Chapter 526 - THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTThe Extra Who Shouldn't Exist 1

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC30: Arrival in the zenith academy

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Arrival in the zenith academy

The hum of medical equipment formed a soft background as Alex stepped into the familiar corridor of the Avaloria General Hospital.

Sunlight filtered through the sterile glass windows, casting a warm glow across the white tiles. Nurses moved briskly through the hallways, but Alex paid them no mind. He had only one destination.

Room 314.

He reached the door and paused for a second, letting a breath escape his lips before gently pushing it open.

Inside, Lily sat upright in bed, her holographic EtherPad propped on a side table, fingers dancing across the screen. She looked up and grinned. "You're five minutes late, future hero."

" I already beat the record on this level," she said, tongue out slightly in mock annoyance.

Alex raised an eyebrow, "That record was mine. You little goblin."

She grinned and finally looked up. "Goblins don't have this much style."

"Debatable," Alex chuckled, sitting beside her.

Alex chuckled, walking over to ruffle her hair. " you're sassier than yesterday. Guess we're even."

"Flattery won't save you. Where's my chocolate?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You're in a high-tech facility, getting the best nutrients in the galaxy, and you still crave chocolate?"

Lily gave him a mock glare. "Don't dodge the question, Alex."

He pulled a small packet from his pocket and tossed it to her. "Fine. Just one piece. Doctor's orders."

As she unwrapped it gleefully, he sat beside her bed, the smile on his face slowly softening. "Lily… I came to say I won't be able to visit for a while."

Her chewing paused. "Why? Did something happen?"

He shook his head. "No. Nothing bad. Actually… today's the last time I'll see you before the entrance exam. Tomorrow, I leave for Zenith Academy."

Her eyes widened. "Whoa. For real? Already?"

He nodded, voice gentle. "Yeah. I've been preparing for this for a long time. You know that. But once I'm in… I'll have access to things—connections, resources—that could help us find a real cure. Not just stabilize your condition."

Lily blinked, the corners of her eyes softening. "You're doing this… for me?"

Alex smiled. "I'm doing it for both of us."

"So you'll be off to the big, shiny academy soon, huh? Gonna forget your sickly little sister and hang out with sword-wielding royals?"

Alex ruffled her hair gently. "I could never forget you. But I won't be able to visit for a while. Entrance exam's going to be intense."

She pouted. "Booo."

"But," he added, taking out the etherPad, "we can still video call. Anytime. And you can also watch the enterance exam live because it will be broadcasted live in all over the world."

Lily's eyes lit up. "Ooh, so I get to watch you get wrecked live? Perfect."

He gave a dry smile. "Oh how I wish everyone had a sister like you."

"And thanks for the motivation my dear sister"

Then, more seriously, he added, "Zenith is more than just status. It's the place where I can find answers. even a real cure for you."

Lily blinked, surprised by the sudden sincerity. She looked away, cheeks flushing. "You big idiot... Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I always keep the ones that matter."

"You sap," she muttered, tearing up.

He gently flicked her forehead. "Hey, no crying. I'll still call you. Every evening. Video calls, okay? So don't go finding another big brother. I'm still under contract."

Lily wiped her eyes, smiling through the tears. "Deal. Just don't become some famous academy snob."

"No promises," Alex said with a wink.

He stayed a little longer, talking, joking, and even helping her beat a level in a mobile rhythm game before finally standing up. "Time to talk to Doctor Emma."

------------

Doctor Emma stood in her office, reviewing Lily's latest scans. She was a tall woman with sharp features, but there was warmth in her eyes when she looked up and saw Alex.

"Her vitals are stable," she said before he could ask. "Still no major fluctuations. The new therapy we've used is helping."

Alex nodded, then tapped on his EtherPad, transferring 200,000 credits.

Emma's eyes widened. "That's… Alex again, this is a lot."

"She deserves the best," Alex replied firmly. "Put her on the premium-tier Mana Circulation Therapy, and bring in a personal specialist. Don't hold back on anything. If you need more money contact me."

Doctor Emma stared at him for a second, then smiled. "You're a good brother."

"She's all I've got," Alex said simply. Then, with a slight bow of gratitude, he left the hospital.

--------

That evening, Alex packed his gear meticulously. His new A-rank enchanted sword rested on the wall beside his bag.

He checked everything twice, then stepped out onto the balcony of his small house, watching the distant glow of Avaloria's skyline.

The air was crisp, and the city lights shimmered under the twin moons. Airbikes zipped by, and the distant hum of Skyrails echoed faintly.

Massive digital billboards displayed academy entrance countdowns, heroic projections, and commercial ads for mana boosters.

A part of Alex's heart raced.

Another part whispered: This is it.

The next morning.

He stood at the mirror, adjusting the high-collared black coat he had chosen. A sleek, reinforced travel coat. His eyes, sharp and determined, met his own reflection.

He inhaled.

"The day has finally come… and I am prepared for everything fate throws at me."

With that, he locked the door and left.

The transportation hub to Zenith was located on the outskirts of Avaloria, a massive spire-like tower that pierced the clouds.

Lines of students, all carrying high-grade gear and hopeful expressions, stretched out before it.

Some wore noble family sigils. Others were commoners with determination blazing in their eyes.

Alex's journey through the city was fast, thanks to the high-speed skytram. Along the way, he marveled silently at the vastness of Avaloria. A fusion of magic and technology, the city floated above ancient ley lines that powered everything from elevators to holograms.

Giant flying constructs—Sky Beasts converted into transport ships—passed overhead, while elemental drones directed traffic. Magic-tech vendors sold potions and mana accessories from floating stalls.

Billboards of past Zenith champions glowed bright, reminding all of the glory that awaited.

Alex smiled. His fingers brushed against the hilt of his sword.

"Time to become part of that legend," he murmured.

Inside the spire, teleportation portals shimmered like vertical pools of water. Staff members directed students into position.

As Alex approached, he noticed a few nobles giving him sideways glances, clearly judging his appearance.

He responded with a bright smile. "Careful staring too long, gentlemen. You might fall in love."

They scoffed. One muttered, "Peasant."

"Future Zenith Elite Peasant, thank you," Alex replied, stepping onto the glowing platform.

A little bit later alex turn came.

"Candidate Name: Alex Dragonheart. Destination: Zenith Academy. Coordinates confirmed. Please step onto the teleportation circle."

The platform buzzed beneath him.

Alex looked around one last time.

He thought of Lily, her fake glares and real affection. Of his parents, gone without a trace. Of the small apartment and the ramen dinners then he looked up.

Alex entered the portal.

-------

Zenith Academy wasn't a single building. It was a sprawling floating city, shaped like a massive gear turning in the sky. Towering spires pierced the clouds, floating islands each one infused with glowing elemental runes.

A web of floating walkways connected levitating gardens, combat arenas, and impossibly grand halls.

There was no other word for it.

It looked divine.

Like the gods had decided to build a campus for their chosen warriors and scholars.

I hovered down toward the main arrival platform, my boots touching solid ground at last. The air here was different—crisp, thick with magic, and tinged with something else.

Pressure.

It was subtle but constant, like the atmosphere itself was testing

> "Candidate Identified: Alex Dragonheart."

"Welcome to Zenith Academy."

A soothing mechanical voice echoed from a floating crystal orb hovering nearby. It blinked once, then zoomed off into the distance.

No applause. No welcome parade.

Good.

I preferred it that way.

I stood in silence, taking it all in.

This was where future kings trained.

Where transcendent sword arts were born.

Where Ethan Williams—the protagonist of the game—would one day rally allies to defeat the world-ending calamity.

And I… I was supposed to be long dead by now. Just a forgotten name in a dialogue box. A footnote in the lore.

But here I was.

Alive.

Breathing.

With a sword on my back, a plan in my mind, and way too many butterflies in my stomach.

"Let the game begin," I whispered.

A breeze blew through, carrying the scent of mana-rich flowers.

Somewhere in the distance, a bell tolled—a deep, reverberating chime that echoed through the clouds.

It was the sound of something ancient.

Something powerful.

Something waiting.

A signal to enter.

I didn't move right away.

There were no other students nearby yet. No faces I recognized. Just me and the looming towers ahead.

Far in the distance, I spotted the Central Spire—a black-and-silver tower so tall it seemed to split the heavens. That was where the Headmaster resided. And beneath it, the Grand Archive, and…

The Legacy Halls.

Places that, in the game, only the chosen few ever got to enter.

I clenched my fists.

In this life, I would walk those halls. I'd make sure of it.

No matter what fate had written, I wasn't going to follow the script.

I wasn't going to play the role of a dead extra.

I'd burn the damn script if I had to.

The floating platform lit up again, signaling the arrival of another batch of candidates in the distance.

But I didn't wait.

I turned away, walking toward the entrance gates—two towering structures made of white stone and enchanted steel, each engraved with ancient runes glowing faintly in the dusk light.

The ground beneath me resonated with every step, as if acknowledging my presence.

It felt like entering a different world.

No, not just a different world.

A new reality.

And for the first time since transmigrating here, I didn't feel out of place.

I felt exactly where I was meant to be.

