The Extra is a Cult Leader

Ethan didn't recognize him immediately, but one glance was enough to understand who stood before him: Sinnon, a primordial vampire. A name almost erased from history, remembered only in rumors and forgotten legends.

The novel hinted that he himself had erased every trace of his existence. Destroying any object or being that discovered who he was. Even so, the reason was never revealed.

But Ethan hadn't expected to meet him here. Quite the opposite, he thought Sinnon would be nearly impossible to find. There was no proof he existed, and even if someone did find him, they'd likely be killed before they could tell the tale.

"You three made quite the mess, huh?" Sinnon said, his lips twisting into a mocking smile. "I was just passing by, felt something weird in the mana… and found three kids playing hero."

His tone was strangely similar to Ethan's: arrogant, teasing. But there was something more, a tiredness, as if he was doing this out of habit rather than desire.

Aeris raised her staff, hesitating. Sylfie drew her bow, hand steady despite the tremor in her fingers.

"Who are you?" Ethan asked, not wanting to reveal that he knew exactly who the man in front of him was.

"Me? Just a curious old man, kid." Sinnon shrugged, as if it were obvious. "Saw you having fun killing monsters, thought I'd watch the show up close. It's been a while since I've seen something… interesting."

Despite calling himself old, he looked far from it. Even with a somewhat unkempt appearance, he didn't look anywhere near forty. Still, his voice and mannerisms definitely felt ancient.

He raised an eyebrow, looking Ethan up and down. "And I must say… you don't seem as stupid as you look."

"And you don't look as dead as you should," Ethan shot back with a crooked grin.

Sinnon let out a short, dry, almost hoarse laugh. "Hah! I like that. At least you've got a sharp tongue." He snapped his fingers, and the mana around them quivered slightly, as if answering a silent command.

Sylfie frowned. "Why would someone like you be… just passing by?"

Sinnon lazily turned his gaze toward her, and his smile widened. "Girl, if you had half the time I've spent wandering aimlessly, you'd try to kill yourself before making it halfway." He tilted his head. "But I admit, I felt a kind of mana I haven't sensed here in ages. Curious, isn't it?"

Aeris kept her staff raised, looking at Ethan, waiting for direction. Ethan, meanwhile, took a deep breath.

"So? Are you going to attack us now?" he asked bluntly.

"And waste my time on that? Please…" Sinnon raised an eyebrow, as if the idea was borderline insulting. "I just wanted to see if you were complete idiots or had something special."

His gaze settled back on Ethan. "And it seems you do have something."

The silence grew heavy for a moment, until Sinnon let out a theatrical sigh. "But I admit, kid… I'm bored. I expected more from someone like you. Your type is usually a lot more… dazzling."

Ethan kept his calm smile. He had an idea of what that vampire was referring to. It was the same reason why he was certain he'd be worthy to enter Eldranor.

It had been a kingdom founded at a time when the gods were still minor entities, and when they still mingled with humans.

Pure divine energy was so common among its people that being unable to wield it could make you a target of mockery.

Ethan might not be a demigod, but his body was the closest thing to it in this world. The novel said Eldranor would eventually be forced open, but he didn't need that, he himself was the key.

"Hate to disappoint, but I'm no Demigod," Ethan said.

Sinnon raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smile. "Is that so? Because your mana tells me otherwise, kid." His eyes locked onto Ethan's. It felt like staring into a spiral.

The primordial vampire turned his head as if losing interest. His crimson gaze slid over Aeris and Sylfie, assessing them with the same expression one might use to look at rare insects, then returned to Ethan. "So? What's your plan now?"

Ethan took a deep breath, keeping his confident posture. Part of him wanted to provoke Sinnon, to show that he knew exactly who he truly was, but he held back. There was no point in revealing that yet; Sinnon wouldn't take it well. And more than anything, Ethan still had to prove his worth first.

It didn't matter how strong he believed he was. Even less that his recent battles had felt easy. He wasn't stupid enough to fight an immortal being.

