Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The battlefield seemed to freeze in time, everyone caught in the eye's unholy gaze. The air thickened, as if reality itself was bending under the weight of its presence. Those who met the gaze of the monstrous eye were struck by an overwhelming force—an alien pressure that seeped into their minds like venom.

Weaker Elvin warriors and trainees fell like leaves in a storm, their bodies collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Their faces were twisted in pain, hands clutching their heads as though trying to fight off an invisible force. Find exclusive stories on empire

Those more resilient groaned, knees buckling as sharp, piercing headaches wracked their minds. It was as if the eye was tearing apart their very consciousness, leaving behind a void of darkness and disarray.

Even the stronger warriors and elders felt the strain, their thoughts slowed to a crawl, as though trapped in molasses.

A few trainees and youngsters like Dragon Boy, Ren, Aria, Lyra, and Meric, their potential shining brightly, gritted their teeth and stayed on their feet, but their pale faces betrayed their struggle.

The Top Hunters, though hardened by experience, were no exception. They remained standing, but their bodies trembled, and sweat poured down their faces as they battled the mental assault. Even their leader's usually sharp eyes had dulled, his mind teetering on the edge of collapse.

And then, the eye shifted.

It stopped its slow scan of the battlefield, and for a moment, its gaze moved toward the far darkness beyond the queen's flame dome. A faint tremble rippled through the enormous eye. It blinked—slowly, then rapidly, as though trying to comprehend something it had seen. Confusion flickered in the swirling depths of its iris, followed by a brief flash of fear.

The reaction was so sudden, so uncharacteristic, that even the conscious few on the battlefield noticed it through their haze of pain.

But before they could make sense of it, a dazzling barrage of radiant light erupted from above.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Dozens of beams of light shot through the void like celestial arrows, each one striking the monstrous eye with unerring precision. Aurelius and Aurelia descended from the sky, their radiant forms glowing like twin stars as they unleashed a relentless assault. The beams, sharp and precise, tore into the eye like a barrage of shooting lasers.

The eye quivered, a low, guttural growl resonating from the depths of the crack. Its yellow iris blazed with anger, but its earlier fear lingered, holding it back. It writhed under the assault, its fluid surface rippling with pain as the light beams struck again and again.

And then, with a final, ear-splitting SHRIEK, the eye retreated.

It withdrew into the void, its massive form disappearing into the blackness. The swirling crack, now void of its terrifying presence, began to heal itself unnaturally quickly. The jagged edges fused together, the oppressive energy dissipating as the battlefield fell into an eerie stillness. Within seconds, the space was whole again, the crack sealed as though it had never existed.

The silence that followed was deafening.

For a long moment, no one moved. The air was thick with the echoes of what had just transpired, a haunting memory that lingered in the minds of those still standing. The unconscious bodies of warriors and trainees littered the ground, their labored breaths the only sign of life.

The Queen lowered her fists, her emerald flames dimming as she stared at the now-sealed void. Her body trembled, not with fear, but with the weight of what she had just faced.

The Top Hunters exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier confidence shattered. Even their leader, who had stood tall moments ago, now seemed smaller, his hands trembling slightly as he gripped his weapon.

Adrian, however, stood unmoving.

His cold gaze remained fixed on the spot where the eye had disappeared, his expression unreadable. But within his clenched fists, his nails dug deeper into his palms, drawing blood. His killing intent, though contained, was palpable to those who dared look his way.

"That bastard..." he muttered under his breath, his voice low and dangerous.

Aurelius and Aurelia landed gracefully beside him, their radiant forms dimming as they surveyed the battlefield.

Aurelia's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes filled with worry as she glanced at the unconscious warriors. Aurelius, on the other hand, kept his gaze on Adrian, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face.

Why did he look so angry?

He had never seen him like this before.

It was the same for Aurelia.

Her brother had never shown that kind of expression.

Or...

She hasn't seen one before...

A tingling sensation washed over her, as she clutched her chest.

'I... I need to talk to him...'

Her heart heavy with worry, stepped forward. Her eyes were on Adrian, who stood rigid, his gaze fixed on the spot where the eye had vanished. The air around him crackled with restrained fury, his expression colder than she had ever seen.

"Aurelius," she whispered to Aurelius, her voice trembling. "My Brother... he doesn't look right. I think we should—"

Before she could finish, a shadow flickered behind her.

A sharp, blunt force struck the back of her head. Pain shot through her skull, and her vision blurred as her body went limp. Darkness engulfed her senses, and she began to fall.

"Aurelia!" Aurelius and Adrian froze simultaneously, their eyes snapping to her collapsing figure.

But before she hit the ground, a burst of ice erupted beside her, forcing the shadowed figure back. The icy shards danced in the air, glinting dangerously as they spiraled toward the attacker, who deftly dodged and clicked their tongue in frustration.

A silver-haired girl appeared from the ice—a blur of motion that caught Aurelia just in time. Aria cradled her gently, her face tense with focus as she glared at the retreating figure.

"I knew you were a traitor."

Aurelius's breath hitched as he recognized the assailant.

"Eltheris..." he muttered, his voice barely audible. His chest tightened, and his mind raced. "W-why?"

Eltheris looked back, his features sharp and defiant, his lips curling into a sneer. "Why?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "Because you're an idiot. A loser who never learns."

Aurelius stared, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and pain. "What are you talking about? Why would you—"

Before Eltheris could retort, a figure appeared in a blur before him.

BANG-!