Path of the Extra

“Correct,” he said, offering an even more angelic smile that made Jasmine’s heart race faster.

She shoved whatever she was feeling down and glared at him.

It was strange—Jasmine had an affinity for fire. People always said those with fire affinities were hot-blooded and quick-tempered. Yet Jasmine had never thought of herself that way. If anything, she was more like someone with an affinity for ice—cool, controlled.

So when a barrage of fireballs, spears, a wave of flame, and countless other fire spells surged toward Pollux, it wasn’t because she had lost her temper.

No. She was fully aware. Fully in control.

…That didn’t mean it wasn’t satisfying.

When Jasmine finally lowered her hand, the flames in front of her began to fade, dissolving into smoke. A black silhouette stood within it.

Then the silhouette lifted a hand, and with a single lazy motion, the smoke dispersed.

Pollux stood there exactly as before, wearing the same gentle, warm smile. His robes were unscathed.

Even the terrace beneath them hadn’t been marked.

“You’re as aware as I am that what you just did was futile.”

Jasmine clicked her tongue, crossing her arms as she snorted.

“So? It still made me feel better. Even if it’s only a little.”

Pollux chuckled, clearly amused, without a trace of hatred.

“Your anger is justified, I suppose.”

“Justified?”

Jasmine’s eyebrows lifted as her glare sharpened.

“If I could, I’d tear you limb from limb, then toss you into a pool filled with flesh-eating Void Creatures.”

“My, how sassy you are!”

This time Pollux howled with laughter, his tone arrogant.

Jasmine gritted her teeth, forcing herself not to send another barrage of fire at the alien in front of her.

“So where am I, and why did you bring me here?” she asked impatiently, tapping her finger against her crossed arms. She did her best to ignore his continuing laughter—annoyingly similar to her father’s.

Finally, Pollux quieted. He looked at her again, still smiling.

“Oh? Still haven’t figured it out, little sun?”

’Pretentious parasite! Azriel was right. He really is annoying—with that smug tone, with the way he looks down on everyone.’

And yet what unsettled Jasmine was that his smile was so gentle, so contradictory to his tone and gaze. He looked like someone who wouldn’t harm her at all.

Pollux gave a short, softer chuckle.

“You needn’t worry. You’re merely inside my mind.”

His eyes glinted faintly.

“And all of this?” He gestured around them. “Well, this used to be my world.”

*****

“So you say we have a lot to talk about, right?” Jasmine said, voice flat. “Go ahead. Or—unless you’re going to kill me—then get it over with. I’m not interested in entertaining you.”

“Kill you?” Pollux echoed, sounding genuinely amused. “I did say I’ve wanted to have a conversation with you for the longest time, but you think the worst of me already, it seems.”

Maybe she really did have the temper people associated with fire affinities—because it was taking everything in her not to pounce on the Star Emperor and try to tear him apart.

“For months you tortured my little brother,” she snapped. “And you expect me to believe that instead of being the worst, most evil god you are, you’re actually some benevolent, kind one?”

Pollux scoffed.

“The word ’god’ is thrown around so easily these days. It’s almost sad. It’s lost the meaning of how dangerous that word once truly was… though I suppose I wouldn’t know.”

His smile lingered, faint and unreadable.

“Besides, that thing you call your ’little brother’ has, at the mere mention of his name, started giving some of my acquaintances genuine fear. It is beginning to make even me feel… disquiet.”

They sat at the table inside the room—inside the too-perfect house Jasmine hadn’t wanted to step into. But she didn’t have a choice. Her options were either to stubbornly defy Pollux until he decided to kill her, or to sit down, take the offered chair, and extract whatever information she could.

If nothing else, maybe she could learn how to kill him.

“Hah?” Jasmine barked. “You’re telling me Azriel scares you? Gods? Spirits? Devils? Whatever the hell you all are?” She leaned forward, fury raw in her eyes. “Don’t bullshit me. Just admit you’re a disgusting piece of shit who only knows how to play with the weak. Delusional fraud.”

Pollux only grinned calmly at her, unfazed by the outburst.

Jasmine’s lips pressed into a hard line as she stared at him in pure hatred, forcing herself not to incinerate him on the spot.

