Game's Extra

The air was thick with dust and the scent of blood. The battlefield trembled beneath the weight of the two fighters as Aiden and Scar clashed.

BOOM!

Aiden's fist, encased in a rapidly shifting gauntlet, met Scar's diamond-coated knuckles in an explosive impact. Shockwaves rippled outward, sending debris flying and crushing nearby monsters under the sheer force of their battle. The surrounding creatures, once a formidable threat, were now nothing more than collateral damage in a war between two titans.

Scar grinned, his red eyes gleaming with sadistic glee. "You're putting up a good fight, kid! But let's see how long you last!"

Aiden remained silent, his breathing steady as he adjusted his stance. With a flick of his fingers, the gauntlet around his hand liquefied and reformed into a jagged-edged spear. He lunged forward, thrusting it with lethal precision.

Scar smirked. "Too slow."

With a flick of his wrist, Scar generated a diamond shield, blocking the attack. The impact sent vibrations through the battlefield, shaking the ground beneath them. Aiden immediately spun, molding the spear into a whip mid-motion, and lashed out at Scar's exposed flank.

CRACK!

Scar barely dodged, the razor-sharp edge grazing his side and cutting through his already tattered shirt. He laughed, glancing down at the thin, red line forming on his ribs. "Oh? You actually managed to draw blood? Maybe you are worth recruiting."

Aiden ignored the taunt, reforming his weapon into a set of twin blades and closing in. His Overhaul ability worked overtime, constantly deconstructing and reshaping his weapons on the fly. He unleashed a rapid series of slashes, forcing Scar to stay on the defensive.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Diamond-coated fists met sharpened steel in a deadly dance of destruction. Each strike sent shockwaves across the battlefield, cratering the ground beneath them. Scar dodged an upward slash and retaliated with a backhand strike, his diamond fist aiming for Aiden's ribs.

Aiden barely managed to react in time. He twisted his body, allowing the attack to graze past him before using Overhaul to reinforce his own ribs. Even with his enhancements, the sheer force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his boots digging trenches into the ground.

Aiden panted, his stamina beginning to wane. Overhaul took a heavy toll on his body, and he could feel the strain building with each passing second. Meanwhile, Scar stood tall, his grin unwavering despite the various cuts and bruises now decorating his torso.

"You're good, kid. But you're starting to slow down," Scar mused. "How about it? Why don't you join us?"

Aiden narrowed his eyes. "Not interested."

Scar chuckled. "Tch, stubborn little bastard."

With a sudden burst of speed, Scar lunged, aiming a crushing punch at Aiden's head. Aiden ducked, sliding beneath the blow and countering with an upward slash aimed at Scar's exposed gut. At the last moment, Scar's entire midsection turned into a shimmering, diamond-like structure, the blade skidding harmlessly across its surface.

"Tsk." Aiden clicked his tongue, rolling away before Scar could retaliate. His exhaustion was mounting, his body screaming in protest from the constant strain of Overhaul. He needed an opening.

Before he could strategize further, the air suddenly shimmered.

SHU!

A purple portal materialized right in front of Aiden. His instincts screamed at him to move, but before he could react—

BANG!

An energy bullet shot through the portal, grazing Aiden's right arm. He gritted his teeth, clutching the wound as fresh pain surged through him. A second portal opened behind Scar, and a familiar voice echoed through the battlefield.

"We need to go. Now. The authorities are closing in."

Tracker.

Scar groaned in irritation. "Aww, come on, Tracker. I was just starting to have fun!"

"Now, Scar!" Tracker snapped, her voice sharp with urgency.

Scar sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Fine, fine." He turned his attention back to Aiden, his smirk returning. "You're strong, kid. You sure you don't want to reconsider? Chaos Order could use someone like you. Don't waste your potential with those weaklings."

Aiden remained silent, his gaze locked onto Scar with unyielding defiance.

Scar let out a barking laugh. "Suit yourself."

With that, Scar and Tracker stepped into the portal. As they vanished, the battlefield transformed. Every trace of Scar's diamond constructs crumbled into carbon dust, leaving nothing behind except the destruction they had wrought.

Aiden stood there, breathing heavily. The pain in his arm throbbed, his vision wavering from exhaustion. He took one unsteady step forward—then collapsed.

"Aiden!" Ava and Elena rushed to his side, panic evident in their voices.

"Damn it! Aiden, wake up!" Ava's hands hovered over him, unsure if she should move him.

"He's losing too much blood!" Elena said, quickly casting a basic healing spell, though her hands trembled.

Felix, Olivia, and Tomas arrived moments later. "Shit, he looks bad!" Felix muttered, helping to lift Aiden.

"We need to get him out of here now," Olivia said, her voice tight with concern.

Elena pressed a hand against her chest, her heart aching. She had never seen Aiden this vulnerable before. And worse, she couldn't shake the sting she felt when Scar had called them weaklings—and Aiden had said nothing to refute it.

Aiden's consciousness faded, the last thing he saw was Elena's worried expression before everything turned to darkness.