Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord

The arena shimmered into existence around Jayden, a vast, undulating field of emerald green, dotted with rocky outcrops and gentle slopes, all framed by distant, jagged hills that touched the digital sky. A perfect battleground for strategy and evasion.

Across the field, his opponent materialized in a flash of brilliant light: a tall, imposing figure with a mane of long, blonde hair, encased head-to-toe in gleaming white and blue armor.

As the light faded, the man's face, etched with a self-assured sneer, came into view, his eyes locking onto Jayden with an almost dismissive arrogance.

And when Jayden glanced at the glowing stats, he understood why.

*Username: Storm

*Level: 350

*Ability: Lightning Manipulation

*HP: 300

*Rank: 32

Jayden's brows furrowed.

Rank 32!

He was the 32nd highest ranked player in a game played by thousands, if not millions, across the globe.

Jayden knew the system was being biased towards him, intended to see him lose… but this felt like an overkill. Level 350 against his own measly level 25. Lightning ability against… nothing. This was beyond biased; it was an outright challenge designed for failure.

A Level 350 player was already a formidable opponent, but to pit him against an elite player? That was too much.

Players ranked 100 and above were bestowed the title of 'Elite Players,' a testament to their exceptional skill, experience, and often, their high-tier equipment.

But Jayden had done his research on EverRealm, even though it was just a game. He'd learned a peculiar truth about the so called 'Elite players'

Most, while formidable in-game, were surprisingly weak in real life, having simply poured vast sums of money into acquiring powerful abilities and top-tier equipment in EverRealm, to appear formidable and powerful. When, in truth, they were mere noobs.

They were just rich brats with too much money, buying their way to the top of the game. Very typical.

Jayden had also learnt another interest fact; anyone could become an elite player simply by defeating one of the top 100 and inheriting their rank.

But Jayden wasn't interested in ranks or titles. He simply wanted to push his limits and have a truly good fight.

Storm, oblivious to Jayden's thoughts, took a slow, deliberate step forward, his armored boots crunching softly on the digital grass.

His scoff was loud enough to echo across the seemingly empty arena. "What an insult. A level 25… with no abilities, and no gear to speak of. Did the system glitch, or are they just sending lambs to slaughter now?" He sneered, his gaze dripping with contempt. "Don't waste my time, punk."

Jayden responded with a slow, knowing smirk, his eyes glinting. He said nothing, simply letting the condescension wash over him.

Storm's sneer tightened into a frown. That smirk… it unnerved him. "What's so funny, weakling?" he growled, a faint crackle of electricity beginning to arc between his armored fingers. "You think this is a joke? I'll end this in less than ten seconds. You won't even know what hit you."

Jayden's smirk widened, a soft chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Oh, we'll see about that."

For the first time, he spoke, his voice calm, even-toned, yet with an undertone of challenge.

An instinctive shiver traced its way down Storm's spine. He didn't know whether it was the unexpected calm in Jayden's voice, or the unnervingly confident glint in his eyes. But something about this low-levelling 'noob' felt… wrong.

Yet, he refused to falter. He was Level 350, a Rank 32 Elite Player with an amplified lightning ability. There was no way in hell he could lose to an apparent noob. A pesky level 25 with no ability or equipment.

His victory was certain… or so he thought.

When the countdown hit zero…

Fight!

A booming voice, amplified by the arena itself, declared.

Storm wasted no time. A crackle of electric energy erupted around him, his armor gleaming brighter as it amplified his power. Then arcs of lightning erupted from his hands, streaking across the field like jagged spears.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ground split where they landed, dirt exploding upward.

Whoosh.

Jayden dashed left, then right, weaving effortlessly, each strike missing by inches. The smell of ozone filled the air, static buzzing against his skin.

Storm narrowed his eyes. He unleashed a volley.. bolts raining down in quick succession. Jayden rolled under one, side-flipped over another, never losing that infuriating grin. He wasn't even countering. Just dodging, weaving, taunting.

"You're fast," Storm spat, firing another barrage. "But you can't run forever."

Jayden ducked behind a ridge, lightning blasting the stone to rubble a heartbeat later. He slid down the slope, dirt in his palms, before springing up again, eyes locked on Storm. "You talk too much."

Storm gritted his teeth in rage, he was humiliated by Jayden's remark. "How dare you speak to me like that?"

He lifted a hand, and a searing bolt of pure lightning shot forth, arcing across the field with terrifying speed directly at Jayden.

Jayden moved. Not with a burst of speed, but with an almost fluid grace, sidestepping the lightning bolt by mere inches as it vaporized the ground where he'd stood moments before.

Storm fired again, and again. Jayden dodged, weaving left and right, running in a serpentine pattern that made him an almost impossible target. He became a blur against the hills, a shadow dancing between streaks of blinding electricity.

Storm's long-range advantage was clear; he preferred to keep Jayden at a distance, unleashing a barrage of amplified lightning attacks that crackled and boomed across the terrain, leaving scorched earth and smoking craters in their wake.

But Jayden had no problem with this. He continued to evade, a slow, deliberate dance that bordered on mockery. He ran up the smaller hills, skirted around boulders, and dashed through shallow depressions, forcing Storm to constantly adjust his aim and expend energy.

Storm's initial confidence began to waver. Jayden was proving more difficult than he expected. But he didn't falter. Instead, he unleashed a wide, indiscriminate blast of lightning, sending columns of electricity scouring the landscape.

KRAKAKAKKKK! BOOM!

The wide electrical blast seemed to engulf Jayden, and for a split second, Storm thought he'd finally landed a heavy blow. He allowed himself a triumphant grin.

