.

His right fist shot forward—crack! The man’s body collapsed, unconscious before he hit the ground.

Ethan’s eyes widened. "Kaivan, what did you—?!"

Kaivan didn’t answer. His gaze swept over the remaining men—steady, cold, unflinching. "Who’s next?"

Shocked, Ethan lifted his phone and started recording.

Tension filled the air. A burly man in a leather jacket stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes.

"You’ve got guts, kid!" he roared, charging forward.

The mood turned razor-sharp. The once-lazy midday wind now carried the scent of fear. Several grabbed pipes and bats—blind confidence blazing in their eyes, mistaking Kaivan for easy prey.

Yet Kaivan remained silent. Not a single step back. A cold aura radiated from his body; the faint smile on his lips wasn’t arrogance—it was certainty.

The days of training with Felicia had changed him. He was no longer the timid boy he once was. Now he was sharp, fluid—reborn from pain and humiliation.

As his opponent lunged, time seemed to slow. Kaivan’s mind raced, analyzing every move. His body flowed lightly, dodging each strike like a shadow. A metal rod swung—Kaivan ducked. His eyes caught the opening, and then…

“You’re too slow,” he whispered.

In an instant, his hand seized the man’s head, and his knee crashed into his face. The impact echoed through the air, followed by the dull thud of a collapsing body and the drip of blood onto the ground.

“Anyone else?” Kaivan asked softly—his voice no louder than a whisper of death.

However, five men charged at him at once. Kaivan drew a slow breath—and moved.

A swing of iron missed him. Kaivan leaped forward, his knee driving into a man’s chest. The attacker staggered back. Kaivan spun, his elbow slamming into another man’s jaw. A sharp crack echoed. Another one fell and didn’t get up again.

“Damn it! This short kid’s too fast!” someone shouted. Panic rippled through the group.

At the edge of the lot, Ethan was still recording, his eyes wide in disbelief.

“Thank God I’m not his enemy anymore,” he muttered.

He had never imagined that the boy he once bullied would now stand as a real threat. Somewhere deep inside, fear slowly turned into respect.

One of the gang members lunged from behind—but Kaivan was already aware. He spun, delivering a brutal kick to the man’s gut. The body flew, crashed, and didn’t rise again. Another down. The rest hesitated, pride barely keeping them from running.

Inside the gang’s dim, suffocating room, Tania and Darius were lost in shallow pleasure. The flickering light cast shadows on the mossy walls. When the chaos outside erupted like a storm, Tania shot up, her eyes wide. She peeked through the window, her breath catching.

“Kaivan?” she whispered, panic trembling in her voice.

Outside, bodies littered the ground. Kaivan stood alone—bloody, but unbroken. His movements were deadly and graceful, like a shadow in motion. He was no longer the boy from before. He had become something else—something dangerous.

Darius frowned, stepping toward the window. “One guy caused all this?”

A loud crash shook the room. Tania flinched, fear cutting through her rage. She knew then—Kaivan wasn’t someone to underestimate.

From the crowd outside, Darius emerged. Broad-shouldered, gripping a gleaming karambit, arrogance painted across his face. “You dare mess with my turf and my girl, runt? You’re dead.”

Tania smirked from the window. Crush him, Darius, she thought. Yet her eyes couldn’t leave Kaivan—so calm, so terrifying.

Darius struck first. His blade slashed toward Kaivan’s neck—fast, precise. But Kaivan sidestepped, the motion smooth, effortless. No fear. No hesitation.

Then Kaivan countered. His kick landed on Darius’s wrist, precise and sharp. The karambit flew from his hand, spinning through the air before clattering to the ground. Before Darius could react, Kaivan’s palm slammed into his chest. The breath left his lungs. He stumbled back, choking.

From afar, Tania’s heartbeat thundered. Fear clawed at her chest, though she hid it behind a smile. No… Darius can’t lose.

All eyes fixed on one figure in the center of the chaos—Kaivan. Small in stature, yet radiating dread. He reached down, picking up the fallen karambit. His grip tightened like a musician holding a sacred instrument. His gaze locked on the men still standing.

