The Likely Rise of an Extra

9:19 PM

Old Ashfield Academy District, Orbis City.

The Old Ashfield district was a desolate place.

A forgotten corner of Orbis City that had long since fallen into ruin.

Located in the outskirts of the city. It was now little more than a slum— a graveyard of crumbling buildings and broken dreams.

The streets were cracked and uneven, littered with debris and lined with hollowed-out storefronts bearing faded signs.

The air was heavy with a damp, metallic tang.

The few residents still clinging to this place were as worn as the district itself.

They shuffled aimlessly, their clothes tattered and patched, their faces etched with lines of hardship.

Their eyes carried the weight of survival, dulled to the uncaring nature of a world that had long abandoned them.

The holographic street lights flickered like they were auditioning for a horror movie, casting just enough light to let stray cats and scavenging rats perform their nightly game of "Who's More Desperate".

Every sound echoed like it was trying to make a dramatic entrance—the clatter of a can falling over as if it tripped on purpose.

The sound of an argument that seemed like even the participants were bored.

And the creak of a door swinging in the wind, probably auditioning to be in a ghost story.

Old Ashfield district wasn't just barren; it was suffocating.

It is a place where hope had been choked out and replaced by an oppressive stillness that seemed to absorb even the faintest spark of life.

The only thing that made the place a little bit less gloomy were the stars that flickered in the sky.

'Damn this place is even more depressing in person' Kiel thought.

"9:21 PM huh, I don't have much time left"

He had been walking for a little over 2 minutes.

Where was he headed?

The old Ashfield School grounds located outside the city's magical barrier.

______________________________________

Orbis city is a technologically advanced academic metropolis.

And following the devastating Elf Invasion, the city's leaders commissioned a massive magical barrier to enclose the entire city.

This impenetrable shield served as both a safeguard against foreign invaders from rival cities and a vital defense against the threat of Void Spawns— nightmarish creatures that came from the abyss. [Refrence the Void Spawn guide ver. 1.0]

________________________________________

That's where he was going to find them— Leon and that system granting artifact.

Leon is meant to be in the old school school by this time and Kiel knew the reason why.

'We're both weak.' He thought.

He remembered in the novel that after the tests Leon realized that he needed to get stronger so he went to the old Ashfield School grounds to train himself.

He recalled that there were supposed to be Lesser Void Spawns in the area.

And that Leon had to fight his way through them while he ventured deeper into the school's basement.

"Based on Leon's normal physical strength as of right now, I think I can probably beat some of those monsters." He thought.

But there lay the problem.

While Leon was weak, he could still use magic as a duelist, granting him a bit of strength which helped him defeat the Spawns.

But Kiel? Yeah he couldn't use that at all.

"Damnit, Why can't I use this stupid magic thing?!" He almost yelled.

Then he paused as he started to formulate a plan for this expedition.

He hadn't really given it much thought until he got here, and the only thing he had on him was some cash and the pocket knife he found in his room.

He used to get into fights a lot in his old world, so he was pretty confident he could handle himself in hand-to-hand combat—though, to be fair, that only counted if the person was weaker than him.

So, really, it wasn't exactly "handling himself," more like bullying the weak.

And the monsters in this world were anything but weak.

"I've got it!"

He's got it!

"I'll just let Leon do all the work while I follow him," he said.

"I mean it's his story after all and I'm just an observer."

He was right.

He wasn't supposed to be here at all, so messing with anything that could potentially harm the course of Leon's story was a no go.

His only option was to not die and let Leon do his thing.

◇◇◇

10:13 PM.

The place was eerily quiet when Kiel finally arrived at the old Ashfield grounds.

Keil stood before a towering, decrepit building, its massive iron gates creaking ominously in the breeze.

The structure loomed like something straight out of a budget horror movie.

With ivy clinging desperately to the crumbling stone walls as if trying to escape.

This, was the Old Ashfied Academy school house.

Though it looked more like the perfect set for a ghost-hunting show.

Keil half-expected a thunderclap and eerie organ music to complete the setup.

But that didn't happen.

The derelict building, bathed in the pale glow of moonlight, loomed over him like a silent spectator.

The air smelled of rust and decay, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy of Orbis City.

"Great. This place looks exactly as shady as I imagined,"

Kiel said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

He brought out his pocket knife brandishing it— he didn't think it would be of any use but he still held it anyways.

His heart pounded as he moved closer, stepping cautiously through the shadows.

.

.

.

He began to make his way to the back of the school house.

Unsurprisingly there weren't any Void Spawn's around.

Only their cores littered about the area.

'Leon already took them out huh'

He breathed a sigh of relief, although he had expected it to be the case.

Kiel found the entrance to the basement and began his descent.

The stone walls had blue glowing mana crystals stuck to them, lighting up the path just enough to make the shadows seem even creepier.

It was almost like they were daring him to keep going.

More Void Spawn cores were scattered across the ground, the leftovers from a fight he was too late to see.

