Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

The blinding light surged across the battlefield, swallowing everything in its path. It wasn't just light—it was an all-consuming brilliance that burned away the very concept of shadow.

Weapons clattered to the ground as warriors raised their hands in vain, trying to shield their eyes. Cloaks and arms were useless against the radiance. The intensity seemed to pierce through their very souls, leaving afterimages of white-hot fire etched into their vision.

Then, just as suddenly, the light vanished.

And with it, the world.

When they opened their eyes, they were met with… nothing.

The battlefield was gone, replaced by an endless, featureless expanse of white. The ground beneath their feet didn't feel real—neither solid nor fluid, as if it existed only because they believed it did. There was no sky, no horizon, no anchor to reality.

Even the top hunters, their senses honed to near perfection, were rendered helpless. Their mana perception felt smothered, their instincts dulled as if by some oppressive force.

But then, the screams began.

They came from everywhere and nowhere at once—sharp, agonized cries that pierced the silence. First one, then another, until the air was filled with the sound of people shouting.

Some warriors dropped to their knees, clutching their heads as if to block out the noise. Others staggered, disoriented and powerless.

And then they began to fall. One by one, as if struck by invisible hands, even the strongest crumpled under the weight of the unseen assault.

The brainwashed trainees fared no better.

Their cries were different—raw and confused. Their implanted memories clashed violently with the flood of their real, unsealed ones. Faces, names, places—they all came rushing back in a chaotic torrent, shattering the lies they'd been forced to live.

It happened as soon as they were bathed in white light and hit by something.

And, in the center of it all, a figure stirred.

The Queen of Nature.

The chains that had bound her for so long lost their power, the artifact that had suppressed her experiencing the same. Her multicolored eyes burned with fierce light as her strength returned, her very presence radiating life and power.

She flexed her fingers, and the void around her seemed to ripple in response.

Her gaze shifted to a lone figure moving purposefully through the chaos.

"Who are you… little human?" she murmured, her voice a mix of awe and quiet fury.

______ __ _

The moment Alex activated Bright World, he felt the overwhelming surge of energy ripple outward, reshaping the battlefield into this blank, unyielding void. It was similar to a Solar Tier Awakener's domain but it wasn't a true one—not quite—but it was close enough.

Because, here, he controlled nearly every aspect.

And he wasn't alone.

The other 'him', Adrian stood afar, his expression calm but his sharp gaze scanning the void. Alex didn't need to say anything—they understood each other. Adrian had full access to move freely within the Bright World, a courtesy Alex granted only because he knew Adrian's potential.

Controlling or using Time.

Alex had studied Adrian's powers meticulously in those visions.

The ability to manipulate time in short bursts, combined with his mastery of the temporal movement technique, made him a force to be reckoned with. If anyone could match Alex's pace in this realm, it was Adrian.

Alex moved first, his form flickering like a shadow as he descended on the nearest group of brainwashed ordinary hunters. His strikes were swift and calculated, each blow rendering them unconscious without harm.

Adrian watched him intently, observing the precision and efficiency of Alex's movements.

Then, without a word, he followed.

The Temporal Movement Technique blurred Adrian's figure as he closed the gap between him and his targets. His strikes were clean, almost surgical, as he mimicked Alex's method of subduing the brainwashed enemies.

For a brief moment, the two of them moved in unison, their efforts synchronized like a well-oiled machine.

But then came the Queen.

The Queen of Nature moved with an elegance that made their combined efforts look sluggish in comparison. With a single motion, she sent all her children—the elvins—back to their town, her power bending the Bright World to her will as though it were her domain.

Now unburdened, she joined Alex and Adrian, her speed and lethality far surpassing theirs. She didn't need to strike twice. Wherever she moved, her enemies fell instantly, their struggles erased as though they were never there.

Alex smirked.

"Show-off."

The Queen spared him a glance, her multicolored eyes glinting with amusement, but said nothing.

It was then that they noticed it—the faint ripples in the void.

Alex stopped mid-stride, his senses narrowing on the disturbance. The ripples were faint but growing stronger, like drops of water hitting the surface of a still lake.

"They're trying to open a portal," Adrian muttered, his gaze locking onto the source.

Alex nodded even though they were far from each other.

However, there's no need to worry as everything was going according to his plan.

The top hunters and Sia's group, along with Leoric, were pooling their efforts to tear through the Bright World. The energy they channeled flickered erratically but was steadily gaining stability.

Two tiny black cracks appeared in the bright world and started growing as they used all their energy.

"Faster," the Queen warned, her tone urgent. "If they succeed, they will get away."

Her eyes narrowed, and she turned her head slightly, as though sensing something else. "And… someone else is coming. I can feel them."

Alex dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand. "She's with me."

The Queen frowned but didn't press the matter. Instead, she redoubled her efforts, moving even faster than before.

As she surged ahead, Alex's focus shifted to the faint ripples growing in strength. He could feel the power behind the portal spell, and for a brief moment, doubt crept into his mind.

Could they hold them back in time?

Could she do it before time runs out of time?

Clink~!

Then, the faint sound of a crack echoed through the void.

Alex froze, his eyes squinting in shock.