Path of the Extra

Chapter 103: The Show [2]

”I really donʼt understand why weʼre just sitting here, waiting to die.”

Celestina and Vergil sat side by side on the cold ground, leaning against the wall as the torch above them flickered, casting shaky shadows.

To her right lay the dark tunnel Zoran had entered earlier. After he disappeared into it, both Celestina and Vergil had chosen to stay put instead of following.

Whoever—or whatever—might come out of there, they would wait.

Celestina wasnʼt about to leave empty-handed.

”If that man comes back, we might as well kill ourselves now.”

Celestina frowned at Vergilʼs words, turning to him.

”He called you his brother... What did he mean by that? Do you know him?”

Vergil met her gaze, his lips tightening as he lightly knocked the back of his head against the wall.

”Iʼve never met that man before today. I donʼt know why he called me his little brother. Heʼs a madman. The kind you should avoid at all costs.”

ʼHe doesnʼt want to be here at all.ʼ

Celestina found it odd. From the time sheʼd known Vergil, heʼd never been this cautious. But the moment Zoran came into play, Vergil had wanted to flee—yet he hadnʼt left her behind. He stayed.

ʼHe wants to run, but something keeps him here, too.ʼ

Celestina smirked.

”Itʼs strange seeing you like this. You can leave if you want, Cadet Vergil, but Iʼm staying until I see who comes out of that darkness.”

Vergilʼs face soured, like heʼd bitten into something foul. Eventually, he let out a long sigh.

”Thereʼs no way Iʼm leaving you here alone. Besides... I want to know whoʼs coming, too.”

Celestina allowed a faint smile to touch her lips. His concern was rare—especially considering their rocky start.

She rested her head against the wall, closing her eyes.

ʼWhat a strange trip this has been.ʼ

The void dungeon had been nothing but abnormal, and now this.

Recklessness nagged at the back of her mind. They should leave. But something deep inside her recoiled at the thought, a disgust that refused to let her turn away now.

So she didnʼt.

Time passed in silence. Celestina didnʼt know how long they sat there, unmoving. No void creatures attacked, nothing happened.

The torch burned steadily, as if it would last forever, and their breaths were the only sounds in the oppressive quiet.

Until...

Both Celestina and Vergilʼs eyes widened at the sound of footsteps.

They leaped up, instinctively retreating from the entrance, eyes fixed on the darkness ahead.

ʼPlease donʼt be something worse...ʼ

The footsteps grew louder, echoing in the silence. Cold sweat dripped down Celestinaʼs face as the sound of the steps seemed to drown out even her own heartbeat.

And then, a familiar figure limped out of the shadows.

”Huh...?”

”....”

ʼOf course...ʼ

How could she have forgotten?

It had all started with him—the reason she had come here in the first place.

She had followed Instructor Benson, who was supposed to bring him back.

But Benson hadnʼt returned, leading them deeper into the dungeon... and in the chaos, she had completely forgotten about him.

Azriel.

The strange abandoned tunnel, the countless bird-like void creatures, Vergil, the dark passage, and then the mysterious Saint.

But now, her attention was locked on Azriel.

Both she and Vergil paled as they took in his condition.

Blood stained his face and clothes, his body battered, and his clothes torn to shreds.

He limped forward, his eyes dull.

Celestinaʼs gaze scanned his injuries until it landed on his right hand—or where his right hand should have been.

”Ah...”

The sound escaped her lips, her hands trembling as they shot to her mouth in shock.

Azriel stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he finally noticed the two of them.

He blinked, parting his cracked lips slightly.

”...Why are you two here?”

He looked confused, his bloodied face expressionless as he struggled to stay upright, his body swaying.

Vergil quickly moved forward, wrapping his arm under Azrielʼs shoulder to steady him.

”Thanks...” Azriel mumbled, a weak smile breaking through the exhaustion.

”Yeah, no problem.”

Vergil carefully guided him back to where they had been sitting and eased him down.

Celestina hurried over, her lips trembling.

”What... what happened?”

She crouched, examining Azrielʼs wounds. Most had already closed—he had clearly taken a lot of healing potions. Some wounds had even been packed with ice, his ice affinity at work.

Vergil spoke up next to her.

”Instructor Benson entered this place. We followed him, but we lost him and ended up here in front of that dark passage. Before we could do anything, an unknown Saint showed up.”

Azriel glanced at them, his voice rasping.

”Instructor Kevin is dead. Killed by Benson and his men. I ran, made it here, and ended up in a dead-end cave. They cornered me. I won, but I lost my hand. As for the Saint...

Instructor Solomonʼs dealing with him. He showed up after I killed Bensonʼs group.”

A bitter laugh escaped his lips, followed by violent coughing.

Celestina processed his words in silence, stunned.

ʼHe defeated them? Alone?ʼ

It sounded impossible, but the state of his body was undeniable proof that he had fought for his life. Her eyes drifted to his missing hand.

”Do you... have your hand with you?”

Azriel nodded slowly.

”Itʼs in my storage ring.”

Celestina bit her lip and placed both hands on his chest. Azriel and Vergil exchanged confused glances.

”I canʼt reattach it. Iʼm not skilled enough for that. But my light affinity should ease the pain.”

A soft white glow emitted from her hands, and Azrielʼs eyes fluttered closed.

”...Itʼs warm. That feels... good.”

ʼHe said he won... Did he really kill them all?ʼ

No one but Azriel had returned. And if Solomon was dealing with the Saint...

ʼBut how did Solomon get past us without being noticed?ʼ

It wasnʼt impossible—Saints could easily outpace both her and Vergil. But Celestina found it hard to believe Solomon would ignore them entirely.

Vergil, strangely quiet, wore a look of relief on his face. Celestina dismissed her thoughts and focused on healing Azriel.

When she had done all she could, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed. Azriel gazed at her, his expression unreadable, as always.

”Why did Instructor Benson and his men come after you?” she asked.

Azriel smiled faintly, pausing before speaking.

”Because Iʼm the Apex. Benson and his people belong to an organization called Neo Genesis. Their mission was to kill me. Solomon showed up after Neo Genesis apparently attacked on the surface. The Saint you saw was one of their leaders.”

Celestina froze, his words sinking in.

ʼNeo Genesis... That Saint was one of their leaders? An attack happened on the surface?ʼ

It was happening right under her nose, and she had been completely oblivious.

”Iʼm sorry you had to go through that...” she whispered.

Azriel chuckled weakly, glancing at Vergil before meeting her eyes again.

”Youʼre too kind. What happened wasnʼt anyoneʼs fault, except the ones who caused this mess in the first place.”

Celestina nodded, Vergil remaining silent beside her.

ʼStill... How did he survive Benson and all his men on his own?ʼ

It was still something she found hard to believe, even with Azrielʼs current state.

Instructor Benson was an advanced-ranked human.

And the other men?

She was sure they were no pushovers either.

Celestina glanced at Azriel, a single thought running through her mind.

ʼ...Just how strong are you, really?ʼ