"Actually…" Ethan said, as if it were something casual. "We were just about to cross the barrier. I thought maybe you'd want to come along."

Aeris and Sylfie looked at him, surprised, but Ethan didn't take his eyes off Sinnon.

The vampire arched an eyebrow, amused. "Cross the barrier?" He let out a low, dry laugh, dripping with irony. "You've either got courage… or you're idiots."

"Maybe a bit of both," Ethan replied, with an unconcerned smile.

Sinnon's gaze sharpened for an instant, almost imperceptibly. It felt like he was measuring Ethan more carefully, weighing whether or not he was worth the trouble. "And why the hell would I go with you?" he asked, his tone still weary but now tinged with a hint of curiosity.

Ethan shrugged, keeping his tone light. "Why not? You looked bored, didn't you? Doesn't seem like you've got anything better to do."

Silence hung in the air for a moment. Aeris and Sylfie stayed quiet, tense. Even Aeris seemed to be questioning Ethan's decisions at that point.

Sinnon ran his tongue over his teeth, his crooked smile never fading. "Hah… you really do have guts," he murmured, almost to himself. Then he took a step forward, tilting his head. "Who knows… Maybe I'll accept this crazy invitation."

He turned away, his cloak swaying with the movement, and paused for a moment, as if lost in thought.

Ethan stared at him with a calm expression, but his heart was pounding fast. He didn't want to show it, but this was an opportunity he couldn't let slip. "If I can get him to come, he'll see value in me… then he won't think twice about taking me as his apprentice," he thought.

Sinnon finally spoke again, without looking back: "Yeah… I'll come with you… but don't think I'm going to help you in there." His tone was still dry, like he was only agreeing because he genuinely had nothing better to do.

Ethan simply nodded. "Fair enough."

The vampire let out one last low, almost amused laugh before turning fully to face Ethan. "Let's see what you're really made of, then."

Ethan kept his smile but didn't say anything. He simply took a deep breath and started walking ahead, leading Aeris, Sylfie, and Sinnon the rest of the way to the heart of the ravine. The air grew denser, heavy with ancient mana, almost suffocating. Even the ground took on a different color, marked by centuries of accumulated energy.

Aeris and Sylfie stayed close to Ethan, while Sinnon followed a few meters behind.

"Why do you want him to come with us, my lord?" Aeris asked, glancing back at Sinnon.

"Nothing good can come from someone with an aura like that," added Sylfie, who had kept an arrow nocked since they started walking again.

"You'll understand in time… just like what's beyond the barrier," Ethan replied without looking at them, simply continuing forward.

The rocks seemed to watch them; the broken sigils they passed became more frequent as they approached the center, yet there was no sign of any other monsters. Every step added weight to their shoulders, as if something unseen were testing them.

Ethan didn't waver. His eyes stayed fixed ahead, as if he could see right through the stones.

At last, they reached the center of the ravine: an immense clearing where no vegetation grew. Everything there felt dead, the ground, the rocks, even the wind, which had completely stilled. And there, almost invisible to the naked eye, was the barrier.

It was only a subtle ripple in the air, a faint glimmer like glass in sunlight, but Ethan knew exactly what it was. His heart raced as he felt the mana vibrating in his very blood.

Aeris and Sylfie stopped behind him, tense. Sinnon simply watched, arms crossed, like a man in no hurry, watching a show.

Ethan took a deep breath. "Wait here, and don't try to touch the barrier. I'll be right back."

Aeris looked like she wanted to protest, but the words died in her throat. She knew he wouldn't tell them anything more.

Sylfie stayed silent too, staring at Ethan with a worried expression.

Ethan looked at them both, his serene smile returning. "Don't worry. You'll see what's on the other side soon enough."

His gaze then drifted to Sinnon, who had sat on a nearby rock, as if he already knew he'd have to wait.

And then, without hesitation, Ethan stepped forward.

The barrier shone brighter for an instant as it touched him, as if recognizing him… and gave way.

Ethan crossed it, alone, disappearing beyond that invisible veil.