Reincarnated as an Extra: I had an Ascension Tower

Daniel scanned both fighters, ensuring they were ready.

He raised his voice, his tone sharp and commanding.

"This is an official ranking challenge. The match will continue until one of you is unable to fight or yields.

Weapons are allowed, but lethal strikes will be considered a forfeit."

Lucian remained calm as he reached for his weapon of choice—a sleek, single-edged sword with a slightly curved blade.

It was nothing special at first glance, but to him, it was the perfect extension of his will.

Across from him, Oliver cracked his neck and summoned his weapons—two large, claw-like gauntlets made of dark steel, each covering his hands and forearms.

They gleamed under the training room's light, razor-sharp edges glinting menacingly.

A low growl rumbled from Oliver's throat, his lion bloodline stirring as his golden eyes locked onto Lucian. His presence alone exuded raw strength.

Lucian, however, remained unreadable.

Daniel took a step back, raised his hand, and then dropped it.

"Begin!"

Oliver exploded forward. His speed was shocking—far faster than most mid Adepts.

The moment he lunged, his entire body flickered with golden energy as he activated Lion Might, amplifying his physical abilities.

Lucian reacted instantly. Phantom Step Art.

A blur.

Oliver's claws tore through an afterimage, and in the same instant, Lucian appeared at his side, blade flashing.

Clang!

Oliver barely raised his gullets in time, blocking the strike.

The force sent vibrations through his arms, but he didn't falter.

Instead, he twisted his body and delivered a brutal kick toward Lucian's ribs.

Lucian slid back, using the momentum to create distance.

His passive mana circulation ensured his mana flowed smoothly, allowing him to keep up his footwork without exhausting himself.

Oliver clicked his tongue. "Hah… you're fast. But speed alone won't save you."

Without warning, Oliver's muscles expanded. His body grew taller, his hair thickened, and his hands transformed into full-fledged claws.

His humanoid Lion Transformation was in full effect, and his presence became suffocating.

Then—

"Lion's Roar!"

A deafening shockwave blasted through the arena.

Lucian's eyes widened as his instincts screamed at him. Danger Sense flared, but the impact was too fast to fully avoid.

BOOM!

The sheer force sent him skidding backward. His ears rang, his balance momentarily thrown off.

Oliver grinned savagely and shot forward, his gullets slashing in a flurry.

Lucian recovered just in time. Mana Sensory Field sharpened his awareness, allowing him to read the trajectory of each attack.

He weaved between the deadly strikes, leaving afterimages in his wake.

Oliver snarled. "Stop running!"

Lucian's eyes flickered. He wasn't running—he was waiting.

Phantom Step—Threefold Mirage.

Three identical afterimages of Lucian burst outward.

Oliver hesitated for a fraction of a second.

That was all Lucian needed.

With a sudden burst of speed, he dashed through the illusion and slashed downward.

Shing!

A clean cut opened across Oliver's shoulder. Blood sprayed into the air.

Oliver growled in pain, his eyes burning with fury. "You bastard—!"

The cut only seemed to fuel Oliver's rage.

His transformation deepened—his golden aura flared, his muscles hardened, and his movements became even more aggressive.

Lucian exhaled slowly.

His Resonance Sword Art could cut the flow of energy. And now, he knew—Oliver's transformation wasn't invulnerable.

Oliver charged, his claws glowing with mana.

Lucian moved to intercept. His sword sang as it sliced through the air, aiming directly for the joints where Oliver's power circulated the most.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each exchange was faster than the last.

Lucian's sword slashed toward Oliver's knee—blocked.

Oliver retaliated with a clawed swipe—Lucian ducked, spinning to deliver a backslash.

Their weapons clashed, sending sparks flying. The students watching barely breathed, eyes wide as the battle unfolded.

Oliver feinted with his left gullet and swung his right upward in an arc.

Lucian sidestepped at the last second, the razor-sharp gullet barely missing his chin.

In return, his sword lashed out, the edge slicing toward Oliver's exposed ribs.

Shing!

Oliver twisted his torso, minimizing the damage, but a thin red line still formed across his side.

"Damn it…!" Oliver snarled, his golden aura flaring even brighter.

His Lion Transformation had reached its peak, veins bulging as his muscles flexed with raw strength.

Lucian narrowed his eyes. He could feel the increase in Oliver's power, but there was something else—his Mana Sensory Field picked up the irregularity in Oliver's flow.

'He's overloading his body,' Lucian realized.

Oliver was pushing his bloodline to its absolute limits, forcing his muscles to output beyond their normal capacity.

It was a gamble.

A gamble Lucian would make him regret.

Oliver lunged again, faster and stronger than before.

His claws tore through the air, leaving faint golden streaks in their wake.

Lucian stepped forward.

He didn't retreat.

He didn't evade.

He met Oliver head-on.

Sparks flew.

Lucian's sword clashed against Oliver's gullets in rapid succession, their weapons a blur of steel and mana.

Every swing, every impact sent shockwaves rippling across the training hall.

Then—

Lucian stopped moving for a split second.

Oliver's eyes widened in surprise—an opening!

He roared and slashed down with both gullets, aiming to end it in one strike.

But in that exact moment—

Lucian's sword pulsed.

Resonance Sword Art: Flow Severance.

Shiiing!

A sharp vibration ran through the air.

Oliver's golden aura flickered. His body, which had been moving at full force, suddenly staggered mid-motion.

"What—?!"

Lucian's blade had cut through the flow of mana in Oliver's arms.

For a split second, Oliver's enhanced strength vanished.

Lucian seized the opportunity.

He twisted his blade and delivered a precise slash across Oliver's right forearm.

Blood sprayed.

Oliver let out a pained growl, his grip on one of his gullets weakening.

Lucian pressed on. Phantom Step—Twofold Mirage.

An afterimage shot forward as Lucian moved in from Oliver's blind spot.

Shing!

A deep slash cut across Oliver's leg. His knee buckled.

The battle had shifted.

Oliver was still stronger in raw power, but his movements were becoming sluggish. His breathing was ragged.

Lucian exhaled. 'It's over.'

Oliver refused to back down.

He planted his foot on the stage and let out a thunderous Lion's Roar one last time.

The force cracked the ground, sending a concussive blast toward Lucian.

Lucian dug his feet in, resisting the force. His sword vibrated in response.

He raised his weapon.

Mana gathered along the edge, harmonizing with his breathing.

The next strike would decide the match.

Oliver charged. His remaining gullet aimed for Lucian's throat.

Lucian stepped forward.

His blade moved in a single, smooth arc.