Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The atmosphere was electric as the final hour approached. The arena, now mended to perfection, gleamed under the golden rays of the setting sun.

The stands were packed, every seat filled with eager spectators whispering about the coming battle. The audience's chatter stilled, however, as Aurelius and Adrian stepped into the arena, their steps deliberate, their presence commanding silence.

The two stood face to face in the center, the world around them falling away.

No words were exchanged, none were needed.

Their gazes locked—Aurelius's silver eyes blazing with determination and Adrian's cool, deep brown gaze sharp and assessing. It was a clash of wills before the clash of bodies, a silent promise of the storm to come.

The announcer, standing on a floating platform high above, raised his hands, his voice amplified to a deafening roar.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you've been waiting for! The final match of the Bnaquet Tournament! Two warriors—one the Rainbow Blade, wielder of all seven elements! The other, the Silent Phantom, undefeated and untouchable!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, but neither Adrian nor Aurelius moved.

The announcer's voice soared, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. "Who will claim the title of Champion? Will it be Aurelius, whose mastery of the elements has dazzled us all, or Adrian, whose enigmatic techniques have left his opponents in the dust? Let the battle decide!"

The cheers reached a fever pitch, then fell into a tense hush as the announcer's voice dropped dramatically.

"Let the final match… BEGIN!"

The gong sounded, reverberating across the arena.

Aurelius shifted slightly, his muscles coiled, ready to unleash his power. But before he could react, Adrian vanished. One second, he stood before him, and the next—

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—Aurelius felt a fist collide with his face, the impact resounding like a crack of thunder.

Aurelius's eyes widened in shock, but his light shield activated just in time, softening the blow. Even so, the force hurled him backward like a cannonball. He skidded across the arena, dust flying as he slammed into the far wall.

The crowd gasped.

Aurelius barely had time to process what had happened when Adrian was upon him again. Aurelius slammed his hands against the ground, summoning jagged pillars of earth to block Adrian's path. But Adrian moved like smoke, weaving through the barriers effortlessly.

"D-Darn it!" Aurelius hissed, just before Adrian's fist connected with his ribs, sending him careening into the air.

The crowd was silent now, their excitement replaced by disbelief. This wasn't the back-and-forth spectacle they had anticipated.

It was domination.

Adrian's movements were relentless, a blur of precision and efficiency. He struck Aurelius again and again, never giving him the chance to counter. Each blow was calculated, a teacher's reprimand rather than a display of anger or humiliation.

By the fifth hit, Aurelius's vision swam, and his body screamed in protest. He finally managed to create some distance by detonating a burst of elements around him, pushing Adrian back momentarily.

Panting, Aurelius wiped blood from his lip and glared at Adrian, who stood calmly a few meters away, his stance relaxed but his eyes unreadable.

"Is that all you've got?" Adrian asked, his tone devoid of mockery but heavy with expectation.

Grinding his teeth, Aurelius took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. He raised his arms, summoning the full force of his elemental prowess.

The arena shook as a vortex of five elements—fire, water, earth, air, and lightning—exploded around him. The swirling chaos was a breathtaking sight, colors and energies blending into a mesmerizing storm that swept across the arena, forcing Adrian to retreat several paces while taking a few hits.

When the vortex finally dissipated, Aurelius stood tall but trembling, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His silver hair was matted with sweat and dirt, his chest heaving with exertion.

"You're letting me down," Adrian remarked, brushing the speck of dust from his shoulder.

Aurelius cursed inwardly. 'Idiot. You knew he'd change his tactics, but you still let your guard down. Look where that's gotten you.'

He forced himself to focus, raising his hands to prepare his next spell—but Adrian appeared beside him again, so suddenly it was as if he'd teleported. This time, Adrian wielded a dagger, its blade humming faintly with concentrated aether.

'Hehe. Got him.' Aurelius smirked despite the situation. "Fast, are we?"

With a clap of his hands, he unleashed a powerful airwave that knocked Adrian backward and shattered the afterimages surrounding him. Using the opening, Aurelius tapped into the element of darkness, vanishing from sight and reappearing behind Adrian. He drove his fist into Adrian's chest with all his strength, sending him flying several meters.

The crowd roared, a glimmer of hope returning. Stay connected through empire

But Adrian recovered mid-air, landing gracefully. When Aurelius lunged forward for another strike, Adrian caught his fist with his left hand, stopping him cold. Adrian retaliated with a punch from his right hand, and Aurelius barely managed to block it with his palm.

SWOOSH-!

The impact nearly shattered his wrist, and he winced in pain.

Adrian's eyes narrowed in understanding and retracted his hands. "Still too slow."

In one swift motion, he feinted with a leg sweep. Aurelius reinforced his legs with earth, gritting his teeth against the pain. But it was a trap—Adrian's real target was his thigh. His knee connected with brutal precision, and Aurelius buckled, clutching his leg.

"Urgh-!"

Adrian stepped back, retreating a few meters, as ice spikes erupted from the ground where he had been.

The arena was deathly quiet, save for Aurelius's ragged breathing. Adrian stood tall, his expression unreadable, his stance unyielding.

Aurelius pushed himself to his feet, pain radiating through his body. He met Adrian's gaze, and in that moment, he understood.

This wasn't just a fight—it was a lesson.

'I get it now,' Aurelius thought, a faint smile tugging at his bloodied lips. 'You're not just fighting me, you are testing me, you're testing my strength and whether I can adapt.'

He straightened, determination blazing in his eyes. "All right, Adrian," he muttered under his breath. "Lesson learned. Now it's my turn."

The match wasn't over. It had only just begun.