World Awakening: The Legendary Player-Chapter 153: The Return

Nox flew through the night sky toward Portentia. The void wings carried him faster than any mount could have managed. Below him, his army marched at double speed, but they would arrive hours after him.

’Kendra, Yeda, Vasa. They’re alive. They made it this far.’

He had not thought about them much since the separation. Too much had happened. Too much had changed. But hearing they were in danger brought back memories of that first dungeon, when they had been a real team.

The city lights appeared on the horizon. Even from this distance, he could see smoke rising from several districts. Whatever this Puppet Master was doing, it had turned the city into a war zone.

He landed on a rooftop overlooking the old high school. The building was surrounded by players, at least two hundred of them, all moving with the same mechanical precision. Their eyes were blank, their movements synchronized.

’Mind control. Or possession. Either way, they’re not fighting of their own will.’

The school itself was fortified. Makeshift barricades blocked every entrance. From the broken windows, he could see flashes of light - spells being cast, attacks being repelled. His old team was still fighting.

A figure stood at the center of the besieging force. Tall and thin, wearing robes that seemed to be made of shifting shadows. Strings of light extended from his fingers, connecting to each of the puppet soldiers.

"You must be the Puppet Master."

The figure turned. His face was pale, almost translucent, with eyes that glowed a sickly green. "And you must be the famous Void Monarch. I wondered when you would arrive."

"Let them go."

"Them? Oh, you mean the three girls hiding in that building? They’re quite talented, you know. Especially the one with the hammer. She’ll make an excellent addition to my collection once they finally fall."

"I wasn’t asking."

The Puppet Master laughed. "You think you can threaten me? I have two hundred soldiers under my complete control. You may be powerful, but even you can’t fight an entire army alone."

"Want to bet?"

Nox dropped from the rooftop. He didn’t summon his armor. He didn’t activate any abilities. He just walked forward, hands in his pockets.

The puppet soldiers turned as one, weapons raised.

"Kill him."

They charged. Two hundred players, all moving with perfect coordination, converged on Nox from every direction.

He kept walking.

The first wave reached him. A sword swung at his neck. He tilted his head slightly, letting it pass. A spear thrust at his chest. He stepped to the side. An arrow flew at his face. He caught it between two fingers and dropped it.

"What are you doing? Attack him properly!"

The Puppet Master’s strings glowed brighter. The soldiers’ movements became faster, more aggressive. But it didn’t matter. Nox moved through them like water through a sieve, never striking back, never even raising his hands from his pockets.

’They’re innocents. Just players who got caught by this guy’s ability. Can’t kill them.’

He reached the school entrance. The puppet soldiers were piling up behind him, their attacks becoming increasingly desperate.

"Stop him! Don’t let him reach the door!"

"Too late."

Nox kicked the door open. Inside, the hallway was dark and filled with debris. He could hear fighting from deeper in the building.

"Kendra! Yeda! Vasa! Where are you?"

"Nox?"

Kendra’s voice came from the second floor. He ran up the stairs, still pursued by puppet soldiers. The classroom at the end of the hall had been turned into a fortress. Desks were piled against the windows. Scorch marks covered the walls.

Three figures stood in the center, backs to each other, weapons ready.

Kendra held a massive two-handed hammer that crackled with electricity. Her hair was longer now, tied back in a practical ponytail. She had grown taller, more muscular. The scared girl from the classroom was gone, replaced by a warrior.

Yeda had twin daggers that dripped with poison. She moved with a dancer’s grace, her dark skin covered in intricate tattoos that glowed faintly. She had always been quiet, but now there was a deadly confidence in her stance.

Vasa held a staff topped with a crystal that pulsed with different colored lights. She had cut her hair short, and her eyes held a focus that hadn’t been there before. The nervous girl who used to stutter was now calmly analyzing every threat.

"About time you showed up."

"Sorry I’m late. Got held up conquering a city."

"Typical. We’re fighting for our lives and you’re playing king."

The puppet soldiers burst through the doorway. Kendra’s hammer swung in a wide arc, electricity arcing from it to shock multiple enemies at once. Yeda danced between attackers, her poisoned blades leaving paralyzed victims in her wake. Vasa’s staff sent bolts of pure energy that knocked soldiers back out the door.

"How long have you been holding them off?"

"Two days. We’re running on fumes here."

"Then let’s end this."

Nox finally raised his hands from his pockets. "Everyone in this room who’s being controlled - sleep."

A wave of void energy pulsed outward. Every puppet soldier in the room collapsed instantly, the strings of light connecting them to their master severed.

"How did you-"

"Learned some new tricks. Come on, we need to deal with the puppet guy outside."

They followed him out of the classroom. The Puppet Master was waiting in the courtyard, his remaining soldiers arranged in defensive formations.

