Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 201: The Unusual Phenomenon

Seraphiel placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Now, I ask you, Alex. Will you accept this relic, knowing its history and the risks involved? Are you prepared to face the consequences of wielding such power?"

Alex took a deep breath, the weight of the relic and the responsibility it represented pressing down on him. He thought of the people he wanted to protect, the challenges he had already faced, and the journey that lay ahead.

"...I understand... the risks," he said, his voice low but calm. "And I am willing to bear them. I will protect those I care about and use this power for good, no matter the consequences."

Seraphiel stayed silent for a moment and then nodded, a look of approval in her eyes. "Very well, Alex. The Relic of Forbidden Light is yours to wield. May your heart remain pure and your resolve unshaken."

"And one last piece of advice from me as the previous possessor of this relic," Seraphiel added, her gaze softening as she spoke. "Remember that true strength lies not just in power, but in wisdom and compassion. Use the light to guide, not to dominate. Protect without seeking glory. Only then will you truly honor the relic's purpose. Don't make the same mistake I made."

Alex nodded, absorbing her words. "Thank you, Lady Seraphiel. I will remember your advice."

With a gentle smile, Seraphiel stepped back. "Farewell, Alex. May your journey be filled with light."

As her form faded into the surrounding glow, darkness began to envelope Alex's consciousness. He felt himself drifting, the weight of the relic in his hands grounding him as he slipped into unconsciousness.

________ ____ __

In a grand mansion, Rowan, in his Warlord of Charm avatar, sat with a young woman, the town lord, smiling as they linked arms. The room was filled with opulence, the air heavy with the scent of exotic flowers and the murmur of soft conversation.

Just then, the doors burst open, and the guards entered, their faces pale with urgency. "My lord," one of them began, bowing deeply. "We have encountered the Light Warlord and her forces in the Howling Caverns. We fought fiercely for the relic, which was guarded by powerful spirit wolves.

However, just as we were about to lose and the Light Warlord was poised to obtain the relic, an unusual phenomenon occurred."

Rowan's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on the young woman's hand. "What happened?" he demanded.

The guard hesitated, then continued. "A blinding light shot out from the relic, reaching up to the clouds. When the light disappeared, the relic was gone. Everyone was shocked, even the Light Warlord."

Rowan's expression darkened, a mix of anger and confusion. "Where did it go?"

"This... We don't know..." The guards lowered their heads in fear.

Another guard rushed in, his face flushed from exertion. "M-My lord, we just received reports of a blue light shooting up to the clouds in the Glimmering Lake. After the light disappeared, the water spirit deep within the lake went berserk. It seems like the treasure it has been guarding has been stolen."

Rowan rose from his seat, his mind racing. 'What happened? It can't be a coincidence, right?'

Then he looked at the status of his avatar and his eyes widened instantly as his gaze landed on one section.

Relics: 0/0 acquired

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'So, someone got all three of them?!' Rowan instantly realized what happened and looked at the time.

'There are still 15 minutes left till the game ends... I need to hurry. I at least have to make sure the other two can't a hold of the relics holder.'

"My Lady, can you help me one more time?" He looked at the town lord, his ability active once again.

Town Lord's eyes glazed over briefly before she smiled and nodded. "Of course, Lord Ron. Anything for you."

Rowan turned to the guards, his demeanor now calm and calculated. "Prepare the troops. We need to find the one who stole the treasures. Spread out and cover all possible routes. No one escapes our watch. We are going to the Temple Ruin."

The guards bowed and swiftly left the room, their urgency palpable. Rowan took a deep breath, his mind already forming a plan. He knew the game was reaching its climax, and every second counted.

______ ___ _

Alex's consciousness slowly returned, Seraphiel's words still echoing in his ears. He rubbed his eyes and looked around, finding himself back in the grand hall he had been in before, but his monster troops were nowhere to be seen.

Just then, he noticed two glowing objects lying on the ground beside him. Curious, he inspected them for a moment. They seemed to pulsate with a strange energy. As soon as he reached out and touched them, they floated into the air and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving him even more confused.

Panic set in as he hurriedly checked the time and noticed there were only 10 minutes left until the end of the game.

Wondering whether he acquired the relic, he quickly looked at his avatar's status but his gaze landed on something surprising. He had only two summoned subordinates left: one Umbra Golem and one Shadow Blade. But something more surprising caught his eye—a staggering number of shadow crystals. More than 500 of them.

'Wow? How did I get so much?' He thought inwardly but as his gaze lowered his eyes widened once more.

His initial shock turned into realization as he noticed that the territories under his control had disappeared, just like what happened to Eldrid's territory when the damn tree betrayed him. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Father really spoke the truth. Trust is a really fragile thing..."

"Hmm...?"

"Hm?!"

Just as he was about to close his avatar's status, his eyes landed on the info at the lowest.

Relics: 3/3 acquired

He blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes wondering if he wasn't hallucinating.

"How did I get the other two?" He muttered and tried to remember if he did anything else. "Wait... Were those two glowing things... the other two relics?"