Reincarnated as an Extra: I had an Ascension Tower

Just as Lucian's sword was about to land, a powerful presence surged between them.

Boom!

A gust of force swept across the stage, halting both fighters in their tracks.

"Enough."

Daniel's voice rang out like an iron bell, calm yet commanding. His outstretched hand radiated pressure, a clear sign that neither of them should continue.

Lucian lowered his sword. His breathing was steady, but his body felt the toll of the battle.

He looked at Oliver, whose stance wavered—blood dripped from the gashes on his arm and leg, his transformation flickering as exhaustion set in.

Daniel stepped between them, his sharp gaze sweeping over both fighters. Then, he turned to the watching students.

"The match is over." His voice carried through the training hall. "Lucian Eryndral is the winner."

Silence fell for a brief moment before murmurs spread through the crowd.

"He actually won…"

"He beat Oliver… even with his lion transformation?"

Oliver clenched his fists, his breath heavy. His pride stung, but more than that—he knew he had been outplayed.

He looked at Lucian, his golden eyes still filled with fire.

"…Tch." He clicked his tongue, but there was no hatred in his gaze—just frustration.

Daniel observed both of them before speaking again. "This was a good match. But remember, brute strength isn't everything."

His eyes landed on Oliver. "Relying too much on your bloodline power without control will leave you open."

Oliver gritted his teeth but nodded.

Then, Daniel looked at Lucian. "And you—your technique is sharp, but don't get complacent. You only barely controlled the flow of this battle."

Lucian met his gaze and nodded.

Daniel exhaled before waving his hand. "That's enough for today. Get yourselves treated."

With that, the match officially ended.

Lucian sheathed his sword and turned away, ignoring the murmuring students as he walked off the stage.

The moment Daniel ended the match, medics rushed onto the stage, their robes fluttering as they carried healing potions and first-aid kits.

Oliver, still seething from his defeat, winced as the medics tended to his wounds.

His lion bloodline had granted him immense resilience, but even he couldn't shrug off the damage Lucian had inflicted.

As a prince of the Drakos family, it was only natural that he received immediate medical attention.

Meanwhile, Lucian stepped off the stage, where his friends were already waiting for him.

"That was insane," Keal said, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I knew you were strong, but taking on Oliver and winning? Damn, man."

Elena grinned. "I thought you were crazy for challenging him, but now? Guess I'll have to start calling you a monster."

Zara simply nodded. "You fought well."

Lucian gave a small smile at their reactions. Just as he was about to speak, Daniel's voice suddenly cut through the conversations.

"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you all something," Daniel said casually, rubbing the back of his head.

The students turned toward him.

"Starting this year, the academy has changed its policy. Instead of the top five, all top ten students will receive virtual pods."

Lucian froze.

His heart sank.

'You're kidding me…'

He had fought this match, risking injury, strategizing, and pushing himself to the limit—just to secure a virtual pod.

And now… he was learning that he would have gotten one regardless of whether he had fought Oliver or not.

A long sigh escaped his lips. He turned toward Oliver, who was still being treated.

Oliver was visibly frustrated, his jaw clenched as he stared at the floor. Not only had he lost in front of everyone, but now his ranking had dropped—from 2nd place to 6th.

Lucian didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the situation.

'So much effort for something I would have gotten anyway…It seems I can no longer trust the plot'

Still, it wasn't a complete loss. His rank had skyrocketed, and more importantly, he had tested his abilities in a real battle against a strong opponent.

With the day's matches over, the group of four—Lucian, Keal, Elena, and Zara—exited the training hall together.

Since Lucian's rank had increased, he had no hesitation in treating his friends to dinner.

The restaurant they picked wasn't anything extravagant, but the food was good, and the atmosphere was lively.

"Alright," Keal said, stretching his arms. "Since our friend here is now ranked 2nd, I think we should take full advantage of his generosity."

Elena smirked. "Agreed. We should order the most expensive dishes."

Lucian chuckled. "Go ahead. I don't mind. I was filthy rich anyway"

They continued eating, enjoying their meal, but just as they were about to finish—

Ding!

Everyone's phones vibrated simultaneously, signaling a notification.

Keal, being the quickest, pulled out his phone and checked the message.

The moment he read it, his entire expression changed. His usual easygoing smile vanished, replaced by sheer exhaustion.

"…You have got to be kidding me."

Seeing his reaction, the rest of them immediately checked their phones.

The message read:

Attention: Due to scheduling changes, the written exam (previously canceled) has been rescheduled. All students ranked within the Top 300 are required to participate. Exam Date: Tomorrow. Attendance is compulsory.

Elena let out a loud laugh. "Didn't Mr. Daniel just say we were free to do anything? But now we have a test?"

Keal groaned, dropping his head onto the table. "I was planning to sleep in tomorrow…"

Zara, however, remained calm. "It only affects the top 300. I don't think it will disrupt the rankings of the top 10."

Lucian sighed. "Still, what a pain…"

Even though he wasn't particularly worried about the written exam, it was an annoying way to spend the next day.

After finishing dinner, Lucian returned to his room.

Despite his rank increasing, he didn't need to move out—the dorm rooms for the top ten students were all the same.

The first thing he did was take a long shower, washing away the exhaustion from the battle.

Once he was freshened up, he collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Today had been eventful.

He had climbed from an unremarkable position to second place.

He had fought Oliver and won. He had secured a virtual pod—though it turned out he didn't even need to.

And now, a surprise written exam awaited him.

Lucian sighed again, rolling onto his side.

"…What a day."