NOVEL NEXT Chapter 233: Elite Player
Storm roared, and a torrent of lightning bolts, thick as tree trunks, began to rain down from the tempestuous sky. These weren't targeted shots; this was a widespread, area-of-effect attack, a true lightning storm designed to overwhelm.
Jayden tried to evade the endless strikes, darting left and right, utilizing the uneven terrain to his advantage. Yet, the sheer volume of cascading lightning made it impossible to completely avoid.
SKKKHH!
He felt a searing pain as a lightning strike grazed his shoulder, then another as a bolt clipped his leg, leaving scorching marks on his clothing and skin.
SKKKHH! SKKKHH! SKKKHH!
More strikes landed, but his adamantine frame absorbed the worst of it. Each hit felt like a hammer blow, but he pushed through.
Storm was pleased to see Jayden finally being overwhelmed, a cruel smile stretched his lips. He finally had the upper hand.
But he wasn't done yet.
Seizing the moment, while Jayden was momentarily distracted by the onslaught from above, Storm focused all his remaining energy into a single, massive lightning bolt, firing it squarely at Jayden's chest.
KRAKAKK-BOOM!!!
The attack landed with devastating force. A blinding flash engulfed Jayden, followed by a concussive boom that shook the very ground.
He was sent flying across the field like a ragdoll, a streak of light and motion, finally slamming into a distant hill with a sickening thud. A mushroom cloud of smoke and dust billowed up, quickly obscuring his landing spot.
And then, silence.
The lightning storm faded, the clouds dissipated, and the air crackled with residual energy.
Storm let out a triumphant laugh, chest heaving. "Finally!" he spat, the word laced with relief and victory. "I told you, you never stood a chance, weakling!"
The spectating players in the pavilion, after a moment of stunned silence, erupted into another uproar.
<LightningLord88: KNEW IT! Storm always pulls through!>
<HealerQueen: Whew, close call for Storm's rank!>
<GladiusMaximus: RIP Orion, you fought well for a noob!>
The chat flooded with praise, hailing Storm's decisive victory.
But then, something happened. Or rather.. didn't happen.
The cheerful, booming voice of the game announcer, the one that usually heralded a victory with a declaration of "KO", remained conspicuously silent.
Storm's triumphant grin faltered. His eyes widened in dawning horror. That meant… he hadn't won. Jayden was still alive.
And then.. a low, amused voice drifted out from the charred chaos, calm and utterly unfazed. "Wow. I have to admit. That hurt."
Jayden muttered, a faint smirk playing on his lips, as he slowly, casually, stepped out from the dissipating smoke and dust.
His shirt was completely burnt away, revealing patches of black scorches on his skin, particularly across his chest where the main bolt had struck. But he was standing tall and completely unscathed, his posture radiating an unnerving resilience.
Storm nearly choked on his own breath. "What?! H-How could you have survived that?"
Even the spectators were shocked into stunned silence. The chat logs froze, then exploded anew with bewildered questions and exclamations.
Jayden chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that seemed to mock Storm's disbelief. He glanced down at his HP bar, which now grimly read 10.
"Honestly, I don't know," he lied, though there was a hint of truth in his astonishment. His adamantine skeleton had indeed deflected the main impact of the lightning bolt, preventing devastating internal damage.
But his flesh, unprotected by the inner metallic structure, had still taken the full brunt of the electrical discharge. It was, truly, a miracle he was still standing with any HP left.
"But since you've decided to get serious…" Jayden continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"…allow me to return the favor."
And then, he vanished.
Not a quick dash, but a total, instantaneous disappearance. One moment he was there, the next, he was gone.
Storm blinked, panic washing over him, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Where did he go?" he thought, a cold wave of dread washing over him as he instinctively spun around, his armor whirring as he tried to locate his opponent.
But before he could even complete his turn…
WHOOSH!
Jayden reappeared.. directly in front of Storm, a mere foot away, his fist shooting forward, aimed squarely at Storm's chest.
Storm reacted with the speed of an elite player. His armored hand shot out quickly, catching Jayden's incoming fist just an inch or two from his chest, the impact sending a jolt up his arm.
He smirked, relief flooding him. He'd caught it.
