The Extra's Supremacy-Chapter 31: Awakening [2]

"Alvin, listen carefully. While I was healing you... I discovered something."

"There’s something wrong with you. No—your existence itself is wrong."

"I’ve changed your mana veins into cursed veins. You can now use your elements freely, without any resistance."

"You can wield both mana and cursed energy—but don’t touch cursed energy until you step into the First Primordial Step."

"You can summon me now... but you can’t speak with me. That’s the price of forcefully making you enter Half-Step."

"But don’t worry. Once you reach the First Step, everything will change."

"You are my new bearer—after thousands of years of silence."

"So don’t die on me."

***

Alvin’s eyes flew open as his lungs screamed for air.

Instinct took over.

He kicked upward, breaking through the water’s surface with a loud gasp. Air flooded his chest. His nerves calmed, his thoughts began to settle.

But something felt wrong.

Dragging himself onto a broken slab of stone jutting from the water, he scanned his surroundings. A ruined ceiling hung above, fractured and dripping. The world beyond was eerily silent.

His breathing slowed.

Climbing through the rubble—pushing aside shattered beams and cracked stone—he finally emerged into the open.

The world that greeted him had changed.

Silver clouds hung unnaturally low, swirling like smoke. There was no sun. No moon. And yet, everything was dimly lit—like twilight that refused to end.

He narrowed his eyes.

Something was moving in the distance. Several somethings.

He could sense them faintly, multiple presences shifting through the ruins of the fallen city.

"How long... was I out?" he muttered.

Alvin looked down at his hand and froze.

The curse bite of Ghoul was gone.

There were no remnants. No trace of the bite that had once burned into his flesh.

"It’s cured... even though I didn’t kill anyone?"

He frowned. Memories came back in pieces.

The castle. The battle. The sword.

’So... your name is Rhizome. And you’re a she, huh?’ he thought

Alvin’s eyes drifted to his arm. The storage bracelet.

It hung limply, its crystal receiver cracked, sparking faintly. He tapped it. Nothing happened.

"Great," he muttered.

Without the receiver, the storage was completely inaccessible.

"I’ll have to head back to the real world to get this fixed."

Looking down, Alvin realized something alarming.

He was completely naked.

He groaned. "Of course."

Just then, he sensed multiple presences closing in. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

His eyes narrowed. ’Humans?’

For a moment, he was shocked—but then the situation clicked.

’They’re from the Council. Since this ruin hasn’t been claimed by a Great Family, guild, or academy, the Council probably sent a batch of rookies in for field experience. They must have thought this is just a minor ruin...’

He glanced at the destroyed castle around him.

’Too bad for them.’

***

"Everyone stay alert!" Bob said in a low, urgent voice. "The Guide says there’s a mana signature ahead."

The group tensed.

Twenty in total—ten walking, five being carried by other five.

Bob glanced over his shoulder at Lily.

She turned away from his gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.

’Damn it... if I hadn’t insisted on exploring this ruin, none of this would’ve happened,’ he thought bitterly.

’This is all Ruin Pulse Management’s fault. If I make it out alive, I swear I’m going to kill those bastards.’

They approached the remnants of a shattered castle.

The old guide, cloaked and weathered, raised a hand and pointed.

"It’s coming from behind that boulder."

Lily stepped forward cautiously and called out, "I—I know you’re there. Please... we need help!"

A voice answered from behind the stone.

"I don’t have any way to help you. I’m a victim of this ruin myself. So just leave me alone."

Bob’s eyes lit up—he saw an opening to win back Lily’s favor.

"Then... why not come with us?" he said quickly. "This place is crawling with Tier 4 monsters. Better to stick together than die alone, right, Lily?"

Lily nodded immediately. "Yes, absolutely. It’s safer in a group."

A pause.

Then the voice behind the rock replied, "Alright. But give me some clothes first. My storage bracelet broke during the fight."

Lily turned to Bob expectantly.

He stiffened.

’Shit... these are my new clothes...’ He gritted his teeth. ’Screw it. Anything for Lily.’

He pulled a fresh outfit from his pack of clothes in his storage ring and tossed it toward the voice.

A hand snatched it from midair.

"Thanks," the voice said.

Bob forced a smile. "No problem, buddy."

Alvin slipped into the clothes.

A plain white T-shirt and black pants. Nothing fancy—but the fabric quality was excellent, clearly high-grade material.

He stepped out from behind the rock.

The group fell silent.

Eyes widened. Jaws dropped.

Lily blinked and blurted out, "Are you a model?"

Alvin shook his head calmly. "No."

He glanced around the group, scanning their strengths. Seventeen were in the Adept stage. Lily was Early Expert, and both Bob and the old guide were at Mid Expert.

Not bad... for a rookie party.

Alvin casually ran a hand through his damp black hair.

"If you don’t mind—" he began.

He didn’t get to finish.

Lily had already stepped behind him, hands gently gathering his hair.

"What are you—"

"Hold still," she said softly.

With deft fingers, she tied it into a neat, short ponytail.

Alvin stood still, caught off guard. "...Thanks."

Bob stared, stunned.

Then, before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "Why?"

All twenty heads turned toward him.

Bob’s face turned bright red. He cleared his throat, forcing a smile.

"Ahem... so, uh, what’s your name?"

This time, Alvin was the one caught off guard.

He hadn’t prepared for this situation.

’I can’t say Whisper... they’ll think I’m insane. And if I say Alvin Vealcrest... there’s no way they’d believe me.’

’Not that I was planning to say it anyway.’

He glanced around at the expectant faces. So many curious eyes were fixed on him.

With a quiet sigh, he made his decision.

He spoke the name he hadn’t used in years—his name from past life.

"...It’s Henry Croft. Nice to meet you all."