Chapter 20: The Resolve Within and Beyond

Les sat in his dimly lit apartment, the remnants of a cold dinner left untouched on the small table beside him. His body was exhausted from the day's training, but his mind was restless, whirring with the echoes of old memories and new possibilities. The encounter with Arin had stirred up more than just anger—it had ignited something deep inside him. For the first time in years, Les felt a clarity he hadn't realized he was missing.

He wasn't going to run anymore.

Les stood up and moved to the window, staring out at the flickering lights of the city. The neon signs blinked in rhythm with the distant hum of traffic. Somewhere out there, people were succeeding, moving forward with their lives, while he had spent years drowning in the failure and mediocrity that his father had so harshly labeled him with.

But mediocrity wasn't what defined him—not anymore.

Les pressed his palms against the cold glass, feeling the chill creep into his fingers. He had lived his life in the shadow of others—his father, his cousin, even the players he managed in The Hub. But this time, things would be different. He had something they didn't have: Life Mirror. And he would use it to its fullest potential, both in the game and out.

"I'm going to be the best," he whispered to himself, his voice steady and full of resolve. He didn't care if he had to scrape by, training in rundown parks and using outdated equipment. He didn't care if his journey took longer than those with natural talent or elite resources. What mattered was that he would push beyond every limit, mentally and physically, and carve his own path to the top.

His father had despised mediocrity. But Les wasn't mediocre; he just hadn't found the right tools—until now.

With a deep breath, Les turned away from the window, grabbed his holo-pad, and activated Ancient Arena Online. The familiar hum of the login screen filled his apartment, and moments later, he was back in the virtual world. The weight of his resolve carried with him as his avatar materialized in the bustling town square of the arena's main hub. Here, the atmosphere was always tense with anticipation—players preparing for battles, sharpening their skills, or making deals for better equipment.

But tonight, Les had only one focus.

He was going to test his new resolve and push himself harder than ever before.

Inside the Arena

The crowd's roar echoed through the expansive arena as Les stepped into the battleground. The place was alive with energy, the anticipation of blood and victory hanging thick in the air. Massive stone pillars rose around him, casting long shadows across the dusty ground. His opponent stood across from him—a towering figure clad in full armor, the glow of enchanted weapons radiating an intimidating aura.

Les's mind raced, but not with fear. He felt the weight of his own body, every muscle tensed, ready to react. His training—both real-world and virtual—had sharpened his instincts, but what mattered now was his focus. His resolve.

Life Mirror had granted him the ability to learn from the best, but it wasn't enough just to mimic. He had to become something more. Something stronger.

The referee's voice boomed through the arena, signaling the start of the match. Without hesitation, his opponent charged forward, a blur of steel and magic. Les gritted his teeth and dropped into a defensive stance. He had studied this kind of player before—aggressive, power-based fighters who relied on overwhelming force to break their opponents.

Les sidestepped the initial strike, feeling the rush of wind as the massive sword cut through the space where he'd stood moments before. His heart pounded, adrenaline surging as he moved, each dodge and block more precise than the last. His opponent pressed forward, relentless in his attacks, but Les could see the openings, the patterns in his movements. He was calm, calculating.

Every parry, every evasion, fueled Les's confidence. He wasn't just reacting anymore—he was controlling the flow of the fight.

His hands tightened around his weapon as he saw an opportunity, a moment when his opponent overextended. With a quick twist, Les spun out of the way and delivered a sharp counterstrike, his blade biting into his enemy's side. The crowd roared at the sudden shift in momentum.

But it wasn't enough to win.

His opponent staggered, growling in pain, and turned back toward him with a fury. This wasn't over yet.

The towering warrior unleashed a barrage of strikes, each one more powerful than the last, and despite Les's best efforts, he felt the impact. His defense cracked, and the weight of the blows began to take their toll. His stamina was running low, his energy reserves draining fast. He had pushed himself too hard, too soon.

A crushing blow finally connected, sending him sprawling across the arena floor. The crowd erupted in cheers for his opponent, already assuming the match was over.

Les lay on the ground, his vision blurred, his body aching from the impact. But through the pain, he smiled. Not because he was going to win this fight, but because he had pushed himself further than ever before. His defeat didn't matter—not tonight. He had gained something far more valuable.

As he struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his mind flashed back to his training sessions in the real world. He remembered the hours spent honing his reflexes, pushing his body to its limits. The real world and the virtual world were starting to merge in his mind. Everything he learned in Ancient Arena Online was making him stronger outside the game, and everything he practiced outside was refining his skills inside it.

The bell rang, signaling his defeat, but Les didn't care. He had lost the battle, but this wasn't the war. His opponent bowed in victory, and Les returned the gesture before walking off the field, his head held high. He was already planning his next move.

Back to Reality

Les pulled off his VR headset, blinking as his apartment came back into focus. The cold air of his real surroundings was a stark contrast to the heat of the arena. He was exhausted, both mentally and physically, but the fire in his chest hadn't dimmed.

Losing didn't matter. Not to him. Not anymore. Each defeat, each obstacle, was just another step in his journey to become the best.

He stretched, wincing at the soreness in his muscles. He knew that while Life Mirror could help him absorb skills, it couldn't make him invincible. He still needed to train, to push his body in the real world if he wanted to keep up with what he could do in the virtual one.

Tomorrow, he would run longer, lift heavier, and work harder. He would refine his strategy in the game and in life. He wouldn't let anyone—least of all his family—tell him he was mediocre ever again.

Les walked over to the window, looking out at the dark city. Somewhere out there, people were already chasing their dreams, pushing themselves to be better. And now, so was he.

This was his resolve.

He would be the best. In Ancient Arena Online and in reality.