As I reached the gates, the academy's emblem began to shimmer above them—a golden phoenix wrapped in chains, wings spread wide.

The inscription beneath it read:

> "Ascend Beyond Limits. Burn Bright, Even Against Fate."

I smirked.

"Fate's got nothing on me."

With that, I stepped forward—

—into Zenith Academy.

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC31: The Gathering of Legends with an extra

Chapter 31: The Gathering of Legends with an extra

The gates of Zenith Academy loomed high, shimmering with intricate runes and the legacy of centuries.

As the sun cast golden rays over the academy grounds, a tide of candidates flooded in through the colossal entrance.

Hundreds, no, thousands of aspiring elites had gathered here from every corner of the world for one goal—the Zenith Academy Entrance Examination.

A loud voice echoed across the open field from hovering speakers attached to flying golems.

"All candidates, please proceed to registration and head to the Main Auditorium. You will receive further instructions there."

All the candidates after registering were instructed by the staff to head towards the grand auditorium.

Amidst the crowd was a certain silver-haired boy, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape.

Alex Dragonheart stared in awe at the sprawling architecture of the Zenith Academy. The floating towers, the gravity-defying waterfalls, and the sheer magic density in the air—it was breathtaking.

"I mean... I've seen this place in the game," he thought, eyes practically sparkling. "But this... this is the greatest thing a gamer could ever ask for. Damn, I could die happy just staring at this marble."

He turned left.

Then right.

Then straight.

Then backward.

He had successfully managed to walk in a complete circle. Twice.

"Wait… wasn't I just here ten minutes ago?" Alex squinted at a statue of a flaming lion devouring a magic orb. "Yeah, I definitely admired how badass you looked earlier. I'm lost, aren't I?"

So mesmerized was he by the giant dragon statue spitting water that he turned left.

"Huh… Did the map change in a patch update or something?"

He scratched his head and wandered off, completely lost and mumbling to himself like an NPC with a broken questline.

---

Meanwhile, in the grand auditorium, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The immense hall, capable of holding tens of thousands, slowly filled with candidates. Just then, the large doors creaked open again.

A new arrival.

From the Noble House of Crestvale, Alden von Crestvale walked in with calculated grace. His black-white hair fluttered(despite no wind there again). A confident smirk rested on his face, as if he already owned the place.

Alden von Crestvale, heir of the noble Crestvale House, strode in with elegant steps and the smug grace of someone who knew everyone was watching—and loved it.

"That's Alden! From the Human Domain!" someone whispered.

"He won the Grand Swordmaster Cup three years in a row!"

"He's rumored to be a prodigy among prodigies!"

Alden smirked as if he could hear it all and was already bored by the praise. He took his seat in the front row, crossing one leg over the other with princely arrogance.He looked like the final boss of a noble tea party.

Whispers erupted among the candidates.

"He's the future Sword Saint for sure."

Alden took a seat in the front row, arms crossed, head slightly tilted as if unimpressed with everyone else.

---

Not long after, the temperature in the room dipped.

From the Marquis House of Starlight, Seraphina Starlight entered.

She walked with the elegance of falling snow, her icy-blue hair cascading like frozen silk. Her gaze was calm, yet powerful, and her presence made many hearts skip a beat.

Men gawked.

Women gawked harder.

Boys froze mid-sentence. One guy accidentally walked into a pillar.

Her attire shimmered with enchanted frost, subtly releasing cold air. She sat down gracefully, the chair beneath her developing a light frost pattern.

"She's so beautiful it hurts to blink."

---

The doors burst open dramatically as shadows stretched across the hall.

From the Bloodmoon Empire, she entered.

Lilith Noctis Bloodrose, the Vampire Princess.

Dressed in regal black and crimson, her crimson eyes glowed under the chandelier light. Her presence was suffocating, like royalty that demanded both awe and fear.

Behind her were cloaked vampire retainers, each with a predatory aura.

Lilith Noctis Bloodrose, that name held weight to everyone who knew her.

She entered with a dozen crimson-robed followers, her ruby eyes glowing faintly. Her aura pulsed with power, and her mere presence made the temperature drop and rise simultaneously.

Her long black hair shimmered with red streaks, and her smile—dangerous, intoxicating—made people forget how to breathe.

She was the master of Blood Magic, and with one glance, she made people feel it in their veins.

Gasps echoed.

"She looks like she drinks mana for breakfast."

"Rumours has it that she can drain you with a kiss."

Someone added dramatically "yeah yeah ... she can drain you with a glare."

The guy fainted when she glanced in his direction.

Lilith licked her lips and gracefully sat, her followers forming a protective circle around her.

---

The atmosphere shifted once again.

From the Everfrost Empire, a shimmering light of nature and mystique filled the hall as the Fairy royalty entered.

Aurelia Sylven Everglade, the Fairy Princess, floated in with crystalline wings, glittering like dew-kissed petals.

Beside her was her twin brother, Prince Thalor Sylven Everglade, whose presence was more grounded, yet equally majestic.

They moved with a flow that seemed like they were dancing with the wind. Their followers trailed behind like a trail of stardust.

Gasps.

"Fairies?! Here?!"

"They're known to never leave their empire unless it's something monumental!"

---

And then came an ethereal silence.

From the Verdant Dominion, the Elven Princess made her entrance.

Elaria Moonshade Lareth'Thalas.

Every step she took was poetry. With long blond hair braided in Elven tradition and emerald eyes sharper than daggers, she radiated disdain for everything around her. Her elven entourage looked upon everyone like they were cockroaches.

A guy whispered, "She's so hot… I think she insulted my bloodline just by breathing near me."

Many fainted. A few tried to act cool and failed miserably.

---

Heavy footsteps echoed.

From the Dwarven Kingdom of Titania, the Dwarven Prince stomped in.

Draven storm

He was taller than average dwarves due to his mother who was human , and wore a mechanical exosuit on one arm.

"I heard that this guy once hacked his kingdoms entire security system."

He waved to the crowd.

His followers carried tech gear and various gadgets, one of which exploded and turned someone's hair pink. Draven high-fived the guy.

---

A holy glow followed as white-robed figures walked in.

From the Holy Kingdom of Celestara, the Saint and Saintess Candidates entered.

Leading them was Saint Candidate Elias Dawncrest, who radiated an aura so blinding that someone screamed, "My retinas!"

He strutted like a messiah.

Behind him were two Saintess Candidates: Maria Lunehart and Stela Starvale, who were elegant, graceful, and kind.

"Goddess of Light bless your path," Maria whispered to a stuttering commoner, who promptly forgot how to speak.

Meanwhile, Elias muttered, "Finally, peasants get to witness greatness."

Someone sneezed.

Elias yelled " Blasphemy."

---

Then the room shook with anticipation.

From the Human Empire of Avaloria, a noble woman appeared at the gates. And from the center of the magic circle stepped out Princess Charlotte Evans Avaloria.

She glided forward with hair white like snow and a gaze that made both men and women pause in reverence.

Every step she took seemed to distort gravity itself.

"She's a goddess… no, goddess is her side hustle!"

Girls screamed. Boys fainted. Even the chandelier tilted toward her in admiration.

---

Meanwhile…

Alex was still outside.

He had ended up in a secret garden.

"Why is there a talking peacock here? Wait, did I just trespass into a forbidden zone?"

Someone yelled.

" Hey kid what are you doing here."

" Oh no—run!"

---

Inside the hall, a new wave of candidates arrived. These were not nobles, but their future would be anything but ordinary.

A tall young man with a scar and a massive greatsword—Rein Greystone, future Mercenary King.

A calm girl adjusting her glasses—Luna Astelle, future Archmage of Elements.

And many others: brawlers, assassins, beast tamers—all humble today but destined for greatness.

Even the lesser noble houses had promising talents who would one day shock the world.

---

And then...

The room fell utterly silent.

From the Ducal House of Williams, a brilliant glow filled the room.

Ethan Williams entered.

With platinum blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and an aura that radiated divine power, Ethan looked like a hero descended from the heavens. He walked past everyone, who instinctively made way.

Ethan Williams stepped in.

Everything... stopped.

Time felt slower, air heavier. Even the floating crystals dimmed slightly as if respecting his presence.

Clad in dark navy and gold-trimmed robes, sword on his back, he radiated power that made even veteran knights sweat.

"That's him…" someone whispered. "The Chosen of the Goddess."

Leaders of every race were eyeing him like he was out of this world.

The Holy Church candidates stated praying.

Some girls cried and some were eyeing him like they wanted to eat him.

He ignored the reverence and strolled straight to Alden.

"Yo, Al. Looking smug as usual."

"Ethan. Late as ever."

"Fashionably. It's part of my charm."

They fist-bumped like it was destiny.

---

Suddenly, a thunderclap silenced the crowd.

A terrifying presence appeared on the stage.

Headmaster Aldric Verlane.

With long black hair, a black coat laced with stars, and an aura so immense it bent mana itself, he stood like a god among mortals.

Gasps echoed.

"It's him… The Slayer of abyss lord."

"The one who defeated an abyss lord—alone."

His gaze swept the room, stopping briefly on Ethan.

After some time.

He spoke. "All of you… are weak. Pathetic. Arrogant fools."

