Extra's Fate

Crack…

The sound of glass breaking echoed through the stronghold.

The tinted window didn't stand a chance against the heavy, metal chair launched through it, shattering it into a million pieces and allowing a dark figure to swiftly climb through the opening and into the dimly lit room beyond.

"Creepy…"

I couldn't help but mutter, as I stepped into the cold environment, my grey eyes scanning the area.

Yes, the suspicious figure was me.

After dealing with the leader of the Flaming Death gang and recovering some of my stamina, I began searching for the dungeon that was supposed to be hidden in the stronghold.

The issue was that the portal's location was always randomized so it was basically dependent on luck on how quickly I could find it.

Unfortunately, fate didn't feel generous today.

I've checked most of the rooms and yet the portal was nowhere in sight. The only area left was the room with people in beds with tubes connected to them.

Walking past them, I could only shake my head looking at their completely motionless bodies.

Being caught by Dark Magicians was sure a terrifying thing…

Suddenly, my footsteps faltered as I noticed a small figure lying in one of the beds.

'They even experimented with kids…'

I released a deep sigh.

I did not feel angered by the sight, just a bit saddened by the cruelty of it all.

This world… is truly a dark and twisted place.

However, what am I to change the entire world when I can barely keep myself alive?

Any emotions beyond this were futile, so it's just better to suppress them. Place them into a far away corner of my mind and simply ignore them.

That's at least how I've dealt with most of the struggles in my past life.

Tap… Tap…

Approaching the bed with the small figure, I gently pulled back the covers, revealing a young child with a peaceful expression, their chest rising and falling with each shallow breath.

Many tubes and wires were connected to his body and yet that wasn't even the most disturbing part.

Underneath his skin… unnatural grey veins pulsed eerily.

"Eldritch Paralysis…"

I clicked my tongue.

In the game this disease didn't seem like a big deal, but in reality, it was a terrifying affliction that could leave the victim trapped in their own body, unable to move or communicate.

It is basically a terminal illness which can be inflicted by oversaturating the body with mana and making the victim's own mana become hostile towards them, slowly paralyzing them.

Usually, you just had to relog to escape this but… in the real world, there would be no such option.

Of course, there were other ways to treat this disease, but all of them were beyond my means.

'Tough luck…'

Looking at the kid, I sighed.

The best I could do was delay his death by a few months.

'It's better than nothing.'

Picking up a nearby scalpel, I muttered.

I really didn't have to do this. I could just walk past all of these patients, but it might be my silly conscience getting the better of me.

'Just this once.'

I whispered, pressing the sharp tool to the kid's skin.

This won't take much of my time anyways, so…

Carefully, I placed the scalpel against one of the grey, pulsing veins.

The blade was sharp and gleamed faintly in the dim light, reflecting my focused expression.

My grey eyes narrowed as I began to make a precise incision, the scalpel moving smoothly through the child's skin.

Grey, ashen blood began to seep from the cut, a disturbing sight that made my stomach churn.

I knew what I was doing was risky, but it was the only way to provide the child with even a sliver of hope.

As the blood flowed, I watched closely for any sign of change.

After what felt like an eternity, the grey began to fade, replaced by the familiar crimson of normal blood.

It was a relief, a sign that my intervention was working.

Quickly, I pressed a cloth against the incision, stemming the flow of blood and ensuring it remained red.

Methodically, I moved to the next vein, repeating the process.

The room was silent except for the soft sound of my movements and the occasional rustle of the cloth.

With each incision, the child's breathing seemed to stabilize, becoming slightly deeper and more regular.

It wasn't much, but it was something.

The ashen blood flowed out and I covered each cut swiftly, making sure the child wouldn't lose too much blood in the process.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I made the last cut.

The child's body looked less alien, the grey veins no longer a prominent, eerie sight.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand.

I patched up the final incision, ensuring the cloth was securely in place.

The child's chest rose and fell in a more natural rhythm now, a faint sign of improvement.

It wasn't a cure, but it was a start.

Gently, I replaced the covers over the child, making sure they were comfortable.

I couldn't do much more, but I had given them a fighting chance.

'That felt… underwhelming.'

Cleaning my hands, I sighed.

Suddenly, I felt my entire body stiffen.

Someone was observing me…

Slowly, I turned my head in the direction of the source of the gaze.

Two blue eyes stared back at me.

"…"

For a moment, we both held our gaze in silence before the kid's eyes slowly blinked, and a weak, grateful smile formed on his lips

"Th-ank… yo-u."