Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The atmosphere in the arena buzzed with excitement as the crowd eagerly awaited the finals. Adrian stood with the other seven contestants, all eyes on the announcer, who was prepared to lay out the next phase of the tournament.

With a booming voice, the announcer explained, "The finals will proceed in knockout style! Each match will see one fighter advance to the next round, while the loser will be eliminated. There's no holding back now—use your full strength, or prepare to lose!"

Adrian's gaze sharpened at this announcement. Knockout rounds demanded everything, and he mentally braced himself to reveal more of his abilities as the competition intensified.

The announcer went on to announce the matchups, and Adrian soon learned he would be facing one of the two remaining female candidates, a fire mage with an impressive array of high-output level 3 spells.

He'd encountered her type before—her strength was raw power, but she likely had limited defenses if he could close the gap. Their match was scheduled as the third of the day, giving Adrian time to observe and prepare.

The first match was set to be the Masked Man against the Brainy Brawler, a tough and clever earth mage known for his solid defenses and overwhelming physical strength. Adrian turned his attention to the ring, eager to watch the Masked Man in action up close.

As the two fighters took their places, the crowd grew silent with anticipation. The Brainy Brawler stood tall, rolling his shoulders as he sized up his opponent with a confident grin. The Masked Man remained quiet, sword in hand, his stance relaxed yet ready.

With a sharp clang of the starting bell, the match began, and the Masked Man sprang into action, closing the distance with swift, calculated steps. To Adrian's surprise, the Masked Man wasted no time on defense; he went on the offensive immediately, swinging his sword in a sweeping arc that forced the Brainy Brawler back.

The Brainy Brawler, undeterred, called forth his earth magic with a quick stomp to the ground. Large stone spikes erupted from the arena floor, driving toward the Masked Man with deadly force. But just as they seemed certain to strike, the Masked Man deftly sidestepped, raising his free hand to cast a counter-spell.

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a torrent of water from thin air, dousing the earth spikes and turning the ground beneath the Brainy Brawler into thick mud. The unexpected move threw the Brainy Brawler off balance as he sank slightly, his footing compromised.

Grimacing, the Brainy Brawler quickly altered his strategy, summoning thick stone armor around his arms and legs to protect himself while stabilizing his stance. He rushed forward, raising his armored fists in a powerful strike aimed at the Masked Man's midsection.

But the Masked Man anticipated the move, side-stepping once more and casting another water-based spell with precise timing. This time, he sent a wave of water directly at the Brainy Brawler's legs. As the water hit, it solidified into ice, locking the Brainy Brawler's feet in place.

The Brainy Brawler struggled, trying to shatter the ice with sheer force, but the Masked Man pressed his advantage, launching a flurry of attacks. A quick slash to the shoulder chipped away at the Brainy Brawler's stone armor, and a follow-up jab to the chest sent cracks through the rock.

Desperate to escape, the Brainy Brawler smashed his fists into the ice surrounding his legs, freeing himself in a cloud of shattered frost. He quickly summoned a wall of stone between him and the Masked Man, buying a moment to catch his breath and regroup.

But the Masked Man was relentless.

He raised his hand again, casting a concentrated blast of water that struck the stone wall with tremendous force, breaking it apart and sending chunks flying. Before the Brainy Brawler could react, the Masked Man closed the distance, his sword aimed directly at his opponent's exposed side.

With a powerful thrust, he landed a decisive blow that knocked the Brainy Brawler to the ground. The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps as the Brainy Brawler struggled to stand, visibly shaken and outmatched.

Realizing he had no way to counter the Masked Man's fluid use of counter-elemental spells, the Brainy Brawler raised his hand in surrender, conceding the fight. The Masked Man offered a respectful nod before stepping back, his victory sealed.

Adrian, watching from the sidelines, felt a deep sense of intrigue.

The Masked Man's style was good, and his mastery over counter-elemental moves was almost effortless. It was clear this wasn't just a fluke; his skill had been honed through hard training.

As the crowd buzzed with excitement over the victory, the announcer called for the next competitors. Adrian watched quietly, his mind already assessing strategies and possibilities for his own upcoming battle.

The next match soon started with it being between Prince Cedric and a promising 19-year-old young knight from the Royal Cavalry.

However, Adrian knew even without the battle starting that Cedric would win.