He raised a hand. The temperature dropped.

"You're not worthy of this place… yet."

He was about to continue—

BANG!

The door flew open.

"I FOUND IT! I FOUND THE AUDITORIUM!"

Everyone turned.

Alex stood at the entrance, panting, sweating, like he head run a marathon.

He raised a hand. "Hi. Name's Alex Dragonheart. I think I missed roll call."

Aldric narrowed his eyes. He whispered something that no one but he could hear:

"Just like his mother… always late."

Thousands of eyes were on Alex.

He blinked. "Uh… am I in the right place?"

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC32: The Test

Chapter 32: The Test

The grand auditorium of Zenith Academy, shaped like a colossal amphitheater, echoed with the whispers and murmurs of a million eager candidates.

The high-tech lighting glimmered above, casting a silvery glow over the crowd. A grand holographic screen hovered behind the central stage, pulsating softly as Headmaster Aldric stood tall, mid-speech, his presence commanding every soul's attention.

Then, the doors creaked open with a deep, resonant groan.

BOOM.

A dramatic gust of wind swept through the entrance, silencing the entire hall.

And alex walked in.

Every head turned.

There stood a guy with silver hair blue eyes and a handsome face.

His silver-white hair shimmered under the glowing lights, each strand catching the luminescence like threads of moonlight.

His deep cerulean blue eyes gleamed with intelligence and an edge of mischief, holding the calm of a tranquil sea and the storm of a rising tide. His chiseled features seemed sculpted from marble, a perfect harmony of elegance and strength.

The black coat trimmed with silver embroidery he wore flared slightly as he moved, and each step he took was as if the air bent around him, acknowledging the power he radiated.

Girls started starring at him.

"...wow, he looks like a prince charming," one girl muttered.

Another said "Is he glowing?"

Alden, seated among the elite candidates, clenched his teeth, trying not to laugh. His shoulders shook slightly. "This idiot... really made a grand entrance like it's his wedding day."

Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Who is that guy?"

"Is he some noble prince?"

Girls cried "That aura... he looks like a bad boy he's not just handsome, he's deadly too!"

All eyes turned toward Headmaster Aldric, who had paused mid-sentence.

A deadly silence loomed.

"Candidate Dragonheart... you're late."

Alex flinched slightly. "I... uh... got lost."

Everyone strated laughing.

Alex sighed with embarrassment 'There goes my plan for making first impression on the main characters. good job alex everything is the fault of that damn lion statue why was it so badass looking. '

Aldric's sharp gaze didn't waver. "Find your seat."

Alex nodded rapidly and power-walked to his assigned place, muttering, "Sir, yes sir!" under his breath, nearly tripping over a stair.

A few chuckles echoed. Alden coughed loudly, definitely not laughing.

The tension dissolved.

Aldric turned back to the audience.

"As I was saying before the... entrance," his tone laced with amusement, "You all have gathered here today thinking yourselves as geniuses, the best of the best."

The auditorium went silent again.

"But let me remind you. You are not special. Not yet. Out there, in the vast lands beyond Avaloria, there are millions—millions—of talents far stronger, faster, and more experienced than any of you."

He paced across the stage.

"You cannot fight the forces of the Abyss with dreams and hope. You will not survive the wrath of demons with only ego and talent. Here, we do not raise princes or princesses. We forge warriors."

The crowd straightened in their seats.

"Every year, one million apply to Zenith Academy. Only two thousand are selected. Two thousand. That's a 0.2% success rate. And even among them, only the top ten will receive the best treatment."

Gasps erupted.

"Rank one, the Apex of this batch, will lead the first years. The strongest of you will not be given power, you will earn it."

The hall was ablaze with fired-up energy.

Even the shyest candidates clenched their fists, determination lighting up in their eyes.

Alex leaned back in his seat and whispered, "Wow, this old man is on fire."

Alden snorted.

Aldric stepped down from the stage. "Prepare yourselves. The entrance exam begins soon. My staff will explain the rest you."

The doors opened, and walking with elegance and power came a woman with long raven-black hair, tied neatly in a high ponytail. She wore a sleek battle suit with gold linings, her violet eyes radiating intelligence. Her poise was perfect, her aura calm yet exuding the force of a Grandmaster.

Every male candidate sat up straighter.

"Damn, who is she?"

"That's not a teacher... that's a goddess."

"I'm ready to fail just to see her again."

Alex blinked. "Hot teacher alert. Focus, Alex, focus."

She smiled. "Welcome, candidates. I am Professor Selena Vega, and I'll be explaining the structure of your entrance examination."

She gestured, and the massive screen flickered to show a holographic island.

"The test will take place on a deserted island populated by monsters. You will encounter Novice and Intermediate level monsters, as well as seven Advanced-ranked ones three Advance(low) three Advance(mid) and one Advance(peak).

Fear started washing over the candidates because even the most talented amongst them they were not Above Intermediate(peak) rank.

And fighting a monster of Advance rank while being a intermediate was was like a death sentence.

Alex watched in silence ' ofcourse they will get scared even among the main characters only a few have broken through to the Advance rank and that still couldn't guarantee a victory against a monster of the same rank .

because the monster's also have special attributes to compensate for their lacking intelligence.

They can just hope they dont run into the advance ranked monsters.'

Ms. Selena's voice brought him back from his thoughts.

"However, this test is not a death sentence. You will be inside a hyper-realistic simulation created through Zenith's latest technology system: the EVOlink Neural Combat Interface."

A sleek, bracelet-like device appeared on the screen.

"Each of you will receive an EVOlink smartwatch. It will track your accumulated points. If you 'die' in the simulation, you'll be automatically ejected and returned here."

The hall relaxed slightly at that.

Then she showed the point system:

Novice (Low): 10 points

Novice (Mid): 30 points

Novice (peak): 50 points

Intermediate (Low): 80 points

Intermediate (Mid): 100 points

Intermediate (peak): 150 points

Advanced (Low): 300 points

Advanced (Mid): 600 points

Advanced (peak): 1000 points

The crowd buzzed.

"In addition," Selena continued, "if you defeat another candidate, their accumulated points will be transferred to you."

Suddenly, silence.

The cheerful tension vanished.

Every student felt the atmosphere shift.

Some looked around nervously.

"So... we can kill each other?"

"No, it's just virtual... but still."

"This just turned into a battle royale."

Many started questioning themselves. Could they really survive this? Make the top 2000?

Alex, on the other hand, had a wide grin. "Ah, just like the game... even the same monsters and rankings. Perfect."

He peeked back at Selena. "Still hot though. Focus, Alex. You're not here to flirt."

Selena clasped her hands. "You have one hour to prepare. Remain seated in the auditorium. Once the time is up, you will be teleported directly into the simulation. The EVOlink will be distributed shortly."

With that, she bowed slightly and exited the stage.

The staff followed behind her.

The buzz of discussion erupted immediately.

Candidates discussed strategies, nervously rechecked their gear, or simply tried to calm themselves.

Some also started approaching other candidates to form teams.

Alex leaned back, eyes closed, already planning. The Advanced monsters spawn at the north cliff, hidden behind the obsidian waterfall. If I can get there before the others...

Suddenly, a familiar voice, dripping with sarcasm, spoke from behind.

"Well well well, if it isn't the mighty Alex Dragonheart."

Alex's eyes snapped open.

He turned slowly.

A smirk crept onto his lips.

"Well, look who it is."

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC33: The hero , The heir and The extra

Chapter 33: The hero , The heir and The extra

Alex turned around slowly, sensing the familiar energy signatures before even seeing the faces. His eyes landed on two figures striding toward him with undeniable presence.

Walking towards him with matching confident strides were none other than Alden von Crestvale and Ethan Williams.

Alden had that same smug grin he always wore, the kind that made you want to wipe it off with a well-placed slap—or sword strike. Ethan, however, was different.

His gaze was full of curiosity, the kind that made Alex feel like a rare specimen under a microscope.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the mighty Alex Dragonheart," Alden drawled, the smirk practically tattooed onto his face.

Alex returned the expression with a smirk of his own. "Well, look who it is. Isn't this the guy whose record I broke at the simulation arena?"

Alden's grin twitched. "And I broke it back the next day!"

"Exactly," Alex replied with a calm nod. "That shows how petty you are."

Before Alden could snap back, Ethan burst into a fit of laughter so loud and sudden it startled a couple of nearby candidates. "Looks like in the world of narcissism, you've finally met your match, Alden."

Alden rolled his eyes. "Don't encourage him."

"Can't help it," Ethan said, still grinning. "You guys have the same energy. If you were any more alike, you'd probably start a rival fashion brand."

"Don't give him ideas," Alex said, pretending to be horrified.

The trio chuckled, and for a moment, the tension faded into casual camaraderie.

Ethan extended a hand. "Ethan Williams. Heir to House Williams and bearer of all the church's favorite bedtime stories."

Alex took it with a firm shake. "Alex Dragonheart. A commoner. Occasional narcissist. Full-time handsome guy."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like a commoner at all."

Alex tilted his head and smirked. "What can I say? I'm just that handsome."

A chuckle slipped out of Ethan again.

Alex says "I've heard about you too. Especially the part where you show up in the prophecy. Something about you cleansing the world of darkness?"

