Kill The Extra-Chapter 51: Midterm Examination [4]

BOOM!!

The moment Ryker and the rest of his team stepped into the gate, their surroundings changed entirely. In an instant, their bodies were enveloped in a blinding light and then they were thrown apart like fragments scattered by a storm.

Each one reappeared in a separate section of the environment, alone.

Szzzt!!!

Lucas blinked rapidly as he landed on his feet as his spear braced defensively in front of him. The ground beneath was coarse, burnt black earth covered in a thin layer of gray ash. The air smelt of sulfur and blood, the temperature thick and dry. Jagged rocks jutted out from the cracked terrain. Crimson clouds loomed above like watchful eyes.

"This is... the outer layer of the abyss gate?" Lucas muttered as he gripped his spear tighter. Just like in the novel, but somehow worse.

A guttural growl echoed.

GRAAARGH!!!!

Two hulking monsters emerged. It had bearing crimson skin with obsidian claws and grotesque faces partially hidden under bone masks. Without hesitation, Lucas lunged forward.

Crack!!

His spear pierced through the chest of the first beast. Lightning surged from the tip.

Zaaap!!!

The monster screeched before collapsing in a heap. The second one swiped at him.

Swoosh!!

Lucas ducked low and spun his spear sweeping the legs.

Thud!!

Before the monster could react, he impaled it through the head.

Skrch!!

Panting lightly, he took a breath. "Too easy. Still... something feels off."

He glanced around. The terrain was oddly quiet now. He pressed on, recalling their plan.

*****

Meanwhile, the stoic Reaver, Rio. He emerged in a darker part of the gate. A thin mist shrouded the jagged ruins around him. Shadows shifted as if alive.

Rio’s greatsword was already in his hand. The first sign of movement was met with decisive brutality.

Whoosh!!!

A shadow beast lunged at him. He met it head on with his blade igniting with mana.

Slash!!!

It fell in two pieces.

Rio exhaled slowly, his gaze steady. "Not worth a sweat."

*****

In a charred forest, the two Etherweavers, Selena and Aurora both found themselves separately surrounded by corrupted flora.

Aurora snapped her fingers.

Crackle!!!

Waves of raw mana surged from her palms and it carved through warped plants trying to ensnare her. Her eyes burned with resolve.

Selena, on the other hand grinned as she crafted delicate threads of mana into needles, flinging them with rapid precision.

Swish!!

Swish!!

Despite their bickering before, both Etherweavers moved with lethal focus.

****

Elsewhere, the Spectral Marksman, Zeke cackled as she ducked beneath a flailing creature’s swipe.

"Too slow, dumbass!" she shouted.

Swish!!!

A spectral arrow shot through its skull.

She pulled back on her bow, conjuring three more phantasmal bolts.

Whoosh!!!

They split and exploded into surrounding enemies, reducing them to twitching husks.

Zeke giggled. "Okay, that felt good."

*****

Ryker landed silently in a forest of crimson leafed trees and the light dim and tinged red. Fog clung low to the ground. Ryker’s cloak fluttered slightly as he stood, hands in his pockets.

"Just like I expected..." he muttered, stepping forward. "East sector of the second ring. Nearest convergence zone is about three clicks ahead."

Snap!!!

A branch broke nearby.

Three monsters emerged. They were mutated beasts with elongated limbs and barbed tails. Their maws gaped unnaturally wide.

Ryker didn’t flinch, he smirked, "Let’s see what six months of getting punched by Arthur did."

He rolled his neck, cracked his knuckles and vanished.

Whoosh!!!

He appeared midair above the first creature, heel crashing down.

Crack!!!

The monster’s skull shattered into the dirt. The second lunged.

Thud!!

Ryker sidestepped and drove his elbow into its throat.

Snap!!!

It fell, gasping. The third beast snarled and lunged.

Ryker grinned. "Too slow."

He ducked, grabbed its arm and flipped it over his shoulder with a sickening crunch.

Wham!!!

It twitched once, then lay still.

