Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"...Why did you guys stop? Go on."

Amidst the battlefield, the mocking laughter echoed once again, cutting off the Top Hunter's boastful tirade. All heads turned, their gazes locking onto a new figure stepping forward through the chaos.

Shrouded in a hooded black robe, the figure moved with an air of quiet confidence. Their face was obscured by a sleek black mask, revealing nothing but shadow. Yet, their presence alone commanded attention, as though the weight of the world itself had shifted toward them.

The Top Hunter's face twisted in fury as his moment was stolen. "Who dares to—"

"Heh, will you stop barking?"

The figure interrupted with another chuckle, holding up a hand, palm upward. Floating above it was a fist-sized orb glowing with four radiant colors. It pulsed softly, exuding a powerful life force that rippled through the battlefield like a gentle wave.

The orb was mesmerizing, a spectacle of light and energy. Every soul present could feel it—the unyielding essence of life and nature.

The Queen's emerald eyes widened, her pale lips trembling as a faint, broken whisper escaped. "M-My heart..."

Sia's reaction was far more visceral, her eyes snapping to the orb with a mixture of disbelief and desperation. "The Core!"

The Top Hunter stumbled back, his confident smirk replaced by a look of dread. "W-What? H-How?!"

"Hah!"

The figure chuckled softly, their gloved fingers tilting slightly as they toyed with the orb. It spun lazily above their palm, emitting a kaleidoscope of colors that reflected off the ashen ground.

The figure's voice was calm, smooth, and chillingly amused. "Ah, this little thing? Seems quite popular today."

The orb suddenly slipped from the figure's hand, plummeting toward the ground.

Time itself seemed to freeze as the crowd collectively held their breath. The energy from the orb surged, a warning of catastrophic destruction should it shatter.

"No!" the Queen gasped, her rigid body straining against the artifact that held her.

Sia's eyes went wide with panic, and even the Top Hunter reached out as if he could stop it.

But at the very last second, the masked figure caught the orb effortlessly, a playful smirk audible in their voice. "Oops, slipped out of my hand."

Everyone exhaled sharply, relief momentarily overtaking the tension, though their gazes immediately hardened as they refocused on the enigmatic figure.

The Top Hunter snarled, his fear giving way to rage. "Hey! Hand it over quickly, or you'll face my Master's wrath!"

He didn't know who this guy was or how did he manage to get the nature essence but he had to take it back - for his master.

At the same time, Sia stepped forward, her voice smooth and manipulative. "I don't know who you are, but please... give it to me. We need it to revive our world. It's the key to saving everything!"
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From the other side, the elven elders cried out, their voices filled with anguish and fury. "Return our Mother's heart! You have no right to hold it!"

The Queen's gaze was locked on the orb, her emerald eyes burning with intensity. But as they shifted to the figure, her expression became unreadable, a mix of wariness and curiosity.

The tension rippled outward, pulling in everyone who had been locked in combat just moments before. Even Adrian and his team, locked in battle against the young Avengers, found themselves frozen, their focus shifting entirely to the scene unfolding before them.

However, a faint rustling noise from behind shattered the fragile stillness. Heads whipped around, a collective realization spreading through the battlefield—had the dragon boy and Eltheris used the distraction to launch a sneak attack? Weapons were raised in defense, breaths held in anticipation.

But what emerged from the shadows wasn't an attack.

It was a lone figure—an elven woman with long, flowing red hair. Her steps were unhurried, her expression soft but resolute, as though she belonged in the very heart of this battlefield.

The group froze, recognition dawning like a sudden burst of light.

"A-Irithel?!" Adrian, Aurelius, and Ren muttered in unison, disbelief coloring their voices.

Ren was the first to step forward, his brows furrowed with a mix of worry and relief. "Where were you?! Do you have any idea how worried we were?"

"Yeah, we thought something bad happened!" Lyra chimed in, her tone equally concerned.

Adrian's voice was steadier, but the subtle undertone of relief couldn't be missed. "You're back."

Aurelius nodded, his usual bravado softened for a moment. "Finally."

Irithel's emerald eyes sparkled as she met their gazes, her lips curving into a smile filled with warmth. "I'm happy to see you all again."

