NABC Chapter 726: Chapter 726 - The Champion’s Quiet Moments
Chapter 726: Chapter 726 - The Champion’s Quiet Moments
Chapter 726: Chapter 726 - The Champion’s Quiet Moments
The soft hiss of air escaped as Leon's senses began to return. He stirred awake inside the capsule device, blinking away the grogginess. Standing just outside was Lily, smiling warmly and waving at him.
"Hi, sweet dreams?" she asked, her voice light and cheerful.
"More like a long dream," Leon replied casually, stepping out of the capsule.
His thoughts lingered on everything that had happened in the game. It hadn't even been a full 24 hours, but so much had occurred. Too much. He felt utterly drained, as if the experience had siphoned his entire soul.
As he stretched and adjusted to being back in the real world, Lily suddenly wrapped her arms around him in a quick, unexpected hug.
"What's this for?"
"To cheer you up," she said with a grin, pulling away playfully.
"You make it sound like I'm completely devastated or something," Leon replied, flashing a half-hearted smirk. Though he tried to play it off, the weariness in his expression betrayed him.
He rolled his shoulders and stretched again, trying to shake off the stiffness. "Ugh, I could use another massage," he muttered, heading toward the living room.
Without hesitation, he flopped onto the plush sofa, sinking into its comforting embrace.
Lily followed him, watching as he sprawled out, looking like he could pass out again at any moment. His mind, however, was clearly racing, overwhelmed with thoughts and lingering fatigue.
What day is it? he wondered briefly.
Sunday. Around 5 PM. The realization didn't bring much clarity - just the sense that the weekend was slipping by faster than he wanted.
"Wanna go out? Grab food? Hit the supermarket?" Lily suggested.
"Great idea," Leon replied, perking up just enough to muster some energy. "Let's go."
They quickly got ready and headed down to the basement parking. Moments later, the sleek Northstar EV rolled out of the parking area and smoothly merged onto the street.
It was late February, the tail end of winter. The chill in the air was losing its edge, hinting at the coming spring.
Everything in the past few weeks felt like a blur to Leon, his mind having been so focused on preparing for the Eternal Challenge.@@@@
Speaking of the Eternal Challenge, the event was fast approaching. An excitement stirred in him at the thought of it. The idea of seeing all the people he knew from the game, not just as their in-game characters but in real life, made his heart race.
Would Frostedge, Galactron, and the other Divine Champions also attend this massive competition?
"How do you always know exactly what I'm thinking, Lily?"
She giggled at his response. "Maybe you don't realize it, but your face changes every time you're faced with a big challenge. Like when all hope is gone, and standing in front of you is a Named Demon with a level that high... yet you still keep walking forward. What's going on in your head in moments like that, Leon?"
Leon shrugged casually. "I don't know. I just don't think."
Lily laughed at his answer.
She continued, "More and more people are speculating that you're a Divine Champion."
"Well, it's not like they wouldn't think that after I showed so much during the war."
"Hmm... and the fact that you can summon the Golden Paragon. There's plenty of speculation —like maybe you're the Envy Champion, copying the Golden Paragon, or the Wrath
Champion, boosting your stats and levels like Booba."
"I don't really care anymore if people figure out the truth."
"Is that because you've gained more supporters now?"
Leon shook his head. "More supporters, sure, but also more challenges I have to face."
"Surely that's because Dissidia is in such a vulnerable state right now, right?"
Leon gave her a slow nod. "There might be another attack, maybe even another war. It's only natural someone would try to exploit Dissidia's current weakness. But I don't know."
His voice trailed off.
Leon reached out and ruffled Lily's hair playfully. "Thanks for helping clear my head."
"Stop it! You're ruining my hair, Leon!" she protested.
Leon only chuckled in response, clearly amused.
"And congratulations on the marriage, by the way," Lily added, giggling as she spoke.
Without missing a beat, Leon reached for her hair again and gave it another playful tousle.
"Leon!!!" she yelled, this time louder.
Leon just laughed harder, clearly enjoying her reaction.