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Path of the Extra

Chapter 35: Christmas Banquet [5] · Oct 15, 2026

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Chapter List (455)

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1 Chapter 1: Prologue 2026-10-15
2 Chapter 2: Azriel Crimson 2026-10-15
3 Chapter 3: The City of Love 2026-10-15
4 Chapter 4: Deathʼs Blossom 2026-10-15
5 Chapter 5: Ragnar Frost 2026-10-15
6 Chapter 6: Hope and Doubts 2026-10-15
7 Chapter 7: Solomon Dragonheart 2026-10-15
8 Chapter 8: 15 Minutes 2026-10-15
9 Chapter 9: The Crying Fog 2026-10-15
10 Chapter 10: Don’t go... 2026-10-15
11 Chapter 11: Treacherous 2026-10-15
12 Chapter 12: Prince Azriel 2026-10-15
13 Chapter 13: Crimson Blood 2026-10-15
14 Chapter 14: Happy Birthday 2026-10-15
15 Chapter 15: The Unworthy Prince 2026-10-15
16 Chapter 16: The Sacred Capitals 2026-10-15
17 Chapter 17: Jasmine Crimson 2026-10-15
18 Chapter 18: EASC 2026-10-15
19 Chapter 19: The Clown 2026-10-15
20 Chapter 20: The Sovereigns 2026-10-15
21 Chapter 21: Sibling Reunion 2026-10-15
22 Chapter 22: Denial and Acceptance 2026-10-15
23 Chapter 23: System 2026-10-15
24 Chapter 24: Aeliana Crimson 2026-10-15
25 Chapter 25: Crimson Reunion 2026-10-15
26 Chapter 26: Apostle of Death 2026-10-15
27 Chapter 27: White Haven [1] 2026-10-15
28 Chapter 28: White Haven [2] 2026-10-15
29 Chapter 29: White Haven [3] 2026-10-15
30 Chapter 30: White Haven [4] 2026-10-15
31 Chapter 31: Christmas Banquet [1] 2026-10-15
32 Chapter 32: Christmas Banquet [2] 2026-10-15
33 Chapter 33: Christmas Banquet [3] 2026-10-15
34 Chapter 34: Christmas Banquet [4] 2026-10-15
35 Chapter 35: Christmas Banquet [5] 2026-10-15
36 Chapter 36: Christmas Banquet [6] 2026-10-15
37 Chapter 37: Engagement [1] 2026-10-15
38 Chapter 38: Engagement [2] 2026-10-15
39 Chapter 39: Engagement [3] 2026-10-15
40 Chapter 40: Engagement [4] 2026-10-15
41 Chapter 41: Engagement [5] 2026-10-15
42 Chapter 42: White Christmas 2026-10-15
43 Chapter 43: Lumine Versille 2026-10-15
44 Chapter 44: Hero Academy 2026-10-15
45 Chapter 45: Entrance Exam [1] 2026-10-15
46 Chapter 46: Entrance Exam [2] 2026-10-15
47 Chapter 47: The Apex 2026-10-15
48 Chapter 48: Drunk Azriel 2026-10-15
49 Chapter 49: Cemetery 2026-10-15
50 Chapter 50: Two at the Top 2026-10-15

Chapter 35: Christmas Banquet [5]

Celestinaʼs eyes were glued to the two princes standing in the middle of the ballroom.

There was no sound coming from anywhere, only utter silence.

ʼCaleus was right...he has changed.ʼ

A lot.

The old Azriel would have never done everything he had done today.

It wasnʼt just that which surprised her.

The thing that surprised her the most was...

ʼHe complimented me...ʼ

It wasnʼt like getting complimented was something that shook her heart or made it flutter.

Celestina had received compliments from countless people already, so she had gotten used to it.

What shocked her the most was that ʼheʼ was the one who complimented her.

As far as she could remember, Azriel would never compliment anyone.

Hell, he would barely even talk to her or Caleus as if he wasnʼt interested.

The air around him always seemed to say to stay away from him.

He was always someone who distanced himself from everyone around him.

But now?

It was like he was almost a different person.

Celestina didnʼt mean to speak out her desire to fight him as well.

It was just a thought that accidentally leaked out, which Azriel heard.

Yet he didnʼt ignore her; instead, he promised her a duel at the academy.

ʼRight... he will be joining the academy as well now.ʼ

She had thought that he would never join the hero academy.

It made her a little happy as well.

Among the four great clans, Azriel was the only one who was the same age as her, but unfortunately, he had never held any interest in being a hero like her.

Until now.

Curiosity enveloped her as she gazed at Azrielʼs face.

ʼWhat happened during those 2 years...?ʼ

She wanted to know more about him.

It was then that it happened.

”...!”

Chills ran down her back.

His face...

It changed abruptly.

Before, he looked determined, with a fire in his crimson eyes directed at Caelus.

But now...

It was gone.

All of it was gone.

His expression, his eyes, and the air around him.

They all turned into a blank canvas.

ʼW-what...ʼ

Celestina felt like she would be swallowed up staring into those deepening crimson eyes.

She couldnʼt see any emotion on his face or in his eyes.

Only detachment.

A detached gaze directed straight at the surprised Caleus.

It was as if he wasnʼt looking at Caleus as a human but as something insignificant.

Like he was gazing at the open air.

She would have suspected that it was a skill or something, but that couldnʼt be true.

