The Extra Who Shouldn’t Exist

[A Few Moments Ago – In the southern Part of the Forest]

Booms of elemental power echoed across the burning woods.

A lone figure stood bloodied in front of an earthen dome, his body soaked in sweat and bruises, wounds torn open across his sides. Despite it all, Carter Brown stood firm.

Void energy swirled around his form in chaotic pulses. He gritted his teeth, dragging in heavy breaths.

"Stay... back…" he muttered.

Around him, a dozen Expert-ranked soldiers launched continuous barrages of flame, wind, ice, and earth.

And leading them was Daniel, the lightning-wielding maniac.

"Move aside, hunter," Daniel smirked, his spear crackling with deadly arcs.

But Carter didn't move. He raised his hand again, forming a warped black circle in the air—a void shield. Another blast of lightning struck it, exploding on contact, yet Carter endured.

Even as he coughed blood.

Even as his knees shook.

He endured.

Because behind that dome were innocent people—mothers, fathers, children, students—who had nowhere else to run.

'If I fall, they all die… I can't… I won't…!'

Carter's body flickered, and in the next moment, he was above two enemy soldiers.

Two clean slashes—two heads fell.

He dropped back to the ground, summoning another black blade from thin air, spinning to deflect an incoming fire spear.

He struck again.

Another soldier fell.

Even Daniel, a Master (Peak)-rank himself, flinched as a void spike pierced his shoulder.

"Tch… persistent bastard," Daniel clicked his tongue. "Fine. Plan B."

He turned to his soldiers.

"Ignore him. Focus all attacks on the dome. Make him split his attention."

Carter's eyes widened.

"No—!"

He lunged forward, forming a shield—

Too late.

Multiple attacks struck the dome in rapid succession—flames, water spears, wind blades.

Cracks formed.

"No!" Carter screamed again, redirecting his shield.

The enemies took the opening.

All of them descended on him at once.

One slammed a boulder into his side. Another shot him with an arrow of cursed fire.

A third blasted him with ice—freezing his arm. Then Daniel himself appeared behind him and slammed a lightning-charged kick into Carter's back.

Carter crashed into the ground—void energy dispersing like mist.

The dome shattered.

A horrific silence followed.

And then—

Screams.

From inside the fallen dome, civilians gasped and cried as they saw their protector fall.

A young girl clutched her mother's dress.

A man dragged his injured wife back.

A boy no older than ten stared at Carter's body, trembling.

"M-Monsters…" someone whispered.

The soldiers laughed, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

"Looks like the show starts now!" one grinned, raising his blade.

A man tried to shield his family—only to be impaled.

A teenage student picked up a fallen sword—his body was burned to ash in a second.

Carter, eyes barely open, watched in horror.

"N-No… please… stop…" he croaked.

He slammed his fists weakly into the dirt.

And when another innocent fell—

He screamed.

"NO! LEAVE THEM ALONE! YOU MONSTERS!!"

Daniel walked toward him, laughing.

"Innocent?" he said, lifting Carter by the hair. "You're cute. Really. Thinking anyone here cares about innocence."

THWACK!

A fist slammed into Carter's face.

Then a kick to his ribs.

Then a punch to his chest.

The Expert-ranked soldiers joined in—stomping, punching, laughing.

Carter coughed blood, every rib screaming in agony.

Daniel stepped forward, eyes glowing with madness.

"Now watch, you failure of a savior," he said coldly. "For all the trouble you've caused—I'll kill each one of them."

He formed a massive lightning spear—twice the size of a man—and pointed it toward the civilians who huddled together, crying.

"And then… I'll show those girls that ran away what happens when they resist. Right in front of your eyes. By defiling them."

He kicked Carter's face again.

The hunter collapsed, barely breathing.

Daniel aimed his spear, gathering massive amounts of energy.

"Now… DIE!"

Carter shut his eyes.

'I can't watch… please… don't let it end like this…'

SHHHHHRIPPPP!

Suddenly, black tendrils burst from the shadow of the trees.

One after another.

They slithered and wrapped themselves around every single enemy—including Daniel.

"What the—?!" someone screamed.

Then—

SCHLKT—

Dozens.

Hundreds.

The forest echoed with inhuman wails.

Carter opened his eyes—only to see the soldiers who had mocked him now withering in place.

Their skin melted, their veins turned black, their eyes exploded.

Within seconds—skeletons.

Cracked, twisted bones clattered to the earth like discarded puppets.

Only Daniel remained—his body half-drained, his eyes wide in horror.

"N-No… what is this?!"

The tendrils wrapped tighter.

"AAAGHHHHH—!"

His voice cracked.

His flesh melted like candle wax, and he began to shrivel.

The civilians stared in pure fear, unsure whether this new entity was a savior—or a new kind of monster.

Carter, still on his knees, stared in awe.

'What… the hell is this…?'

But then—

Tendrils wrapped around him too.

"Wait—what?! No—!"

Carter struggled, but his wounds had left him powerless.

The black tendrils slithered and yanked both him and Daniel into the sky, launching them high above the forest canopy.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!"

---

[Present]

CRASH!!

Two bodies slammed into the ground like meteors.

Right on top of James.

"AHHH—DAMN IT!" one groaned.

"My ribs… freakin' maniac…" the other wheezed.

One of them—Carter—groaned and opened his swollen eyes.

He blinked.

Blurred vision cleared.

And then—

He saw him.

A silver-haired youth stood in front of him, radiating aura he hadn't seen anywhere else until now.

Beautiful. Untouchable. Divine.

Carter's breath caught.

'Did… did I die…? Is this… heaven?'

He stared harder.

"This must be an angel… come to take me for the good deeds I did before dying…"

He smiled dreamily.

Then tried to sit up.

"Ah—GAH!" Pain shot through every inch of his body. "AHHH!"

Alex tilted his head.

'System… are you telling me this clown actually helped us?'

A voice echoed in his head.

[ Yes, Host. This clown defended your friends with everything he had while they were trapped. He is also a famous hunter from the number one guild of the Empire. The one with the spear is the enemy. ]

Alex hummed.

He walked forward.

James groaned under the pile.

Alex didn't hesitate—he kicked Daniel's face so hard his nose flattened.

THWACK!

"Shut up, insect."

Then his eyes turned to Carter.

"So… you're the one who helped us, huh?"

Carter blinked up at him, dazed.

His instincts screamed at him.

'This kid… he's not normal.'

Carter's eyes flicked to the side—he saw Sephira, skinless and broken. Then James, barely alive. Then Daniel, unconscious with a crushed face.

All done… by this one boy.

Carter swallowed.

'What the hell is he…?'

He stared.

'Something worse.'

'Or better.'

'Or divine.'

---

A/N:

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