World Awakening: The Legendary Player-Chapter 112: Party Expansion

Nox could not sleep, because every time he closed his eyes, he saw the disappointed look on Serian’s face, and it was seriously pissing him off. He sat up on his blanket and looked over at her, she was asleep, her breathing slow and even. She looked peaceful, which just made him feel more annoyed.

To distract himself, he decided to check on the only thing that actually made sense in this world.

’System, show me my status.’

A clean blue screen popped into his vision, displaying his new and improved stats.

[Player Status]

[Name: Nox]

[Level: 33]

[Title: Anomaly Slayer, Dungeon Conqueror, Mercenary Hunter, Favored by Fortune, Abyssal Anomaly, Warden of the Ashen Glade]

[HP: 1670/1670]

[MP: 195/195]

[Strength: 162]

[Agility: 72]

[Stamina: 95]

[Endurance: 157]

[Perception: 90]

[Luck: 32]

[Unallocated Stat Points: 0]

He looked at the numbers, a feeling of satisfaction pushing away some of the annoyance. His strength and endurance were both over 150, which was a huge jump from before.

’Okay, that’s better, much better, but I still don’t get it.’

’You said my corrupted mana makes my stats better, like quality over quantity, so how strong am I really? Compared to some normal person at Level 33, am I stronger?’

[Correct. A normal mana user at your level would need approximately double your Strength stat to match your physical output due to the potency of your Void-Touched Core. Your abilities are fundamentally more efficient and powerful on a point-for-point basis.]

A slow grin spread across his face, and that was the answer he was hoping for.

’So I’m basically a cheater, awesome, I love that.’

He looked over at Serian again, who was still sound asleep, and his grin faded a little. The question that had been bugging him for a while finally came to the surface.

’What about her? Could I beat her in a real fight? She’s Level 70, but I’m special, right?’

He expected a simple yes or no, but the System’s response was more complicated.

[A definitive outcome cannot be calculated. While your current power level is abnormally high for your level, the entity ’Serian Feselian’ has not revealed the full extent of her capabilities.]

’What’s that supposed to mean? She’s been fighting beside me this whole time.’

[The entity ’Serian Feselian’ possesses a latent power state, referred to as a ’Limit Breaker’ mode. This state is accessible only when specific emotional or situational requirements are met. The entity ’Lola’ also possessed the potential for such a state, but her requirements were never fulfilled.]

’Limit Breaker? So it’s like a special move?’ He remembered what the system had said about Lola, that her potential had been wasted. ’So Serian has one of these things, and she can actually use it?’

[Analysis indicates the requirements for ’Serian Feselian’ to activate her Limit Breaker state have already been met. She possesses the capability but has consciously chosen not to utilize it.]

’She’s been holding back?’ The thought was a sharp jab of annoyance and confusion. ’This whole time, she could have been way stronger, and she just... didn’t? Why?’

He remembered the golden power she’d used then.

’So what was that, then? Was that her big special move?’

[Negative. The power exhibited in then was a gift from her divine patron. Her personal Limit Breaker mode is a separate, self-contained ability originating from her own lineage and experiences. Its potential output is significantly higher.]

He just stared at the text, his mind going blank for a second. The System was telling him that the super-powered, glowing form she took wasn’t even her final form, and that she had an even stronger power-up she was just sitting on.

This whole time, while he was fighting and nearly dying and trying to get stronger, she had a secret trump card hidden away.

He looked over at her sleeping form, and she didn’t look like a soft, naive princess anymore, she looked like a walking, talking secret. She lectured him about being better, about not relying on power, all while she was hiding a huge amount of it herself.

The hypocrisy was so annoying.

’So all her talk about not being a monster, about being ’better’, it was all just an act?’ He felt a cold anger mix with the confusion. ’She’s just like everyone else, hiding her real strength until she needs it.’

The thought that he had been trying to protect her, that he had felt bad for her, was suddenly ridiculous. She didn’t need his protection, she was a level 70 powerhouse with a secret super mode and a god on speed dial.