'Damnit how far does this thing go?'

Kiel was tired.

After walking for what felt like forever, with his legs threatening to give out at any moment, he spotted a corner up ahead.

He moved toward it, his steps slow and careful.

Kiel held his breath as he peeked around the corner.

That's when he saw him.

Leon.

And he wasn't alone.

◇◇◇

The tall, shadowy Void Spawn loomed over Leon, its form swirling with purple mist.

It was a tall humanoid looking monster with the thick cloak it wore rippling like living darkness.

The Void spawn was a dark, imposing figure, with muscle-packed limbs and claws that looked like they could rip through anything.

Its skin was a deep black, absorbing light, while its glowing purple eyes seemed to pierce through the dim room.

Sharp, jagged fangs filled its mouth, and its movements were smooth yet unnerving, as if reality bent around it.

The creature radiated an intense, eerie presence, like something that didn't belong in this world— except it should belong here.

Behind it stood a massive gate— towering with sharp, angular edges that gave it a cold, mechanical feel.

Its surface was a smooth, black metal, reflecting no light, making it seem like a solid shadow.

The design was sleek and modern, with intricate patterns etched into the surface, almost like wires or circuitry running across it.

There were no visible hinges or locks, just two large, heavy panels that stood perfectly still.

The monster's voice echoed through the chamber, deep and distorted.

"You dare challenge me, puny human? You're nothing but a fleeting ember in the face of the abyss."

Leon didn't flinch.

His fists clenched tighter, a faint glow of blue mana swirling around him.

"Fleeting or not, I'm still going to burn you out."

Without warning, Leon surged forward, his fist crashing into the Void Spawn's body.

The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air.

But the creature didn't budge.

Instead, it raised its clawed hand and swiped down with lightning speed.

Leon barely dodged.

The claws scraped the ground, leaving deep, jagged marks that sliced into the stone floor.

"That was too close," he muttered, panting hard.

The Void Spawn's laugh echoed through the air.

"Is that all you've got, human?"

Its cloak began to ripple and expand, twisting into monstrous wings that filled the space with dark, suffocating energy.

Leon's heart raced.

He wasn't going to make it if the fight kept going this way.

He charged, aiming another blow at the creature's chest, but before his fist could land, the Void Spawn struck.

It moved faster than before, a blur of shadow and power, its claws cutting through the air like daggers.

Leon had no time to react.

The claws ripped into his side, sending him crashing into the wall with a sickening crunch.

"Not bad,"

The Void Spawn sneered, hovering above him, its wings now fully spread.

"But you're still too slow."

'Damnit, this is painful to watch,' Kiel said in his mind.

His fists clenched as he watched Leon get pummeled by the monster.

"But I can't interfere... even if I wanted to."

He hated feeling so helpless, but he knew Leon would pull through.

He always did, till he got insanely overpowered— that was why he liked Leon so much.

Blood dripped from the corner of Leon's mouth, his movements growing slower and more unsteady.

Yet, despite the pain, he forced himself to his feet.

The Void Spawn chuckled, its voice dripping with mockery.

"Pathetic. You can't even land a decent blow, and yet you still stand? Why bother? Do you think your defiance matters?"

Leon wiped the blood from his lip, his glare sharp despite the pain etched across his face.

"You know…" Leon panted, his mana flickering weakly.

"For a rare talking spawn, you really don't know when to shut up."

The Void Spawn's expression twisted into one of amusement, its glowing purple eyes narrowing.

"You're an interesting one, I will honor your confidence with a sound beating!" it bellowed.

Its voice a guttural roar that seemed to shake the very walls of the chamber.

The air grew heavier, charged with oppressive mana as the Void Spawn's form seemed to expand.

Its wings stretched wider, the shadows around it deepening into an almost tangible darkness.

"Your confidence will be your undoing!"

The creature lunged forward, its speed blinding.

Leon barely managed to dodge it again, the sharp claws grazing his arm and leaving a shallow but stinging wound.

He gritted his teeth, the pain sharp and immediate.

Leon countered with a quick strike, his glowing fist aimed straight at the Void Spawn's torso— where its core was.

But the creature twisted its body with inhuman agility, the blow barely grazing its side.

It retaliated with a sweeping kick, the force of which sent Leon flying across the cave.

He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood as he struggled to push himself back to his feet.

The Void Spawn didn't let up.

It closed the distance in an instant, raising a massive claw to strike again.

Leon rolled to the side just in time, the claw slamming into the ground where he had been moments before, leaving deep gouges in the stone.

"You're persistent," the Void Spawn sneered.

Leon staggered to his feet, his breaths ragged.

His mana flickered around him, faint and unstable, like a dying flame.

He clenched his fists, knowing full well the odds were not in his favor.

"Yeah, well, I've always been a fan of underdog stories," he said.

"Confidence isn't exactly my strong suit, and I've been beaten down more times than I care to remember."

He spat more blood.

