Reborn as an Extra Chapter 521: The Next Mission is... Part-3.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Given the advancements in modern technology and the extraordinary powers of S-rank healers, restoring a person to peak health without leaving a single blemish is a simple task.
Your skin can be completely rejuvenated until it looks as if it were brand new!
If a scar remains on a person’s body despite these available medical marvels, it typically indicates one of two scenarios.
It either means the individual failed to receive medical attention in time, or they lacked the wealth and influence to secure a top-tier healer or access a premium hospital.
Alternatively, a scar might be kept intentionally as a "representation" of a previous defeat that the person refuses to forget.
Considering Ashtel’s immense strength and fortune, he clearly possessed the means to summon dozens of S-rank healers the moment he faced trouble.
Furthermore, his friendship with an SS-rank healer—the elf queen—ensured that healing was never a concern for him.
The fact that a scar still marks his body despite these advantages suggests it "represents" a past failure that Ashtel has consciously chosen to preserve.
Many awakeners opt to keep their scars as trophies of past triumphs or as grim reminders of their own failures.
Every scar carries its own history, and even in this contemporary era, many awakeners choose to retain them.
...
"The spirit realm is far from a peaceful sanctuary; those lush forests and joyful spirits you mention only exist within small, isolated pockets of that world..."
"The true spirit realm is a vast expanse with no end in sight..."
The spirit realm is a dimension situated between reality and the void; it is a plane that exists parallel to our material world.
Its scale is comparable to the entire universe, where every coordinate or location in the material world has a corresponding reflection in the spirit realm.
By knowing the coordinates of a place in the material world, one can use intricate calculations to determine the matching spirit realm coordinates, and vice versa.
Those peaceful spirits inhabit only tiny, secluded areas; the true spirit realm is a massive entity that spans the entire universe.
Ashtel directed his gaze toward Rio and the others, speaking with a heavy, serious tone,
"You were taught about the Sea of Endless Miasma in your classes, weren't you? It is a boundless, ocean-like formation in the cosmos saturated with infinite miasma..."
"That phenomenon has already consumed one-tenth of the world's total area! And it continues to grow!"
Rio’s gaze sharpened at the mention of "The Sea of Endless Miasma."
"That giant formation doesn't just impact the material world; the Spirit Realm is also suffering heavily because of it..."
"In truth, the spirit realm is even more susceptible to its influence, and the majority of it has been tainted by miasmic corruption; only a few rare spots and hidden corners remain untainted..."
Following Ashtel’s explanation, Rio inquired,
"Does that mean Liam’s soul might have landed in a region choked by miasmic corruption? Ellie is a shadow dragon and has inhabited that place for ages, so she might have more resistance..."
"However, Liam’s soul is delicate. If he isn't saved quickly, he could be corrupted..."
Ashtel was surprised by how fast Rio connected the dots and nodded in agreement.
"Yes... your understanding of miasma is quite impressive... Oh! Right! You can manipulate miasma! How did I forget that!"
Ashtel’s eyes lit up as he recalled that Rio was immune to the effects of miasma.
"Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask: how are you able to handle miasma so effortlessly?"
Observing Ashtel’s inquisitive expression, Rio shrugged and gave a candid answer,
"To be honest, I don’t know the reason myself. Ever since I attained rank A, I’ve been able to do it for some reason..."
"In fact, every time my rank increases, I find myself able to command new and rare elements... it might be linked to my sword skill; it’s called 'Elemental Sword Art'..."
"It allows me to manipulate elements..."
Ashtel shook his head at Rio’s explanation and asked with a puzzled look,
"No, no. Miasma isn't an element at all... things like light, darkness, fire, and water are elements. Mana and Miasma aren't elements; they are the 'Laws' of the 'World'..."
"To become an 'Awakener' means gaining the right to manipulate the 'law' of 'mana' to a certain degree to empower yourself..."
"Miasma operates in the exact opposite way; it forces 'qualification' onto people by invading them, triggering Demonification to grant them strength..."
Ashtel scrutinized Rio from head to toe, his confusion deepening.
"But you show no signs of demonification; there isn't a trace of miasma in your body, and your aura is perfectly serene... Then what on earth is going on with you?"
Rio was just as baffled as Ashtel.
"Like I said... I have no clue..."
Ashtel sighed and stopped pressing Rio for answers.
"Well, just try to use that power as sparingly as possible. Miasma isn't something meant to be controlled; it is actively hostile toward everything, whether living or inanimate..."
"It’s as if it loathes the 'world' itself and is doing its best to rot it from the inside out... I doubt such a malevolent force will simply obey someone's will..."
Ashtel quirked an eyebrow and asked in a slightly awkward tone,
"Tell me the truth... Is it possible... that you’re the secret child of the demon king or something?"
Hearing the very same question Raji had previously asked, Rio sighed in frustration, questioning his own life.
'Ugh, all these powerful people keep asking me the same thing... I miss my adorable waifu who is always so kind to me... sigh...'
Ignoring the bizarre question, Rio shifted the conversation.
"So, what you’re saying is that to get to Liam’s soul, we first have to navigate a spirit realm infested with miasmic corruption."
"Fine, that’s a task I’m perfectly suited for; I can handle that without a problem..."
Everyone was stunned by Rio’s confident claim, yet they couldn't find a reason to argue.
It was a proven fact that Rio could manipulate miasma and was immune to its rot, making him the most qualified person to enter the spirit realm and rescue Liam.
"Even if you can bypass the miasma, the spirit realm itself is incredibly dangerous; there are formidable SS-rank evil spirits roaming those lands..."
"Furthermore, the place is immense; maps and compasses are worthless there, and most importantly..."
Ashtel looked Rio directly in the eye and continued.
"To enter the spirit realm, you must find a specific weak 'node' and open a portal. Of course, I could just tear a hole in space-time to get in..."
"But that would drop you in a random part of the spirit realm; it’s incredibly easy to get lost unless you can calculate your exact position relative to your starting point with every step you take..."
Rio narrowed his eyes and asked calmly,
"You make it sound like going through a random location is impossible... we don't even know where Liam and Ellie are; if the spirit realm is as big as the universe..."
"Then searching for them without a plan is like looking for a needle in the vastness of space; it’s virtually impossible..."
Ashtel nodded in agreement, and a wave of discouragement washed over the others.
"It is indeed a challenge... but there is a solution."
Fortunately, there was still a glimmer of hope; Ashtel knew of one specific method to navigate the spirit realm and find Liam.
"In the distant Kingdom of Dwarves, there is an artifact that can help you find anyone as long as you carry it..."
"It’s a tool that guides you to your desired destination based on your will. It is a legendary artifact of great power, crafted by a legendary dwarf during the era of King Allen Von Reinhart..."
As Ashtel spoke, Rio felt his heart race. His intuition flared up once more, sensing that something was pulling him toward the 'Dwarf Kingdom.'
'I was already planning to head to the dwarf kingdom, and now this happens. How can this be a coincidence?'
'It’s as if something is urging me to go there; even during the supreme tournament, the only candidate who invited me to their homeland was a dwarf...'
Rio felt a strange sense of dread, as if something significant was waiting for him in the dwarf kingdom, and the 'world' itself was conspiring to lead him there.