Reincarnated as an Extra: I had an Ascension Tower

Lucian lay on his bed, his body sinking into the mattress. The exhaustion from his fight with Oliver was finally catching up to him, his muscles aching from the strain.

He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts wandering.

He had won. He had climbed to Rank 2. It should have felt satisfying, yet… something gnawed at him. The virtual pods.

If Daniel had announced the change earlier, would he have even needed to fight? He sighed, shaking his head. No, that wasn't the real issue.

The fight had been tough, but it wasn't life-threatening. He had fought with everything he had, but at the academy, there were limits.

No one was truly trying to kill him. Yet, deep inside, Lucian knew—real battles weren't like this.

His eyelids grew heavier as his mind drifted into unconsciousness.

Then—

A whisper.

Low. Distant. Crawling into his ears.

His body tensed. His breathing hitched. Was someone in the room?

He tried to move—but his body wouldn't respond. A creeping sensation spread across his skin, as if unseen fingers were brushing against him.

Then—

Everything shattered the moment he closed his eyes.

A chill crawled up his spine, his breath hitching.

His eyes snapped open—he was no longer in his room.

Lucian stood in the heart of an ancient ruin, one that reeked of death and something far more sinister.

The ground beneath his feet was thick, dark red, as if the very earth itself had been bled dry.

Towering black spires loomed over the landscape, their jagged edges stretching toward an ominous sky, bathed in an eerie crimson glow.

Rivers of blood snaked through the land, their sluggish currents reflecting the spires like grotesque mirrors.

The air was thick with the sharp scent of iron, making each breath feel like swallowing liquid metal.

Lucian's pulse quickened. He didn't recognize this place—this wasn't the academy, nor was it any location he had read about in the novel.

"Where… am I?"

A soft whisper.

Then another.

The voices multiplied, a suffocating chorus of distorted murmurs scratching at the edge of his mind.

They were neither near nor far, yet they surrounded him, seeping into his bones.

"Come here."

Lucian's body froze.

A new voice, deeper than the whispers, resounded through the ruin. Unlike the others, this one carried weight, as if the world itself bent to its command.

And then—his body moved on its own.

His feet carried him forward, across the blood-soaked earth, toward a massive throne that sat at the center of a churning river of blood.

The throne was not made of stone or metal—but of bones, thousands of them, intertwined in a grotesque display of artistry.

A figure sat upon it.

Cloaked in pitch-black robes, adorned with golden patterns that shimmered like liquid fire, the figure exuded an oppressive presence.

Yet, despite the flowing patterns of gold, Lucian could not see its face.

His body moved closer.

As he reached the edge of the blood river, the impossible happened—bones rose from the depths of crimson river, snapping together to form a bridge beneath his feet.

The makeshift path creaked as he stepped forward, each step accompanied by the unsettling sensation of something writhing beneath him.

The closer he got, the heavier the air became. By the time he reached the base of the throne, his body felt as if it had been shackled by invisible chains.

Lucian tried to lift his head to look upon the figure's face.

But his neck refused to move.

He could only see the figure's feet, resting against the bone throne.

A sickening sense of dread clawed at his chest.

He tried to speak—but the moment he did, an unbearable pain erupted in his mind.

"Kh-!!"

It felt as if needles were being driven into his skull, burrowing deeper with each passing second.

"Hmm."

The figure let out an amused hum, as if entertained by Lucian's agony.

Lucian forced himself to remain calm. Panic would do nothing here.

He tried again. "Wh—"

"We don't have time for nonsense."

The voice was cold. Absolute.

Lucian's mind screamed as the pain intensified. He felt like something was tearing into him, unraveling his very being.

Then—

A hand gripped the back of his head.

The world collapsed into agony.

The Words That Changed Everything

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

A scream ripped from his throat as searing pain flooded his existence.

It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. His mind was being peeled apart, stripped layer by layer, memories unraveling, thoughts dissolving into raw, incomprehensible sensation.

And then—amidst the suffering—

"Participate in 'The Cradle of Creation'… become a 'Sovereign'… then come find me here in Crimson Keep."

The words were etched into his soul.

Before Lucian could even process their meaning, his world went black.

