Path of the Extra Chapter 458: An Endless Death

~4 minute read · 1,005 words
Previously on Path of the Extra...
Azriel and Celestina, weakened but aided by Celestina's light affinity, navigated the tunnels seeking their companions. They overheard a conversation revealing that Caleus's spell to reset time had malfunctioned, scattering their group. Upon entering a chamber, they discovered Pierre and The Plague holding Jasmine, Lumine, and Yelena captive. Azriel recognized Corven Draumirius Zevrak among them, while Celestina was shocked to see Pierre had advanced to Master rank, suspecting a Mana Contract. As Pierre began to torture Lumine, Lumine bit his hand, prompting Pierre to kill him. This triggered Azriel's [Redo] skill, resetting time just before Lumine's death.

"Lu-"

?

...?

"—W-wait..."

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"A waste of garbage like you is not even worth the effort of playing with."

*****

"Lu-"

?

...!?

"H-hold on please..!"

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"A waste of garbage like you is not even worth the effort of playing with."

*****

"Lu-"

...?

"—ah."

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"A waste of garbage like you is not even worth the effort of playing with."

*****

"Lu-"

...!

"N-no! P-please dont!"

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"A waste of garbage like you is not even worth the effort of playing with."

*****

"Lu-"

".....!"

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"A waste of garbage like you is not even worth the effort of playing with."

*****

"Lu-"

".....please..."

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"A waste of garbage like you is not even worth the effort of playing with."

*****

"Lu-"

"..."

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"A waste of garbage like you is not even worth the effort of playing with."

*****

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

*****

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

*****

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

*****

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

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*****

*****

*****

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"Lu-"

Lumine’s eyes did not hesitate, did not pause even for a heartbeat. The moment he returned, they shot straight toward Azriel and Celestina and held there, searching.

Yes.

They looked terrified.

Celestina’s mouth was covered, but her eyes were wide with shock and tension. Azriel’s eyes carried that very same fear, that very same wideness.

And yet.

Unlike Celestina, his mouth was not covered.

It was such a stark contrast, even here, so close to the very edge of death.

Lumine felt a horrible chill pass through him as he looked at Azriel in that final moment, and then came the blade, plunging into his throat, and after it, his heart torn free from his chest.

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

"Lu-"

Lumine’s eyes, pulled as though by magnets, found Azriel once more.

His eyes went wide with realization.

Yes. In that instant, he understood something. From the scattered fragments of information he had gathered, from everything he had managed to piece together, this was the conclusion his mind arrived at.

The Apostle of Death.

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

The system had not been responsible for this. Neither had the God of Life.

It was Azriel.

It had been Azriel all along.

He had said as much himself, hours ago. That he died over and over and over again. Azriel had already lived through this. Azriel, who knew far more than he did. Azriel, who was as mysterious as anyone could possibly be. Azriel, who unlike him, was actively fighting on some far higher scale entirely.

What had he said, all those hours ago? That he would leave a trail of blood and bodies behind him and never once look back. Lumine had known even then that he would pay for failing to stop him.

Is this that payment? To suffer the way Azriel once suffered? Is Azriel the one doing this to him?

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

That smile. It was evil.

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]

Lumine’s thoughts strangely kept unraveling further with each death, and no matter how many times he died, his eyes always found their way back to Azriel. Until, at this moment, that smile remained fixed in place. Until his own thoughts turned darker still. And then, just now, Lumine watched that same smile grow wider.

Lumine had indeed realized something important.

[The ??? Skill, [Redo], has successfully been activated.]