Reincarnated as an Extra: I had an Ascension Tower

Lucian stood before the towering entrance of the Ascension Tower.

The translucent blue system interface hovered in front of him, its words crisp and clear:

[Ascension Tower Unlocked: Remaining Trials Available]

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside, the familiar hum of mana enveloping him as the doors sealed shut behind him.

"Let's get this done," Lucian murmured. The fifth trial awaited him, promising a test of endurance unlike any he'd faced before.

[Trial 5: Endurance Trial]

[Quest: Endure the Mana Storm]

[Description: A magical storm of fluctuating mana energy will attack you. It will test your resilience and adaptability]

[Objective: Withstand the storm for 5 minutes]

Lucian materialized in a barren wasteland, under a swirling, turbulent sky.

Jagged cracks in the ground glowed faintly with blue mana, and thunder rumbled ominously above.

Before he could fully take in his surroundings, a sudden surge of mana-laden wind struck him like a whip.

He staggered backward, bracing himself as the storm intensified.

The wind grew fiercer, carrying sharp bursts of concentrated mana.

Each gust felt like being struck with needles, testing not only his physical endurance but his mana control as well.

'It's not just a physical storm—it's attacking my mana flow!' Lucian realized, feeling his mana core tremble under the pressure.

Clenching his jaw, he dropped into a defensive stance, using his mana to form a protective layer around his body.

It wasn't perfect, he could feel the storm tearing at his defenses, but it was enough to keep him standing.

Minutes passed like hours.

The storm shifted unpredictably, alternating between violent gales and concentrated bursts of mana that struck like lightning. Lucian's legs trembled under the strain, sweat pouring down his face.

'Adapt... don't resist completely,' he reminded himself, adjusting his mana flow to absorb and redirect the storm's energy instead of outright blocking it.

The storm howled in fury, but Lucian's control improved with each passing second.

His breathing steadied, and he began to feel the rhythm of the storm, his Mana Sensory Field helping him anticipate the next surge.

When the final minute arrived, Lucian stood firm, his defenses stable and his mana flow steady.

[Trial Complete: Endurance Trial]

[Advancement: Mid Initiate]

The storm dissipated instantly, leaving Lucian in the calm, barren wasteland.

He exhaled heavily, relief washing over him as his surroundings shifted.

Back in the tower's chamber, Lucian stretched his sore limbs. "That was brutal," he muttered. "But worth it."

He opened his status interface, noting his new mana core advancement:

[Mana Core: Mid Initiate]

A small smirk tugged at his lips. Progress was progress.

Without hesitation, he stepped toward the portal leading to the next trial.

The sixth trial awaited Lucian with an air of solemnity.

The room he stepped into was starkly different from the ones before.

It was quiet, eerily so, and the walls seemed to shimmer faintly as though reflecting light that wasn't there.

Ahead of him stood the Mirror of Truth, an ornate oval mirror framed with intricate carvings that seemed to pulse faintly with mana.

The glass surface appeared ordinary at first glance, but Lucian could feel the weight of its presence pressing down on him.

[Trial 6: Reflection Trial]

[Quest: Face the Mirror of Truth. A reflection of your past self will appear, forcing you to confront your mistakes and weaknesses. Accept your flaws to pass]

Lucian approached the mirror cautiously.

His reflection didn't immediately stare back at him; instead, the glass remained blank, an endless void that seemed to pull him in.

"This is... different," he muttered, standing a few feet away.

As soon as the words left his lips, the mirror shimmered, and a figure appeared—himself, but not as Lucian Eryndral.

The reflection was Jonathan, the version of himself from his previous life.

He was dressed in the plain, worn clothes of a struggling office worker, a far cry from the noble attire he now wore.

Jonathan's face looked haggard, his eyes dull and filled with the weariness of endless days spent chasing recognition in a world that had never truly seen him.

Lucian froze.

Seeing his former self felt like being dragged into a grave he thought he'd buried.

The reflection—the man he once was—stood with an air of disappointment, his expression sharp yet resigned.

"You're really going to pretend you don't remember?" the reflection spoke, its voice carrying the same bitterness Lucian once felt daily.

Lucian swallowed hard. "I remember," he said quietly. "But that's not who I am anymore."

The reflection laughed, a hollow, mocking sound.

"Not who you are? That's rich. You think you can just run away from all of this?" It gestured to itself, to the worn-out clothes, the tired eyes, the scars of a life lived in the shadows of others.

"You're still me, no matter how much you dress it up. No matter what name you use."

Lucian clenched his fists. "I'm not running away. I'm moving forward."

"Forward?" Jonathan's reflection sneered.

"Is that what you call it? Convenient, isn't it? A new world, a new body, and suddenly, you think all those failures, all that mediocrity, just disappears?"

The words stung, and Lucian found himself hesitating.

Deep down, he knew the reflection wasn't wrong. He hadn't let go of Jonathan completely.

That part of him, the part that craved recognition, that burned with resentment for never being enough, still clung to his soul like a parasite.

But was that such a bad thing?

"I didn't ask for this," Lucian shot back.

His voice rose, anger boiling to the surface. "I didn't ask to die, to lose everything I worked for. You think I don't remember how we were treated? How no one cared? How we gave everything and got nothing in return?"

Jonathan's reflection stepped closer, the glass rippling like water as it moved. "Exactly. So why lie to yourself? You're still chasing the same thing. Recognition. Power. You're not doing this for anyone but yourself."

Lucian's breath hitched. The truth of those words echoed through him. He hated admitting it, but the reflection wasn't wrong.

"Maybe I am," Lucian said after a long pause.

His voice softened, but his tone carried a newfound firmness. "Maybe I do want recognition. Maybe I do want power. But I'm not that broken man anymore. I have a second chance, and I'm not going to waste it wallowing in what I couldn't achieve back then."

Jonathan's reflection tilted its head, studying him. "So, you're saying you're better now? That you've already changed?"

"No," Lucian admitted, his gaze steady. "I'm saying I'm trying. I'll never forget what happened to us—what happened to me—but that doesn't mean I have to stay shackled to it. I'll carry those memories, but I won't let them define me anymore."

The reflection's expression shifted, the sharp bitterness fading into something softer, almost contemplative. "You think you can just let me go?"

"I don't want to let you go," Lucian said firmly. "You're a part of me. My failures, my weaknesses—they shaped who I am. But I'm not you anymore. I'm Lucian Eryndral now. And it's time I stopped pretending I could be anything else."

For a moment, the reflection simply stared at him.

Then, slowly, it smiled—not the mocking smile from before, but something more genuine.

"I see," the reflection said, its voice quieter now. "Maybe you're not as hopeless as I thought."

The mirror shimmered again, the reflection dissolving into ripples of light.

A wave of warmth washed over Lucian as the weight on his chest lifted.

He exhaled deeply, realizing he'd been holding his breath.

[Trial Complete]

[You have accepted your flaws and embraced your new identity]

[Your mental resilience has improved]

The mirror's surface returned to its blank, ordinary state. Lucian stood there for a moment longer, his mind quieter than it had been in years.

He hadn't erased Jonathan, nor had he forgotten the pain of his past life. Instead, he'd finally accepted it.

As he turned away, a sense of clarity settled over him.

Jonathan wasn't a burden to carry anymore.

He was a reminder—a part of the foundation that would support the person Lucian was striving to become.

With his steps lighter, Lucian left the room, ready to face the next trial.

For the first time since he'd woken up in this world, he truly felt like himself.