Chronicles of Forgotten Extra

Alden stood up from his chair like a man who had just unlocked the secrets of the universe.

"Mokah", he called out with the confidence of someone about to do something incredibly stupid but absolutely committed to it, "I challenge you."

The monkey, still lounging on a floating boulder and casually tossing grapes into his mouth, raised a brow. "Hm? What now?"

"A dance battle," Alden declared, his tone dead serious. "But… the winner will be whoever dances the worst."

There was a pause.

Mokah blinked once.

Then smirked. "Interesting."

And just like that, the final round—the ultimate Dance of Disharmony—was officially on.

He was going to show this damned monkey what true rhythm looked like.

Or, well, the lack of it.

He was going to use Gretta's most cursed dance—the one that defied music, gravity, and basic human dignity—to defeat him.

Why didn't I think of it before?

No. Doesn't matter.

It's time. Time to weaponise humiliation.

As soon as the challenge was accepted, the space around them began to twist and morph.

The peaceful lake and golden tree? Gone.

Wiped off the map like they'd never existed.

In their place stood a massive, glowing dance stage—complete with blinding spotlights, a floating disco ball, and speakers the size of small buildings.

Of course. Why not?

Alden looked at the stage.

Okay, but who's going to judge this mess?

As if reading his thoughts, Mokah stretched and said, "Don't worry, kid. This space will judge it."

Of course it will.

Alden controlled his urge to roll his eyes.

The same space that had judged his cooking with a whole gourmet review last time.

This was fine.

This was totally fine.

Because if anything, he has absolute confidence in his dancing skills.

He cracked his knuckles, rolled his shoulders, and prepared himself mentally.

"You go first." Alden signalled Mokah.

He wasn't going to go first.

Winners always go last, don't they?

Definitely not because Alden felt embarrassed.

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The moment the stage appeared, Mokah yawned.

He cracked his knuckles, rolled his shoulders, and walked to the centre like he was going for a morning walk.

He just gave Alden a smug look.

"See how it's done, kid." He said with a grin before starting.

"Hey, play the music." Mokah spoke as a loud beat started.

"Isn't it the most elegant music you heard?" Mokah spoke with mischievous eyes.

Elegant, my ass.

More like abomination.

The music didn't have any rhyme whatsoever.

It was like five different songs mashed into one, then run over by a truck.

Off-tempo, off-key, off-putting.

Alden's ears twitched.

Still, Alden understood the trick.

If Mokah could sync to this musical disaster, it'd make his dance more chaotic—and possibly worse.

But he'd still be dancing to something.

Alden smirked.

That's still the rhythm.

I'll show him true chaos.

A dance completely void of logic, coordination, and soul.

Unaware of Alden's devious thoughts, Mokah started his dance.

His hips moved perfectly in time.

His hands moved in smooth and hypnotic patterns.

Each step landed on beat.

He even tried to mess up—he really did.

He purposely missed a step.

His body twisted it into a flawless spin.

He tripped on purpose.

It became a sleek moonwalk.

He even tried falling flat on his face.

Somehow turned it into a breakdance move.

Alden watched in horror.

He can't do it.

This monkey is too cool for failure.

Mokah ended his "bad dance" routine with a casual split and a wink.

"Your turn," he said, looking way too proud.

Alden cracked his neck.

Time to bring out the big guns.

He walked onto the stage like a man with no hope left.

And then… he moved.

"No music, please." He requested the space.

Why?

Music is for amateurs.

And I am above that.

I'm on a higher plane of disgrace.

Man, when did I become such a no-lifer that I am feeling proud that I cannot dance well?

I really need to get a life.

Dismissing his useless thoughts, he soon started his performance.

Or more like a disaster unfolding in this space.

Even Eldritch beings would have been afraid to witness what followed next.

Alden's arms started swinging in opposite directions like they were fighting each other.

His legs started trembling like spaghetti noodles trying to do karate.

He spun—kind of.

More like, he turned halfway, lost balance, tripped over nothing, and fell flat.

Perfect.