“You’re really planning to fight me together?” His words were soft—but they struck like hammers, shattering their confidence. No laughter followed. Only silence.

For Kaivan, time slowed again. Every movement around him seemed sluggish, like shadows caught in syrup. He stepped forward. The karambit spun between his fingers, dancing through the air with a silent rhythm.

The first man lunged from the right with an iron rod. Kaivan shifted left, fluid as water. The karambit’s ring struck hard, disarming him. Kaivan followed through with a sharp kick to the gut. The man collapsed, groaning in pain.

Two others charged next—one with a chain, the other with a katana. Kaivan spun; the chain missed. He struck the chain-wielder’s arm with the karambit—a scream tore the air. In the same breath, he twisted the swordsman’s wrist until a sickening crack echoed. The blade fell.

Kaivan moved like liquid shadow—untouchable, precise. His karambit cut through the air, weaving a deadly rhythm.

Darius, enraged, stumbled to his feet and tried to attack. But Kaivan was faster. A swift, ruthless kick to the groin dropped him instantly. The mighty gang leader, humiliated.

Kaivan’s victory wasn’t just about strength. It was the courage to face his past—head held high, unflinching.

From a distance, Tania trembled as she watched Darius—the man she once controlled—collapse helplessly to the ground. Fear surged through her, but her mind worked fast. She couldn’t afford to lose.

“Kaivan! Help me!” she screamed, tears running down her face, hands covering a feigned look of despair—her body clad in nothing but a bra and hotpants. “They… they tried to assault me!”

But Kaivan didn’t move. He stood tall among the ruins of the fight, his expression unreadable. Calmly, he began searching through the fallen men’s pockets and bags—wallets, phones, chains—collecting them one by one with cold precision.

“Ethan, help me gather these. We need them to pay off my bike and get my stuff back,” he said flatly.

Ethan, still holding his phone, hesitated. He glanced at Tania. “But she said she’s the victim, Kai. Darius—”

“Darius said, ‘Don’t bother me when I’m with my girlfriend,’ didn’t he?” Kaivan cut in sharply, eyes never once turning toward Tania.

Ethan froze for a moment, then slowly nodded. “You’re right.”

“Don’t waste time on her. Focus.”

Tania realized her act had failed. Her face went pale, but her thoughts spun quickly. If tears didn’t work, then her next manipulation would have to run deeper.

In silence, she rebuilt her plan. The fear on her face vanished, replaced by a calm, almost frozen mask. She remembered Kaivan’s weaknesses—his past, his habits, his wounds.

“You think you’ve won, Kaivan?” she whispered softly. “Just wait. You’re still human. You still have a flaw. And I’ll find it.”

Meanwhile, Kaivan walked toward the old motorcycle. His gaze wasn’t fixed on the machine itself, but on what it represented—freedom. Every step he took was a declaration: he was no longer prey, but the strength born from betrayal. And today, no manipulation could defeat him.

“Whose bike is that?” Kaivan asked. His voice was calm, low—like the whisper of dusk pressing against the air—but there was firmness in it.

Ethan shrugged uncertainly. “Darius’s. The one you just kicked down,” he replied. “It’s his pride and joy. You know how much it means to him.”

Kaivan didn’t answer. His eyes traced the motorbike’s frame, his palm brushing over the chrome body as though it were a relic. He stared at it for a long moment, as if trying to understand not just its shape, but the spirit within it.

“If you take it, it’s going to cause chaos,” Ethan said nervously. “Darius has connections. His parents are powerful.”

Kaivan remained silent. His hand opened the side compartment, his movements swift and steady. Inside, he found a leather wallet—registration papers, ownership card. His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.

From the wreckage, Tania emerged again, her face twisted with rage and panic. “Kaivan! That’s my boyfriend’s bike!” she screamed, her voice echoing.

Kaivan turned to her, his gaze cold as steel. “I’m pawning this. Your boyfriend’s men pawned my bike first. I’m just balancing things out.”

He looked her straight in the eyes. “You said you were assaulted. Now you say ‘boyfriend.’ Which one is it?”

