Chapter 22: The Weight of Expectations

Les woke early the next morning, his body aching from the previous night's rigorous training. The soreness was a familiar companion now, but unlike in the past, it didn't discourage him. It was a reminder that he was moving forward. With a grunt, he pushed himself out of bed, glancing at the clock on the wall. He had a few hours before his next scheduled session in Ancient Arena Online, which left just enough time for a quick workout. His new regimen was simple but effective—bodyweight exercises designed to increase his endurance, balance, and strength. It wasn't flashy, but then again, neither was he.

As Les went through his routine—push-ups, squats, planks—his mind drifted to the events of the previous day. Arin's words still lingered in his thoughts, especially the condescending tone. His cousin had always looked down on him, and the rest of the family wasn't much better. Even as a child, he had felt like an outsider, a shadow among the De Lamar dynasty's shining stars. While they excelled in everything, Les had only ever been… average.

But average wasn't enough in the De Lamar family.

The moment Les had realized that, everything had changed. His father, Anton De Lamar, was a man who despised mediocrity in all its forms. Growing up, Les had tried to prove himself—tried to match the achievements of his half-siblings, tried to gain his father's approval. But no matter how hard he worked, Anton always seemed to look right through him. The secret bastard son of the most successful VR company's founder was nothing more than an afterthought.

It was only after Les began his apprenticeship as a developer for The Hub that he saw a glimmer of hope. He wasn't a brilliant programmer, but he was versatile. His ability to pick up different skills quickly had earned him a place among the team, though it never seemed to be enough to elevate him in his father's eyes. Les worked tirelessly, learning every aspect of game development—coding, designing, even marketing strategies. But in a world where brilliance was expected, being a jack-of-all-trades only got you so far.

As Les completed his final set of push-ups, he collapsed onto the floor, staring up at the ceiling. The sweat poured down his face, but his breathing remained steady. That was the thing about him: he never gave up, no matter how many times he failed. And that was why he knew he could succeed now—because he had learned from his failures. He had learned that he didn't need to excel at everything to find his own way forward.

After a quick shower and a protein-packed breakfast, Les sat down at his small kitchen table, staring at the old holo-pad in front of him. It flickered slightly, the device well-worn from years of use. The memories of his time as an apprentice developer came rushing back—how close he had been to the cutting edge of virtual reality gaming, how much potential he had seen in himself back then. But potential had never been enough to satisfy Anton De Lamar.

His father's voice echoed in his head.

"If you can't be the best, Leszar, then you're wasting everyone's time."

Les clenched his fists, the familiar anger bubbling up inside him. He had spent years trying to escape that voice, that oppressive sense of never being enough. But now, he wasn't running from it anymore. He was confronting it head-on. And he was going to prove that there was more than one way to be the best.

With a determined exhale, Les tapped the screen of his holo-pad, bringing up the interface for Ancient Arena Online. The login screen appeared, the game's logo spinning slowly as it loaded. This was his battlefield now. Here, he was building something real—something no one could take away from him. He wasn't the best player yet, but every session brought him closer. He was learning faster, adapting quicker, and developing strategies that no one else could see.

The game loaded, and he found himself standing in the vibrant, sprawling marketplace of the arena's hub. Players bustled around him, trading items, preparing for battles, or simply socializing. Les moved through the crowd with purpose, his mind already running through the plan he had devised for today. He had a rematch scheduled later with one of the high-tier players from his last defeat, but before that, he wanted to prepare.

Les walked toward the training grounds, a sprawling virtual space designed for players to practice their skills against AI-controlled opponents. As he entered, the familiar sights and sounds washed over him—blades clashing, spells crackling in the air, the grunt of players as they fought their digital foes. It was the perfect place to hone his strategies without the pressure of a live audience.

His first opponent materialized before him, a towering figure wielding a massive axe. Les analyzed its movements carefully, his eyes narrowing as he timed his approach. The AI was programmed to be ruthless, but it lacked the creativity of human players. That's where Les excelled—his adaptability.

The fight began, and Les darted to the side, dodging the first heavy swing of the axe. He struck back quickly, his blade finding its mark. But this wasn't just about winning the fight. Les had something else in mind—a technique he had been refining ever since his last match. Instead of dodging again, he shifted his stance, parrying the next attack with a precision that sent a shockwave up his arms. The AI reeled back, and Les followed up with a devastating series of strikes that brought it to its knees.

It wasn't enough to be fast or strong in this game. It was about understanding the flow of battle, about predicting your opponent's moves before they made them. Les knew that if he could master this level of prediction, he could turn even the toughest fights in his favor.

The AI opponent vanished in a flash of light, signaling his victory. But Les didn't stop there. He moved on to the next opponent, and then the next, pushing himself harder each time. He was losing track of time, his mind so focused on the task at hand that everything else faded into the background.

Finally, after what felt like hours, he paused, wiping the sweat from his brow as he stood victorious over yet another fallen enemy. His stats had improved, his timing was sharper, and his reflexes faster than before. But the most important improvement was in his mindset.

Les opened the game menu and checked the time. His rematch was about to begin. With a deep breath, he teleported to the arena, where his opponent was already waiting.

It wasn't just a game to Les anymore. It was the proving ground for everything he had built himself up to be—both in this world and in the real one. And today, he was ready to show everyone, including himself, just how far he had come.

His opponent, a well-known high-tier player named Vega, stood across from him, arms crossed, eyes burning with intensity. This was the same player who had outclassed him in their last encounter, exploiting Les's weaknesses with brutal efficiency.

But today, things would be different.

As the countdown to the match began, Les felt the familiar adrenaline rush surging through his veins. He didn't need to be perfect to win—he just needed to be better than before. And with his new resolve, he knew he was.

"Three… two… one…"

The battle began.