World Awakening: The Legendary Player-Chapter 125: Trap

’Crap, I did not think this through. I need an excuse.’ He looked at Mela’s shocked face, then at Serian’s curious one. ’A lie, then. A really stupid one.’

"It is a human thing," he stated, his face completely serious. "A special breathing method to unlock the body’s latent potential. It is very advanced."

Mela’s expression turned from shock to deep skepticism. ’A breathing method? That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. He is making that up. He must be.’

"You expect me to believe that you suddenly became that fast just by breathing differently?" she asked, her voice full of disbelief.

"I do not care what you believe," he said with a shrug. "It is a secret technique passed down through my family. We call it ’Total Concentration Breathing’." He was quite proud of himself for coming up with that on the spot. It sounded cool.

Serian covered her mouth with her hand, but her shoulders were shaking. ’Total Concentration Breathing? He is a terrible liar. But he is very amusing.’

"That is the most ridiculous name I have ever heard," Mela said, crossing her arms. "You are just mocking me."

"It is not a joke. It is a very serious and dangerous technique. If you do it wrong, your lungs could explode." This was fun. He could see Mela getting more and more frustrated.

The powerful surge of energy in his body suddenly vanished. He felt a wave of dizziness, and his legs wobbled. He stumbled forward, catching himself on a tree. The one-minute duration of the bean was over.

[Agility has returned to normal. You feel a bit tired.]

Mela’s eyes narrowed, a smug look returning to her face. "Your ’special technique’ seems to have a very short time limit. And it makes you look like a drunk."

"That is part of the cost," he said, pushing himself off the tree and trying to look steady. "The body can only handle so much latent potential at once. It is a trump card, to be used only in emergencies."

"Riiight, and I am sure it has nothing to do with that ’candy’ you ate."

He just shrugged his shoulders. ’She is quite sharp. It was a stupid lie anyway, but her face is amusing when she is angry.’

"It is a very special candy," he said. "It is not something you would have."

"That is what you say about everything, human," she retorted. "You are hiding many things from us."

’Of course I am hiding things. It is not as if I can tell them about the System, or the gods who are watching us as if we are some kind of show.’ He did not change his expression. "They are my secrets. I do not need to share them."

Serian stepped between them. "Now, now, Mela. If it is Nox’s secret, then he has the right to keep it. We should not press him on the matter."

Mela made a small "tch" sound of annoyance. "Your Highness, you are too lenient with him. He is a suspicious person."

"He is our companion," Serian corrected. Her tone was gentle but had a core of firmness. "And he just helped us train our coordination. We are a team, are we not?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He looked at Serian. ’She is defending me again. Even after I was a jerk to her. I do not understand this person at all.’ A warmth spread in his chest for a moment, it was a confusing sensation.

"Whatever," he said. He turned away to hide the expression on his face. "Let us just continue moving. We are wasting daylight with this pointless talk."

Mela looked like she wanted to say more, but she held her tongue and fell into step behind him. Her posture was still very stiff. Serian began to walk beside Nox, the group of three continuing their journey north in a tense silence.

After four hours of walking, they arrived at a graveyard. There were many tombstones, leaning at strange angles in the overgrown grass.

Serian looked at the area. "Nox, was this place here before?"

He shook his head. "No. This whole area, even the mountains, it is all different. This used to be just a flat land with some trees."

Mela stopped walking and looked around, her hand on her weapon pouch. "The world has changed. You are saying this entire landscape is new?"

"Yeah. The day monsters appeared, a lot of things got... rearranged."

’She still doesn’t get it,’ he thought. ’They think their world got sick, but they were the ones who got moved. It’s like they’re a bug in a jar that got picked up and put in a different backyard.’

Serian touched one of the cold tombstones, her fingers tracing the faded, unreadable letters. "So this is not from your world, then its from ours?"

"Looks like it," he said, scanning the area. The place gave him a bad feeling. He did not like graveyards. "We should go around it."

"Why?" Mela challenged. "Are you frightened of ghosts, human?"

"I am frightened of wasting time. Going through it is a bad idea."

As if on cue, the ground in front of them began to tremble. A skeletal hand, covered in dirt, erupted from the earth, clawing at the air. Then another, and another. All around them, the graves began to stir.

"You just had to open your mouth," he said to Mela.

Dozens of skeletons clawed their way out of the ground. They were armed with rusty, broken swords and wore tattered pieces of ancient armor. Their empty eye sockets glowed with a faint, blue light.

’Void Gaze.’

[Risen Soldier (Undead)]

[Level: 30]

[HP: 500/500]

[MP: 0/0]

[A mindless undead warrior animated by lingering negative energy.]

[Weakness: High susceptibility to holy or pure mana. Their bones are brittle and weak to crushing blows.]

Mela let out a small, disgusted sound. "What are these abominations?"

"Zombies. Skeletons. You know, standard graveyard stuff," he said, summoning the Brutalizer gauntlets to his fists. "They are weak to crushing damage. So, this should be easy."

"Then let us clear them quickly," Serian said, drawing her sword. "I do not like this place."

The army of skeletons, now fully risen, turned their glowing blue eyes toward them and began to advance with a clattering of bones.

"Alright, new contest," he announced, a grin on his face. "Most skeletons smashed wins. Loser has to listen to the winner brag about it for a week."

"You are on, human," Mela said, a swarm of silver needles appearing around her. "Prepare to be humiliated."

"Please, do not make this a competition," Serian said with a sigh, but she was already moving.

The skeletons charged. Nox met them head-on. He did not bother with fancy footwork. He activated Primal Void and became a whirlwind of pure destruction.

He punched the first skeleton in the chest. The creature’s entire ribcage shattered into dust, and its body collapsed into a heap of bones. He spun and backhanded another one, its skull flying off its neck and shattering against a tombstone.

’This is great stress relief.’

[You have entered a trap dungeon]

[Teleporting in 10 seconds]

’wait, what?’