Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 324: You aren't a normal boy either, are you

The ambush took everyone by surprise. As the mage-type and zombie-like monsters closed in, a wave of panic washed over the group. The dark-robed mages, their eyes glowing ominously, began to unleash their spells, casting bolts of dark energy that crackled through the air. The zombies, quick for their decaying forms, shuffled forward, their movements jerky yet alarmingly fast.

Nora and Lyra exchanged nervous glances, their fear evident. The three Red Dragons guild members, caught off guard, stumbled back, barely managing to put up a defense.

One of them, a young man named Kale, cried out as a bolt of dark energy narrowly missed him, scorching the wall behind him. His face was pale, his hands shaking as he tried to regain his composure.

Adrian acted quickly, his mind sharp and focused despite the chaos. "Lyra, Nora! Support me!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the noise. He raised his sword, his eyes fixed on the approaching enemies.

The girls hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by Adrian's authoritative tone. But they quickly realized he was right. They nodded, summoning their magic and beginning to cast spells to assist him. Nora's hands glowed with a soft blue light as she conjured a shield around Adrian, while Lyra focused her energy on casting ice shards at the advancing monsters.

The other guild members, still panicked, managed to put up a fight, though their movements were clumsy and desperate. One of them, a young woman named Lara, swung her sword wildly, managing to keep a zombie at bay but leaving herself open to an attack from another. She cried out as a dark spell grazed her arm, leaving a burning mark.

Thalia watched the scene unfold, her expression calm and composed. She made no move to join the fray, instead observing her team with a critical eye.

However, whenever a particularly dangerous attack came close to hitting one of them, she subtly intervened, deflecting the blow or redirecting the spell. Her movements were swift and precise, almost imperceptible to anyone who wasn't paying close attention.

Adrian, however, noticed. Even in the heat of battle, he kept an eye on Thalia, noting how she seemed to be everywhere at once, guiding the fight without making it obvious. He realized she was testing and training them, gauging their abilities and reactions under pressure.

"Focus on the mages first!" Adrian shouted, slashing through a zombie that had come too close. "They're the biggest threat!"

Lyra and Nora nodded, redirecting their spells toward the dark-robed mages. Lyra cast a binding spell, roots made of light wrapping around one of the mages and immobilizing it. Nora followed up with a burst of fire, engulfing the mage in flames. The creature screeched, writhing as it was consumed by the fire.

Meanwhile, the three guild members managed to pull themselves together, rallying behind Adrian's lead. Despite their initial panic, they fought bravely, their movements becoming more coordinated as they found their rhythm. Kale, using the last of his aether, cast a blinding flash of light, disorienting the remaining zombies long enough for Lara and the third member, Jax, to cut them down.

The battle raged on for nearly ten minutes, each side giving their all. The group's aether reserves were dwindling, and their movements were slowing. But under Adrian's guidance and Thalia's discreet interventions, they managed to push through, gradually thinning the ranks of their enemies.

Finally, with a final surge of effort, they managed to clear the last of the monsters. The room fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the group members as they caught their breath.

Thalia stepped forward, her expression neutral as she surveyed the aftermath. "Well done," she said, her voice calm. "You've all shown good skills. Take a rest, I will be back shortly."

Adrian watched as Thalia left them alone, about three or five minutes later she returned with a few burning marks on her combat attire.

They made their way to the fourth and final floor.

As Adrian and Thalia were in the lead, Adrian stared at Thalia and spoke.

"You made the monsters ambush us, didn't you?" His tone was more curious than accusatory.

Thalia turned to him, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're quite perceptive for your age," she replied, her voice holding a note of admiration. "You're not a normal boy either, are you? You're strong, smart... and those girls listen to you even though your relationship seems not that close. Tell me, what is your rank in the academy?"

Adrian returned her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I don't think my rank matters much here," he said after a moment. "But let's just say I'm the current strongest freshman."

Thalia's eyes widened slightly at Adrian's revelation, her surprise evident despite her usual composed demeanor. She studied him more closely, a hint of suspicion flickering in her gaze. For a moment, she seemed to reassess everything she knew about him, considering the implications of his words.

"Don't believe me?" Adrian asked calmly.

"Strongest freshman, huh?" Thalia murmured, her tone thoughtful. "It's true that I didn't expect it. But you're certainly living up to that title today."

Adrian simply nodded, his expression remaining neutral. He could tell she was trying to figure him out, to gauge just how much she didn't know about him. It was clear that Thalia was not someone easily impressed, but Adrian's performance had clearly made her reconsider her initial assessment.

'Guess, my impression of her was wrong as well.' Adrian muttered inwardly remembering his thoughts before their exploration began.

Meanwhile, the three Red Dragons guild members who had overheard their conversation exchanged shocked glances. Kale's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape. Lara and Jax looked equally stunned, whispering urgently among themselves. Explore more at mvl

"Did you hear that?" Kale whispered, his voice barely audible over the quiet steps of the group ascending the staircase. "He's just a freshman, but he's already this strong?"

Lara nodded, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "I knew he was skilled, but this... If he's the strongest freshman, he must be incredibly talented. I bet none of us could take him on, even though we're at the peak of the Lunar Apprentice stage."

Jax, who had been quiet up until now, frowned in thought. "Do you think... do you think he's already stepped into the Lunar Tier as well?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. "It's hard to tell, but his power doesn't feel like it's just at the Nebula level."

The whispers continued among the guild members, a low murmur of speculation and wonder. Adrian could hear their hushed voices behind him, but he chose to focus on the path ahead, climbing the final set of stairs.

But the same couldn't be said for Nora and Lyra. They knew about Adrian's limit after all. His inability to go higher than Nebula Tier. They wanted to tell the other three but since Adrian was here, they found it rather awkward.

Besides, they also found it hard to believe he was this strong while being at the same Tier as them - he could easily defeat those stone monsters with physical strength alone.

"Stay on guard, we have arrived at the final floor," Thalia said gesturing them to stop.

"The Guardian is a..."