Ethan groaned, clearly having heard that line too many times. " That thing again."

Ethan sighed dramatically. "Try hearing that from every priest and paladin everytime you come across them. I'm one dramatic monologue away from screaming into the void."

"You mean you haven't already?" Alden quipped.

Ethan smirked. "Don't tempt me."

Their laughter echoed through the arena grounds.

After a moment, Ethan gave Alex a sideways glance. "So… I wonder if you're as skilled as Mr. Smugface here claims." He pointed directly at Alden.

Alden sputtered. "I did not—!"

Alex cut in smoothly. "I could say the same about you."

Ethan blinked. "Did you just throw shade at the hero?"

"More like opened an umbrella," Alex replied.

Ethan burst into laughter so loud it echoed off the the surrounding's. "You're a riot! Just like I heard. Alex Dragonheart, huh? You're something else."

"Born that way," Alex said with a wink.

Ethan sobered a little, though the grin stayed. "You know… I was born skilled. But not because of the prophecy. I'm gonna prove to the world I'm more than someone's destiny. I'll walk my own path—not one the Church paved for me."

Alex crossed his arms. "You even talk like a hero."

Both of them burst into laughter, Alden groaning audibly.

"Seriously, you two are getting along like long-lost brothers. Did I miss the memo?"

Alex patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Alden. You're still the third wheel to our dynamic duo."

"Excuse me?" Alden said with mock offense. "I'm the main wheel. The chariot itself!"

"More like the training wheels," Ethan said under his breath.

"I heard that!"

Once their laughter died down, Alex leaned in with a more serious tone. "Alright. Jokes aside. Let's make a bet."

Both boys straightened.

"Whoever from the three of us gets the top spot in the entrance exam can ask the other two to do one thing. Anything. No questions asked."

Alden grinned. "I'm in."

Ethan rubbed his chin. "One favor, huh? Interesting. I'm in."

They bumped fists together, the deal sealed.

None of them even considered the possibility that other powerful candidates from different countries could stand in their way. Except Alex, who inwardly chuckled. Got them.

Alden puffed out his chest. "Looks like we have a deal. You guys are gonna be my sidekicks for an entire semester."

Both Alex and Ethan stared at him like he was selling candy to toddlers while dressed as a clown.

"We'll see about that," Ethan said, fire in his voice. "Because when it comes to this generation—I'm the strongest."

Alex's smirk froze. That line. That exact line.

Where have I heard that before…?

Then it clicked. Wannabe Gojo Satoru, Alex thought, fighting the urge to burst out laughing. He schooled his expression and replied coolly.

[ Author : Respect to gojo satoru 🙌 ]

"Looks like Mr. Hero here has never been defeated by someone his age."

Ethan tilted his head proudly. "Never."

Alex narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, Mr. Ethan… do you bleed?"

Ethan's lips quirked. "From someone my age? Never."

"You will," Alex said ominously.

[ Author : Respect to batman 🙌 ]

There was a pause. Then Ethan pointed at him. "Okay, that was cool. I'm stealing that line."

Before things could escalate into a battle of epic one-liners, an announcement echoed through the arena: "All examinees, please gather at Gate Alpha. The Zenith Entrance Examination begins in twenty minutes."

Ethan turned around with a grin. "Time to prove who's bluffing."

"Can't wait," Alden added, shooting a wink at Alex.

They walked away, but Alex stood there for a moment, hands on his hips, chest out.

"I really nailed it, didn't I?" he said aloud. "Batman would be so proud of me."

He began laughing—loudly. Loud enough for nearby candidates to edge away from him slowly, whispering, "He's crazy."

Still giggling, Alex wiped a tear from his eye. But the amusement faded as a chill crawled down his spine.

Someone's watching me.

As the crowd moved. He felt it. That sensation again. Someone—or rather, multiple people—were watching him.

He turned.

Three figures stood a short distance away, observing him.

The first was Elias from the Holy Church. His eyes were sharp and cold, practically boring holes through Alex's skull.

Then on another side stood Seraphina Starlight. Her gaze was calm but unreadable.

And then… Princess Charlotte of the Avaloria Empire. Regal, elegant, and aloof, her eyes locked with Alex's for a moment—neutral, but curious.

What's with the three of them? Alex wondered. Did I say something? Or is it just my overwhelming handsomeness?

He sighed dramatically. "Being me is such a burden."

He ignores them and adjust's his collar, grinning toward the future.

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC34: The watchful eyes

Chapter 34: The watchful eyes

As the countdown to the entrance exam ticked away, an air of tension and anticipation swirled through the massive auditorium.

Cadets from every nation, kingdom, and realm of Etheron stood in the waiting hall, their eyes flickering with nervousness, arrogance, or focused calm.

Amid the sea of candidates, one boy's glare burned hotter than the sun—Elias, the Saint Candidate of the Holy Church.

Elias's face twisted ever so slightly as his dark eyes focused on a peculiar sight in the distance.

There they were.

Two of the most prominent figures of this generation—Ethan Williams, the prophesied Chosen of the Goddess of Light and heir to the Williams Duchy, and Alden von Crestvale, pride of House Crestvale, his arrogance matched only by his skill.

And yet… neither of them even spared Elias a glance.

Instead, they were laughing and joking with someone else. A silver-haired, annoyingly calm boy who stood between them like he belonged there.

Alex Dragonheart.

That name had begun to circulate in whispers, carried through the wind like pollen during the spring of change.

"How dare they…" Elias murmured under his breath, fingers curling into a white-knuckled fist.

To be overlooked was a sin. To be ignored… unforgivable.

He was chosen. He was blessed. He was one of the few handpicked by the Holy Church to ascend as a Saint.

And they were ignoring him. Treating him like background furniture while a commoner basked in their spotlight.

A seed of resentment took root, watering itself with bitter indignation. Elias stared at Alex like he was a parasite sucking attention from a divine vine.

"Alex Dragonheart… I'll see to it you fade back into irrelevance."

---

On another side of the hall, separated only a few distance away from where Elias stood, Seraphina Starlight stood with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Her beauty alone could steal breath from lungs—long icy-blue hair cascading over her shoulders, her refined features noble and poised. But now, those features were contorted by confusion.

"Alex Dragonheart…" she whispered. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

She searched her memory like flipping through dusty archives—until it clicked.

A memory from nearly two months ago.

---

Flashback

Her 10-year-old little sister, Sophia, had burst into their estate, squealing with excitement.

"Big Sis Sera! Big Sis Sera! I met a prince!"

Seraphina, sipping tea, raised a brow. "A prince? Did Mother introduce you to someone new?"

Sophia shook her head wildly, her golden twin tails bouncing like energized springs.

"No! I met him when we were attacked by those scary bandits! He saved us and had silver hair and ocean-blue eyes! And he was sooo handsome!"

Seraphina was shocked. "Wait, someone attacked you and Mother?"

Her voice was filled with killing intent.

The pressure in the room began to rise slowly.

Then suddenly, Sonia Starlight came bursting into her room.

"Sera, calm down. You're scaring Sophia."

Seraphina suddenly realized what she was doing, and the pressure in the room disappeared.

"I'm sorry, Sophie. You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

Sophia blinked. "No, Sera, but you were acting scary."

Seraphina apologized again. "I'm sorry."

Sophia began giggling. "It's okay!"

Then Sonia came near Sophia and started patting her head. "Sera, you don't have to worry. The matter is already dealt with by the police, and I've already informed your father.

You know what's going to happen to those bandits, right?"

Seraphina, after hearing that, realized that if her father was dealing with the matter, those guys were as good as dead—because her father, more than anything, cherished his family.

Seraphina remembered what Sophia had been saying earlier and asked, "Wait, Sophie, you were saying someone saved you and Mother, right?"

Sophia puffed out her chest proudly. "Yep! He said he was a commoner, but he was definitely a prince in disguise! I even remember his name!"

She placed a finger on her chin and closed one eye dramatically too.

"…Balax Wagonheart!"

A moment of silence passed. Then Sonia their mother and seraphina broke into uncontrollable laughter.

"Sophia! His name was Alex Dragonheart, not Balax Wagonheart!"

Sophia's cheeks turned red as a tomato. "T-That's what I said!"

More laughter. Sophia pouted.

---

End Flashback

Returning to the present, Seraphina placed a hand on her lips.

"Mother definitely said that the guy who saved them was my age, and he also talked about taking the entrance exam of Zenith Academy."

"So, this is the guy who saved Mother and Sophia?"

Her gaze zeroed in on Alex's face. The silver hair, the noble posture, the confident aura…

"He's weirdly handsome for a 'commoner'..." she muttered.

"Dragonheart. Sounds like a made-up name," she scoffed, but the corners of her lips twitched in amusement.

Still, she mentally noted to properly thank him after the exam. If he passed, that is.

Though if Ethan and that smug peacock Alden were interacting with him…

"He must be strong. I'll be watching you, Dragonheart. Don't lose… or I'll have to go find you myself."

---

A short distance away, yet another figure observed the unfolding scene.

Princess Charlotte of the Imperial House sat cross-legged, surrounded by other nobles, but she wasn't paying attention to them.

