Path of the Extra Chapter 403: Proctor of Theogeny
Previously on Path of the Extra...
"You are going to die."
These words resonated clearly through the festival-filled streets, reaching the ears of the Sun's people without any trace of ambiguity.
What amplified the shock was the identity of the speaker.
An unknown, young boy.
A boy whose facial beauty was so profound, it lent him an almost angelic appearance.
A mysterious angel declaring to a knight of the Sun that he intended to kill her.
How utterly bizarre.
...How incredibly thrilling!
...That is, if not for the terrifying pressure emanating from both individuals, making it a formidable challenge for most onlookers to even maintain their footing.
Fortunately, the potent auras from both sides subsided shortly thereafter, though this only served to heighten the crowd's unease. Anyone possessing even a rudimentary education would recognize such an aura—mana will—as a clear indicator of a master's power.
And given that both the enigmatic boy and the formidable knight had demonstrably wielded it...
It logically followed that both were masters.
They were monsters cloaked in human form, possessing the terrifying capacity to annihilate everyone present.
Yet, not a single person departed.
Humans, more often than not, are driven by a curiosity that proves detrimental to their own well-being, and the proud knight standing resolutely before them instilled a foolish sense of reassurance in many that all would somehow resolve favorably.
"How can an Expert utilize mana will?" Dame Selene's stoic voice emanated from beneath her helmet.
"Did you harm them?" Azriel responded, his voice as frigid as arctic ice as the white lightning crackling around him slowly dissipated.
"Are those two also close to you?" she inquired.
"No. My sister is not so frail that she would be defeated by you so swiftly without my awareness. Nor would you have emerged unscathed if she and Celestina were together. Those two possess near-perfect synergy. They can achieve Soul Synchronisation even without being saints..."
"Sister? Then are you affiliated with the Inverse Creed as well?"
"Perhaps you arrived with multiple knights?"
...The two adversaries utterly disregarded each other's inquiries.
There was a distinct lack of synchronicity between them.
No, their pride forbade either party from conceding first and offering a direct answer to the other.
It was Dame Selene who eventually relented, a quiet sigh escaping her lips from behind her helmet.
"I am merely executing the directives of the True Sun of Ismyr."
She paused, seemingly contemplating her next words, before continuing.
"I can escort you to your sister and the other young lady if you relinquish those two. I will also grant you an audience with the True Sun, provided you surrender and exhibit compliance."
Azriel's eyes narrowed as he regarded her. He then shifted his gaze back towards Nol and Lia. Observing their ashen, frightened countenances, he reached his decision and turned to face the white-clad knight once more.
This time, Azriel let out a sigh.
"I decline. You will offer no assistance, as I am already aware of their location."
For the first time, his declaration appeared to momentarily stun the knight.
Azriel slowly stretched his neck, then fixed the comely dame with a gaze filled with murderous intent, his voice taking on a quality that seemed capable of poisoning the very heart.
"But I give you my word, knight—should I discover even the slightest mark upon either of them, I shall drag your bloodied, mangled visage across the very pavement of these wretched streets as the surrounding houses are consumed by flames. Fire. Blood. Screams echoing throughout this kingdom you pledged to protect. Your people collapsing to their knees, pleading with gods who will offer nothing but derision as I reduce all they hold dear to mere ash."
"...."
A chilling silence descended upon the scene in the aftermath of Azriel's pronouncement.
It permeated every corner, reaching every listening ear.
And it was at this precise moment that the assembled onlookers grasped the true nature of the angelic boy—he was not angelic at all.
No—
He was something far more sinister than his appearance suggested.
A few more moments elapsed in profound silence. Finally, a realization dawned upon some within the crowd; it was prudent to depart without further delay. Before chaos fully erupted, they discreetly began to melt away into the surroundings.
Then, Dame Selene spoke, her voice now imbued with a firm and serious tone.
"State your name."
"Azriel," he replied instantly. "Azriel Crimson."
She raised her sword, directing its gleaming point squarely at him.
"Azriel of House Crimson—by the sovereign authority of the Crown, you are hereby charged with treason against the throne, the unlawful killing of a Royal Knight Captain, and the brutal slaughter of innumerable citizens. You have issued threats against a knight of this realm and spoken of its utter annihilation. Surrender yourself, hand over your fellow adherents of the Inverse Creed, or face immediate execution."
Dozens of throats audibly gulped, the sound echoing in the newly formed vacuum of silence.
Treason?
The murder of a Royal Knight Captain?
The former captain... could they mean Captain Oscar?
And the mass slaughter...
Naturally, these were not transgressions Azriel had individually committed, but rather acts attributed to the collective membership of the Inverse Creed. With Azriel now categorized among them, all accusations levied against the group became his own by association.
