Beyond the Script: The Extra Who Stole the Mangakyo

Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Chapter 12: The Gauntlet of the Red Katana

I pressed further into the dark heart of the cave, the ambient blue-green glow of bioluminescent moss barely lighting my path. My footsteps echoed off the cold, damp stone, and every instinct screamed that something was terribly wrong. I had come here in search of a hidden cheat—an artifact whispered about in the game—but what I found instead was a presence that made my blood run cold.

Almost immediately, the ground began to tremble beneath me. A guttural, low growl reverberated off the cavern walls, and I spun around, sword clutched tightly in hand. Out of the oppressive darkness emerged a hulking shape. Its eyes glowed with a fierce, unnatural light as it stepped forward—revealing itself to be a colossal, beastly creature. Unlike the low-level threats I'd encountered on the mountain trails, this monster exuded raw, primal power—a true C-rank adversary.

It was a monstrous, bear-like abomination with matted, dark fur, but what set it apart were the jagged, serrated claws that looked like they were forged from stone and the deep, pulsating wounds along its body. Its massive frame, bristling with muscle, was a stark reminder that this was no ordinary mountain creature.

"So much for a quiet treasure hunt," I muttered, the adrenaline surging through my veins.

Without warning, the creature charged. Its massive bulk thundered across the uneven floor, each step causing the cave to shudder as if the very earth were protesting its passage. I barely had time to react. With a swift sidestep, I evaded a swipe that would have easily pulverized me, the creature's claw slashing through the air where I'd just stood.

I darted forward, slashing at its flank with my sword, but the blade barely made a dent in its thick hide. The beast roared in anger and retaliated with a furious barrage of claws and teeth. I blocked and dodged, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure it would give me away.

Realizing that brute force alone wouldn't cut it, I activated my Sharingan. The world slowed around me as my vision sharpened to an almost preternatural clarity. Every muscle twitch, every subtle shift in the creature's form, was laid out before me. I calculated its attack pattern in mere fractions of a second.

The monster lunged again—a savage swipe aimed at my midsection. I ducked low, feeling the rush of displaced air as the attack passed overhead, and countered with a rapid combination of strikes aimed at its vulnerable joints. Still, the creature's resilience was astonishing. Every cut and thrust seemed to be absorbed by its dense, scarred flesh.

"Time to up the ante," I thought grimly. I gritted my teeth and prepared to unleash a technique I had long avoided—the dreaded Kamui. My mana reserves were precariously low, and the cost was immense, but there was no other choice. I needed to create an opening, a moment of weakness to exploit. @@novelbin@@

Channeling every ounce of mana into my left hand, I activated Kamui. In an instant, a shimmering distortion enveloped my hand as I phased part of it into a separate dimension. The effect was staggering—a brief moment when I was untouchable. As the beast's claw slashed toward where my hand had been, it passed harmlessly through my spatial projection. In that fleeting second, I surged forward and slashed at the creature's leg.

The impact was vicious. I felt every shockwave as my blade met resistance, and the creature bellowed in pain, its focus momentarily disrupted. However, the drain from Kamui was severe. My vision flickered, and for a moment, I nearly lost control of my limbs as my mana reserves sputtered dangerously low. But there was no time to recover—this fight demanded everything I had.

The beast roared and staggered, its momentum faltering as I pressed my advantage. I pivoted, retreating into the shadows to catch my breath and gather my thoughts. My mind raced: I needed to utilize every trick in my arsenal. I could rely on my physical training, but my true edge lay in my ability to blend speed, deception, and raw power.

I activated my Sharingan fully now, and with a surge of mana, I invoked a powerful genjutsu. My eyes flared with an eerie crimson light as I wove an illusion around the creature, projecting images of multiple, phantom versions of myself. The beast paused, confusion flickering in its eyes as it struggled to determine which target was real.

Seizing that split-second of hesitation, I dashed forward. With lightning speed, I delivered a series of precise, brutal strikes aimed at the creature's scarred leg—the very weakness I had identified. Each blow drove deeper into the wound until the hide was rent open, and thick, dark blood oozed out. The creature howled, its balance breaking as it faltered under the relentless assault.

