Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Inside the dimly lit war room of the Avengers' Black Star City base, the silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional crackle of the candlelight.

Maps, reports, and half-finished strategies were scattered across the large oak table, their edges curling under the heat of the room. Three of the Avengers' higher-ups stood near the walls, their faces shadowed but visibly seething with frustration and rage.

At the head of the table sat Sia, the true leader and founder of the Avengers, her figure shrouded in a mixture of poise and cold fury.

Her elbows rested on the table, hands clasped tightly together, as her piercing eyes scanned the reports in front of her. The faint frown etched across her otherwise calm face betrayed her inner turmoil.

The first higher-up, a wiry man with a scar running down his cheek, slammed his hand on the table, unable to contain his anger any longer.

"This is madness! All the cities—Blue, Red, and now Black Star—our bases are exposed, our forces scattered, and the brainwashed citizens locked in their homes, expecting a battle! We're practically surrounded!" His voice was sharp, a mix of fury and desperation.

The second, a woman with short, ash-gray hair and a cold demeanor, folded her arms. "The branch leader in Red Star City ruined us. That fool couldn't even manage to eliminate one target—a boy—who not only exposed the base but turned into a nearly full dragon during the fight. A full dragon! We could have acquired such a powerful force!"

Her words dripped with venom and regret as she ended her words. "And yet, yet, that fool let him escape at the most critical moment."

"And what about Blue Star?" the third higher-up, a stout man with a grizzled beard, growled. "We don't even know how they raided us. Our security there was supposed to be impenetrable, and yet we were uprooted without so much as a warning. It's like they were handed our location on a silver platter!" Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

The room fell into a heavy silence, all eyes turning to Sia.

The leader sat unmoving, her gaze still fixed on the reports. The only sound was the soft creak of the wooden chair as she leaned back, her sharp features cast in shadow.

Finally, she spoke, her voice calm but carrying an icy edge that silenced the room further. "The failures of Red Star and Blue Star are regrettable," she began. "But the situation in here is far more concerning."

The three higher-ups exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what she meant.

Sia placed the report down, her fingers brushing its edges as her eyes narrowed. "The 'Avenger' kidnapper who stole the fake lord's 'daughter' didn't just expose our base. They knew exactly where to lead the hunters. This wasn't a coincidence. I am sure it was planned."

The wiry man frowned. "You're saying there's a mole?"

Sia shook her head. "No. A mole wouldn't have been this obvious. Whoever did this… they're trying to put us against the fake lord and his forces. They've orchestrated this chaos deliberately."

The gray-haired woman spoke up, her voice low. "Do you have any idea who it could be?"

Sia didn't answer immediately.

Her fingers tapped against the table, her gaze distant as if piecing together a puzzle. Image of the masked figure and one of the victims she kidnapped as a hunter resurfaced in her mind.

Then, she leaned forward, her tone grim.

"I have my suspicions," she admitted, "but no proof. Not yet."

The grizzled man, his anger simmering beneath the surface, growled, "We don't have time for suspicions, my Lord! The fake lord's hunters are closing in, and if we don't act now, this base will soon fall, just like the others."

Sia's gaze snapped to him.

"And if we act rashly, we'll fall even faster," she retorted.

"Do you think the fake lord is moving all his forces for the sake of vengeance alone? No. This is a trap set up by the third party. And even though he knows it, he's baiting us into a full-scale confrontation, and if we're not careful, we'll play right into his hands. The fake lord is probably planning to take both us and the third party out."

The room fell silent again, the weight of her words sinking in.

The wiry man hesitated before speaking, his voice quieter this time. "Then what's the plan, my lord? We can't stay here. The hunters will soon break through the barriers."

Sia sat in silence, her eyes sharp and calculating, while the weight of the room pressed heavily on the three higher-ups.

"We will initiate the End Plan," she said at last, her voice low and steady, carrying the weight of a decision that left no room for argument.

The wiry man's eyes widened, his scarred cheek twitching slightly. "The End Plan?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying the words aloud would make them more real.

The gray-haired woman unfolded her arms, her demeanor icy but her lips slightly parted in shock. "Are you certain, my Lord? That's… our final contingency."

Sia's smile deepened, her fingers now steepled in front of her as she leaned forward. Her piercing gaze met each of theirs, steady and unyielding.

"The third party is underestimating us," she began. "They think we'll burn ourselves out fighting the fake lord and his forces. They've put us in this position, anticipating we'll be forced to use every last method at our disposal."

She paused, letting her words settle before continuing. "Let them think that way. Let them believe we're cornered, desperate, and fighting for survival. We'll play along, pretending to fall into their trap. And when the time comes—when they least expect it—we'll turn the tables."

The grizzled man stroked his beard, his expression conflicted. "The End Plan... If we execute it, there's no turning back. The scale of destruction will be massive, and the risks—"

"The risks are irrelevant," Sia cut him off sharply, her tone brooking no argument. "This is no longer just about taking back the cities, it's about survival. This is about the future of our cause. If we hesitate now, if we falter, everything we've built—all the sacrifices we've made—will be for nothing."

The wiry man clenched his fists, his knuckles white as he nodded reluctantly. "If that's your will, my Lord, we'll prepare for a full-scale battle. But the End Plan... It's a heavy price to pay."

Sia's gaze softened, just slightly. "I know," she admitted. "But freedom was never meant to come cheaply. We must be willing to pay that price, no matter how steep."

The gray-haired woman exhaled slowly, her cold exterior betraying a hint of unease. "Very well, my Lord. I'll oversee the preparations for the End Plan. But if this fails—"

"It won't," Sia interjected firmly. "Because failure isn't an option."

The three higher-ups exchanged glances, each of them reluctant but ultimately resigned. They knew better than to question Sia's judgment, especially in moments like this. If she believed this was the only way forward, then so be it.

As they began to leave, each heading to oversee their respective preparations, Sia remained seated at the table. Her eyes drifted back to the small yet big map, her mind racing with strategies and contingencies.

When the room was finally empty, she let out a quiet sigh, her mask of confidence slipping just slightly.

"This war isn't just for freedom," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "It's for the truth. And when it's over, they'll finally see the world for what it really is."

She stood, her resolve solidifying once more. "Let the war for freedom begin."