Her keen eyes focused on the trio—Ethan, Alden, and the intriguing Alex Dragonheart.

She tapped her chin, amused.

She wore a calm, calculating smile as her violet eyes glimmered with interest.

She watched Ethan and Alden converse freely with Alex, as if they were old companions.

"How peculiar," she murmured. "That one must be quite the enigma to draw both of them to his side."

It wasn't often Ethan and Alden acknowledged others, let alone joked around like that. For them to show interest in someone was more than notable—it was strange.

Charlotte smiled slightly. If he passes… he might make a good pawn. A useful one.

Just as she considered approaching him after the exam, her senses prickled.

Something shifted.

Charlotte's senses, sharp and honed since birth, picked up a ripple in the atmosphere. A faint killing intent—so subtle, even seasoned knights might miss it.

But not her.

Her eyes followed the ripple until they landed on the source.

Elias.

He was glaring at Alex with venomous intensity.

"Well, well…" Charlotte said with a smirk. "This just got so much more interesting."

To her, Alex was no longer just a candidate. He was a potential asset. A wildcard.

And wildcards… were her favorite kind of piece.

---

Suddenly, a booming announcement shook the auditorium.

"All candidates, prepare yourselves. The entrance examination will begin in 10 minutes."

A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. Some people began to stretch. Others prayed. A few—like Alex—just cracked their necks casually.

But beneath the flurry of movement, amidst the unspoken expectations of an entire continent, something deeper had begun to unfold.

Rivalries were born.

Fates were intertwining.

And the pieces of a grander game were beginning to move.

As Alex slowly walked forward, he could still feel the heavy stares piercing into his back—from Elias's wrathful gaze, Seraphina's curious eyes, to Charlotte's amused scrutiny.

He let out a slow breath.

"Man, I'm popular today," he muttered, hands behind his head.

Then, with a cocky grin that made nearby candidates twitch, he added:

"Let's see if they're still watching when I win this thing."

The path to Zenith Academy had truly begun.

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC35: EVOlink Ascension - The Test Begins

Chapter 35: EVOlink Ascension - The Test Begins

An electric buzz ran through the colossal auditorium as the voice overhead echoed once more:

"All candidates, proceed to the Alpha Gate."

Like a rising tide, thousands of hopefuls moved in unison, converging toward the massive silver archway at the northern end of the hall.

The Alpha Gate pulsed with a steady blue glow, humming softly as it reacted to the approaching surge of bodies.

Staff members in sleek white uniforms, each with glowing gold accents denoting their authority, began organizing the crowd into groups.

Their movements were brisk but efficient. One such figure—a stern-looking man with a trimmed beard and visor-like glasses—lifted his hand.

"Cadets, follow your assigned path. You are now entering the Zenith Virtual Combat Testing Zone."

The air grew dense with curiosity and anticipation.

And then they saw it.

An enormous chamber, bathed in vibrant, shifting hues of neon blue and violet, emerged through a layered gate.

Floating just above its threshold, projected in radiant letters, read the title:

EVOlink Nexus Core—The centerpiece of Zenith Academy's virtual testing facility.

It was like staring into the future.

Suspended walkways crisscrossed the massive dome, with glowing energy pillars shooting upward like digital trees.

Hover screens floated everywhere, displaying stats, maps, and pulsing diagrams of neural links. The architecture was part machine, part dream.

Gasps filled the air. Even the arrogant nobles and battle-hardened mercenaries found themselves momentarily stunned.

Among them, some commoner candidates stood slack-jawed. One boy with a crooked haircut whispered, "Is this... a temple?"

Another girl clutched her friend. "This looks more expensive than my entire province."

One scrawny guy touched a glowing pillar and instantly yelped. "It zapped me! Is that legal?"

"Bro, I can see my own heart rate. Is this thing reading my soul?"

Meanwhile, the nobles stood with crossed arms, trying very hard to pretend they weren't impressed.

"This is... adequate," one sneered, even as his eyes darted everywhere like a kid in a candy shop.

"Father said the Academy had 'amazing facilities.' "Now I see why he said it," muttered a brown-haired heir with a twitching eyebrow.

Just then, a golden glyph on the center ceiling shimmered and expanded, forming a life-sized hologram.

A tall, broad-shouldered man appeared—his presence alone silencing the crowd.

Head Examiner Thalos veras.

His voice boomed, calm but commanding. "Welcome, Candidates… to your reckoning."

A few people gulped.

"Before you lies the EVOlink Nexus Core, powered by the latest in consciousness-linked combat tech. What you are about to experience is not a simulation—it is your mind, body, and soul being transported into a mirrored reality."

The crowd buzzed. Thalos continued, arms folded behind his back.

"This is the EVOlink Neural Combat Interface—a spatial-phased, bio-synced neural dive. When activated, it transports your actual body through a dimensional fold into an isolated combat zone."

Alex's eyes narrowed.

Thalos smiled faintly. "Let me be clear. You will feel pain. You will suffer defeat. You may even die."

People began to murmur in shock.

"But you will not perish. EVOlink's Death Recall Protocol ensures that upon 'death,' your body is instantly pulled back through the fold and re-materialized in our med-pods, perfectly safe—but with all memories and trauma intact."

Alex muttered under his breath, "Damn... that's so much worse than just a game over screen."

Thalos raised a hand. From behind the platform, several staff members rolled out sleek black trays containing what looked like high-tech smartwatches with glowing blue cores.

"These are EVObands—your interface with the EVOlink system. They will track your vitals, mission progress, and most importantly—points. In the coming trial, you will be judged based on survival time, combat efficacy, resourcefulness, and territory control."

He paused dramatically. "The test begins now."

As staff moved around, handing out EVObands, Alex accepted his and slipped it onto his wrist. The moment it clicked shut, he felt it.

A pulse.

A small shock ran up his arm, not painful—but exhilarating. The EVOband synced with his neural signals instantly, his HUD blinking to life in the corner of his vision.

He chuckled nervously. "I've seen this before in the game... but damn, this hits different."

Everything looked sharper, more vivid. The way it locked onto his mana flow, heart rate, and even passive perception was leagues beyond the Mirage Core Arena.

"This thing's ten times more advanced than anything I've used. Mirage Core's good for training... this is war."

Nearby, Alden was flexing his fingers, adjusting to the sync rate. "Smooth interface. Feels like silk," he muttered.

Seraphina stood still, watching her own readouts with a cold, assessing gaze. "They even calibrated for divine energy compatibility, This is also good for candidates from the church" she said, mildly impressed.

Charlotte's EVOband flared bright pink for a moment before normalizing. "I love it already. I'm going to accessorize mine later."

Nearby a noble was checking how much fit his body is from training and was repeatedly checking his abs.

Charlotte amused said."Hope they help when your spine's being chewed by a simulated wyvern."

The noble sputtered, "With all due respect Princess I—I'll have you know, my abs are weapon-grade!"

"So is my sarcasm," Charlotte shot back with a wink.

The noble got stunned into silence.

Ethan, ever composed, simply nodded. "Everything's operational. Let's do this."

Just like that…

Lilith Noctis Bloodrose, the vampire princess, elegantly placed her EVOband on with a flick of her black-laced glove. Her crimson eyes glimmered.

"Let's hope this simulation isn't too fragile," she purred, voice velvet-soft and laced with danger. "I haven't fed in days."

Several candidates instinctively stepped back.

Elaria Moonshade Lareth'Thalas, the elven princess, gracefully examined her interface. "Mana flow is responsive. Slight delay... but well-crafted for human design."

Draven Storm Everforge, the dwarven prince, grunted with crossed arms. "This technology is... impressive—for a human empire, that is."

A few candidates fainted from the pressure alone. Others began stretching, whispering nervously to their teams.

Then… silence.

Click. Click. Click.

The heels echoed.

Miss Selena stepped forward in her dark violet uniform, her curves amplified by the perfect cut of her combat-ready attire.

"Now that you all look absolutely terrified," she said with a playful smirk, "allow me to remind you of one small detail again."

She paused dramatically, flipping her Raven black hair.

"Only two thousand of you will make it into Zenith Academy. Out of the 1 million."

A collective exhale ran through the crowd.

She gave them a wink. "Best of luck, my little stars. Make sure to die beautifully."

And then she turned, walking away as all eyes—even those trying to act tough—followed her swaying form.

"…She's too powerful," someone whispered.

"Is she single?"

"Shut up, Brody."

Alex just shook his head with a smirk. "The things people focus on when death is a possibility."

But seriously " That... ass."

Alex slaps himself." Focus, Alex. Death trial. Neural dive. Life on the line. This is serious..."

A deep hum echoed as the EVOlink Nexus began to activate. The dome glowed brighter, energy pulsating from the floor into the very air.

"EVOlink Neural Dive initializing."

The candidates' bodies began to shimmer slightly, the light growing beneath their feet.

A voice rang out once more, now mechanical and godlike.

"Transferring all candidates to Phase One: Desolated Isle Survival Grounds."

Alex's EVOband beeped. [Sync: 100% Complete. Initiating Transfer.]

The world around him blurred. He felt his body being pulled—no, ripped—through a tunnel of pure data, light, and energy.

