Beyond Extra

Vanguard Academy.

The birthplace of future rulers and executioners. A place where the strong sharpen their claws and the weak?

Well, they just didn't tend to last very long.

Karma leaned against the cold marble wall in the academy hallway, watching the students pass by with a distant look in his eyes. Their uniforms were sharp, their postures exuded confidence. Every step they took seemed to radiate authority, power, and—most importantly—certainty in their own superiority.

And honestly, who could blame them?

These were heirs to powerful families, gifted geniuses trained from birth, and walking arsenals of supernatural skills.

Meanwhile, Karma Sinclair?

Nothing. No special abilities, no connections, no sway. The mere fact that he was even here felt like a freak occurrence. A cosmic joke.

But he wasn’t about to let that pull him under just yet.

He tucked his hands into his blazer pockets, his eyes flickering around. First rule of survival in a place like this? Know your surroundings.

Vanguard Academy wasn’t just a prestigious school. It was a proving ground. A battleground masked as an educational institution.

Classes weren’t about memorizing historical dates or solving equations. They were about mastering how to wield power, whether it was through sheer force, clever tactics, or outright dominance.

And the folks here?

They didn’t see classmates. They saw competitors.

Take the guy sauntering down the hallway with an entire entourage in tow.

Nathaniel Alden.

A major player in Sovereign’s Requiem. Heir to the Alden Conglomerate, one of the largest corporations focused on ability enhancement technology. A force to be reckoned with, both politically and personally. His supernatural skill? Kinetic Supremacy—a knack for controlling momentum completely.

And right now? His sharp golden eyes were scanning the crowd like a predator looking for easy prey.

Karma made sure to drop his gaze and shift away before Nathaniel even glanced in his direction.

Nope. Not today.

He had no desire to attract attention.

Karma had already come to terms with his role as an extra. In a world like this, people like him were just background noise—until they weren’t.

And once you weren’t?

You became the prey.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt a creeping unease.

Karma Sinclair wasn’t just another extra.

He was a weak extra surrounded by monsters.

And what usually happened to weak extras?

They got eaten first.

‘Tch.’ Karma’s fingers fidgeted in his blazer pocket. He needed a plan. The novel’s plot was a death trap, but it had its predictable moments—at least, to him.

He’d read Sovereign’s Requiem, so he knew the key events, the rivalries, the backstabbing, and the looming disasters.

Most importantly?

He knew exactly who to steer clear of.

The protagonist. The antagonists. The hidden power players.

Every single one of them was a catastrophe waiting to happen.

He just had to stay out of their line of sight.

Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

Because, as luck would have it, trouble had already found him.

"Hey. Redhead."

Karma didn’t react at first. He had hoped the voice wasn’t meant for him.

"Are you deaf, Sinclair?"

Ah. Great.

Slowly, Karma turned, managing to pull off a perfectly uninterested expression.

Three students stood in front of him.

He immediately recognized the one in the center.

Reed Langley. A minor antagonist from the early chapters. Son of a prominent politician, supported by a syndicate involved in the underground information trade. Arrogant, cruel, and—most importantly—easily bored.

Karma barely suppressed a sigh.

Langley wasn’t strong. Not even close to the major characters' level. But he was the kind of guy who picked fights with the weaker ones just to pass time.

And right now?

Karma was the perfect target.

"What do you want?" Karma asked, his tone flat.

Langley smirked. "I heard something amusing. People are saying you got into Vanguard Academy without an ability. True?"

Karma tilted his head. "Why? You writing a book about me?"

Langley's smirk wavered.

His two lackeys laughed, but one sharp glance from Langley silenced them.

"Just curious," Langley continued smoothly. "Because, you know, in a place like this, weaklings don’t last long. It’s just a matter of time before someone..." He trailed off, his smirk growing wider. "Accidentally steps on them."

Ah, right on time.

This was a test. Langley wanted to see if Karma would crack, panic, or beg.

Karma sighed, rolling his shoulders casually. "You done?"

Langley frowned. "What?"

"If you’re trying to feel better about yourself, I get it. But I’d prefer if you did it somewhere else." Karma yawned, stretching his arms as if this conversation was a complete waste of time. "Go find a mirror or something."

There was a beat of silence.

Then—

Langley's face twisted in anger.

"You little—" He stepped forward, reaching for Karma’s collar.

Or at least, he tried to.

Because in the next moment—

A sharp, invisible force knocked Langley’s hand away mid-motion.

Karma's expression didn't change, but inside, he was already bracing himself.

Because he recognized that force.

"You’re blocking the hallway," a voice drawled.

A dangerous voice.

Cool, unfazed. Carrying a weight that commanded attention.

Langley instantly paled. He stepped back almost without thinking.

Karma turned his head slightly, meeting the newcomer’s gaze.

Nathaniel Alden.

Golden eyes. Cold smile. The weight of power radiating off him like ripples.

A main character.

Karma cursed under his breath.

'Of all the people…'

Langley forced a weak laugh. "Alden. Didn’t see you there."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Clearly." His gaze shifted to Karma, impossible to read.

A pause.

A long, excruciating pause.

Then, Nathaniel finally spoke again, this time directly to Karma.

"Interesting reaction."

Karma’s fingers tensed. "...What?"

"You didn’t flinch." Nathaniel’s smile was small. Amused. "When Langley tried to grab you."

Ah.

So he had seen.

Most normal students—especially those at the bottom of the food chain—would’ve shown some reaction. A slight flinch. A step back.

But Karma knew Langley wasn’t landing that hit.

Because he’d known Nathaniel was watching.

It was a calculated risk. And now? Nathaniel was intrigued.

And curiosity, in a place like Vanguard Academy, was a dangerous thing.

Karma forced a lazy shrug. "Didn’t seem like a big deal to react to."

Nathaniel chuckled. "Is that right?"

He didn’t push further, but his eyes sparkled with something unsettling.

Then, as quickly as he had appeared, Nathaniel turned and strolled away, leaving an air of tension behind.

Karma let out a silent breath.

Langley, looking thoroughly shaken, shot one last glare at Karma before storming off with his goons.

And just like that, the hallway was empty once more.

Karma ran a hand through his red hair, letting out a frustrated sigh.

So much for going unnoticed.

Karma had one rule: Avoid the main characters.

And yet, not even a full day into this wretched academy, and he’d already c

aught their eye.

He glanced down at his hands. No strength. No abilities. 

If he wasn’t careful, he wouldn’t even make it to Chapter 10.

"...Tch." He clicked his tongue.

Looks like he had some work to do.