Summoned As A Mere Nobody-Yet Possesses An SSS-Rank Ability-Chapter 253: King Takes the Field

They stopped.

No words.

Just eyes.

Their gazes locked—and in that instant, it felt as though the world itself had gone silent.

The crowd held its breath.

To think a human would stand like this...

King Zul’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He defeated Prince Zohar with overwhelming ease. That cannot be coincidence.

Somewhere in the stands, whispers spread.

"He must have cheated."

"There’s no way he beat Prince Zohar fairly."

"But it won’t matter now."

"Our king is different."

"Our king is the strongest."

The introducer swallowed hard, feeling the pressure in the air thicken until his knees trembled.

"R-Ready?" he called out, his voice barely steady.

"May the king begin!"

The moment the words left his mouth—

King Zul’s aura exploded outward.

A massive wave of emerald energy poured from his body like a storm unleashed. The ground groaned under the weight of it. Cracks spread rapidly across the arena floor, stones lifting slightly before slamming back down.

The elves gasped.

Some staggered back in the stands.

"This aura...!"

"So dense...!"

"That’s the king’s true power!"

King Zul stood calmly within it, hair and cloak swaying as if caught in a violent wind. His presence alone felt like a towering mountain—ancient, immovable, absolute.

Nolan didn’t move.

He simply looked at King Zul, eyes sharp, unreadable.

Ah... just like I thought.

He really is far stronger than Prince Zohar.

Nolan exhaled softly.

Prince Zohar was nothing more than a warm-up.

A test.

A stepping stone.

But this—

This man was different.

If I compare it honestly...

He’s far stronger than me.

The realization didn’t frighten Nolan.

Instead, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.

Penzoa—no, Prince Zohar—was child’s play.

But today’s fight...

This one might actually be worth something.

King Zul noticed it.

That faint smile.

Not fear.

Not hesitation.

Interest.

"So," King Zul said slowly, his voice deep and heavy with authority, "you’re still standing... even under this."

Nolan slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah... let me see what you’re capable of," Nolan said calmly.

"But I’m sure you’ll last a little longer than Prince Zohar."

The moment the words left his mouth, the pressure erupting from King Zul intensified.

Several elves in the stands gasped, some collapsing to one knee as if a mountain had been dropped on their shoulders. Cracks spread through the arena walls, and before the crowd could panic—

A massive translucent barrier descended, sealing the entire arena.

The air inside grew thick, almost suffocating.

King Zul stood at the center, his presence alone warping space around him.

"Now," King Zul said coldly, rolling his shoulders,

"shall we begin?"

He raised his gaze toward Nolan, eyes sharp and ancient.

"Tell me... how would you like to die?"

The crowd fell silent.

"You are one of the strongest beings I have encountered in a very long time," King Zul continued.

"A martial existence that far surpasses ordinary humans. For that alone, you have my acknowledgment."

His aura flared again.

"But understand this," he said, voice firm and absolute.

"You are still going to lose."

In the next instant—

King Zul vanished.

Boom!

His fist tore through the space where Nolan’s head had been a fraction of a second earlier.

Nolan had already moved.

He slid backward, barely missing the strike, the wind pressure alone ripping apart the ground behind him.

Before Nolan could fully stabilize—

King Zul reappeared behind him.

Too fast.

Another punch descended.

Nolan dropped low, ducking beneath it. His palm slammed into the ground as he flipped upward, using one hand to push his body into the air, landing cleanly on his feet.

The ground cracked beneath him.

King Zul didn’t stop.

He surged forward again, this time faster—so fast that chunks of the arena floor were ripped loose by sheer momentum.

Dark, dense energy poured from his arm, stretching like a grasping shadow, aiming straight for Nolan’s throat.

Nolan’s eyes sharpened.

He slapped the attack aside and stepped in—

Bang!

His heel drove straight into King Zul’s stomach.

The impact echoed.

King Zul slid backward several meters, boots carving trenches into the stone before he stopped himself.

Silence.

Then—

"Impressive," King Zul said, straightening.

A smile tugged faintly at the corner of his lips.

"How are you able to keep up with me?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"You shouldn’t be capable of matching my speed... my strength."

His gaze sharpened.

"That was truly impressive."

The pressure eased slightly—but only slightly.

"My expectations for you," King Zul continued,

"and for my daughter... have just risen."

He rolled his neck slowly.

"And this," he said calmly,

"is me not even getting started."

Nolan exhaled softly.

