Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Volume VI: The Dark Truth Comes Into Light - Start. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

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The air in the underground tunnel was damp and heavy, the faint sound of dripping water echoing in the distance.

Ryzel led the group of hunter-trainees and hunters, their footsteps muffled by the uneven earth beneath them. The tunnel was narrow, the rocky walls pressing close on either side, but Ryzel moved with purpose. Every step was measured, every turn deliberate.

This wasn't his first time in Red Star City's base.

In fact, he had walked these tunnels before, though under very different circumstances.

Back then, he had been a prisoner, freed only by Adrian's intervention and meticulous instructions.

At the time, Adrian's insistence on memorizing every detail of the base had seemed excessive. But now, as Ryzel navigated the labyrinthine network with practiced ease, he couldn't help but marvel at Adrian's foresight.

'He really can predict the future,' Ryzel thought grimly, glancing over his shoulder at the group following him.

The hunter-trainees were young but determined, their faces a mix of nerves and resolve.

Each one carried the mark of someone who had endured far too much and yet refused to break. Their task tonight was deceptively simple: pose as hunters, infiltrate the base, and launch an attack designed to cause maximum chaos.

It sounded straightforward, but Ryzel knew better.

The Avenger's forces were no fools, and the Red Star base was no ordinary outpost. Their disguise as hunters would only hold up for so long, and so, they needed to escape before that.

"Keep a close distance," Ryzel whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of tension that filled the air. "We're nearing the first checkpoint."

The trainees nodded silently, their hands gripping their weapons tightly.

The group came to a halt at a fork in the tunnel.

Ryzel knelt, tracing his fingers over the faint markings etched into the wall. Adrian's instructions flooded back to him: "The left path leads to the main storage. The right leads to the guard posts. Avoid the guard posts unless you want to be caught easily."

Ryzel motioned to the left.@@novelbin@@

"This way," he said, keeping his voice low.

As they moved deeper into the base, Ryzel's mind flickered to the other groups.

Eltheris, the elvin chief's grandson, and his team were tasked with the Blue Star base—a location Adrian had identified as the weakest, though not without its dangers.

And then there was Adrian himself, along with his sister Z'yna and the others, heading straight for the heart of it all: the Black Star City.

Ryzel clenched his fists at the thought.

Now that he thought about it, Adrian had always carried the heaviest burdens, but this mission felt different.

More dangerous.

More personal.

Ryzel couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a battle for freedom—it was perhaps something greater.

"Sir Ryzel," a voice hissed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was one of the trainees, a young woman named Lera. "We're here."

He nodded, stepping forward to inspect the storage room door. It was heavily reinforced, as expected, but the lock was mechanical—a relic of older times. That was a good sign.

Mechanical locks were easier to bypass than magical ones.

"Lera, cover the entrance," Ryzel ordered. "The rest of you, spread out. Keep watch for patrols. This won't take long."

As the trainees moved into position, Ryzel pulled out a set of tools Adrian had given him. They were simple but effective, designed for situations just like this. His hands moved swiftly, the sound of the tumblers clicking into place echoing faintly in the confined space.

Click.

The door creaked open, revealing rows of crates stacked high with supplies—food, weapons, and other provisions. It was exactly what they needed to set their plan into motion.

"Take what you can carry," Ryzel instructed. "But be quick. We don't have much time."

The others moved with practiced efficiency, their fear momentarily replaced by purpose. Ryzel kept watch, his eyes scanning the tunnel for any signs of movement.

His mind raced through the next steps: plant the charges, cause chaos, and then retreat to the rendezvous point.

But as the trainees worked, a faint sound reached his ears—a low rumble, like distant thunder.

Ryzel's heart sank.

He knew that sound all too well.

"Everyone, stop," he commanded, his voice sharp.

The others froze, their eyes wide with alarm.

The rumble grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable clatter of boots on stone. The Avenger's forces were coming, and they were coming fast.

Ryzel transformed his hands and legs to their draconic form.

He then turned to face the others, his expression grim but resolute.

"Looks like we've been found," he said. "Get ready to fight."

The next moment, a nearly 40-year-old man with a scar on his left cheek appeared followed by a group of masked Avengers.

"Oh, it's the dragon brat who betrayed us." Leoric, the leader of this branch, said. "What? Are you back to repent?"

"Hmph! I betrayed you?" Ryzel scoffed, fire igniting in his eyes. "Wasn't it you guys who manipulated us and turned us into your puppets? What's the difference between you and that Black Scourge."

Leoric's scarred face twisted into an innocent smile. "What are you talking about? We were just making sure you stayed on the right path," he said smoothly, his voice oozing false sincerity. "It was merely a countermeasure to—"

"Cut the crap," Ryzel snapped, his draconic claws curling as fire flickered faintly around his hands. His voice was sharp, filled with disdain. "Let's start already. Isn't that why you're here? To fight?"

Leoric's smirk widened, his tone dripping with mockery. "Haha, you? Do you really think you can defeat me with that... pitiful power?"

Ryzel grinned back, a teasing glint in his golden eyes. "What's wrong, buddy? Afraid of a little dragon brat?"

The older man's expression darkened, his jaw tightening as an annoyed chuckle escaped him. "You… this guy…" he muttered, shaking his head. "I was trying to be nice."

The next instant, a bolt of lightning cracked through the tunnel like a whip. Before anyone could react, Leoric vanished, reappearing behind Ryzel with a crackling arc of energy surrounding his fist.

"So much talking for—"