But it wasn't over. As the beast staggered, it lashed out wildly. I barely managed to parry a crushing blow to my left shoulder that sent shockwaves of pain through my body. The fight had become a desperate dance between life and death. I needed one final move—a finishing strike that would end this nightmare.

Drawing on every reserve of mana and strength, I surged forward once more. I switched tactics: this time, I would combine Kamui with my swordplay in one decisive blow. As the monster reared back to strike again, I initiated Kamui again, this time phasing my entire body for a brief, heart-stopping moment. I felt the excruciating drain as my physical form wavered between existence and oblivion. In that split second, I reappeared directly behind the creature.

With all the remaining strength I could muster, I slashed downward with my sword, aiming for the base of its skull. The blade, now humming with the combined force of my training and the power of Kamui, bit into the creature's thick skull. A roar of agony filled the cave as the beast convulsed violently.

For a moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl. The creature's massive form shuddered, and I could feel the full force of the impact reverberate through my arms. Then, with a final, shuddering groan, the beast collapsed in a heap of broken flesh and splintered bone.

I stood there, chest heaving, eyes still blazing with the residual fury of battle. My limbs trembled with exhaustion, and I could feel my mana reserves dangerously close to depletion. The combined strain of the genjutsu, Kamui, and relentless swordplay was more than my body could handle. Slowly, the edges of my vision began to blur.

I staggered back a few steps, leaning against the cold, damp wall of the cave. My breathing was ragged, each inhale a battle against the overwhelming fatigue that threatened to drag me under. The adrenaline was fading fast, leaving me in a state of complete and utter collapse.

Before I could even steady myself, darkness crept in at the corners of my vision, and my knees buckled. I crumpled to the ground, consciousness slipping away with each labored breath.

When I finally regained awareness—hours later—I found myself lying on the cold cave floor, shivering not just from the chill but from the sheer exhaustion that had overtaken me. My body ached in every muscle, every nerve screamed in protest, and I was painfully aware of the deep cuts and bruises that covered me.

Struggling to sit up, I scanned the area. In the center of the cavern, illuminated by the faint glow of bioluminescent moss, lay a pedestal. And on it rested a weapon that shone with an inner light—a brilliantly crafted red katana. Its blade pulsed with a strange, almost hypnotic energy that beckoned me forward.

My heart pounded as I forced myself to stand, every step a monumental effort. I approached the pedestal slowly, almost reverently, as if the katana were a sacred relic. The air around it seemed to vibrate with power, and I could sense that this was no ordinary weapon.

The inscription on the pedestal was worn and cryptic, but I managed to make out a few words: "For the one who endures, the reward of burning resolve shall be granted."

I reached out with trembling fingers, the scars of the battle still raw beneath my skin, and grasped the hilt of the katana. The moment my hand closed around it, a surge of warmth flooded through me, chasing away the cold numbness that had nearly claimed me. I could feel its power pulsing in sync with my own heartbeat—a promise of potential and a reminder that every sacrifice was not in vain.

Clutching the red katana, I sank to my knees once more. The battle had nearly cost me everything, and as the adrenaline faded, I felt the full weight of my exhaustion. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to faint, letting the darkness claim me in a well-deserved respite.

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When I awoke again, I was far from the battlefield. The cave was silent now, the only sound my own labored breathing. Slowly, I lifted the katana and examined it in the weak light. Its deep red blade gleamed with an otherworldly radiance—a stark contrast to the grim darkness of the cave.

Though battered and bruised, I knew that this weapon was a turning point. The red katana wasn't just a reward; it was a symbol of my survival and my promise to grow even stronger. With this blade at my side, I would no longer be an extra doomed to fade into obscurity. I would forge my own destiny—even if it meant enduring battles that pushed me to the very edge of death.

As I wrapped a bandage around my wounded shoulder, I allowed a small smile to form on my lips. The path ahead was fraught with danger, and the monster in this cave had been only the first of many challenges. Yet, with the red katana in my grip and the lessons of this brutal fight seared into my memory, I was ready to face whatever came next.

For now, I would rest, recover, and plan my next move in this unforgiving world—a world where only the strongest survived, and only those who dared to push beyond their limits could ever hope to claim true power.