Reborn as an Extra Chapter 520: The Next Mission is... Part-2.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
"I managed to kill Neo Aldif, but he had prepared a contingency for that outcome... That's where Liam Aldif entered the picture..."
"He treated Liam as nothing more than a 'pawn'; he devised a malevolent scheme to seize control of Liam’s physical vessel..."
Ashtel revealed Neo’s dark machinations to the group, explaining how he utilized a forbidden technique to hijack Liam’s body and forcefully elevate him to the status of an SS-ranker just to engage in combat.
As Rio and Link absorbed the details, their expressions shifted to pure disbelief.
Until this moment, Rio had assumed that while Liam’s father was certainly a villain, he would at least show a modicum of care for his own flesh and blood.
The revelation that Neo would commit such atrocities against his own son was a level of cruelty no one had anticipated.
"I-it makes sense now why Liam is nowhere to be found..."
A cold shiver ran down Link's spine as he processed the horror of the situation.
His own father had once braved heavenly punishment for his sake! Because of that, Link held his father in high esteem and naively presumed that all fathers possessed a fundamental spark of parental love.
He realized now how mistaken he had been; Liam’s father was a total monster. He was a man without a bottom line, willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to fulfill his ambitions.
"By occupying Liam’s body and utilizing the spire of ascension, he attained overwhelming power... his terrifying strength even managed to push me into a corner..."
"Ultimately, I succeeded in dragging him down to the abyss with me through one final strike. I was fully prepared to perish then; fortunately, Riya intervened and saved my life..."
Rio’s eyes narrowed as he voiced the doubt that had been gnawing at him since Ashtel began his explanation.
"You keep mentioning that Neo Aldif died... But wasn't he inhabiting Liam’s body? If you killed Neo in that state, does that mean..."
Ashtel inhaled deeply at Rio’s inquiry and answered with a grave expression,
"That is precisely why I needed to discuss this; the truth is... I utterly obliterated Neo Aldif’s physical form and soul... and in doing so, Liam Aldif’s 'body' was also destroyed, reduced to absolutely nothing..."
"However! I am certain that 'something' occurred at the very last second! For a mere few milliseconds, I detected the presence of an incredibly strange power..."
Ashtel’s fist tightened as he continued his narrative.
"I was pushed to my absolute limits, so perhaps it was a delusion or a lapse in judgment, but I choose to believe in the 'better' possibility; until we have absolute proof, we cannot officially state that 'Liam Aldif' is dead..."
"I suspect a peculiar energy assisted in extracting Liam’s soul before his physical frame was annihilated by my hand!"
Upon hearing Ashtel’s theory, a flicker of hope ignited in the eyes of everyone in the room.
As long as a shred of hope remained, there was a chance that Liam might still be among the living.
"Could it have been Ellie’s power... I recall Liam mentioning once that as a shadow dragon, Ellie possesses very enigmatic abilities..."
Ashtel gave a nod of affirmation to Rio’s question.
"I am aware of that dragon girl... she only accompanies Liam via astral projection; her physical body most likely resides within the 'spirit realm.' After all, 'shadow dragons' invite immense trouble if they manifest in the material world with their true bodies..."
Long ago, shadow dragons triggered a great disaster through their betrayal and were subsequently exiled to the spirit realm. Should any of them attempt to enter the physical world in the flesh, they would likely be hunted by everyone!
The fact that Liam had Ellie by his side was already a source of great controversy, drawing sharp criticism from many who were aware of their bond.
Even Neo felt a sense of envy regarding Liam’s capacity to maintain a stable contract with Ellie, a shadow dragon capable of wielding various forms of shadow magic.
"It is plausible that the dragon girl has a technique allowing her contractor’s soul to flee to her side in the face of certain death. However, I am convinced there was an additional power involved..."
"That specific energy isn't something a commoner could manifest; it felt like a power that could manipulate 'reality' itself..."
As a formidable warrior accustomed to tearing through the 'space-time fabric' and dismantling complex magics, Ashtel was highly attuned to such high-tier forces.
"That was undoubtedly the manifestation of a potent 'World Authority'! Yet, I have no knowledge of anyone possessing 'that' specific 'world authority'; it was my first time encountering it..."
"That strange force likely aided Ellie in pulling Liam’s soul from his collapsing body..."
Even Ashtel was puzzled regarding the origin of that power and why it assisted 'Ellie' in the rescue of Liam’s 'soul.'
At the time, Ashtel lacked the luxury to analyze the event properly as he was fading, but now that he had reflected on it, several previously hidden clues had surfaced.
Rio and Link bolted upright from their chairs the moment Ashtel finished speaking.
"Then we shouldn't waste any time! Let's move! We'll scour every inch of the spirit realm to bring him home!"
"If there's even a chance Liam’s soul is in the spirit realm with Ellie, we can rescue them both!!"
Having formed a deep bond of brotherhood with Liam long ago, Rio and Link refused to remain idle while their comrade needed them; they were ready to depart instantly.
"No... This situation isn't that straightforward. If it were easy, I would have set out myself. Why would I need to consult you two?"
Stunned by Ashtel’s remark, Rio and Link lost their bravado and sat back down quietly.
They were well aware that Ashtel was the sort of powerhouse who could simply rip a hole in the 'space-time fabric' to force his way anywhere he pleased.
Not even the Dragon King could prevent Ashtel from storming the dragon valley if he chose to. If he was hesitant, the situation was clearly far more complex.
"The truth is, neither of you understands the reality of the 'Spirit Realm'..."
Link looked puzzled by Ashtel’s warning and replied in a confused tone,
"How can that be? The academy curriculum taught us that the spirit realm is a sanctuary teeming with spirits—a vibrant, sprawling forest home to all sorts of spiritual beings. How dangerous could it actually be?"
Ashtel offered a small smile at Link’s innocence and countered with a question of his own.
"If the 'spirit realm' were truly such a joyous and colorful paradise, then why would the 'Shadow Dragons' be sent there as a form of 'banishment' and 'punishment'?"
"You don't honestly believe that every single thing taught at the academy is the absolute truth, do you? The real world doesn't work that way; it is volatile and never remains in a single state for long..."
Ashtel pulled back the sleeve of his left arm, revealing a 'permanent scar' etched into his forearm.
It was a mark he had carried for a very long time, dating back to when he had first ascended to the SS-ranker realm.
"The Spirit Realm isn't a paradise; it is a literal 'Hell Hole'!"