Chapter 6: The First Step Towards Revenge
1083 Words
Nathan's mind was spinning as he walked the halls of Blackwood High.
Everything was different.
Sophia Carter had also seen him.
Jason Miller almost stumbled when their gazes met.
The usual whispers in his back had disappeared—replaced by stolen glances, hushed words, and an odd fascination.
He wasn't invisible anymore.
For the very first time in his life… he was on top.
And this was only the beginning.
If Veridale training had made him strong, then he had to return. He had to upgrade.
Jason Miller had been bullying him for years.
But soon…
Jason would fear him.
That evening, Nathan paced in his bedroom, his heart racing.
It was exciting and frightening all at once to find out.
He had power now.
Actual power.
And if his power coursed over from Veridale, then what would happen if he just kept leveling up?
Would he be unstoppable?
His fists clenched at the idea.
Jason would have zero chances.
Grasping his breath, Nathan grabbed his hoodie and crept towards the back door. His mother's soft breathing was audible from the next room. She was still sleeping.
Good.
“No going back now.” He muttered.
He went out. The night breeze caressed his skin and he strolled across the back yard. The crickets were heard in the distance, and the gentle hum of traffic on the highway blended into the quiet.
But none of that mattered. His gaze was set on the glinting portal beneath the old oak tree. It glowed softly, like a pulse. A gateway to a different world.
The world where everything had changed.
Nathan swallowed hard.
Then—without hesitation—he stepped through.
Into the Unknown
The moment Nathan's foot stepped over the portal's threshold, everything changed.
The world about him exploded into a whirlwind of light and energy. His shape was pulled by a flow of cold, airless encompassing as he floated through space.
His stomach dropped.
Then---
THUD.
Nathan splatted onto the ground, knees buckling to absorb the shock.
His breath escaped in a hasty exhale.
Then—he inhaled.
The scent of damp soil. Pine. The crisp, clean air of Veridale.
I did it.
The twisted trees, now familiar, stretched up into the darkness above. The moon above wasn't the moon of Earth—it was larger, brighter, with a gentle blue color.
There was a distant, low, lamentable howl.
Nathan's heart raced.
I have to be careful.
His fingers curled at his side. He had to be more clever if he was to make it through this time. He had to come up with a means to train.
His breathing was even as he continued, his moving slowly down the earth road that wound through the forest.
I need something to fight. Something to enable me to level up.
Then—
RUSTLE
Nathan froze.
Something was watching him.
His muscles stiffened.
A shadow moved in the bushes.
Nathan's breath caught as he clamped his fists.” A monster?”
Then, from the shadows—a figure stepped out.
Not an animal, A person.
Nathan's breath snagged.
Elara?
The redhead warrior from before. The warrior who had helped rescue him from the spider.
Her emerald green eyes shone with recognition as she stood before him, arms crossed, daggers strapped at her hips.
She didn't appear surprised.
"You again," she snarled.
Nathan swallowed. "Uh. hello."
Her gaze remained on him, like she was trying to read him.
She then leaned her head to one side and said.
“Didn’t think I’d be seeing you back here.”
Nathan exhaled. "I… came back to train."
Her eyebrow arched. "Train?" Nathan nodded, more forcefully this time. “I want to be stronger.”
There was a smile on her lips. "Is that so?"
Nathan met her gaze head-on. “Yeah.”
Elara looked at him for a very long time, her expression unreadable.
Then—she turned and started to walk.
"Come along."
Nathan blinked. "Wait, what?"
She turned back to him. "You want to become powerful, don't you?"
“…Yeah.”
"Then don't waste your time. Show me what you've got."
Nathan's heart raced.
This was it.
His first true step towards the throne.
And he was not going to allow this opportunity to slip away.
Nathan followed Elara deeper into the woods.
She moved swiftly, her feet light but resolute, a hunter pursuing its prey.
Nathan's heart raced.
Was she taking him to a practice room? A secret hideout? Maybe a field with monsters for him to fight?
Silence passed in minutes.
Finally, they came into a clearing.
Elara halted and looked back at him.
"Alright, kid," she told him, cracking her knuckles. "Let's try it out."
Nathan blinked. "Wait, what?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "If you want to get stronger, you have to fight."
Nathan hesitated. "Fight you?"
Elara smiled. "Unless you'd rather fight a basilisk?"
Nathan swallowed. "Uh… no thanks."
"Then fight me."
Nathan breathed sharply.
He had dreamed of training through fighting monsters—not a professional soldier.
But perhaps this was better.
If he could hold his own with Elara, that would be a good indication he had indeed improved.
Nathan set his jaw, fists clenched. “Okay. Let's get this over with.”
Elara laughed.
Then—she moved.
Nathan barely had a chance to react before she stood directly in front of him.
Her fist lashed out—fast.
Nathan dodged at the last moment, feeling the air rush as her punch barely missed his cheek.
She's fast!
She spun around before he could answer, her leg flying out to his ribs.
Nathan lifted his arm to cover himself, but—
WHAM.
“Ahh” Nathan shouted. Cutting pain burned across his side, her Kick sent Him stumbling back
She dove again, her strokes hard and deliberate.
Nathan dodged, ducked, tried to counter—but she was one step ahead.
She was interrogating him.
Nathan gritted his teeth.
Think, Nathan. You can't win with brute force. Why not with speed?
When she hurled her next punch, he didn't back away—he moved forward.
He dodged her blow, spun on his heel, and—
His fist hit her on the shoulder.
Elara staggered slightly.
Then—she smiled.
"Ah, well, well," she thought. "Not bad, kid."
Nathan panted, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
Elara cracked her neck. "Try and keep up, then."
Nathan wiped the sweat from his forehead. His first real fight, and it was only just begun.
- Writer