From what he remembered the match was rigged and the young knight lost intentionally while making it look like Cedric won fair and square. Almost everyone believed it, almost.

'Sigh... Although I don't like the knight already succumbing to corruption, I can tell he probably didn't have another way. Or else his life would probably be in a mess. But, it's still wrong.'

Adrian also remembered why Cedric targeted this particular young knight,

Adrian muttered inwardly as the match went on, Cedric using powerful and flashy spells to overpower his 'opponent'.

The match unfolded exactly as Adrian expected, though watching it still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Cedric's attacks were calculated not just to win, but to humiliate.

The young knight, Marcus Haven, defended admirably at first, his sword techniques showing the refined discipline of the Royal Cavalry. Each parry and counter spoke of natural talent honed through dedicated training. But as planned, his defenses began to "falter" at precisely the right moments, making Cedric's increasingly aggressive spells look even more impressive.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Is this all the vaunted Royal Cavalry can produce?" Cedric's voice rang out across the arena as he launched a particularly showy fire spell, its flames forming the shape of a roaring dragon. "I expected better from royal cavalry's pride and joy!"

Marcus dodged, but not quite fast enough. The spell caught his left arm, singing his armor and forcing him to drop his shield. The crowd gasped, but Adrian noticed the slight adjustment in Marcus's stance just before impact—he'd deliberately slowed his movement.

"Your Highness is too skilled," Marcus called back, his voice carrying the perfect mix of frustration and respect. But Adrian caught the slight tremor in it, the hidden shame of a proud warrior forced to play puppet.

Cedric pressed his advantage, each spell more grandiose than the last.

Lightning crackled between his fingers as he wove complex patterns in the air, creating a dazzling display that had the crowd cheering. "The kingdom wastes its resources on mediocre talents like you," he sneered, sending a bolt that knocked Marcus's sword from his grip. "Four years of intensive training, and this is all you can show?"

Adrian noticed Marcus's jaw tightening.

He knew the truth—Marcus had risen through the ranks faster than any knight in the past decade, mastering techniques that usually took veterans years to perfect. His appointment to the Royal Cavalry at nineteen wasn't charity; it was recognition of exceptional skill.

The same skill he was now forced to hide.

The final blow came with theatrical flair. Cedric combined fire and air magic, creating a spectacular vortex that surrounded Marcus. The young knight made a show of trying to escape before being struck down, his armor smoking as he fell to one knee.

"As expected of His Highness Prince Cedric," Marcus managed between labored breaths, bowing his head in defeat. The perfect picture of a proud young knight humbled by superior skill.

Cedric stood over his fallen opponent, 17 years old and radiating arrogance. "Let this be a lesson," he announced, loud enough for all to hear. "Natural talent means nothing without proper breeding and training. The Royal Cavalry would do better to focus on candidates of... appropriate standing." Read exclusive content at empire

The dig was obvious to anyone who knew Marcus's common birth.

But what truly caught Adrian's attention was the gleam in Cedric's eyes—not just satisfaction at winning, but genuine pleasure in tearing down Aurelius's close knight. Every barb, every grandiose spell, had been carefully chosen to diminish not just Marcus, but by extension, him being the crown prince - Aurelius's close knight.

As Marcus limped from the arena, Adrian noticed something that others might have missed—the young knight's hands were clenched so tight his knuckles had turned white, and there was a rigidity to his movements that spoke of suppressed rage rather than pain. He was a proud warrior swallowing his dignity, all because someone more powerful had decreed it necessary.

The crowd's cheers for Cedric's victory echoed through the arena, but to Adrian's ears, they rang hollow.

He'd witnessed not a battle between warriors, but a calculated political performance, with a young man's dreams and pride as collateral damage. It was yet another reminder of the corrupting influence of power, and how even the most promising talents could be crushed under the weight of political machinations.

As Cedric basked in the adulation, Adrian's thoughts turned to his own upcoming match. He'd seen enough games for one day—when his time came, he would show what a true warrior's spirit looked like. No politics, no schemes, just pure skill and determination.

The announcer's voice boomed once again, calling for a brief intermission before the third match. Adrian used the time to center himself, pushing aside his disgust at what he'd witnessed. He needed a clear mind for what was to come, and dwelling on Cedric's display would only serve as a distraction.

Besides someone else would teach Cedric about what manners and dignity was. So true strength.