ʼUnless he found something like that in the Void Realm, but...ʼ

It seemed rare.

A skill that suppressed oneʼs emotions was unheard of.

And if it existed, anyone would kill for it.

Not letting your emotions get the better of you in battle was something anyone would desire.

So...

ʼDid he learn to suppress his emotions in the Void Realm...?ʼ

His words from earlier echoed in her mind.

ʼJust like the boy, I have survived a land of unimaginable horror… the Void Realm.ʼ

Does surviving in the Void Realm result in such a change?

To become emotionless?

ʼNo... even if he survived the Void Realm, that doesnʼt mean he was the only one to have ever done it.ʼ

There were other humans who had done what Azriel had done.

But they never learned the ability to suppress their emotions.

ʼJust what happened there...ʼ

The curiosity inside her heart, like a little flame, only burned even more.

Without allowing anyone to think further, Caleus was the first to move.

He thrust his spear forward faster than a dormant or awakened eye could follow, the long weapon piercing the air with a whistling sound.

Swish—!

Yet...

To his and everyone elseʼs surprise, Azriel sidestepped, the spearʼs tip missing him by inches.

Azriel spun on his heel, bringing Void Eater down in a swift arc.

Clang—!

Void Eater clashed against the spearʼs shaft, the sound ringing through the ballroom like a ripple.

Sparks flew.

ʼNo way...ʼ

Celestina and the others were in disbelief.

Azriel had just dodged the attack of a grade 2 intermediate...

And countered.

Caleus wasnʼt just any grade 2 intermediate; he was the prince of the Nebula Clan, one who had more opportunities to train than most could dream of.

The children of the four great clans should be unrivaled in their ranks... except for Azriel Crimson.

Until now.

Azriel didnʼt allow him to breathe as he suddenly pressed the attack, his katana a blur of slashes.

Clang—!

The sound of their weapons clashing reverberated through the ballroom.

Caleus met him blow for blow, his spear twirling and parrying each of Azrielʼs attacks with calculated precision.

A quick lunge from Azriel forced Caleus back, making him grit his teeth.

He countered with a sweeping strike aimed at Azrielʼs legs.

”!!”

Yet to Caleus and everyoneʼs surprise again, Azriel leaped, his body twisting unnaturally mid-air, Void Eater slashing downwards, forcing Caleus to roll to the side.

”Tch... were you out surviving in the Void Realm or secretly training under some master!?”

Caleus shouted, a little frustrated, yet everyone could clearly see the grin on his face.

Azriel didnʼt answer.

His eyes still looked at him with detachment.

They clashed again, Azrielʼs katana slicing in a horizontal sweep that Caleus blocked with his spearʼs shaft.

Clang—!

Azriel shifted his weight, pivoting to bring Void Eater down in a powerful overhead strike, but Caleus raised his spear just in time.

Clang—!

Celestina and the others were absorbed, watching the two try to gain the upper hand.

Caleus spun his spear in a wide arc to create distance, making Azriel leap back.

Clang—!

The duel took them across the ballroom, their movements a violent dance.

”Haaa!”

With a scream, Caleus retaliated with a series of rapid jabs, forcing Azriel to defend with Void Eater.

Clang—!

Azriel moved like lightning, parrying almost every thrust, but even he couldnʼt defend against them all.

His black tuxedo began to tear, and his cheek was grazed, causing him to leap back once again.

Drip... Drip...

The sound of his blood staining the floor resounded through the room.

”Azriel!?”

Jasmine shouted worriedly as she saw his wounds, yet...

Azriel didnʼt react.

Only a few managed to notice the slight twitch of his right eyebrow.

But that was it.

ʼCaleus is still stronger... he canʼt win in a contest of pure skill!ʼ

Celestina had already concluded that it was going to be Azrielʼs loss.

The fact that he could fight Caleus evenly for this long was already tremendous.

But...

She clenched her fist until her knuckles turned white.

ʼ...I want to see more.ʼ

She didnʼt want it to end.

Celestina wanted to see more.

More of the one who was once called the unworthy prince.

*****

ʼInteresting.ʼ

A singular thought ran through Azrielʼs mind as he gazed at Caleus.

Wiping the blood from his face, he looked at his red-stained fingertips.

Or at least, they should have been red since the world around him had turned colorless.

ʼI never thought I would get this far.ʼ

Though [Void Mind] allowed his emotions to be suppressed and his thinking to be clearer, it didnʼt provide a physical boost.

But that didnʼt matter.

Winning was never his original plan.

At most, he wanted to draw against Caleus.

All he needed to do was put on a good performance for Freya.

At least that was what he was supposed to do, but now...

ʼIt seems winning is a bigger possibility than I had thought.ʼ

It was strange.

Azriel might have trained diligently, but not to the extent that he could keep up with Caleus.

It didnʼt take long for him to consider why he was managing to hold his own.

ʼThe missing memories...ʼ

It seemed that he had grown stronger than he realized, as his body was reacting instinctively against Caleus.

Azriel was sure of it since his footwork resembled a bit of Leoʼs as well.

There was a time when Leo had won the Muay Thai tournament in middle school.

But after winning, he had stopped practicing that sport, having grown tired of it.

ʼSo I have managed to integrate a battle style consisting of Leoʼs and the old Azrielʼs.ʼ

Truly interesting.

His plan had originally been to put on a good performance and, at best, draw against Caleus.

But now...

ʼPlans have changed.ʼ

He was going for the win.

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