Out of nowhere, a crushing force mmed into Harvey''s gut.


    The impact was so fierce it knocked him back five or six steps before he could regain his footing. His face twisted in pain, and beneath that agony-pure, stunned disbelief.


    "You-Jonah, you-" Harvey stammered.


    But before he could get another word out, Jonah was already closing in.


    His fist crashed into Harvey''s face with bone-jarring force.


    Harvey''s head snapped to the side, and his knees gave out. He copsed like a sack of bricks, mming onto the ground with a sickening thud.


    The sound was so loud, cadets from the nearest squad turned instantly.


    When they saw Harvey t on the ground and Jonah standing nearby-Raven just


    a few steps behind-they all froze in ce.


    "What the hell just happened?"


    "Did Jonah... hit Harvey?"


    "No way. I thought those two were tight. Why would Jonah punch him?"


    The shock hit hard enough that the cadets forgot they were still mid-training-and absolutely not allowed to speak.


    But strangely, their instructor, Caleb, didn''t bark at them to quiet down. He too turned to look at Harvey''s crumpled body, and an unmistakable smirk tugged at his lips.


    Truth be told, he kind of admired Harvey''s talent... for courting death.


    After the stunt Harvey pulled on stage earlier, it was already a miracle Raven hadn''t retaliated. But this idiot just had to keep digging his own grave.


    Honestly? He deserved whatever wasing.


    And right now, it wasing fast.


    Under the stunned gaze of the squad-and Caleb''s barely concealed amusement- Raven stepped forward.


    She didn''t say a word. Just walked right up to Harvey, who was still sprawled on the ground, eyes wide with disbelief.


    Then, with calm precision, she lifted her boot-and pressed it down on his right hand.


    Harvey gasped, his eyes flying open. “What are you doing?! I''m a senior official of this academy! You''re just a student-if youy a finger on me, you''ll be expelled at the very least!"


    Raven chuckled softly.


    Still silent, she pressed harder.


    A chorus of snapping bones rang out, followed by a scream so piercing it sent shivers down every spine in the area.


    The watching cadets couldn''t help but recoil. A few audibly sucked in a breath.


    Their eyes all about to Haven, now with a look that was part awe, part terror


    82%


    Is she insane? A gut from some no name ce, and she just crushed the hand of someone that high up? She''s throwing her whole huure away!


    Harvey''s part of the academy''s upper echelon. She won''t just be expelled she could get locked up


    But Raven didn''t flinch. Didn''t even nce in their direction.


    Her eyes stayed on Harvey, who was now barely conscious, writhing in pain.


    And when she saw just a flicker of awareness return to his face, she finally spoke her voice cool, unhurried, deadly calm.


    "That was just a warning. If you try something like that again... it won''t just be one hand"


    That one line made every cader''s breath hitch.


    Someone, any


    how was she speaking like that to someone with the power to erase her from this school in a heartbeat? What kind of lunatic wasn''t afraid of dying?


    Harvey''s face twisted in rage. His good hand curled into a fist, trembling with fury. His eyes locked onto Raven like daggers. Then, gritting his teeth, he hissed, "You want to see President Monroe, right? Fine. Come with me. Let''s go see him now."


    Raven, who had already turned to walk away, stopped mid-step.


    She tilted her head slightly. Her eyes fell back on Harvey.


    And then... she smiled.