The Extra Who Shouldn’t Exist

[ Few moments ago ]

The city of Avaloria was finally beginning to breathe again.

After the destruction of the massive rift—an act the people were already calling divine intervention—the chaotic tide of Abyssals had begun to ebb.

Survivors whispered prayers, warriors picked themselves up, and the streets, though still slick with blood, were no longer drowning in it.

Through the ruins moved Elric, Serena von Crestvale, and Selena Vega, sweeping through what remained of the enemy like a hurricane of death.

A guttural roar split the air as a massive, tusked Abyssal beast lunged from between two half-collapsed buildings, its obsidian hide glistening with corruption.

Serena didn't even slow her stride. Her sword flashed in a single, perfect arc—no wasted movement, no hesitation.

The monster's body split from crown to tail, collapsing in two twitching halves before it even understood it had died.

Selena stepped forward, her hands weaving intricate seals. Magic surged around her, an ocean of blue-white mana gathering into a condensed sphere over her palm.

She whispered a short incantation, and the sphere erupted into a cascading storm of crystalline spears, raining across an entire block.

Hundreds of lesser Abyssals were pinned, shredded, and reduced to nothing but twitching corpses in the span of seconds.

Elric's sharp eyes followed them both, the faintest trace of admiration in his otherwise stoic expression. 'Still as skilled and talented as ever… both of them.'

The three regrouped and began heading down a wide avenue littered with craters and shattered stone. Then, without warning, Elric stopped mid-step.

His head turned sharply toward the north, his expression hardening.

Serena noticed immediately. "What is it, old man? Did you sense something dangerous?"

Selena also halted, her mana still humming faintly around her hands.

Elric didn't answer right away. Instead, he closed his eyes and let his perception surge outward—a wave of awareness rippling across the ruined city, painting a perfect map in his mind.

And then he saw it.

Kilometers away, near the central plaza of Avaloria Central Hospital, a silver-haired boy was fighting.

Not just fighting—surviving against impossible odds.

His opponents? A Peak Grandmaster and two Peak Master-ranks whose power far exceeded the norm for their level.

The boy was barely more than an Expert (Low)—and judging from the unstable flow of his energy, he had only broken through recently.

Yet he fought with the desperation of a cornered beast, his breathing ragged, his stance still holding despite the punishment his body was taking.

For a moment, Elric's lips parted, but no words came out. 'How… is he even still on his feet?'

"Elric!" Serena's voice snapped him back, calling his name more than once.

He turned to them. "I think… I found the kid you two were talking about."

Both women froze, their expressions shifting instantly. Selena stepped closer, her voice sharp. "Tell me everything you just saw."

"Four kilometers north, near the hospital's central plaza," Elric said without hesitation. "He's alone. Fighting three opponents, all stronger than him." Then, despite the grim report, a curious smile tugged at his lips. "And yet… he's still fighting for survival."

Selena didn't waste a single second. Her figure blurred and vanished, moving at a speed so sharp and sudden that even many Grandmasters would struggle to follow it.

In less than twenty seconds, she was there.

The sight stopped her cold.

Her student—Alex—whom she had believed dead just hours ago, was still alive… locked in a brutal melee against two Master-ranks and a scar-faced Grandmaster who looked half-dead but still fought like a monster.

Alex's body was a map of injuries—deep cuts, bruises, blood soaking through torn clothes. His breathing was harsh, his sword arm trembling from overuse, but his eyes… they still burned.

'How is he alive? And how… did he get out of that dimension on his own?' Selena's mind raced with questions, but she didn't get long to think.

The scar-faced man swung his axe in a vicious downward strike. Alex tried to parry, but the force tore through his guard, blasting him backward.

He smashed through three buildings before cratering into the street in a cloud of dust and rubble.

Selena's vision narrowed.

Before the man could even register her arrival, she was there—a blur of speed and fury. Her kick smashed into his face with such force that his jaw audibly cracked. The impact sent him rocketing backward, tearing through walls and vanishing into the distance.

She turned, and her eyes fell on Alex.

Throughout all the time she had known him—his confidence, his talent, his almost comical narcissism—she had never seen this expression on his face.

Now, as he was looking at her, there was only one thing in his eyes—relief.

Relief that he might live. Relief that, maybe now, he wouldn't have to fight alone.

'Looks like he's been through a lot in this short span of time… fights to the death. Betrayals. Friends who abandoned him. Lying on the ground broken, alone, with no one to watch his back as death could've come at any moment.'

Her chest tightened. Without thinking, she closed the distance and pulled him into a tight embrace. Her arms locked around him, as if telling him: You can still trust. There are people who still have your back.

---

Moments later, Serena and Elric arrived.

Serena's eyes widened slightly, her gaze lingering on the battered boy. "…Fascinating," she murmured under her breath. "According to Alden, there was no chance of survival."

Elric's sharp gaze softened just slightly. "Now I understand why you were praising him so much that day, my lady."