Ryker exhaled and looked at his fists. Bruised, a bit sore but effective.

"Not bad."

He straightened and surveyed the area. "Time to move."

Then, he stopped.

A thought crossed his mind.

"...Should I use it?"

His left hand flexed slowly.

"...Fine."

He whispered,

"DEVOUR"

KRRRKSHHH!!!

Black chains burst from his palm like serpents. They writhed in the air, gleaming with a hungry voidlight.

The chains wrapped around the corpses. The monsters began to twitch.

SKKRSH!!!

SPLRT!!!

Their bodies collapsed inward as the life force was visibly torn from them. Their flesh withering, bones splintering and essence drained.

[DING!]

[’Hades’s Spirit-Eating Chains’ has been activated.]

[You have devoured: Abyss-Cursed Howler x3.]

[Your stats have been increased]

[+2 STR, +1 DEX, +1 END]

Ryker stared at the fading corpses.

"Disgusting," he said flatly. "But effective."

He clenched his hand and the chains slithered back under his skin.

"I can’t rely on it too much for now. At least, not yet."

He leapt onto a massive branch above the forest floor. From the treetop, he had a clear view of several regions.

Faint sounds of battle echoed in the distance. Smoke rose here and there.

He narrowed his eyes.

"I need to find the convergence points before the anomaly hits."

****

Lucas trudged up a slope as he was wiping monster blood off his spear.

The wind changed. It carried something, something wrong.

His instincts flared.

That’s not in the novel.

He spun, eyes sharp.

Crimson mist gathered nearby, forming a twisted shape that slowly vanished before fully manifesting.

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"An anomaly...?"

His heart thumped.

He gripped his spear tighter. This shouldn’t be here. In the novel, the midterm examination was uneventful.

He took a deep breath.

"And yet..."

He remembered Ryker, his expression during the plan meeting, his refusal to take leadership and his curious encouragement.

Ryker had always been somewhat indifferent and a little arrogant in the original novel.

But now?

He was... calculated. Always aware.

And that plan, Lucas had remembered it literally from the book. But this time, he was the one who proposed it.

’Why didn’t Ryker say it this time? He did it in the story...’

He stared into the distance.

"...Something’s not right. Ryker... what are you hiding?"

Lucas shook his head as he thought ’I need to be sure first. I can’t confront him based on a hunch. If I am wrong... it’ll ruin everything.’

Lucas stood up as he reached the top of the slope, "...You’re different," Lucas whispered. "But I will find out why."

He readied himself.

’Let’s focus on the Midterm for now. In the novel, this part’s supposed to be easy. No unexpected threats...’

’Then again... this isn’t the novel anymore, is it?’

*******

High above the ground, Ryker was standing on the branch of a massive tree as he surveyed the battlefield below.

His black robe billowed softly in the breeze. His eyes were calm and analytical. He had already predicted where his teammates would be by now.

Below, at the base of the tree,

A soft voice called from behind.

"Ryker?"

He didn’t look back. He didn’t need to.

Sasha appeared. Her face twisted in confusion as she looked around at the littered corpses. Monster bodies were drained and husked. All lay in scattered piles.

She saw Ryker above and she went up to him, "Ryker!"

"...What happened here?" she asked in a curious voice.

"Cleaning up," he replied in a cold voice.

She frowned. "This... this wasn’t in the plan."

He turned slightly, just enough to show a glimpse of his eyes, "The plan always had variables. You are one of them. I will tell you your role soon but for now... go south-east. Regroup with the Spectral Marksman girl. Zeke."

Sasha clenched her fists. "And if I refuse?"

Ryker raised an eyebrow.

"You won’t. If you want to achieve your goal."

Their eyes met. Something dark flickered behind Ryker’s calm gaze.

"...Fine," Sasha muttered. "But I want answers. Soon."

"You will get them." Ryker said without looking back to her.

Hearing Ryker’s answer, Sasha vanished into the forest.

Ryker’s gaze turned toward the east.

"Now... where are you hiding?"