She was stronger than he was, even with all his cheats.

He felt a strange mix of emotions, he was pissed off that she lied, but he was also a little impressed. She wasn’t weak at all. She was a monster, just a different kind than him.

’So, she’s been playing me this whole time.’ He leaned back against the wall, a humorless smirk on his face. ’Two can play at that game, princess.’

---

Nox woke up and the first thing he thought about was Serian’s secret power. He was angry because he felt like she had been playing him for a fool, lecturing him about power while hiding her own. It was hypocritical.

He sat up and saw her across the room. She was already awake and looked sad, but he didn’t care. He was annoyed.

"Morning." h

She looked up at him. "Good morning, Nox."

She looked like she was about to start talking about what happened last night, but he wasn’t interested. He stood up and started stretching, making it obvious he wasn’t paying attention to her.

"We should get going soon," he said. "No point wasting the day."

"Nox, about last night," she started. "I did not mean to accuse you. I was just... shocked."

"It’s fine," he said, cutting her off. He turned to face her, his expression was blank. "You don’t like how I do things. I get it. Doesn’t matter. The job’s done."

She looked hurt by how cold he was. He wanted her to feel that way because he didn’t want to deal with her apologies. freewebnσvel.cѳm

The door opened and Mela was standing there with a large pack. She looked at Nox and Serian, and it was obvious she respected the princess but still didn’t like him. Though, she still thought he was hot.

She stepped inside, giving a respectful nod to Serian before her eyes landed on Nox with a cold, hard look.

He pointed at it with his chin. "What’s all that for?"

"My mother has commanded that I accompany you on your journey north," she said, her voice stiff and formal. "As an escort for Her Highness, Princess Serian, to ensure her safety."

Nox’s face, which had been blank, twisted into a look of pure annoyance. ’Are you fucking kidding me?’

"No way," he said, shaking his head. "We don’t need a babysitter, especially not one who got her ass kicked by a mid-level mercenary."

Mela’s face flushed with anger, her hand instinctively moving toward her blowgun. "You—"

"That is enough, Nox," Serian cut in, her voice firm. She looked at Mela. "Your mother’s concern is appreciated, Mela, but he is right. It is not necessary."

’She’s defending me? After last night?’

"With all due respect, Your Highness," Mela said, her gaze not leaving Nox’s face, "this is not a request. It is a command from the Elder of this village, and it is a matter of my family’s honor. We failed to protect your line once. We will not fail again."

"I don’t give a damn about your honor," Nox shot back. "I work better alone. You’ll just be in the way."

"I can keep up," Mela stated, her eyes flashing with a competitive fire. "I will not be a burden."

"That’s what she said," he jerked his thumb at Serian, "and look how that turned out. We’re a team, we don’t need a third wheel."

Serian flinched at his words, the casual ’we’ feeling like both a small comfort and a sharp jab at the same time.

"My mother’s word is law, I am coming with you, whether you like it or not, human."

He took a step toward her, his eyes glowing with a faint dark light. "You want to try and make me?"

"Nox, stop it," Serian said, stepping between them. She looked at him, her expression a mix of frustration and pleading. "This is not a fight you need to have. Let her come. It is their way of making amends."

He looked from Serian’s earnest face to Mela’s stubborn one. He knew he could probably beat Mela in a fight, but it would be a waste of time and energy, and it would definitely piss off the entire village he had just saved.

’Fucking hell. This is so annoying.’

He let out a loud, frustrated sigh and threw his hands up in the air. "Fine! Whatever! She can come." He pointed a finger at Mela. "But you follow my orders. You do what I say, when I say it. You slow me down, I leave you behind. Got it?"

Mela’s jaw tightened at his arrogant tone, but she just gave a stiff nod. "Understood."

"Good," he said, turning away from both of them. "Now let’s get the hell out of this forest. I’m sick of trees."

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