“Ah, yes.” Pollux’s tone turned almost conversational. “Summoning Lord Lucifer of the god-race was indeed a bold—and intelligent—move.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“But it was also exactly what she predicted would happen. Which is why I was already prepared… and have already defeated him.”

Jasmine’s heart froze.

Her face tightened.

’T-that god… no, devil… Lucifer. He lost? Seriously? Is this being really that strong…? No—wait…’

“She?” Jasmine repeated sharply, the single word standing out like a thorn.

Pollux ignored her, his mood shifting into something colder—haughtier, prickly.

“But do not lump me in with those false gods. I do not belong to the same lowly race as those disgusting creatures.”

Jasmine bared her teeth.

“To me, you’re all the same—lowly cosmic impostors,” she spat.

Pollux let out a short laugh. Annoyingly, it sounded pleasant to her ears—which only made her feel sick.

For the first time, it seemed she had actually irritated him. A faint twitch pulled at Pollux’s lips, subtle but real.

Jasmine felt a rush of satisfaction.

And with it, the brief thought that she might be about to get her head blown off.

But Pollux didn’t strike.

Instead, he sighed—long and disappointed—looking at her like she was something beneath him.

“Very well,” he said at last. “It seems I must educate you, if you are to understand the scales you are dealing with.”

He tapped his pale fingers against the sleek table. The sound echoed softly through the space.

Jasmine forced herself to breathe. To blink. To swallow. Despite everything, her nerves were tight, coiled like wire.

Then Pollux spoke again, calm as ever.

“Are you aware of how many mana core levels exist in total?”

Jasmine frowned, trying to answer—then stopped.

’From what I know, there are seven levels, with the seventh being Saint rank. But… I swear Azriel mentioned something about there already being people at level eight. He was vague about it, though. And these “gods”… whatever they are… they’re clearly beyond even that.’

Reaching a conclusion, Jasmine shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she said without a trace of shame.

Pollux smiled, pleased.

“Smart answer.”

For some reason, Pollux stood and moved behind her chair, his fingers grazing the edges as he walked. There was a sudden coldness in the way he looked at her—enough to make Jasmine’s body seize with panic, every tiny hair on her skin standing rigid.

’I’m going to die.’

The thought passed her mind instantly.

But it lasted only a moment.

He didn’t kill her.

“Fifteen.”

“What?”

“There are fifteen mana core levels in total.”

Slowly, realization crawled into Jasmine’s face—followed by horror. Her eyes widened, trembling as she struggled to focus.

“F-fifteen?”

“Yes.”

“T-that… that means we’re barely halfway…?”

’Are humans really that far behind…?’

Pollux hummed, as if savoring the sound of her heartbeat pounding loud enough for him to hear.

And as the shock settled in, he continued, his voice being indulgent—like he was enjoying her reaction.

“Dormant. Awakened. Intermediate. Advanced. Expert. Master. Grandmaster. Saint. And then—Sovereign. The Sovereign rank,” Pollux said smoothly, “is the eight mana core level. The highest level your world’s humans have ever reached.”

“…Sovereign,” Jasmine whispered, tasting the unfamiliar word as she licked her dry, trembling lips.

Pollux’s gaze remained steady.

“The first nine mana core levels belong to the First Divine Order. You humans have yet to step into the Second Divine Order.”

“Divine Order?” Jasmine repeated, swallowing hard. Her anxiety tightened with each word.

How many are there?

It was as if Pollux had read the question straight from her mind.

“There are three Divine Orders in total,” he said calmly.

“All collectively under the Divine Hierarchy.”

“Three Divine Orders… the Divine Hierarchy…?” Jasmine’s throat tightened.

“W-wait—what comes after Sovereign?”

At this point, Jasmine couldn’t help herself. Despite feeling shame and sick at having to ask the being who tortured her little brother, the information was too vital—she had to know everything he could offer.

And Pollux offered it gladly.

“Angel and Archangel. They belong to the Second Divine Order.”

Then Pollux paused.

Jasmine’s heart raced faster.

He looked down at her with a strange, knowing smile.

“And as for the Third Divine Order…” he said, his voice dimming, losing whatever softness it once held, “it is Seraphim, Cherubim, and…”

His silver-ringed eyes flickered.

“…Ophanim.”