World Awakening: The Legendary Player-Chapter 86: Lesson

The clearing was full of dark elves now. They stood in a wide circle around the Proving Ground, their faces a mix of anger and confusion. Jor was on his feet, holding his ribs and glaring at Nox with pure hate.

"What is the Elder doing?" one of them muttered. "Why is she giving this human the honor of a proving?"

"Honor?" another one scoffed. "She’s going to kill him. This is an execution."

Mela stood with Serian at the edge of the clearing. Liesa was beside her, her face pale, but her eyes were fixed on Nox with a strange, intense look.

"Your human is a complete fool," Liesa said, her voice quiet.

Serian didn’t answer. She just watched Nox, her hands clenched so tight her knuckles were white.

[Hades, God of the Underworld] So it begins. The mortal’s tantrum will be his end. I have a spot picked out for him already.

[Athena, Goddess of Wisdom & Strategy] This is tactically indefensible. He has no plan, no strategy. He is letting his emotions dictate his actions. He will be taught a harsh lesson.

[Mars, God of Tactical Warfare] A lesson, yes. Or a slaughter. But if the boy somehow survives this, if he learns from it, he will be a better warrior for it. The price of that lesson, however, may be his life.

[Lord of Carnage] HA! Forget surviving! If he actually lands a hit on her, I’ll give him a reward myself. A real weapon, something with some bite to it! Not that stick he calls a sword.

[Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty & Passion] Oh, but the passion is the point! The raw, untamed emotion! He’s putting it all on the line! It’s so tragically heroic! My heart can’t take it! ❤️‍🔥

Fena stood in the center of the clearing, her posture calm, her hands clasped behind her back. "Are you certain you wish to proceed, child? There is no shame in admitting your foolishness."

Nox just laughed. "Are you gonna talk me to death? Come on, old woman. I’m waiting."

Her eyes narrowed. "You have no respect. A flaw of your entire race."

"Respect is earned," he shot back. "And all you’ve done is talk down to me since I got here. So no, I don’t respect you."

The other elves gasped. Mela put a hand over her mouth. No one spoke to the Elder like that.

"Nox, stop," Serian whispered from the side, but he couldn’t hear her.

Fena’s calm expression didn’t change, but he could tell, behind that calm expression was anger, just waiting to be released.

"And what would I have to do to earn your respect, human whelp?" she asked, her voice dangerously soft.

"Beat me," he said with a shrug. "Show me that power you’re so proud of. Stop acting like you’re too good to get your hands dirty."

"I see," she said. "You wish for me to lower myself to your level. To engage in a brawl like a common beast."

"Yeah, exactly," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "I want you to stop being a queen on a throne and start being a fighter. Or are you too old for that?"

Jor stepped forward from the crowd. "Elder, allow me! I will teach this filth his place!"

Fena held up a hand without looking at him. "No, Jor. He wants a lesson. He has challenged me." She turned her full attention back to Nox. "And I am a teacher, by nature."

Her hands came out from behind her back. She wasn’t holding a weapon. She just beckoned to him with one finger. "Come then, child. Your lesson is about to begin."

[Trickster God Hermes IV] Ooh, the ’come hither’ finger. That’s a classic! She’s gonna mess him up so bad. This is gonna be great! 😂

[Auraelia, Goddess of Resilient Sparks] Don’t do it, Nox! It’s a trap! She’s trying to make you angry so you’ll be reckless! Please, just walk away! 😭

He ignored them. He didn’t need their warnings. He knew it was a trap. He knew she was goading him. But he didn’t care.

He just ran at her, a low growl in his throat. His fist was pulled back, ready to smash that calm look right off her face.

She didn’t move. She just watched him come, her hands relaxed.

Just as his punch was about to hit her, she moved her head a few inches to the left. His fist shot past her face, hitting nothing but air. The force of his own missed punch made him stumble forward.

He caught his balance and spun around, swinging his other fist in a wide hook.

She took one small step back. The punch missed again.

Laughter erupted from the elves watching.

"Look at him!" Jor shouted, his voice full of glee. "He swings like a drunken farmer!"

"He can’t even touch her!" another one yelled, and more laughter followed.

He ignored them and charged again, throwing a flurry of punches, not even aiming, just trying to hit her with pure, raw force.

Fena moved like a ghost. She didn’t dodge or block. She just shifted her weight, turned her shoulders, or took a tiny step. Each movement was perfect, making his wild attacks look clumsy and slow. He was punching at shadows.

"Is this the extent of your power, child?" she asked, her voice calm as his fist passed an inch from her nose. "All rage and no focus. You are an open book, and the story is a short, boring one."

"Shut up!" he snarled, throwing a kick at her legs.

She lifted her foot and tapped his shin with the toe of her boot. It wasn’t a hard kick, but it hit a nerve. A sharp, electric pain shot up his leg, making his whole limb go numb.

He fell, landing hard on one knee.

The elves howled with laughter now.

"He fell!"

"The mighty human, defeated by a love tap!"

Serian found it hard to watch. "This is not right," she whispered to Mela.

Mela didn’t answer. She was just staring at Nox, like she was expecting something from him.

Liesa, on the other hand, was grinning. "Serves him right, the arrogant bastard."

Nox pushed himself back to his feet, his leg throbbing. ’I expected this but the gap between us really is huge, I wonder how I should approach this.’

She noticed the shift in his gaze and posture, like he was finally taking this seriously.

He summoned his sword, the Sunstone Blade, and a dark energy immediately coated the bright metal. The blade’s normal warm glow was snuffed out, replaced by a black, light-sucking aura. He activated his weapon skill.

’Let’s try that again.’

The laughter from the crowd died.

"What is that?" one of them whispered. "He’s tainting the sword."

Jor pushed himself up, holding his ribs. "What trick is this, human?"

Fena’s calm expression tightened. She saw the change in the sword, the shift in his posture. He wasn’t the angry kid from before. This was a fighter.

"Your lesson isn’t over, child," she said.

He didn’t answer.

He lunged, the black sword a straight, clean line aimed for her throat. It was a simple, perfect thrust. There was no wasted motion, no sign of his earlier rage.

Fena’s eyes widened a little. She couldn’t just step aside. The attack was too direct, too fast. She brought her hand up, the air in front of her palm hardening into an invisible wall.

CLANG!

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om