"But like I said before, you're just a rare talking B rank, I'll beat you or burn you out till I do."

That line? Oh, it was cheesy enough to make Kiel cringe.

He remembered reading it for the first time in the novel, cringing so hard it almost hurt.

But then he thought about it from Leon's perspective —his years of being bullied since he was a kid.

Which was a constant shadow hanging over him until he came to Ashfield Academy.

And somehow, despite all that, Leon was standing here, holding his own against the Void Spawn.

Though Zach's influence hadn't fully kicked in yet, it was clear Leon was finding his confidence.

Still, Kiel couldn't help but wonder where all this sudden bravery was coming from.

Did it just magically appear?

Or was there something else at play here?

Leon was normally supposed to be scared right now, but he was somewhat relaxed?

He didn't seem to be panicking which was unusual.

The Void Spawn growled, its wings unfurling as it prepared to launch another assault.

Leon braced himself, his mind racing for a strategy.

He couldn't keep this up for much longer— his body was already nearing its limit.

The creature charged, its movements a blur.

Leon met its attack head-on, their clash sending shockwaves through the chamber.

He managed to land a solid punch on its jaw, but the Void Spawn barely flinched, its counterattack slammed into Leon's rib and sent him crashing into the stone wall.

Leon groaned, his vision swimming as he struggled to stand.

Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, his body screaming in protest with every movement.

The Void Spawn laughed, the sound echoing loudly.

"Just stay down, already. It's pitiful watching an ant struggle as they are about to get snuffed out.

Leon spat out blood, his glare unwavering.

"Funny, I don't feel snuffed yet."

The Void Spawn roared in frustration, its form surging with dark energy.

It raised both claws, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

But before it could strike, a faint white glow emanated from Leon's pocket.

Leon blinked, his gaze shifting downward as he felt the warmth radiating from his pocket.

"It's finally working–" Leon muttered, almost to himself.

The glow intensified, and Leon instinctively reached for the source.

His fingers closed around the smooth, crystal like artifact.

It as round in shape and had a cobalt blue color to it.

The moment his skin made contact, a surge of energy coursed through him, flooding his body with a power unlike anything he'd ever felt.

The Void Spawn snarled, its claws slashing toward Leon, but it was too late.

Leon spoke under his breath, his words barely audible, but Kiel could read them clearly from his position.

"Asterix... Burst."

The moment those words left Leon's lips, something in the air shifted.

Leon's entire body lit up, the artifact's energy enveloping him in a bright blue aura.

Before the Void Spawn could react, Leon caught its slashing claws with his bare hands.

The claws—sharp enough to tear through stone—were stopped dead in their tracks.

Leon gritted his teeth, muscles bulging as he shoved the creature back with a strength that seemed to defy his previous limitations.

With a roar that shook the very foundation of the room, Leon pushed the Void Spawn across the cave.

Sending it skidding backwards, leaving deep gouges in the stone floor.

There was no hesitation in Leon's movements now.

His entire body was a blur of motion as he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, his fists and legs moving with a terrifying precision.

Each strike landed with a bone-crushing force, the Void Spawn's defenses crumbling under the onslaught.

The creature—once so imposing, so confident—was now staggering back.

It was barely able to keep up with Leon's relentless barrage of blows.

It roared in frustration, its claws slashing in wild arcs, but Leon was faster.

Every punch, every kick, every movement was a perfect storm of power and speed.

The Void Spawn had no time to react before the next strike came crashing into it, its body sent reeling from the force.

For the first time, the Void Spawn looked uncertain.

It was no longer the terrifying creature it once was.

And Leon wasn't about to give it a moment to breathe.

"You're done," Leon muttered his voice cold.

The Void Spawn let out a final, desperate roar as Leon's glowing fist collided with its chest, shattering the core in its center.

The creature's form disintegrated into a cloud of dark mist.

The oppressive mana in the chamber started dissipating along with it.

The artifact in Leon's hand dimmed and shattered as he stood amidst the aftermath of the battle, panting.

"I– I did it, I actually beat it... that message was right," Leon said, catching his breath.

As for Kiel?

'Wha– What just happened?!'

Kiel screamed internally.

This wasn't how the story was supposed to go at all.

Leon had already obtained the system-granting artifact, Asterix, and had used a skill known as Asterix Burst— This skill multiplied the user's strength and durability by 10, making it one of Asterix's most powerful abilities.

But it can only be activated when the user is in a critical state and can't be used again for 24hours.

A semi-broken skill with a very long cooldown period.

It was the first skill Leon ever received, and that marked his growth as one of the strongest anomalies in the novel.

Yes anomaly.

After activating Asterix Leon also gained the ability to release mana like a mage making him an anomaly.

Which means he just activated Asterix while fighting the Spawn.

'But this doesn't make any sense,' Kiel thought.

That's because the items were supposed to be behind the door the Void Spawn was guarding.

'How the hell does he have it on hand now?!'