Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord

Jayden stared at the grand, glowing notification in awe. He didn't even know whether to be flattered, amused or worried.

He let out a sigh, rubbing his face with one hand. "So much for keeping things low-key. I beat one flashy idiot and suddenly the system decides I'm a poster boy?"

But the system wasn't even done yet.

[Incoming Battle Requests…]

[Axebringer has invited you to the arena]

[Frost has invited you to the arena]

[Tempest has invited you to the arena]

[Ultron has invited…..]

The notifications stacked up one after another, ding after ding, until his whole interface was drowning in them. Names, levels, ranks, all challenging him.

Jayden's chuckled, a flicker of genuine amusement dancing in his eyes. "This game," he muttered, shaking his head, "it really has a sense of humor."

The sudden influx of battle requests, each blinking insistently on his interface, was a stark contrast to his desire for anonymity. Yet, as he scanned the list, a new idea began to form.

"Well, if they're all lining up to fight, I might as well use that chance to farm more exp." he muttered, a smirk curling up his lips.

He scrolled through the pile of requests, eyes landing on the very first: AxeBringer. Level 120. No special rank.

Jayden shrugged. "Alright. You're up." He hit Accept.

Light swallowed him instantly, and a heartbeat later, he was standing in a wide, grassy arena under a bright blue sky.

Towering before him was a brute of a man, his virtual avatar radiating raw power, a massive battle axe slung over his shoulder. The brute's gaze, sharp and dismissive, swept over Jayden.

"You?" the brute boomed, his voice a gravelly rumble that echoed in the metallic expanse of the arena. "You're the one who took down Storm? You look like a twig. I'll have you broken before the minute is up." He sneered, confident in his assessment.

Jayden offered no verbal retort. Instead, a slow, predatory smile spread across his face. He didn't need to boast or threaten. His actions spoke louder than words.

The countdown timer in the arena began its descent.

Three.

The brute shifted his weight, hefting his axe, ready to charge the moment the signal dropped.

Two.

Jayden's eyes narrowed, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.

One.

"BEGIN!" the robotic voice thundered.

The brute didn't hesitate. With a guttural roar, he lunged forward, his massive axe a blur against the metallic floor. But as he reached the spot where Jayden had stood, his attack met only empty air.

Jayden had vanished. Completely gone.

Confusion flickered across his face before a sudden, chilling whisper of movement registered at the edge of his hearing.

Whoosh.

In the blink of an eye, Jayden was already behind him. As the brute spun around in a desperate attempt to reorient himself, Jayden's knuckle-claws, glinting wickedly, were already sinking into the brute's back.

Shhnk!

The virtual flesh offered no resistance. The brute's HP bar plummeted to zero in an instant, his avatar dissolving into a shower of bright, digital light.

[K.O — ORION WINS!]

Jayden retracted his claws, a faint hiss of displaced air the only sound. He exhaled, the tension draining from his shoulders. "Alright," he said, his voice barely audible, "Next."

The arena dissolved, light consumed him, dropping him back into the lobby… only for another fight request to be accepted instantly.

A snowy arena bloomed around him this time. This time, his opponent was a slender woman in crystalline armor, frost radiating from her palms.

Jayden waited for the timer, for the "Begin!" announcement, and then, he delivered the practiced maneuver.

Disappear. Appear behind. Stab.

The cryokinetic, her eyes wide with shock and a desperate attempt to conjure ice defenses, was too late.

Jayden's claws found their mark deep in her spine, her avatar shattering into a flurry of ice shards and light.

Victory.

And so it continued. Match after match, opponent after opponent. Victory after victory.

Jayden moved with a supernatural swiftness, his disappearances instantaneous, his reappearances behind his foes a blur. Opponents died swiftly and matches ended in seconds. He was unstoppable.

Even those who had heard of his 'one-hit' tactic, who braced themselves for his arrival, found themselves outmaneuvered. His speed was simply too much to overcome, his attacks too precise.

One opponent tried surrounding himself with fire. Another summoned a wall of stone. A third tried teleporting away the second Jayden disappeared. None of it mattered. His speed, his instincts, his claws…they cut through every tactic, every defense.

And all the while, the EverRealm streaming community had spiraled into hysteria.

-"He's a monster!"

-"What even is this ability?!"

-"I swear one blink and he's already behind them!"

-"Bro's farming players like NPCs!"

The chat feed exploded with a cacophony of praise, awe, and bewildered commentary. Players who had once scoffed at his victory over Storm now marveled at his relentless efficiency.

Soon, the entire community gave Jayden the legendary moniker:

"Backstabber"

The nickname stuck like wildfire, spreading across the pavilion streams, trending in the game's forums. To everyone watching, Orion wasn't just another elite anymore. He was something else. Something terrifying.