"Inverse Creed? That boy belongs to that shadowy organization whispered about by many? The one responsible for so much turmoil?"
Despite her words, Azriel exhibited no sign of panic.
He displayed no fear of her.
To the eyes of every observer, he remained as tranquil as a placid lake.
"I refuse."
"Master..." Nol’s worried whisper reached him from behind. "Please... let’s escape." He was afraid. ...How irritatingly bothersome. "If you’re scared, Nol, then retreat. I’ll catch up to you shortly after dealing with her," Azriel stated without turning, oblivious to the shocked expression on Nol’s face. Unlike the others who missed Dame Selene’s designation of him as an Expert, Nol was privy to the actual truth. Azriel confronting a Master should have been a suicidal move. At least, that was the expected outcome. Yet, his master remained there, radiating a certainty that implied his inevitable victory. Mere moments after this thought, Nol perceived a rush of wind sweeping past him. Dame Selene had moved. Azriel shifted as well, yet for reasons unknown, he had not yet manifested his soul armor or soul weapon. To the onlookers, she had vanished. Then, she materialized directly before Azriel, her sword held high, prepared to strike— And abruptly, she halted. ...No. She hadn't stopped. She had frozen. As had everyone else. Everyone except Azriel. It appeared Dame Selene presumed Azriel was responsible. But it wasn't him. Tentatively, Azriel took a few slow steps back, his gaze warily fixed upon the petrified knight, suspended mid-action. "Master?" He turned to see Nol beckoning him, equally cautious and bewildered, his eyes darting between Azriel and the small girl. Lia, too, was frozen. Everyone was. Except for them. "Master, what is occurring?" "I’m uncertain at this moment," Azriel replied, motioning for Nol to approach. "But remain close to me for now." "And the child?" "Leave her be for now. She isn’t going anywhere." At that precise instant, a distinct sound reverberated. Instantly, both Nol and Azriel looked upward. And the moment they did, an overwhelming wave of sheer astonishment washed over them. "Ahem! Ahem! Testing, testing! Can everyone hear me? Yes? Splendid!" The voice emanated from a peculiar entity hovering in the air. Yes... A creature. That was the sole thought occupying Azriel’s mind as he absorbed the spectacle. It was a diminutive humanoid being, scarcely larger than a football, possessing olive-toned skin, short blonde hair, and striking golden eyes. Most notably, however, were the two small horns sprouting from its head, curved like those of a water buffalo, and also golden. Four delicate golden wings extended from its back, two on each side. Despite possessing wings, it made no attempt to flap them. It simply remained suspended, adorned in a flowing pale cloak embellished with gold accents, the fabric thoughtfully cut to accommodate its horns and wings. The creature... It was undeniably charming. Even Azriel couldn't suppress the thought of its cuteness. Yet, alongside this observation, a chilling premonition of what was about to unfold began to surface—an eventuality he had deemed improbable in this context. "Greetings, humans!" the creature chirped in a bright, effervescent tone, offering a small wave to Nol and Azriel. "I am incredibly thrilled to finally address you all! Truly! I understand you might be perplexed about my identity, but honestly, there was nothing I could do about it myself! I was meant to welcome you at the commencement of this trial, yet for reasons unknown, something peculiar has been transpiring within this scenario, and those with authority beyond my level prohibited any intervention! They cited safety protocols! Ah, it was agonizing to observe you all! Was this some kind of slice-of-life program? It’s absolutely not what I envisioned! Where is the excitement? The conflict? The suspense? The bloodshed? The fatalities? It’s lacking everything! None of this would have occurred if I had been present to inject some life into it! Seriously, this is one of the rare scenarios that has dragged on for so long due to numerous errors that I’m not compensated enough to comprehend! But fortunately for you—and for everyone watching—we are finally permitted to engage as we should have from the outset! The glitches have likely been rectified, so we can finally commence this grand event!" The small, angel-like entity twirled in the air, emitting a joyful and innocent giggle. "Ah, yes, yes, I realize you humans are still bewildered as to who I might be, so allow me to handle the introductions first!" The creature executed a bow so profound it appeared as though its torso might fracture. Then, in the same bright, gleeful voice, it declared, "I am a Designated Proctor of Theogeny, operating under the Divine Court, tasked with ensuring the entertainment of all spectators and the seamless progression of this scenario. This, which should have been my responsibility from the very beginning rather than so late in the game, but alas..." It then slowly raised its small head, its gaze falling upon Nol and Azriel. And instantaneously, a mischievous grin bloomed across its wholly endearing face.A laugh, devilishly cute and deeply unsettling, escaped its lips. "And when I speak of humans, I refer to the gods themselves. This trial was imposed upon you to ascertain your worthiness for our favor. Ah, and yes—I declared it a race, for I too am a part of their lineage..." The small being's golden eyes sparkled. "As an angel."