Jayden only smirked back, his grin widening, a chilling glint in his eyes. "You're fast," he acknowledged, his voice soft, almost a whisper. "But I'm afraid speed can't help you now."
Storm raised a brow, a confused question forming on his lips. But before he could utter a single word, before he could question Jayden's strange pronouncement…
Shhnk!
From Jayden's captured fist, three long, metallic knuckleclaws, sharp as razors, burst forth. They ripped through Storm's armored fingers, piercing through the reinforced plating and flesh with horrifying ease, plunging directly into the core of his pristine armor.
Storm's eyes widened in profound shock, a guttural gasp escaping his throat as searing pain flooded his senses.
He barely had time to register the agony, to even let out a scream, before Jayden, with a simple, decisive push, drove his hand forward.
SHHKKK!
The adamantine claws, ignoring the advanced alloys of Storm's armor, pierced through the metal, shredding the internal conduits, and then, with gruesome precision, plunged directly into Storm's digital heart.
A shudder ran through Storm's entire body. A final, broken gasp left his throat, his shoulders slumping, his once arrogant eyes softening, losing their fire and glazing over with disbelief.
"W…who are you?" he whispered, his avatar already beginning to flicker, disintegrating into specks of light, proving his defeat.
Jayden's smirk remained, cold and unwavering. "I am the weakling who defeated you," he whispered, his voice devoid of mercy. "Never forget that."
And then, Storm's light dissipated completely, vanishing into nothingness, leaving Jayden standing alone in the arena as the victor.
[K.O - ORION WINS!]
The victory announcement boomed across the arena, echoing through the stream pavilion and into the ears of every single spectator.
For a moment, a stunned, collective silence blanketed the entire stream pavilion. Then, an explosion of sound, a digital roar unlike anything heard before, erupted.
This time, it wasn't just an uproar; it was pandemonium. Thousands of players, who had watched Storm's arrogance, his humiliation, and his sudden, brutal defeat, were in absolute shock and awe. The chat feed scrolled by at an impossible speed, a blur of incredulous exclamations.
<ShadowHuntress: Holy crap! He's got actual wolverine claws?!>
<TankBuster: He just one shotted Storm! Unbelievable>
<VoidWalker: A level 25 defeated a level 350! That's insane>
<LightningLord88: That wasn't just a noob, that was a goddamn menace>
<GladiusMaximus: Orion… remember that name. He just shattered the elite player myth!>
<HealerQueen: Who is he anyway?! Where did he come from?! And more importantly, where did he get those cool claws? I want one too!!>
Admiration, shock, and a newfound respect for the mysterious 'Orion' flooded the channels. Thousands of players were now wondering who this seemingly weakling player truly was, and what other hidden skills he possessed.
Jayden, oblivious to the chaos he had unleashed among the player base, simply nodded to himself. The arena dissolved around him, and he found himself back in his private lobby, the familiar interface reappearing.
A series of messages were already waiting for him, notifications blinking furiously, a testament to the seismic upset he had just caused.
"You have defeated the Elite Player Storm-Rank 32"
[Congratulations, you are now an Elite Player]
[Privileges unlocked: Weapon discounts, Legendary Ability unlocked. +200% increase in health points]
[You have been gifted two legendary weapons and five epic equipments. Please claim them at the inventory]
Jayden scrolled past the messages without care. Titles, perks, loot.. they were all meaningless to him. All he wanted was the fight. The push. The thrill of battling a worthy opponent.
And so far he could only count two opponents that actually gave him the thrill he was seeking. One was the fire user, Ignis. And the second was surprisingly Storm.
His chest rose, a spark of excitement burning in his eyes. "Guess Aunt Kate was right," he chuckled.
"Maybe I should change taste a bit. But I doubt fighting virtual humans would be any effective in reorienting my primal instinct." he sighed. "I'll have to fight real humans eventually.
A wide spread across his face out of excitement. "Then It's a good thing I'm already used to that."
Then he reached to opt in for another quick match. But before he could, a glowing notification filled the screen. One that was more grandiose and persistent. It was a general announcement.
<Announcement! We now have a new Elite Player;
*Name: ORION
*Level: 50
*Rank: 32
[Note: Contenders for this position can begin issuing their battle requests]
Jayden stared at the notification, lips parting in disbelief and amusement.
"…You've gotta be kidding me."