Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The group arrived at the location just a few kilometers from the edge of the battlefield. The ashen ground still carried the scars of recent devastation, but here, amidst the destruction, something stood tall and unnatural—a shimmering portal, 2.5 meters high, pulsating with a faint, otherworldly energy.

Surrounding the portal were more than thirty young men and women, their faces a mix of relief, confusion, and fatigue. Aurelius's eyes scanned the group, his heart skipping a beat as he recognized them.

"The examinees…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. "They're here."

The others quickly noticed as well. The familiar faces of those they had come to rescue filled their view—though not all were accounted for, seeing so many alive brought a flicker of hope.

Aurelia took a step forward, her voice trembling slightly with relief. "They're safe…"

But before anyone could move closer, the masked woman raised a hand, halting them. Her dark cloak billowed faintly in the rising breeze, and her voice cut through the moment like a blade.

"Don't waste time. Quickly, get into the portal," she ordered, her tone sharp and impatient.

The examinees exchanged hesitant glances, their weariness overshadowed by growing uncertainty. Ren frowned, stepping forward. "Wait. What's going on? Who are you to give orders like this?"

An examinee nodded. "We've just regained our memories. We need answers. Where's the rest of us? Why should we trust you?"

The masked woman's gaze, though hidden behind the sleek, black facade, seemed to pierce through them. Her voice was calm, but the tension in her words was palpable.

"This place is going to explode soon," she said flatly, her words sending a ripple of alarm through the crowd. "If you don't want to die here, or return to your real world, do as I say and enter the portal now."

The weight of her statement silenced them momentarily, the ominous undertone freezing their questions in their throats. But the doubts lingered, their hesitation evident in their eyes.

It was then that two figures stepped forward—Princess Cassandra and Adrian.

Cassandra's eyes locked onto the crowd. She exchanged a glance with Adrian, who gave her a subtle nod, before she spoke.

Senior Adrian had told her beforehand about this, even before the 'Hunt' exam started. And asked her to show support when the time comes.

'Don't worry, Young Master Adrian.' She muttered inwardly.

"Listen to her," Cassandra said, her voice firm yet regal. "We will take full responsibility for this decision and your lives. Enter the portal now."

Adrian stepped up beside her, his expression calm but unwavering. "As she said, there's no time to argue. Trust us and go."

The crowd still hesitated, uncertainty rippling through their ranks. But then, from among them, a figure emerged—Princess Alina, Cassandra's twin.

"I'll start," Alina declared, her voice steady as she moved toward the portal. Her composure seemed to break through the group's hesitation, and one by one, the others began to follow her lead.

The pace quickened as a low, ominous hum filled the air. The black entity Aurelius had spotted earlier loomed larger on the horizon, its presence growing more menacing with each passing moment. The aura it emitted was suffocating, an undeniable sign that the masked woman's warning wasn't an exaggeration.

Amidst the chaos, Aria's gaze lingered on Adrian, her purple eyes narrowed in suspicion. While others focused on their escape, she stood still, her thoughts churning.

Just a while ago, when her memories returned, she had used her ability repeatedly—more than five times, to be exact. She had looked into the past, hoping to understand what was going on more clearly. What she saw planted seeds of doubt deep within her heart.

The Adrian beside her wasn't the Adrian she knew.

At least, that's what her visions suggested. There were inconsistencies—glimpses of things that didn't align with the man she remembered.

Her ability allowed her to see the truth of someone's past, which always showed only one person's, but this time… it was as if the fragments were distorted, or worse, this Adrian was an impostor.

Could it be that her ability was malfunctioning?

Or was this Adrian… really an imposter?

It would explain so much—his loss of memories, his unfamiliar mannerisms, and even the way he seemed to have forgotten their shared bond.

Yet despite her suspicions, she had no proof.

Her visions couldn't offer definitive answers, and confronting him now could risk everything. But how could she confirm the truth? Should she ask him outright? Should she confront him in front of everyone?

_____ __

'...'

Adrian could feel her stare. It was so intense it bore into him like an unspoken accusation. But now wasn't the time. He refused to meet her eyes, focusing instead on ensuring the examinees entered the portal quickly and safely.

"Adrian."

The voice was Aurelius's, urgent and strained. Adrian turned to see the young man's troubled expression.

"What about the others? There are still so many examinees left," Aurelius said, glancing back at the battlefield's horizon as though searching for missing faces.

Adrian nodded, his voice steady. "Don't worry about them. We will rescue them as well."

A sharp intake of breath came from Ren, who stepped closer, his brows furrowed. "You mean we're staying?"

"...No." Adrian shook his head. "We'll be leaving."

His words were calm, deliberate, but his eyes shifted to the masked woman. She regarded him silently for a moment, her dark cloak rippling faintly in the wind. She nodded.

"It's your turn now," she said.

The portal shimmered, growing more unstable as time slipped away. The black entity loomed closer, its oppressive aura filling the air with a suffocating heaviness.

Everyone else had already entered the portal, leaving only seven people behind—Adrian, Aria, Aurelius, Ren, Aurelia, Princess Cassandra, and the masked woman. Lyra and Emeric had just entered the portal. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"Quickly," the masked woman urged, her tone sharp. "The explosion could happen any second now."

The group moved swiftly. One by one, they stepped through the glowing portal.

Finally, only three remained—Adrian, Aria, and the masked woman.

"Be quick," the masked woman urged again, motioning toward the portal.

But Aria didn't move.

She turned to face Adrian, her purple eyes cold and piercing.

"You're not Adrian, are you?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with accusation.

Adrian froze for the briefest moment, meeting her gaze. Then, with a calm, unwavering tone, he replied.

"..."