The Extra Who Shouldn’t Exist

The forest blurred past them as Alden, Charlotte, Seraphina, and Draven ran with every ounce of strength they had, Ava clutched tightly to Alden's chest.

Her unconscious form pressed against him, her soft breathing a small relief amidst the storm in his mind.

'She was dragged… by her hair.'

His eyes flared with rage.

'And I couldn't do anything.'

Each pounding step echoed the fury in his heart. Shame poured through him like acid.

'If only I was stronger… If I had power… this wouldn't have happened!'

His grip around Ava tightened.

He grit his teeth, refusing to let the burning in his legs stop him.

But then—

"FOUND YOU!"

A booming voice echoed through the trees like a thunderclap. The group came to a halt as the earth trembled beneath their feet.

Two figures emerged from the shadowed path ahead.

Sephira—with one arm still glowing in embers—stepped forward with a cruel grin. And beside her, James, that twisted madman, cracked his neck with glee.

"Aw," James said mockingly, "you guys in a hurry?"

Around them, the underbrush rustled—dozens of Expert-ranked soldiers emerged, weapons drawn, surrounding the group like a pack of wolves.

Charlotte's eyes darted around. "No…"

Seraphina raised a shaking hand. "They… they found us."

Draven clenched his fists, fury radiating from him. "Damn it!"

Alden's breath caught.

He turned to them. "Run. I will try to buy some time."

His voice was quiet but firm.

Charlotte snapped, "No!"

Seraphina shouted, "We're not leaving you!"

Draven gently placed Ava on the forest floor, his eyes steady. "We're in this together."

The four of them stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Alden.

James tilted his head in amusement. "Well, isn't this sweet?"

Sephira crossed her arms. "Look at them—Advance ranks facing us like that. Brave... or just stupid."

She raised her remaining hand at the Expert-ranked soldiers.

"Stand down. We'll handle this ourselves. I want to savor it."

The soldiers obeyed, stepping back.

James cracked his knuckles. "I'll enjoy breaking them."

---

The battlefield erupted.

James darted forward, his form flickering with spatial distortion.

Alden roared, flames spiraling from his fists as he met James head-on. Their fists clashed—space rippling with every blow.

"Flameburst!" Alden bellowed, launching a chain of fire-imbued punches. James danced around them with smirking ease.

Draven followed up, slamming his palm into the ground. "Terra Vortex!"

A whirlwind of earth and wind erupted, aiming to trap James.

But James simply vanished—warping behind Draven and slamming a knee into his back.

CRACK!

Draven coughed blood as he was thrown forward. Alden caught him mid-fall and threw a flame wall between them and James.

"Stay close!" Alden yelled.

James smirked, stepping through the fire with nothing more than a singe. "Cute trick."

With a flick of his fingers, space warped—Alden and Draven were tossed in opposite directions like ragdolls.

Draven rebounded with a burst of wind magic. "Gale Strike!"

He unleashed a crescent of air pressure, but James warped above it, dodging effortlessly, then slammed his boot down into Draven's gut.

BOOM!

Draven hit the dirt hard, coughing.

James chuckled, "You guys are just like bugs under my boots."

---

Meanwhile—

Charlotte and Seraphina faced Sephira.

"You ready?" Charlotte asked, drawing her sword.

Seraphina nodded. "Let's make this quick."

"Big talk," Sephira sneered, flicking her whip with her one arm. "Let's see how long you last."

Charlotte launched forward, gravity waves rippling beneath her feet. "Graviton Slash!"

She brought her sword down, space bending with force. Sephira sidestepped, her whip coiling like a serpent and striking from the side.

Seraphina intercepted—"Frost Wall!"

An icy barrier rose just in time, the whip slamming against it with a hiss of steam.

"Freezing Rain!" Seraphina cast next, sending shards of ice from above.

Sephira's body ignited in flame, melting them mid-air. She roared, lashing out again.

The whip wrapped around Charlotte's leg.

"Agh—!" Charlotte shouted, yanked off her feet and slammed into the ground.

"CHARLOTTE!" Seraphina cried.

"Get back in the fight!" Sephira growled.

Fire surged from her form. "Blazing Bloom!"

An explosion of flame sent Seraphina tumbling, her coat charred and arm burned.

Still, she forced herself to rise. "I'm not done!"

She summoned twin blades of ice and slashed forward, trading blow for blow with Sephira.

Charlotte rose with trembling legs, her sword glowing black with gravity magic. "I'll crush you—Gravity Field!"

The pressure spiked—trees bent around them, rocks cracked, the air warped.

Even Sephira staggered. "Heh… impressive."

But with a surge of flame, she cut through it all and whipped her burning tendril directly into Charlotte's stomach.

CRACK!

Charlotte coughed blood and fell.

Seraphina cried out—only to be caught next, Sephira slamming her knee into Seraphina's ribs.

They both crumpled.

---

On the other side, Alden and Draven lay broken before James.

James walked slowly forward, dragging Draven by the collar.

"Don't pass out on me now," he said cheerfully, slamming Draven into the dirt. "We're just getting started."

Alden weakly raised a hand—only to be kicked in the side.

"Agh—!"

James grinned, looking toward Ava lying defenseless a few feet away.

His eyes gleamed. "Now… for the prize."

"No…" Draven croaked, crawling. "Please… not her…"

James laughed. "Oh? Looks like she's special to you. That makes this even more fun."

He stepped forward.

Draven reached, bleeding. "No… please…"

Alden's vision swam.

'No… not again… not her…'

Then—

A screen materialized in front of him.

Ding!

---

[A Divine Presence requests to initiate a Pact.]

[Do you accept the offer of Ouroboros – The Serpent That Devours Himself – to become his Avatar?]

---

Alden blinked.

'What… who?'

A text scrolled in golden letters:

[ "Now is not the time to ask who I am. But I offer you power—to protect what matters."]

"Who… are you?" Alden rasped aloud.

["Ouroboros. The endless cycle. I have watched you… and now I offer you strength".]

["This body of yours cannot contain my full might. But for this moment… I shall lend you power."]

Alden trembled. 'If I can't defeat them fully… then what's the point?'

[ "You won't need to win. You just have to survive. Help will come. I cannot tell you how—only that you must endure. All I ask is your trust."]

'Why should I trust you…?'

[ "Because your beloved is in danger. And you… have no other choice."]

Alden's fists clenched.

"What's the price?"

[ "One life. I will ask you to kill someone. When the time comes… you must obey."]

Alden's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

["I can't tell you that right now."]

"You won't even tell me now?"

[ "Would you refuse me then?"]

A long pause.

Then, the screen pulsed again.

["Decide quickly, Flamebearer. Or she dies."]

Alden looked up—James was nearly at Ava.

Tears welled in Alden's eyes. Shame and fury twisted into resolve.

"I accept."

The screen flashed.

[Contract Accepted.]

[Awakening has been initiated.]

The forest trembled.

Dark flames erupted from Alden's back.

His shattered body… began to heal.

And from the scorched earth—

A new Alden rose.

Eyes glowing.

Burning with black fire.

--------

A/N:

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