Transmigrating as an Extra, But the Heroine Has Regressed?!

Fenn panted on all fours, his eyes dim, his body twitching from exhaustion. His mana was gone—his magic had run dry.

That left only one.

Edwin.

He was on his knees, his body battered, his sword jammed into the dirt to keep him from

collapsing entirely. His chest heaved as if every breath was a war.

Blood dripped into one eye, blinding half his vision. His hands shook so hard that even holding the blade felt impossible.

"Damn it…" His voice cracked, raw with pain and anger. "I… I can't…"

And yet, he forced himself to rise.

His legs trembled like they would snap under his own weight, his sword barely steady in his grip, but still—he stood. The last wall between his broken team and certain death.

The Shadow Leech loomed before him, casting the clearing into deeper shadow. Its red eyes glowed across its writhing mass, every one of them locked onto Edwin.

Then its maw opened wide.

A vertical slit splitting down its body, lined with rows upon rows of needle-like teeth, glistening with black saliva.

From deep within its chest came a low, vibrating hiss, so powerful it shook the leaves and rattled the broken weapons scattered across the ground.

It was the sound of death itself.

And it was promising to swallow Edwin whole.

The Shadow Leech towered above him, its tendrils writhing like living whips, its countless eyes glowing with hunger. Edwin's legs trembled beneath him as he leaned on his sword for balance.

His breath came ragged, shallow. Every nerve in his body screamed in pain.

(So… this is it?) he thought bitterly. His chest rose and fell unevenly, blood trickling down his chin. Around him, his team lay broken—too weak to rise, too injured to fight.

He was alone, the last wall before annihilation.

Those who were knock down, foegert about tearing about emergency talisman, they didn't have energy to raise their hand.

Then

His vision blurred, and in that blur… he saw his past.

—A small home. Warm light spilling from the windows. The sound of laughter echoing through the hall.

He remembered the dirt yard outside, where he once played with his little sister.

She had been so small then, her hair tied with ribbons, her bright eyes always following him. He could still hear her voice, so clear it cut through the haze of death.

"Brother," she had said, tugging on his hand with all her little strength. "You have to become a national hero one day. You have to protect us… promise?"

And he laughed, ruffling her hair. "Yes, Jane. I promise. Not only will I look after our family… I'll protect every family in this nation. That's what it means to be a hero."

The memory shifted.

His father's voice came next, deep and warm.

"Leon, how long will you sit there daydreaming? Come, eat with us. Your mother worked hard to make this meal."

The words echoed in his skull. His throat tightened, and his heart ached. Tears welled in his eyes, hot and stinging, even as blood dripped into them.

"No…" Edwin whispered, his voice hoarse. "Not yet. I can't fall here. I can't break that promise!"

His body shook violently, then—

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

The roar tore from his lungs, shaking the very mist around him. His aura flared outward in a violent surge, the runes along his arms blazing to life.

The ground beneath his feet cracked, and the air itself seemed to tremble.

The Shadow Leech froze, its tendrils halting mid-sway. For the first time, the monster recoiled, its countless eyes narrowing at the sudden, overwhelming power bursting from Edwin.

His teammates, scattered and bleeding, stared at him in shock. Mira and Talia, barely conscious, felt their hearts stir. Ronan groaned, forcing his eyes open, whispering, "What… what power is this…?"

Edwin inhaled sharply, his chest expanding. He gathered every last shred of mana, every ounce of willpower, and forced it into his blade.

His body screamed at him to stop, but his soul refused.

The white glow on his sword turned blinding.

"For my family… for my promise… for my nation!"

He surged forward, his movements faster than before, fueled by desperation. His blade struck like lightning.

SHHHHK!

A deep wound carved across the Shadow Leech's side, its flesh sizzling under the mana-infused slash. The ground shook with the impact.

"Cleave!" he roared, unleashing another strike. The force shattered nearby trees, sending splinters flying.

"Blazing Spiral!" His swords spun, twin arcs of silver flame slicing through the monster's tendrils. The ground vibrated violently, shockwaves spreading out, toppling smaller trees.

The Shadow Leech screeched, its body writhing as scratches and gashes opened across its form. For the first time, it faltered, dragging itself back slightly.

But even this… wasn't enough.

Edwin's roar tore through the forest like thunder, echoing off the broken trees and shattered ground. His aura flared so violently that even the mist seemed to burn away around him.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

The runes across his body glowed white-hot, wrapping him in a halo of light. His eyes blazed, filled with nothing but rage and determination. He dug his foot into the dirt, and then—

BOOM!

He vanished.

One heartbeat he was standing, the next his figure blurred, moving with such speed that even his own teammates couldn't follow him.

Mira's lips parted in shock. "W-where… where did he go…?"

But they didn't have to wait long for the answer.

BANG!

Edwin reappeared behind the Shadow Leech, his twin blades slamming down in a devastating arc. The ground cracked open under the force, dirt and stone bursting skyward.

The monster screeched, dozens of eyes flaring red as it whipped its tendrils toward him.

But Edwin was already gone.

"HAAAHHH!" he bellowed, his figure flickering in and out of the mist as he darted from one side to another.

His movements were so fast they left trails of afterimages, each one striking with bone-rattling force.

BOOM! BOOM!

BANG! CLANG!

Every clash shook the forest. Trees splintered, roots tore free from the earth, leaves exploded into the air in waves. The ground trembled with each impact, the sound of blade against tendril ringing like steel against steel.

The Shadow Leech fought back with equal ferocity. Its tendrils lashed out in every direction, black whips cracking like lightning.

SWISH!

CRASH!