Tania froze. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

“That’s theft, Kaivan!” she finally shouted. “You’ll go to jail for this!”

Kaivan shrugged. “Go ahead. I’m not afraid.”

Ethan spoke at last. “Are you sure about this, Kaivan? Darius won’t just let this go.”

Kaivan met his eyes briefly, then looked back at the bike. “That’s exactly why.”

He climbed onto the motorcycle slowly, as if mounting a decision that couldn’t be undone.

Without another word, Kaivan took the key from the wallet, inserted it into the ignition, and turned it. The Harley’s growl thundered to life, tearing through the silence. He sat still atop the saddle, hands gripping the handlebar like he’d never let go.

“Come on, Ethan. You in or not?” he asked without looking back.

Ethan stared at Kaivan’s broad back, then climbed on, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’m in.”

The motorcycle roared forward, leaving behind the wreckage of their battle. Behind them, Tania screamed, “Kaivan! I’ll report you!” But her voice scattered into the wind, reduced to dust in their wake.

Minutes later, they arrived at a small pawn shop. Kaivan stepped out, calm on the surface but with eyes burning underneath. In his hand, a wad of bills—the price of his enemy’s pride. His steps were heavy, as though each note carried a fragment of an old wound.

Ethan leaned against the wall. “What now?”

The orange sky greeted Kaivan’s slow stride toward an electronics store. Inside, the neon lights reflected on dozens of screens. His gaze fell upon a single glowing phone behind the glass.

“So advanced…” he whispered. His fingers brushed the surface, and for a brief moment, the world felt like it was his.

This thing would never hurt him—unlike people. He smiled faintly, barely visible, but within that smile was a promise. That pain could become control. That defeat could be reshaped into direction.

Kaivan gazed at the phone displayed behind the glass. “How much is it?” he asked quietly.

The clerk answered quickly. The transaction went by with few words, and soon the new phone slipped into his pocket. Kaivan walked away from the store, as if leaving behind a weight that couldn’t be seen.

At a small roadside stall, he handed cash to a middle-aged man. Without a word, the man returned the lost ownership papers for Kaivan’s motorcycle. His fingers trembled as he held it—not just a document, but a symbol of what had been stolen from him.

Yet peace didn’t come. His steps carried him into an antique shop, where the scent of aged wood and forgotten stories filled the air. Without hesitation, he bought back the Tome Omnicent. His fingers brushed the worn leather cover, and a faint smile crossed his lips. A promise to himself: “We start again.”

On the other side of the city, the orange sky loomed over chaos. Tania stood amidst the crumbling remains of a gang slowly regaining consciousness. Confused faces turned to anger once they realized their belongings were gone.

Among them stood Darius, his face burning with fury. “Who the hell stole my bike?!” he roared.

Tania stepped forward—her hair disheveled, her body limp, but her eyes gleamed with cunning. A thin smile flickered beneath her weary face, the start of a perfect act. Torn clothes, staggering steps—every detail crafted to evoke sympathy. She was ready to play the victim.

She controlled her breathing, her voice deliberately trembling. “The one who took your bike… and beat all of you… goes to the same school as me,” she said softly, yet each word struck with purpose.

The crowd fell silent. Dozens of eyes turned toward her.

“His name is Kaivan,” Tania continued, her gaze laced with feigned pain. “He’s the one who humiliated me at school.”

Darius frowned, his jaw tightening. That name reignited a bitter humiliation. “Kaivan? That short freak? He dared do this? He stole our stuff, beat us up… and took my bike?!”

Tania inhaled deeply, suppressing a smirk. Her eyes shimmered as if about to cry. “It wasn’t just that…”

The crowd held their breath.

“He… he assaulted me,” she whispered, her voice almost inaudible—but it was enough.

Like thunder under a calm sky, rage erupted. Faces twisted with shock and fury.

“He said… I wasn’t worth loving,” Tania continued, her voice cracking. “That I only suited being his toy.”

Silence turned to uproar. Heavy breaths filled the air. Someone shouted, “That bastard! Let’s hunt him down now!”