A wide, satisfied smile spread across Serena's lips. "I told you, old man—my instincts are never wrong. This kid is extraordinary."

Her eyes met Alex's, and for a moment, there was no battlefield, no chaos—just silent acknowledgment. A small, approving smile curved her lips, as if to say: You didn't disappoint me.

---

Meanwhile, Alex was really relieved to see Miss Selena.

A thought came to his mind.

'Partner… maybe I should start a religion in her name instead of the fucking god's. What do you think?'

A voice came in his head, amused and approving.

[ I wholeheartedly approve of that. ]

Alex smirked faintly at the response just as Miss Vega broke the hug, sending him a sharp glare.

"I will need all the details after all of this," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Alex swallowed hard. "Of course, ma'am."

Then the sound of rubble shifting echoed across the ruined street. Dust rolled off the piles of debris as a figure emerged from the wreckage.

Aaron.

His movements were sluggish, but the moment his eyes landed on Selena Vega, they went bloodshot with rage. Even with three powerful individuals now between him and his target, his killing intent didn't waver.

He knew the consequences of returning to the cult empty-handed. After all the manpower, resources, and sacrifices poured into this mission—returning without the Hero Ethan would make his life a living hell.

So one thought burned through him like molten steel.

'If I'm going to die… at least I'll take that silver-haired bastard who ruined it all with me.'

Turning toward Veyron and Veyra, who were still supporting his body, Aaron spoke with a tone that left no room for disobedience.

"Listen carefully. As soon as I attack, use the emergency artifact I gave you and escape. I won't be able to hold the three of them alone."

Veyron stiffened. "Master… what about you?"

Veyra's eyes hardened. "We're not leaving you."

Aaron's lips curved into a warm smile—an expression rare enough that it made both of them falter. "It was fun while it lasted. My life became meaningful after I took you two in as my disciples. I'm not a good man, as you already know… so you don't need to feel bad. Just do as I say."

Veyron's jaw clenched, ready to argue, but Veyra's hand gripped his arm tightly. She shook her head, her gaze telling him everything—if they hesitated, all three would die.

Veyron could only grit his teeth in frustration.

Aaron straightened, ignoring the pain lancing through his battered body. His eyes locked on his target—Alex—and his grip tightened around his massive axe.

Power surged, the weapon beginning to crackle with violent arcs of lightning and raging fire.

With a final push, he summoned every shred of mana he could muster. The air warped around him, the raw pressure splitting the ground beneath his feet.

Then he lunged forward, a human storm of destruction, his axe raised high in an attack meant to cleave mountains apart.

Selena saw the scar-faced man hurtling toward them, the devastation radiating from his weapon. Her eyes narrowed. "Is that the clown who kidnapped you all?"

Alex gave a small nod, his lips curling slightly.

From farther away, Elric's voice cut in. "Do you need help, Lady Vega?"

Selena's gaze shifted to Elric. "Do I still look like a child to you, old man?"

Elric shut his mouth instantly, grumbling under his breath. "Kids these days don't respect their parents at all…"

Vega ignored the comment entirely.

Aaron descended like a meteor, the weight of his killing intent shattering the air. Selena's lips parted just slightly.

"Enhance."

The world shook as his strike landed. The impact was like a missile slamming into the earth—buildings crumbled, the ground caved in, and a shockwave tore through the street. Elric conjured a barrier instantly, shielding Serena and himself from the devastation.

Aaron, panting heavily, was certain the boy had been obliterated.

Even if the Grandmaster protecting him survived, there was no way the brat had.

A twisted laugh bubbled from his throat.

But when the dust cleared, his breath froze.

Selena Vega was standing there, her hand wrapped around the blade of his axe—one hand. Her entire arm had transformed into gleaming silver, stopping the full force of his attack cold.

Alex stood beside her, completely unharmed, throwing Aaron a devilish grin before sticking his tongue out.

Aaron's eyes widened in horror. No ordinary Grandmaster, even at the peak, could have taken that blow head-on without being hurled back or injured.

But the sight of her black hair, black eyes, and the lethal aura rolling off her like a tide struck a chord of primal recognition.

She was beautiful in a way that could kill—a deadly elegance in every line of her face, the cold curve of her lips promising nothing but death.

'Black hair… black eyes… that's her…'

Realisation slammed into him.

'The Black Reaper… the Void Empress.'

Selena's gaze didn't waver. "Emerge."

The air shimmered as small black holes began to appear around Aaron, each one distorting space as they inched closer.

The first touch tore into his body, pulling at his flesh and soul at once. The agony was indescribable.

"Aaaaaahhhhhh—! S-Stop it!" he screamed, his voice warping into something inhuman.

Alex, enjoying the sight, glanced toward the Wraith twins—and his eyes locked onto the artifact in Veyron's hands. It didn't take a genius to know what it was for.

'They're trying to escape.'

A wave of fury surged through him like wildfire.

'Not gonna happen.'

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A/N:

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