Jayden finished his thirty-fifth match of the day. The familiar sensation of his claws piercing flesh, followed by the disintegration of an opponent, was already losing its novelty.

He was declared the winner, the digital confetti raining down before the arena faded, returning him to the quiet of his personal lobby where he was met with a notification.

[Congratulations! You have advanced to Rank 25]

Jayden sighed, a plume of air escaping his lips. Rank. Loot. Titles. It was all noise. He craved the genuine challenge, the feeling of being pushed to his limits, not this sterile procession of easy victories.

He just wanted to fight without drawing this much attention. But it seemed attention was a magnet he couldn't escape. He had even acquired a fan club, a thought that made him roll his eyes.

He pushed away the burgeoning pile of battle requests, his finger hovering over the log-out button. Hunting season was tonight, and the primal thrill of the hunt was far more appealing than another virtual skirmish. He needed rest.

But before he could escape, a new notification bloomed across his screen, distinct from the others:

[Valkyrie has invited you to a private arena]

[Do you accept?]

Jayden paused, his brow furrowing. This player was requesting a private battle. He decided to pry further into their info.

*Name: Valkyrie

*Level: 850

*Rank: 5

Jayden's brows lifted. A spark of curiosity flickered in his chest. He didn't care about ranks, but still… a Rank 5 coming down to fight him? That was different.

And from the name alone, he could guess it was a girl. Without much thought, he accepted.

The world dissolved once more, and he found himself standing on a vast, snow-covered mountain peak. A biting wind whipped snow around him, creating a palpable blizzard that felt unnervingly real.

The arena was immense, its grandeur amplified by the harsh, natural elements. It was breathtaking, far more immersive than any he had experienced before.

"Feels a lot more real, doesn't it?" A voice, tinged with a melodic British accent, cut through the howling wind.

Jayden turned, his eyes scanning the swirling snow. There, standing a hundred yards away, was a girl.

She looked to be around his age, her long, braided white hair a stark contrast against the icy landscape. Her eyes, the deep, vibrant blue of sapphires, met his. She was roughly his height, clad in a simple, practical outfit: black pants, a blue crop top, and matching boots.

And she carried no weapon, no armor, nothing but her own presence.

A slow smirk played on her lips as she began to walk towards him, her boots crunching softly against the snow. "You seemed surprised to see me," she teased, her movements confident.

Jayden's own jaw had, he realized with a jolt, been slightly ajar. He snapped it shut, a wry smile replacing his stunned expression. "No, not really," he said smoothly. "I'm just… wondering why a top five elite would want to fight me. And without any equipment, no less."

She giggled, a light, airy sound that seemed incongruous with the harsh environment. "Are you worried about me, love?"

Jayden chuckled, a genuine sound this time. "Just curious. That's all."

Her smile widened. "Well," she began, her voice softening slightly, "I heard there was this new guy who took down an Elite Player in a single strike. And I had to come see for myself if such a player truly existed."

Jayden smirked wryly, his breath puffing white in the cold. "I got lucky with Storm."

The girl chuckled again, a knowing sound. "And yet, after that fight, you won eighteen more. All of which ended in seconds." She stopped a few yards from him, her sapphire eyes twinkling. "That is more than luck, my friend."

Jayden shrugged, a hint of impatience returning. "Those players were simply weak. And…" he narrowed his eyes slightly, "…is this some kind of interrogation?"

She only smiled, her expression unreadable. "No, love. Just curious. That's all."

Jayden exhaled slowly. "Alright, let's get this over with. Are you absolutely sure you don't want to select any equipment?"

The girl shook her head, her white hair catching the wind. "If I did that, then this wouldn't be a fair fight. After all…" she gestured pointedly at him, "…you yourself don't have any equipment on."

Then a determined glint entered her eyes. "Besides, not all of us Elite players are weak and dependent on expensive weapons." She clenched her fist, a spark of competitive fire igniting.

Jayden's lips curved into a genuine smile. "Okay, suit yourself."

The countdown began, each number echoing in the sudden quiet that descended upon the arena, the wind seeming to hold its breath.

Three.

"Name's Ava, by the way," she stated, her voice clear over the receding wind. "You?"

Two.

Jayden hesitated for a fraction of a second, then replied, "Jay."

One.

"Well, Jay," Ava chuckled, a playful challenge in her tone, "I look forward to kicking your arse."

Jayden's own chuckle joined hers. Something about Ava, her confidence, her laid-back demeanor, her sheer audacity, excited him. She felt different. This wasn't going to be another quick victory. A player ranked fifth in the world, fighting him without a single piece of gear? It spoke volumes about her capabilities. He needed to be cautious, to bring his A-game from the very first second.

"I wouldn't expect anything less," he replied, his smile hardening into a determined grin.

Then, the booming voice of the announcer shattered the silence.

"BEGIN!"