And then...

Blackness.

Silence.

A moment later, he landed—feet first—on sand. Hot, real, shifting sand.

A blazing sun bore down on him. Jungle trees towered behind him. Waves crashed at the shore.

The Desolated Island exam had begun.

His EVOband glowed.

[LOCATION: Desolated Isle – Phase One Initiated]

"Alright," he said, tightening his grip on the hilt at his hip.

He glanced at the HUD. No nearby allies. No support. Just him.

A second later, a blood-curdling roar echoed from the jungle.

Followed by another. And another.

He sighed. "Yep. Definitely not a game anymore."

Then, with a grin creeping onto his face, he took a step forward.

"Let's see who survives this game."

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC36: Blood on the Island

Chapter 36: Blood on the Island

The moment Alex's body reformed on the deserted isle, a strange silence wrapped around him. A thick fog of mana hung in the air, twisting slightly like it was... watching.

The sound of thousands of feet stomping, shouting, and steel clashing echoed across the island as the rest of the candidates were also forcefully teleported. The peaceful-looking landscape shattered into chaos within seconds.

Screams. Explosions. Mana flares. Light and fire clashed against shadow and steel. Alliances were forming and breaking at rapid speed.

Alex stood still amid it all, his blue eyes narrowing as the wind tousled his sliver hair. He calmly took a step forward.

"Well, this is just a warm welcome, isn't it?" he muttered sarcastically, brushing dust off his coat his shoes sinking in the sand.

He flicked his wrist and summoned his EVOband interface. A translucent screen hovered in front of him, displaying the

point distribution system:

Point System – Updated:

Novice (Low) Monster: 10 points

Novice (Mid) Monster: 30 points

Novice (Peak) Monster: 50 points

Intermediate (Low) Monster: 80 points

Intermediate (Mid) Monster: 100 points

Intermediate (Peak) Monster: 150 points

Advanced (Low) Monster: 300 points

Advanced (Mid) Monster: 600 points

Advanced (Peak) Monster: 1000 points

Candidate Elimination : Points from defeated candidate are transferred to eliminator.

Alex nodded. "Straightforward. Brutal. Kinda like a sales department." He cracked his neck and marched into the forest.

The dense forest canopy swallowed light, but his senses were sharp. The bushes rustled. A Novice (Low) rank Wolf leapt at him, fangs bared.

Alex didn't even flinch. One smooth draw of his blade — slash.

The beast landed behind him, twitching once before collapsing.

+10 points

Another three burst out: a Novice (Mid) Thorned Ape, and two Novice (Peak) Razor-Hogs.

"Now we're talking."

He dodged under the ape's swinging arms, stabbed upward into its neck, pivoted to parry a hog's charge, and backflipped off a tree to land between the second hog and the collapsing ape.

His blade danced.

By the time he stopped moving, all three monsters were bleeding out on the forest floor.

Sweat glistened on his forehead. "This feels like grinding low-level mobs in a Soulslike. Fun, until the boss pops out."

Almost as if summoned by his words, three Intermediate (Low) rank monsters arrived. A two-headed jungle serpent slithered down a tree, fangs dripping venom. Behind it, a Horned Ironback charged.

"Yep. There's the boss music."

He dropped into a stance. Void Step activated.

In a blink, he vanished.

The Ironback's charge met only air. Alex reappeared behind the serpent, slashing across both heads in a single, clean arc.

The serpent convulsed.

The Ironback spun, but Alex launched a Phantom Rend — his blade split into shimmering afterimages, each strike slamming into the beast from different directions.

The Ironback collapsed.

Panting slightly, Alex muttered, "Note to self: I need to eat something that isn't forest pig guts later."

He continued deeper. That's when he heard laughter.

A group of cadets — seven in total — emerged from the trees. Their armor mismatched but functional, their expressions cocky.

"All alone, pretty boy?" the leader sneered. He was Intermediate (Mid), the others Novice (Peak).

Alex just sighed. "Seven versus one. You sure you're not overestimating yourselves or just that desperate for a participation trophy?"

"You'll regret those words."

The group charged.

Alex grinned, stance wide. Bladestorm Mirage.

The world became streaks of steel.

He weaved through them, every move fluid. The first went down with a gash across the chest. The second lost his weapon and consciousness after a spinning kick to the jaw. A third raised a barrier — it shattered instantly under a downward cleave.

The leader screamed and launched a barrage of fireballs. Alex deflected them mid-air with expert timing.

He leapt over the last cadet, slashed downward with a Phantom Rend — triple-hit combo — and landed softly.

Silence.

All seven were down.

Alex exhaled. "Now that was a workout. Did they seriously think I wouldn't take them all? Rookies."

"Even if it is virtual reality killing humans does not feel good in the slightest but I'll have to get used to this because this is how this world works the strong takes everything and the weak just have to get by on there scraps."

Alex exhaled "I and lily have learned this the hard way good thing I have experienced those damned ancient ruins so it doesn't affect me much."

He checked his EVOband.

Current Rank: 5509 / 1,000,000

Points : 950

He frowned.

"…Seriously? After all that effort? Man, either this leaderboard is broken, or there's some monsters out here farming points like crypto bros."

He smirked.

"Fine. Let's step it up."

He activated the third form of his sword art.

Celestial Flow.

Suddenly, he vanished into a streak of speed. In that moment, Alex ceased to be a human and became a storm.

Blurred shadows zipped across the forest. Monsters froze mid-roar, unaware their necks had already been severed. Candidates clashing mid-duel blinked in confusion before their heads hit the ground, and their vision faded to black.

"W-Who was that?!" one managed to gasp before being eliminated.

Even Intermediate (Peak) cadets fell before they could react. The few who survived the encounter only saw a streak of silver and red vanish into the trees.

Back at the academy, dozens of candidates were being forcefully teleported back.

"Who the hell was that?!"

"I didn't even see his face!"

"A monster! That's not a person, it's a monster!"

Meanwhile, in a secluded cliffside in the forest, Alex stumbled to a stop. His body shook.

"Shit… shouldn't have used Celestial Flow for that long…" he muttered, dropping to one knee.

His muscles throbbed, and blood seeped from his glove. "That really takes a toll… and I still have to fight guys like Ethan and Alden."

He stared at his sword. The edge was clean, glowing faintly with a silver sheen.

"…But damn, Jack really knows how to craft." He ran a hand along the blade. "This isn't a sword… it's art."

He opened the EVOband interface again.

Current Rank: 195 / 1,000,000

Points: 2970

Alex cracked his neck and laughed. "Now that's more like it. Blood, sweat, and absurd amounts of sarcasm — always works."

He stood up, sheathing his sword.

"There's still more to do. Next stop… northern cliffs. If the game's right, that's where the Advanced (Low) monster shows up.

I wonder what those two clowns and other main character's are up to."

After that He turned, disappearing once more into the forest.

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC37: Thunderclash and a Musclehead

Chapter 37: Thunderclash and a Musclehead

The moment Ethan Williams' feet touched the forest floor of deserted isle, his body relaxed instinctively, as if nature itself welcomed him.

He felt the pulse of mana thick in the air. The forest around him was alive with the sounds of battle—screams, roars, and the clash of steel. He took a deep breath, the scent of damp earth and fresh air filling his lungs.

"Time to get to work," he muttered, a smirk playing on his lips.

He cracked his neck, his golden eyes scanning the jungle-like terrain of Isle island.

"Let's see what kind of monsters this island coughs up," he muttered, a half-smile tugging at his lips. Electricity danced across his fingertips. "I'm itching for a warm-up.

A rustle in the bushes to his left—Ethan turned without pause and dashed forward. A Novice (Low) rank creature, a Barkwolf, lunged out.

It had wooden fur and thorny fangs, but it didn't even have the time to growl. With a flicker of lightning and a single swing, the wolf exploded into splinters.

+10 points.

"Too easy."

He didn't slow down. A Novice (Mid) rank Vine Serpent tried to ambush him from a tree branch, its body coiled like a noose. Ethan didn't even look. His fingers snapped, and a bolt of lightning curved mid-air, frying the serpent before it could hiss.

Moments later, a Novice (Peak) rank monster—an armored Mantislord—descended from above, blades gleaming in the sunlight. This one tried harder. It unleashed a barrage of strikes.

"Finally," Ethan said, parrying with his sword. The Mantislord's body sparked as lightning surged into it through Ethan's blade. It screeched before collapsing.

Then came an Intermediate (Mid) rank Stonehide Bear. Towering and thick-skinned, it roared and pounded the ground. Ethan simply smirked.

The bear charged. Ethan vanished in a flash of lightning, reappearing behind the beast. Before it could react, a precise thrust to the back of its neck brought it down.

Next came a true beast—an Intermediate (Peak) rank Flameback Raptor. Covered in crimson scales and spewing fire from its

"Alright, you get two moves."

The raptor charged. One dodge, one parry, and Ethan impaled it with a lightning-charged lunge.

Not too far away, three cadets hiding behind a boulder watched in sheer terror.

"D-Did he just kill a Peak Intermediate Raptor in under ten seconds?" one whispered.

"That's not a candidate of our age… That's a monster."

"We need to get out of here before he sees us!"