But then, Jayden emerged from the dissipating energy, unscathed, dusting off his shoulder with a casual, almost bored, expression. He was teasing Storm.

"Is that all you've got?" Jayden taunted, his voice laced with mock disappointment. "What happened to ending this fight in seconds?"

Rage flared in Storm's eyes. His reputation, his pride, was being publicly ridiculed by a level 25. He roared, discarding strategy for brute force. He launched a barrage of rapid-fire lightning bolts, each faster and more intense than the last, creating a shimmering wall of electricity that chased Jayden relentlessly.

Still, Jayden ducked, weaved, and dodged with impossible grace. The sheer frustration became too much.

"Stand still, you coward!" Storm roared, a fresh volley of lightning bolts ripping through the air.

But Jayden only increased his speed, making a wide circle around Storm, forcing his opponent to pivot and chase him with his gaze and attacks.

The cat-and-mouse game continued for what felt like an eternity. Storm, his pride wounded and his anger simmering, eventually decided he'd had enough of the chase.

"Fine!" Storm bellowed, his voice distorted by anger. "If you won't stand still, I'll take the fight to you!"

He powered up, his form crackling with intense lightning, and launched himself forward, closing the distance between them in a series of electrified bursts. He intended to meet Jayden head-on, to overwhelm him with direct force.

Jayden, watching Storm rush in, a flicker of satisfaction crossed his face. Finally. Close up Combat. His specialty.

As Storm closed the distance, he coated his armored fists in raw lightning, aiming for a devastating melee blow. Jayden didn't flinch. His internal skeleton, already morphed into adamantine, felt like an unbreachable fortress.

Storm, with a guttural yell, coated his armored fists in crackling lightning, transforming them into electrified weapons. He swung a devastating punch at Jayden's head. Jayden met it with a swift block, his forearms crossing.

BOOM! WHOOSH!

The impact reverberated, sending a shockwave through the air, but Jayden remained rooted, the adamantine beneath his skin absorbing the force flawlessly. He wasn't worried about the lightning; his body could handle it for short bursts, and the physical impact was minimized.

They clashed, a whirlwind of swift, brutal exchanges. Storm's strikes were powerful, each blow infused with his lightning ability, but Jayden's evasions were phenomenal. He ducked under a sweeping electrified kick, weaved around a lightning-charged jab, and parried a heavy armored fist with an open palm.

Jayden didn't just dodge; he moved with an intuitive grace, anticipating Storm's attacks before they landed, turning the elite player's heavy blows into wasted efforts.

Then, he decided to retaliate with a whirlwind of precise, efficient strikes. He dodged Storm's follow-up punch by an inch, twisted inside his guard, and rained down a series of blindingly fast blows that Storm, for all his level and experience, barely managed to deflect.

Jayden's movements were instinctual, flowing, reminiscent of a seasoned martial artist. He wasn't just fast; he was skilled.

Storm, confident in his abilities, had expected to overwhelm Jayden in close quarters. Instead, he was finding himself on the defensive, the sheer speed and precision of Jayden's unarmed combat forcing him to block, parry, and retreat.

After taking several jarring blows that, though not deeply damaging, resonated through his armor, a flicker of panic crossed his face. This wasn't just a noob; this was someone who truly knew how to fight.

With a desperate burst of lightning that pushed Jayden back, Storm disengaged, leaping backward, his earlier bravado replaced by a wary caution. He quickly retreated to a safer distance.

Jayden observed Storm's retreat, a faint amusement playing on his features. "Giving up on close combat already?" he taunted playfully.

Storm snarled, not replying, and immediately resumed his long-range assault, showering Jayden with bolts and arcs of lightning. Jayden, unperturbed, continued his cat-and-mouse game, seamlessly dodging, weaving, and running, forcing Storm to chase him relentlessly with crackling energy.

Unbeknownst to Jayden, his fight with Storm was being watched, and not just by the game mods… but also the actual players.

EverRealm, like many popular online games, boasted a robust streaming feature, allowing players to spectate any ongoing match. And most players naturally gravitated towards watching the top-ranking elite players live out their battles.

As a Rank 32 player, Storm's matches routinely pulled in thousands of viewers. Which meant right now, there were tens of thousands of players, across multiple servers, tuned in to witness this spectacle.

This was precisely why Storm's frustration was skyrocketing. There were thousands of eyes on him, watching as this seemingly ordinary, unranked challenger made an utter fool of him.

His reputation, painstakingly built over years of grinding and dominating, was dangling precariously on the precipice of ruin. He couldn't stand it.

Meanwhile, in the bustling stream pavilion, where players gathered in virtual lounges to watch and commentate, an uproar had erupted.

<LightningLord88: LOL what is Storm doing?! He can't even hit a level 25 noob!>

One comment flashed across the public chat. And soon, multiple followed.

<ShadowHuntress: Who is this Orion guy? His dodges are insane!>

<HealerQueen: LMAO, Storm is getting humiliated by a level 25. His rank is gonna plummet after this!>

<TankBuster: Storm is fast, but this guy is on a whole other level of speed!>

The comments scrolled furiously, a mix of disbelief, mockery directed at Storm, and growing awe for Jayden.

Back in the arena, Jayden once again evaded a massive lightning strike, narrowly avoiding a direct hit that would have incinerated a lesser player. He looked back at Storm, a ghost of a smile on his lips, a silent taunt.

That was the last straw. Storm's eyes blazed with a manic fury. He couldn't take it anymore. He screamed, a primal sound of rage, and raised both hands to the sky.

The serene blue of the virtual firmament above them began to darken, swirling with ominous grey clouds. Electrical energy gathered, coalescing into a terrifying vortex.

His voice echoed like thunder across the arena. "This ends now!"