He stood up, threw his arms up, and did the worst dab in existence.

He wasn't dancing.

He was literally glitching through reality.

If rhythm was a living thing, it just screamed.

For the first time Mokha's expression turned solemn.

Not because of ridiculous dance moves.

But because he wanted to say something, still he kept his mouth shut.

The performance lasted for a few minutes before the stage went quiet.

The space trembled slightly.

Then–

[Judgement Complete.]

A glowing message popped up in front of them:

[Winner: Alden]

Alden raised a brow. "That's it?"

Mokah didn't respond.

He stayed silent.

Alden could see his body trembling.

He must be shocked by his loss? Probably.

Maybe even crying on the inside.

Victory felt good. Sweet.

That's what you get, stupid monkey. Bwahaha—

Alden laughed in his mind.

But then a slow mocking laughter echoed through the space.

"Ha… ha…" A low, cold laugh echoed across the area.

Why is he laughing?

Then it clicked in his mind.

He said something about his defeat being his way to freedom.

So, he might be happy that he was defeated, as he could finally be free.

But,

Why does his laughter sound so empty?

Before Alden could question.

BOOM!!!

A wave of energy spread out from Mokah.

Alden couldn't comprehend anything before an unimaginable aura pressed on him…

It was stronger than anything he ever felt.

And the worst thing?

It was pure bloodlust and hostility.

Alden tried to stay standing, but the bloodlust pressuring him kept increasing.

His body gave out as he was squashed against the ground like a bug.

"W—---wh—-what a—r–e–" He tried to force himself to utter those words.

"Where… did you learn that dance?" Mokah asked.

His voice was low, cold, and eerily serious. It was completely different from how he usually carried himself.

Alden's face paled not due to fear but because it was becoming more and more difficult for him to breathe.

His mind was racing trying to comprehend the situation.

What happened?

He still couldn't understand.

One moment he won the challenge and was happy, and the next moment he felt the bloodlust of Mokah.

Did my dance perhaps offend him somehow?

Or Did he know Gretta, perhaps?

Just then– for the first time since he entered this trial space, Alden saw his status screen.

[$$##@$+ T¢¥AL IS C£€PLπ√E]

But it was not normal. It was glitched.

Then another window popped up.

[@#$$@ HOST BACK TO HOMEWORLD]

Alden only understood this one.

Before he could say anything or do anything, everything turned dark.

His vision spun before he lost consciousness.

__

Mokah stood at his position.

He witnessed the dance Alden unleashed. But he wasn't calm because of the ridiculous movement Alden showed.

He had seen that pattern of moving.

Someone…

Someone close to him used that same movement once.

His sister.

This movement was something his sister used to annoy him.

Mokah saw rhythm and always followed it, whereas his sister was different.

Always opposite to him.

Instead of following the rhythm, she messed it up.

They clashed constantly.

But he respected her.

He actually had not seen her for many years, as he was locked in here.

So when he saw someone else perform those movements, he reacted a bit too much.

Is that guy perhaps a descendant of my sister?

Nah, he doesn't have any resemblance to her.

And moreover, I didn't feel the family's bloodline from him.

If he was indeed her descendant, he would have inherited it.

Well, it could be that the bloodline got too diluted to be noticeable.

Still, I don't think he is a descendant.

I will just ask her when I meet her.

He was sure his sister was alive. The reason was simple: she was more powerful than him.

Time to leave this cursed space.

But before that, I have something to do.

Mokah took one last look at the space.

He gently tapped his staff on the ground as the surrounding mist parted, revealing many frozen humans.

Mokah looked at the faces of people frozen in time.

He couldn't save them. Their physical bodies might've long since vanished. Even considering that time was sped up in this place.

Moreover, their souls had already been tainted by that.

So he did the next best thing.

He gently channelled his energy through his staff.

The staff started to glow golden before he tapped the ground. A wave of energy was released. It passed through every soul frozen in time.

Cracks started appearing in their frozen form before they started turning into golden particles.

"May you all find peace." Mokah did a small prayer for the departed before he vanished from his position without a trace.

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