They bolted, too scared to even breathe loudly. Ethan didn't notice—or maybe he just didn't care.

Ethan checked his EVOband. A digital screen popped up.

Rank: 29 / 1,000,000

Points: 4150

He raised a brow. "Guess I've been holding back a little too much."

Just as he was about to move again, the skies shifted. A booming voice echoed.

"Attention all candidates! From now, every two hours, the island will begin to shrink. Fight well and Survive."

A massive blue screen materialized in the sky.

Remaining Candidates: 500,789

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"So they want to herd us like cattle. Clever. Force us into each other's paths… Let the real slaughter begin."

He smirked again. "And they didn't tell us this earlier… to cause panic. Heh. Typical."

He delved deeper into the forest, weaving through foliage and following traces of high mana concentrations. That's when he felt it—an oppressive aura up ahead. His eyes sharpened.

Suddenly, someone blocked his path.

The guy looked like he was carved from granite. He was tall, at least six feet, muscles bulging under his battle-worn armor.

A massive greatsword was strapped across his back. A scar ran across his left cheek, giving his otherwise youthful face a battle-hardened edge. He looked Ethan dead in the eye, grinning.

"Rein Graystone," the musclehead said. "You're the chosen hero of the Goddess of Light, right?"

Ethan tilted his head slightly. "Didn't know I had fangirls who look like muscleheads."

Rein barked a laugh. "Heh! I've wanted to fight you for a long time. Let's see if you're all hype, pretty boy."

Ethan chuckled. "You sure you want that smoke?"

Rein slammed his fist into his palm. "You've been acting all high and mighty. Let's see how you handle real power!"

Without warning, Rein's greatsword came down like a meteor. Ethan parried, sparks flying as steel met steel. The force blew leaves and debris in all directions.

The ground cracked beneath them. Trees snapped like twigs. They danced across the forest, exchanging blow after blow. But slowly, it became clear—

Ethan wasn't even trying.

He was only using 40% of his strength.

And yet, Rein was sweating, breathing heavily, growling with frustration.

Rein activated a red gem embedded in his bracer. His speed shot up instantly.

"Artifact, huh?" Ethan mused.

Rein followed with his fire affinity—blazing trails behind his sword, trying to corner Ethan.

But Ethan moved like lightning—literal lightning. His strikes were precise, his movement effortless. He ducked, dodged, and retaliated with shocking blows that singed Rein's armor.

"Damn it!" Rein growled. "Stand still!"

"Can't. Ugly's contagious."

Finally, Ethan stepped back.

"Yo, musclehead," he called out, spinning his sword lazily. "You've got potential and You're strong. But not strong enough."

Rein snarled and charged.

Ethan's eyes flared with power.

"Let me show you what real power looks like."

He raised his sword. Electricity gathered, with the shimmering divine energy.

'Dawnbreaker Judgement—First Form: Radiant edge!'

The world turned white.

A blinding slash of light and lightning tore through the battlefield. The very air split apart, the trees behind Rein disintegrated. Rein's weapon flew from his hands. He was sent flying backward, skidding through the ground and crashing into a boulder.

Dust settled. Rein lay there, chest heaving, eyes wide.

He stared at the sky. "I've… never lost before…"

All his life, he'd crushed every opponent. But this guy—Ethan—he didn't even flinch. He beat him with a single move of his sword art.

Only one thought came to mind. ' A monster '

'what kind of monster is he . Is there even anyone who can defeat this monster in this entire island.'

" If there is then he will also be a monster… No, a monster among monsters…"

He shivered.

Ethan stepped toward him, sword crackling with residual lightning.

Rein braced himself.

But Ethan stopped.

"You've got potential," he said calmly.

Rein blinked.

Ethan looked down at him, thoughtful. "It would be a waste to eliminate you before you make it into the top 2000." He turned, cloak fluttering in the breeze. "Don't disappoint me."

He walked off, lightning humming around him and Thinking to himself.

'I really looked cool there didn't i.'

-----

Rein lay there for a moment longer. Then he laughed.

"What a weird guy… But he was kinda cool."

It actually worked.

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC38: fire, fury and girlfriend issues

Chapter 38: fire, fury and girlfriend issues

Alden von Crestvale's POV

------

Alden landed lightly on the cracked, dusty soil of the Deserted Isle, his boots raising a puff of red sand as he surveyed the barren landscape. The sun blazed overhead, unfiltered and ruthless, yet he looked unfazed.

Stretching his arms with a yawn, he muttered, "Alright. Let's see what this stupid 'Entrance Exam' has in store."

Just as he finished that smug thought, a low growl echoed behind him.

Alden didn't even turn. He thrust his sword backward with effortless precision, impaling a Barkwolf that had pounced from the shadows. It let out a whimper before disintegrating into light particles.

+10 points.

"Still no challenge," Alden sighed.

He'd already carved a trail through the local fauna. A herd of novice-rank Flame Lizards? Gone in under two minutes. A pair of intermediate-rank Razorback Boars? Barely managed to scuff his uniform.

Every now and then, a human candidate or a group would cross his path—some trying to talk, others attempting ambushes.

He brought up his EVOband with a flick of his wrist, the screen hovering midair in front of him.

Ranking: 245/1,000,000

Points: 2780

He grumbled, "Tch. I was hoping to be in the top 100 by now. All these weaklings are slowing me down."

"yeah. Too easy," he muttered, brushing dirt off his shoulder. "I swear, if I don't run into at least one advanced-rank monster or a decent opponent soon, I'm going to die of boredom."

As if the universe heard his complaint, he suddenly froze.

Multiple presences.

His senses flared, detecting faint rustling in the trees, shallow breaths, the scrape of boots against gravel.

Then they stepped out.

One by one.

From behind trees, out of tall brush, even from beneath hidden traps.

Alden's smirk widened as he counted.

Forty.

Forty candidates surrounding him.

"Well, well, well," Alden muttered with an unhinged grin forming. "Looks like someone heard my prayer. Finally."

He let out a laugh—no, a full-blown maniacal cackle that echoed through the twisted forest.

"Man, this was getting really boring! Now I can finally have some fun!"

A figure stepped forward from the encircling group.

Tall, lean, black hair swept back with precision, wearing the noble crest of House Simon.

"Long time no see, Alden," the man said coolly.

Alden tilted his head.

"…Who are you?"

The reaction was instantaneous. The man visibly twitched and nearly tripped over a root.

"It's me! Jordan van Simon!" he snapped. "We fought in the Westwind championship one year ago! I made it to the semi-finals!"

Alden blinked.

"…Never heard of it."

Jordan's eye twitched so hard it looked like it was about to fall out. Several of his subordinates chuckled quietly.

Truth be told, Alden remembered him perfectly. Jordan had a decent sword style and was even invited to a few noble banquets. But Alden made it a point never to remember mediocre people—at least not out loud.

"So…" Alden grinned wider, "You're saying you weren't man enough to face me alone and had to bring forty guys just to feel brave?"

Jordan clenched his fists, face red with fury, but forced himself to speak.

"If I can eliminate you before you enter the top 2000, then it's worth it. I can forget my pride for that much."

Alden clicked his tongue in mock disappointment. "So this isn't about the tournament then? How sad."

He leaned his weight casually on one leg and said with a glint in his eyes, "Tell me the real reason. Before I turn you into fertilizer, I want to know what I'm dying for."

Jordan grounded his teeth so hard Alden half-expected sparks. But then he spoke.

"…It was after the tournament. My girlfriend—Serena Durell—she… she dumped me."

Alden raised an eyebrow." So what do I do find another girlfriend for you. Sorry dude I don't run Lover.com for pitiful guys who get dumped by their girlfriends."

At that even the candidates surrounding him was trying to hold back themselves from not to laughing but some stll slipped.

Jordan seethed at that but he still continued, voice rising, "I saw her talking to you at the celebration banquet. Laughing, smiling—flirting. And then… she kissed

Alden blinked.

Then laughed.

Loudly.

Like the kind of laughter that made trees shake and birds flee." Dude I don't even remember that chick."

"And what you're telling me…" he gasped through tears, "is that I NTR'd you without even knowing?! HAHAHAHA!"

Some of the 40 surrounding candidates were clearly trying not to laugh. A few failed. One even choked on his own spit.

Jordan's face turned a dangerous shade of purple.

"You think this is funny!?" he roared.

"Yes."

"You ruined my relationship!"

"You ruined it by being forgettable."

"You—!"

Jordan raised a hand and screamed, "ATTACK!"

Alden's expression shifted.

From playful… to cold.

All 40 surged at once.

But Alden had already moved.

A step to the left. A backflip. A twist.

Swords missed him by inches.

He ducked a spear, kicked a hammer-user into a tree, then parried three attacks at once with a single flick of his wrist.

"Thanks for the entertainment!" he shouted mid-combat. "I was really getting bored."

Then, without warning, his sword ignited in brilliant orange flames.

The fire danced like it had a soul of its own, wrapping around the blade like a living entity.

A few candidates froze.

"Is that—?"

"Fire resonance?"

"No way, that sword looks enchanted—!"

"Retreat! We're not equipped for—"

"TOO LATE!" Alden roared.