"You cut my strings. That’s impossible. No one can break my control once it’s established."

"I’m not no one. I’m the Void Monarch. And you just threatened my friends."

The Puppet Master raised his hands, new strings of light shooting toward them. "Then you’ll join my collection together!"

The strings reached for Nox first. They hit his skin and simply dissolved, eaten by the void energy that surrounded him like an invisible armor.

"My turn."

He vanished. The Puppet Master spun around, but Nox was already behind him. A hand gripped the back of his neck.

"Void Eater."

The Puppet Master screamed as his ability was ripped from him, consumed and digested by Nox’s power. His body crumpled to the ground, still alive but completely powerless.

The remaining puppet soldiers collapsed, freed from their control. They looked around in confusion, not understanding how they had gotten here or what had happened.

"Nox, that was..."

"Brutal? Efficient? Necessary?"

"I was going to say incredible."

He turned to look at his old team properly for the first time. They had changed so much. They were level 23, 20, and 19 respectively - impressive growth for players without his advantages.

"You’ve gotten stronger."

"We had to. After you disappeared, we were on our own. We found each other in the city, formed a party. Been surviving ever since."

"Surviving? You took down a dungeon boss that had the whole city terrified."

"Actually, we just held them off. You’re the one who beat him."

"Details."

Vasa stepped forward, her analytical mind already working. "Your power. It’s different from before. Darker. More controlled. What happened to you?"

"Long story. Tell you on the way."

"On the way where?"

"North. To the Sanctuary of the Silver Moon. My new base of operations."

"Your new... Nox, what exactly have you been doing?"

"Building a kingdom. Leading an army. The usual."

They stared at him. He wasn’t joking.

"You built a kingdom."

"Technically I conquered one, but yes."

"And you have an army."

"About five hundred strong, not counting the elven forces."

"Elven forces?"

"Did I mention I’m allied with the Sun Elves?"

"No, you did not mention that."

"Well, I am. Their princess and I are... it’s complicated."

Kendra’s eyes narrowed. "Complicated how?"

"Not important right now. What’s important is getting you three somewhere safe. The city is about to become a battlefield."

"Why?"

"Because my army is about six hours out, and when they get here, we’re going to clean house. Anyone who doesn’t swear loyalty to me gets removed."

"That’s a bit harsh."

"It’s practical. This world doesn’t have room for multiple kings. Either I rule, or someone worse does."

"And you’re sure you’re not the worse option?"

"I don’t puppet people. I don’t burn villages. I protect those who follow me and eliminate those who threaten them. That makes me better than most."

They couldn’t argue with that. They had seen what the other powerful players were capable of.

"Fine. We’ll come with you. But we want answers. Real answers. About what happened to you, about this power, about everything."

"Deal. But first, we need to secure the city before my forces arrive. Don’t want them walking into an ambush."

"How do we secure an entire city?"

"Simple. We make an announcement."

He led them to the city’s central plaza, where a large fountain had once stood. Now it was just rubble, but it would serve his purpose. He climbed onto the broken stone and activated his armor. The Infernal Monarch plates covered him completely, making him look like a demon king from legend.

His voice, amplified by void energy, echoed across the entire city.

"People of Portentia. I am the Void Monarch. The Puppet Master who enslaved you has been defeated. His power is broken. You are free."

Heads appeared in windows. Doors opened cautiously. People emerged from hiding places, looking toward the plaza.

"But freedom comes with a choice. In six hours, my army will arrive. You can swear loyalty to me and become part of my kingdom, protected and provided for. Or you can leave. Anyone still in the city when my forces arrive who hasn’t sworn loyalty will be considered an enemy."

"Six hours. Choose wisely."

He jumped down from the fountain. His old team was staring at him.

"That was quite the ultimatum."

"It’s generous. Most conquerors don’t give warnings."

"Most conquerors aren’t seventeen-year-old kids from our math class."

"I’m not that kid anymore."

"No, you’re really not."

They started walking toward the city gates. People were already beginning to gather, some fleeing, others approaching cautiously to swear loyalty. The transformation of Portentia had begun.

"So, this princess you mentioned..."

"Her name is Serian. She’s... a friend."

"Just a friend?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"It’s complicated."

"You said that already."

"Because it’s true."

"Do you like her?"

"Can we focus on the approaching army and impending battle?"

"That’s a yes."

"That’s a tactical deflection."

"Which is definitely a yes."

He sighed. Some things hadn’t changed. His old team still knew how to get under his skin.

’At least they’re safe now. That’s what matters.’

But as they walked, he couldn’t shake the feeling that bringing his two worlds together - his old team and his new companions - was going to create complications he wasn’t prepared for.