***

The figure watched as Lucian's body faded from the crimson keep, swallowed by the darkness of the void.

Slowly, he stepped forward, his presence alone making the very air tremble.

The golden markings on his robes flickered like dying stars, as if whispering secrets of an era long forgotten.

His voice was a whisper, yet it carried across the empty throne room like a prophecy.

"For millennia, I have watched. Not from some lofty perch, but from the shadows, a whisper on the wind, a seed planted in the fertile soil of human minds.

Fear, doubt, ambition… these are my tools, my paintbrush upon the canvas of their destinies.

They call me the ????, a fitting title.

I do not command. I suggest.

I do not dictate. I influence.

I weave my threads through the tapestry of their lives, nudging them toward their destined fates, watching as they stumble, struggle, and rise again. Some reach for greatness, others are swallowed by despair—it is all the same. For in the end, they all serve the Grand Design".

He ascended the steps of his throne of bones, each footstep echoing across the blood-stained ruins.

Shadows slithered at the edges of his robe, writhing like serpents eager to consume the light.

"Some call it fate, others call it manipulation. They fear what they do not understand."

A pause. The whispers that had tormented Lucian now grew quiet, as if waiting in reverence.

"But I? I simply set the board… and let the pieces play their roles."

Reaching the top of the steps, he lowered himself onto the throne, his presence settling like a shroud over the ruins.

He rested his hand against the armrest—a skeletal claw protruding from the side—and let out a slow, thoughtful breath.

Then, the world around him shifted.

The rivers of blood thickened, turning darker, almost black. The sky trembled as crimson clouds churned violently above.

The spires groaned, as if alive, as unseen forces stirred in the distance.

A new game had begun.

The figure leaned back, his golden markings pulsating with an eerie radiance.

"Let us see if this pawn can become a King." 

***

Lucian awaked with a sharp gasp, Lucian jerked awake.

His body was drenched in sweat. His hands trembled. His heart pounded against his ribs, a frantic, erratic rhythm that refused to settle.

He was back in his dorm room.

But the suffocating sensation from the Crimson Keep still lingered, as if it had followed him out of that nightmare.

His head throbbed, a dull ache reminding him of the torturous pain he had endured just moments ago—if it had even been real.

Yet, despite the confusion, one thing remained unshakable in his mind.

"The Cradle of Creation."

And the figure's command:

"Become a Sovereign… then come find me."

Lucian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He didn't know who that figure was. He didn't know why he had been taken there.

But one thing was certain.

This was not part of the novel.

Something—someone—was pulling strings behind the scenes.

And whether he liked it or not… he had just become a piece in their game.

-----------------------------------------

[Author Note]

What, are you surprised that I cooked hard?

Well, buckle up, buttercup, because this is just the beginning! Don't mistake this story for your typical overpowered MC with a cheat code. If you've read the prologue, you can already tell this story is going to be much darker.

Things are about to get real interesting. We've just finished introducing the cast, but now it's time for the main event. Think of it as the calm before the storm... except this storm is brewing in a dungeon packed with existential dread and questionable life choices.

Lucian might have a fancy tower to progress faster, but let's be real—he's still got a long way to go before he can take on an army of interdimensional alien overlords by himself. So, if you're expecting him to morph into an all-powerful, mana-wielding superhero in the next few chapters, you might want to adjust your expectations. (Unless, of course, he stumbles upon a magical "Level Up" potion in the cafeteria. Hey, it could happen!)

But don't worry—the journey has just begun! We've got a whole host of quirky characters, mind-boggling trials, and plot twists that'll make your head spin faster than Keal Vexari-induced fire tornado.

So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to follow Lucian's epic quest to conquer the Ascension Tower, master the art of not dying (cockroach), and maybe—just maybe—save the world from impending doom. (No pressure, Lucian.)

Oh, and don't forget to leave your predictions and witty comments below. I'm always up for a good laugh and a healthy dose of sarcasm.

[Power Stone Goal Announcement] 

20 Power Stones = 2 Extra Chapters [Done]

50 Power Stones = 3 Extra Chapters [pending]

Volume 1 has been officially completed!