He slashed the sword in a wide arc. A crescent of fire surged forward, knocking back five candidates in a burst of flame and smoke.

"You guys came all this way…" he grinned, eyes blazing like his sword, "you might as well enjoy the full course."

Jordan, still fuming, charged with a battle cry, aiming straight for Alden's head.

Their blades clashed—steel on steel.

But the moment their weapons met, Jordan's sword melted slightly at the edge.

"What the—?!"

Alden smiled. "Sorry, forgot to mention. My sword eats cheap metal."

"You cocky—!"

"Accurate!"

Jordan tried to cast a barrier spell, but Alden's free hand lashed out, fire coiling from his palm and exploding in a burst that knocked the noble heir several feet back.

The other candidates surged forward again, now attacking with ranged spells and support skills.

"Ah, good," Alden muttered. "Now you're really trying."

He moved like a blur, his sword a flaming comet. Fireballs collided with ice spears. Smoke and sparks danced through the clearing.

A whip-wielder tried to bind him—he severed the whip mid-air and kicked the wielder unconscious.

A healer tried to protect their group. Alden spun mid-air and knocked them out cold with a blunt hilt strike before severing their heads from their shoulder.

"You brought healers too? Wow, someone really planned this like a field trip!"

As the chaos escalated, Alden seemed to enjoy himself more with each second.

He wasn't just fighting.

He was playing.

At one point, he even looked at his EVOband again mid-battle.

"Let's see… Points now at 2930. Not bad."

Another candidate screamed and launched a wind blade.

Alden ducked, letting it slice past him and hit someone else by accident.

"Wow," Alden laughed, "Friendly fire much?"

The forest now resembled a war zone. Smoke filled the air. Burnt trees. Craters. Moaning, fallen candidates.

And Alden, at the center of it all, with a flaming sword, surrounded by sparks and chaos.

He pointed the sword at Jordan, who was barely standing, breathing heavily.

"I'm not done with you yet," Alden said with a devilish smirk. "Let's finish our little reunion properly.

There are still atleast 30 of you left for me to play with."

Jordan's hand trembled.

He raised his blade.

And Alden surged forward.

And with that, the forest was engulfed in fire and fury as chaos erupted the next second.

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS 

THE EXTRA WHO SHOULDN'T EXISTC39: The guy named Alden von crestvale vs 41

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The guy named Alden von crestvale vs 41

The dust settled briefly in the arena before a fresh storm of chaos erupted. Thirty remaining candidates and Jordan surrounded Alden, their auras flaring like dying embers in the presence of a raging inferno.

Alden's sharp gaze landed on Jordan, who had managed to slip behind another group. He raised his sword slightly, preparing to strike him down. But before his blade could move, three candidates jumped in between, deflecting his strike.

Jordan scrambled back, barely holding his smirk. "Tch... thanks, guys."

Alden's lips curled. "Cowards hiding behind numbers."

He calmly walked forward, as if strolling through a park, eyes tracking each movement around him. He began slicing through the resistance—not with brute force, but with elegance. Every motion was clean, refined, and artistic, as though his sword were painting strokes of destruction.

"That swordplay... it's unreal," one candidate whispered.

Jordan's heart raced. Cold sweat ran down his spine.

"He's... using Resonance?" Jordan's mind screamed.

Resonance—a phenomenon only Advance-rank and higher wielders could access. It allowed them to synchronize with their elemental affinity to amplify their attacks exponentially.

It wasn't just fire, wind, or water anymore; it was a way to becoming closer, becoming one with that element. The phenomenon could only be achieved when a wielder deeply connected with their elemental nature, and trained to mold their mana to echo that affinity.

For Alden, it was fire.

"Impossible... He's Advance-rank?" Jordan's face turned pale.

Desperate, the remaining candidates shouted, activating artifacts. A sphere formed in the sky, glowing violet.

BOOM.

A crushing gravitational field descended.

Alden's body was slammed into the ground, unable to move. Dozens of attacks were hurled at him, some landing with explosive force. Bruises formed on his body, but his gaze remained calm.

His lips twitched. "Alright... this is annoying."

His eyes darted across the field.

Think, Alden. You've dealt with worse in the simulations.

Suddenly, he poured mana into his core, igniting a burst of flame under him. It wasn't flashy—just enough to create a pressure burst and twist his body. Simultaneously, he used a minor deflection technique with his sword, redirecting one of the attacks toward the artifact sphere.

CRACK! The artifact flickered.

With a fiery surge, Alden roared.

"Burn."

Flames erupted in a dome, and the gravity field shattered. Candidates stumbled back.

But before they could recover—

FWOOOSH!

Alden dashed forward, clashing with four candidates in rapid succession. Just then, another wave of candidates lunged at him.

With a snap of his fingers, his fire resonance ignited like a wildfire.

A wall of flame surged in all directions.

Some candidates got pushed back. Others were burned to crisp. Then came Jordan, his wind affinity finally kicking in.

"Let's see you block this!"

Blades of wind slashed across the field, and some struck Alden's shoulder and side, leaving clean cuts. But the fire around Alden intensified.

He smirked.

"Barely a scratch."

The air grew heavy.

Alden cut down two more candidates with precise blows, then suddenly paused, letting out a maniacal laugh.

"WONDERFUL! Now this is what I call a fight!"

Jordan gritted his teeth.

Alden pointed his sword at him. "But... I'm still disappointed. There are forty-one of you, and none of you have given me a critical injury. Do you realize how sad that is?"

He turned to Jordan with a teasing grin. "Especially you. Sneaking in little wind slashes, then hiding like a squirrel. Are you auditioning for a circus?"

Jordan's face turned red.

Alden sighed dramatically. "Let's get serious. For real."

He held his sword horizontally. Fire spiraled around it.

"Sovereign Blade Style."

A burst of aura enveloped the arena. His sword glowed crimson and gold.

"First Strike: Radiant Dusk."

BOOOOOOOOM!

A blinding light exploded from his blade. Eight candidates were thrown into the air and landed unconscious, eliminated on impact.

Only eighteen remained. And Jordan.

Every remaining candidate stared at Alden in horror.

Even Jordan took a step back. "No... he's a monster."

He turned to the others. "Attack him. All of you. If you don't... your families will suffer. You know the rules of Simon County don't you."

The others hesitated, looking at each other.

Alden narrowed his eyes.

"...He's threatening them," he muttered.

The candidates reluctantly raised their weapons, advancing.

Alden's expression softened.

"...Tch. I was having fun. But this?"

He ignited his fire resonance again—this time not with violence.

With precision and care, he knocked each candidate out with controlled blasts of heat and wind pressure. One by one, they collapsed.

"Be thankful," he said, standing amidst the smoke. "This benevolent warrior has spared your futures."

"I hope mother is watching she would be so proud of me."

He even wiped imaginary tears. "Look at me, such mercy!"

When he turned around—

"...That bastard's gone, isn't he?"

Jordan had disappeared.

"Coward!" Alden shouted into the sky. "You dragged your family name through the mud, humiliated yourself on global broadcast... and STILL didn't land a real hit? PATHETIC!"

He glanced at the knocked-out candidates.

"...Don't worry, folks. He was a clown. You were just the backup dancers."

He checked his EVOband.

Ranking: #5 / 1,000,000

Points: 4950

"FIFTH?! I'm the greatest genius of Crestvale, and I'm not first?!" He fake gasped.

Then, with a dramatic bow to the empty air:

"I humbly accept my silver medal in the war of mortals. Truly, I am magnificent."

---

Across the World – Broadcast Reaction

Screens across EtherNet lit up with Alden's battle. Commentators lost their minds.

"Did you see that strike?! That's Radiant Dusk, the sovereign-style opener!"

"Impossible! He's sixteen!"

Crowds screamed. Nobles gathered in lounges, sipping aged wine. Commoners watched from local cafés and their house.

In Zenith Academy's Student Council Office...

Alicia von Crestvale rolled her eyes while sipping tea.

"As expected of my little brother," she muttered.

Then, with a smirk: "Still, I would have beaten him half to death myself if he got eliminated after bragging like that."

---

Crestvale Duchy – Inside the Manor

Lady Serena von Crestvale clapped her hands, watching her son onscreen.

"That's my Alden! So fiery!"

Duke Reynard von Crestvale sat with a stony expression, sipping aged whiskey.

"Hmph. He needs to refine his footwork."

Serena leaned closer, eyes glinting. "Oh? But look at that little smile on your face."

"I'm not smiling."

"You are. Admit it."

"I am not."

"You're proud of him."

"...Tch."

"You're beaming."

"I will revoke your EtherNet access."

"Still smiling."

---

Avaloria central hospital – Lily's room

Lily sat on her bed, gripping her EtherPad tightly.

Her eyes weren't on Alden.

They were on her brother.

Alex.

On screen, he stood confidently against a mid-Advance rank beast, sword in hand, cloak fluttering.

She blinked.

"...Looks like that stupid brother of mine has finally lost it ?"

Her heart pounded. Her eyes were filled with worry despite saying that.

The scene froze as the monster lunged and as alex was about to attack.

 REMOVE ADS FROM $1

 Report chapter CommentsContact - ToS