Darius didn’t hesitate. His hand trembled as he grabbed his phone. “Dad… we’ve got a problem. My bike’s been stolen—”

Tania bowed her head, hiding her victorious smile. The stage was burning, and her script unfolded perfectly.

Amid the chaos, she stood still—eyes glistening, lips quivering, body trembling. Yet beneath it all, a thin, invisible smile curved across her face. Every move was precise, every emotion calculated—not for pity, but to ignite vengeance. And she succeeded.

The seed of hatred was sown. Tania knew the storm would come—not by chance, but by her own design. This wasn’t revenge. This was art.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the city, Kaivan sat alone. The setting sun warmed his skin, but his heart remained frozen. On his lap lay the open Tome Omnicent—heavy, not from its binding, but from the fate it carried.

“Depart for Purwakarta. Meet Raphael. Bring Felicia and Radit.”

The words glowed faintly, as if whispering destiny. Kaivan exhaled slowly, his heartbeat steady—then quickened. A direction. A mission.

He closed the book gently. Just as he rose, a calm voice broke the silence.

“Going somewhere again?”

Ethan emerged from the shadows, leaning against a wall, hands in his pockets. His gaze was sharp, his presence cutting through the air like a peaceful blade.

Kaivan turned to him, silent for a moment. “To Purwakarta. There’s someone I have to meet.”

His tone was firm, though a faint tremor betrayed his unease.

Ethan stepped closer, steady and deliberate. “Who? And why does it matter?” His voice was calm, but his eyes demanded truth.

Kaivan took a long breath. “The Tome Omnicent told me to. I’m just following its guidance.”

Ethan stood before him, unblinking. “You trust that book completely? You don’t even know what’s waiting for you.”

Kaivan met his gaze. “Every time I followed its direction, I found something important. Even you—that was because of it. I can’t ignore it.”

Ethan smirked slightly. “Then I’m coming with you.”

Kaivan hesitated, but seeing Ethan’s calm expression, he nodded. “Alright. But this won’t be safe. I can’t promise anything.”

“Relax,” Ethan said, patting his shoulder. “I’m used to uncertainty. Besides, you still owe me a favor, remember?”

Without another word, they prepared to leave. Ethan fastened his helmet, his expression neutral as if this were just another trip. As the motorcycle sped forward, its soft engine hum sliced through the quiet dusk.

Evening wind brushed their faces. The air was cool, tinged with the scent of damp earth and distant trees swaying in the fading light. Neither spoke—but both minds were fixed on the same thought: something awaited ahead.

Kaivan steered with one hand, the other pulling his phone from his jacket. His fingers typed quickly. Silence hung in the air, but his decision was made—the journey had begun.

Meet me at Jatiluhur Lake. Now, he texted Felicia, hoping she’d arrive in time to help with whatever awaited them.

As they drew closer, the atmosphere shifted. The forest thickened, shadows deepened, and the sounds of nature grew louder—alive, yet strangely foreboding. Ethan’s expression turned serious. “You know…” he said quietly. “I can feel something worse than before coming our way.”

Kaivan said nothing, his eyes locked on the road ahead. In the distance, Jatiluhur Lake shimmered like a mirror reflecting the last light of dusk. He slowed down, and Ethan knew—this wasn’t going to be an ordinary meeting.

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Thank you for accompanying Kaivan’s journey to the end of Volume 1.

In this first part, you’ve watched his world slowly unfold—his internal changes, the people he met along the way, and the distant shadows of conflict beginning to stir. Reaching the final page… means more than I can properly express.

Volume 1 may still have areas that could be sharper or more dramatic, but the foundation has been set: the world, the characters, and the direction of Kaivan’s fate.

Volume 2… will be different.You’ll meet new faces, step into larger conflicts, and finally witness how the existence of other Tome users begins to shake everything around them. Mysteries only hinted at in Volume 1… will start to move.

If you enjoyed this journey, don’t forget to bookmark or add it to your collection—it helps the story reach more readers from the shadows.

See you in Volume 2.