Aria, standing slightly behind the group, tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. "Wait… did you get your memories back?"

Irithel paused for a moment, her gaze flickering with a trace of melancholy before nodding firmly. "I did."

There was a beat of stunned silence before Irithel quickly launched into her explanation. "When the chaos started, I was transported with some of the other elvins back to Elwin Town. But…" She hesitated, her fists clenching at the memory. "Something strange happened. I lost control over my body—like I was watching from the outside. And when I finally regained consciousness…"

Her voice faltered for a moment, her gaze lowering, before she continued pointing at the figure holding the core. "When I woke up, I saw him—that figure—holding the orb. He took the orb away from me and took me back here."

"Him?"

______

The figure and the glowing orb had become the battlefield's focal point, a gravitational force that demanded all attention.

With every eye fixed on them, the figure tilted their masked head playfully, their gloved hand lightly tossing the glowing orb into the air as if it were nothing more than a toy. "You all... want this?"

A collective, silent acknowledgment passed through the crowd, their gazes burning with desire.

From the side, the elven elders shouted with desperation. "That's not yours to begin with! Give it back to its rightful owner!"

The figure ignored them, the orb spinning lazily above their palm. Their voice carried a teasing lilt as they mused aloud, "There's only one of this, and so many of you... so, who should I give it to?"

Confusion flickered across the faces of the onlookers. Was this figure truly so ignorant of the orb's value? Or were they simply playing games?

The Top Hunter snarled, his patience running thin. "Give it to us if you value your life!"

Other hunters joined their leader. "Yeah! Give it back! Or else we'll kill you!"

Sia stepped forward, her voice honeyed with sweet and persuading words. "Please, you will be saving countless lives if you hand it over to us. Think of all the suffering you can end!"

Her comrade - Commander Leoric supported her. "You will be labeled as a hero - Hero who saved many lives!"

The elven elders joined the fray, their voices filled with pleading sincerity. "If you have a shred of decency, return our Queen's heart. It doesn't belong to anyone but her!"

"Please, we beg of you!"

The masked figure stopped tossing the orb, holding it still for a moment as if weighing their options. Their gloved hand tapped their chin thoughtfully, their body language radiating exaggerated contemplation.

"Hmm..." They sighed dramatically, their voice tinged with frustration. "Urgh... it's so hard to choose when you all seem so... desperate."

The crowd bristled, tension thick enough to cut with a blade.

The figure suddenly perked up, snapping their fingers as if struck by divine inspiration. "Ah! I have an idea!"

They struck a dramatic pose, one hand pointing upward as if declaring an epiphany. "Why don't we just multiply it? Problem solved, right?"

For a moment, silence.

And then, chaos.

"WHAT?!" The gathered factions erupted in unison, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

The figure began to move as if they intended to shatter the orb, their hands mimicking a breaking motion.

"STOP HIM!" roared the Top Hunter, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

The elvins, Avengers, and Hunters surged forward at once, their movements desperate and frantic.

"Give it to us!"

"Don't you dare!"

"Stop playing games and hand it over!"

Yet something was wrong.

Despite their efforts, they all moved slower than they should have. A strange force seemed to weigh them down, as if they were under some kind of debuff spell.

Still, they pushed on, nearing the figure within moments, their hands outstretched in desperation.

But then their eyes widened, their collective focus snapping to a shadow streaking toward the figure from behind.

"Another One?!" The Top Hunter hissed, his lips curling in frustration.

"Sh*t! We have to be quick!"

A cloaked figure leaped toward the masked one, moving with a speed and precision that betrayed their intent.

The orb-bearer glanced back, their deep brown eyes glinting with something close to glee. They grinned wider, their expression one of pure thrill.

"Too late," they whispered.

With a sharp, deliberate motion, they slammed the glowing orb into the ground with all their might.

"CLANG-!"

SHATTER-!

A deafening shattering sound echoed across the battlefield.

"NOOO-!"

Everyone shouted in panic and terror.

"!"

The moment the orb shattered, a blinding, pure white light erupted from the ground, engulfing everything in its radiant glow.

Everyone protected their eyes as fast as they could.

Time seemed to stop as the light consumed the battlefield, leaving behind nothing but silence and an all-encompassing whiteness.

And then... nothingness.