I'm an Extra, so What?

The Guild's briefing room was a cluttered mess of maps, reports, and glowing orbs casting eerie light across the walls.

Luka stood near a large map of the surrounding forest, tracing the corrupted zones with a finger. Serene hovered close, her expression grim. Arthur leaned back in a chair, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.

"Listen up," the Guildmaster began, voice steady and authoritative.

"The corruption started near that old druid altar—now this twisted obelisk. It's spreading fast. Our priority is to contain it and find whoever is behind it."

Arthur snorted. "Like I haven't been saying all along."

Luka's jaw tightened. "You nearly got us killed."

Arthur smirked. "A bit of danger keeps things interesting."

Serene's eyes flashed. "We're not here to play games."

The Guildmaster raised a hand. "Enough. This isn't about personal grudges or heroics. This is about survival."

He pointed to the map. "Your route will take you through three hotspots. Expect corrupted creatures, unstable mana, and possibly ambushes. You'll be moving fast—time is not on our side."

Luka swallowed the knot of anxiety in his throat. "What about reinforcements?"

"Minimal," the Guildmaster said. "Most of the Guild is stretched thin dealing with monster outbreaks elsewhere. It's on you three."

Arthur leaned forward, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, joy. Just the elite squad. What a privilege."

Serene shot him a cold look. "You're not the only one risking your neck."

Arthur smirked, but said nothing.

Luka glanced at Serene, then back at Arthur. "We stick to the plan. No solo stunts."

Arthur's grin flickered. "Fine. For now."

The Guildmaster nodded. "Good. Gear up. We leave at dawn."

As they dispersed, Luka caught Serene's eye.

"We have to watch him," she said quietly.

Luka nodded. "I know."

Outside the Guild--

The dawn light crept over the horizon, spilling pale gold across the city's rooftops.

Luka stood outside the Guild, adjusting the straps on his leather armor, the familiar weight of his daggers at his sides grounding him.

Snow fluttered softly near his shoulder, preening his feathers and occasionally letting out a tiny, sharp chirp.

Serene approached silently, shield slung across her back, eyes scanning the early morning streets as if expecting danger to leap out at any moment.

"Ready?" she asked, voice low but steady.

Luka nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Arthur sauntered up behind them, hands in his pockets, smirking as usual. "Hope you two don't slow me down," he said with a wink that didn't reach his eyes.

Serene's gaze hardened. "Try to keep up."

Arthur laughed, a sharp, hollow sound. "Oh, I'll be leading the way."

Luka exchanged a glance with Serene. This was going to be a long mission.

They set out from the Guild's gates, the city still waking around them.

As they passed through the cobblestone streets toward the forest edge, Luka felt the weight of the Guildmaster's words pressing down.

The corruption wasn't just a threat to the wilderness—it was a threat to everything they cared about.

The forest loomed ahead, dark and silent except for the faintest whisper of wind through twisted branches.

"Keep your guard up," Serene said, drawing her sword with a quiet swish.

Luka felt Snow's warmth against his neck as the little dragon flitted close, his tiny flame flickering softly.

Arthur cracked his knuckles. "Let's get this over with."

As they crossed into the shadowed trees, the air thickened—heavy with the scent of decay and corrupted magic.

The first steps into the blighted woods were quiet but tense, every rustle and crack setting nerves on edge.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed nearby.

Luka froze, fingers tightening around his daggers.

A pair of glowing eyes reflected from the darkness—a corrupted wolf, its fur patchy and blackened with dark veins pulsing beneath the skin.

Arthur grinned. "Finally, some action."

The wolf lunged.

Arthur leapt forward with a reckless yell, swinging his greatsword wildly but missing as the wolf dodged with unnatural speed.

Serene moved with precise strikes, her blade slicing through the beast's flank, forcing it back.

Luka fired a series of throwing knives that glowed faintly with mana, each hitting true.

The wolf snarled, wounded but fierce.

Arthur's frustration showed as he charged again, only to be knocked aside by a swipe of the wolf's claw.

"Watch yourself!" Serene shouted.

Arthur snarled back, frustration boiling over. "I'm not here to babysit!"

Luka grit his teeth, stepping between Arthur and the wolf.

"Focus. We work as a team."

The wolf hesitated, sensing their unity, before retreating with a snarl into the shadows.

The trio exhaled, tension easing just a little.

Serene sheathed her sword. "This is only the beginning."

Arthur spat on the ground. "Let's hope the rest is less… annoying."

Luka knew better.

They pressed deeper into the corrupted forest, the twisted trees looming like silent sentinels. The pulsing of the mana rot beneath their feet grew stronger, a low hum vibrating through the air, setting their nerves on edge.

Arthur, trailing a few steps behind, kept muttering under his breath. "This whole thing's a waste of time. We should be hunting real monsters, not chasing shadows and ruins."

Serene's eyes narrowed. "If you think this is a joke, maybe you should stay behind."

Arthur shot her a sharp glance but said nothing.

Luka felt the tension rise between them but forced himself to focus. His fingers twitched with the familiar weight of his daggers, and Snow's tiny flames flickered brighter on his shoulder.

Suddenly, the forest fell unnervingly silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Then, from the shadows, a twisted howl ripped through the air—a monstrous sound, filled with pain and rage.

"Ambush!" Serene shouted, drawing her sword in a flash.

From every direction, corrupted beasts erupted from the underbrush: malformed wolves with glowing red eyes, snarling and snapping; giant spiders with venom dripping from their mandibles; and shadowy figures that slithered just out of clear sight.

Arthur charged forward recklessly, swinging his sword in wide arcs, ignoring Luka's shouted warnings.

"Don't just throw yourself at them!" Luka called out, ducking under a snapping jaw.

Arthur grunted, slashing through one beast but leaving himself open.

A spider's claw caught his shoulder, slashing deep.

He yelped and stumbled back.

"Careful!" Serene yelled, blocking a wolf's leap with her shield and countering with a precise strike.

Luka moved like water through the chaos, daggers flashing blue with mana as he disabled beasts with swift, deadly strikes.

Snow swooped overhead, blasting flames that forced enemies back and lit the dim forest with flickering light.

Arthur, bloodied but defiant, snarled, "I don't need help."

Luka shot him a hard look. "You will if you want to live."

The tide of monsters pressed harder, but the trio's combined effort began to turn the battle.

Finally, the last beast fell with a shuddering collapse.

Breathing heavily, Luka wiped sweat from his brow.

Arthur spat out a mouthful of blood and smirked, "See? I told you I had it under control."

Serene shook her head, exhaustion etched on her face. "We need to move. This was just a scouting force."

Luka nodded. "The real threat is ahead."

The pulsing corruption grew more intense.

At the edge of a clearing, the jagged obelisk they had destroyed earlier flickered faintly—magic still leaking, weak but persistent.

"Someone's trying to rebuild it," Luka said grimly.

Arthur scoffed:

"Then let's make sure they don't get the chance."