"Well," he replied, tone casual, almost bored,

"I can see it now."

He took a step forward.

"You’re shocked," Nolan said.

"Not because I kicked you back—but because you didn’t go flying into the arena wall."

He tilted his head slightly.

"You stopped yourself."

Nolan’s eyes locked onto King Zul’s.

"That tells me something," he continued.

"You’re strong. Stronger than I expected."

Then his expression hardened.

"But don’t misunderstand," Nolan said quietly.

"You’re still not a worthy opponent."

A ripple ran through the crowd.

"Because if I wanted to," Nolan finished,

"I could end this fight at any time."

The air trembled.

King Zul stared at him—

And for the first time since stepping into the arena—

The Elf King laughed.

A deep, dangerous laugh.

"Good," King Zul said.

"Very good."

His aura exploded again—far greater than before.

"Now," he declared,

"show me how long that confidence lasts."

The instant King Zul’s aura surged again—

Nolan vanished.

It wasn’t speed anymore.

It was erasure.

Before King Zul could fully register it, fists rained down on him from every direction.

Boom—Boom—Boom—Boom!

King Zul crossed his arms, blocking, but the impact still drove him backward. Each punch carried overwhelming force, rattling his bones, cracking the air itself.

Nolan kept moving.

Left. Right. Above. Behind.

He wasn’t just fast—he was everywhere.

"So this is it..." Nolan thought calmly.

"I’m not even using anything yet."

Another punch slammed into King Zul’s ribs.

"He’s strong. Stronger than most I’ve faced in this world."

Boom!

King Zul slid back, boots carving trenches into the arena floor.

"But if I wanted to end this with a single punch," Nolan continued internally,

"I already could."

His fist flashed again—but this time, Nolan slightly pulled the force back.

"I’m doing this for the audience."

Boom!

"And for King Zul to understand clearly—"

Another blow sent shockwaves through the barrier.

"That I am far stronger than him."

King Zul roared as blue energy erupted from his body.

A violent, condensed storm burst outward.

Wind screamed.

Lightning-like mana crackled through the air, mixing with compressed wind until it formed a violent, spiraling blast.

Boom!

Nolan leapt back just as the explosion tore through the space he’d been standing in. The ground detonated beneath him, stone turning to dust.

Boom—Boom!

King Zul extended his hands, launching wave after wave of violent wind blasts.

Nolan landed lightly and immediately sprinted forward, weaving through the attacks.

Left—right—slide—jump.

Each blast barely missing him.

King Zul laughed, his voice echoing through the arena.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Run!"

"Run like the pest you are!"

Another blast ripped past Nolan’s shoulder.

"You filthy human!" King Zul shouted.

"How can a human be this strong?!"

He raised both hands.

"Run!"

"This is what humans are meant to do!"

"Run like the pests you are!"

A massive beam of compressed wind erupted from his palms, tearing straight toward Nolan like a roaring dragon.

Nolan stopped.

He raised one hand—

And slammed it sideways.

The beam shattered.

The explosion rocked the arena, the barrier cracking under the pressure.

Fragments of wind and mana scattered like broken glass.

The original barrier finally collapsed.

Instantly—

Nolan raised his hand again.

A new barrier formed, thicker, denser, sealing the arena once more.

King Zul’s laughter faded.

He launched forward instead, aura flaring violently as he closed the distance in an instant, fist aimed straight at Nolan’s face.

Nolan tilted his head.

The punch missed.

Nolan twisted his body mid-motion and drove his knee upward—

Crack!

It smashed into King Zul’s jaw.

King Zul was sent flying backward, skidding across the arena before stopping himself again, boots digging deep into the stone.

Silence.

The entire arena fell deathly quiet.

No cheers.

No chants.

No insults.

The elves in the stands could only stare.

Even though King Zul was still standing—

Even though his aura was still overwhelming—

They had just witnessed something impossible.

A human...

Going toe-to-toe with King Zul.

Not being overwhelmed.

Not being crushed.

Keeping up.

King Zul’s eyes widened.

Not in rage.

Not in arrogance.

In shock.

His hands trembled slightly as he stared at Nolan.

"How...?" King Zul muttered.

"How were you able to do that?"

His gaze dropped to his own palm, then back to Nolan.

"That attack... you didn’t block it. You didn’t evade it."

"You slammed it aside."

His voice rose, cracking with disbelief.

"A human shouldn’t be able to do that!"

"A human should be weak!"