Reborn as an Extra Chapter 580: One more Final Gamble, Both or None! Part-5.

Previously on Reborn as an Extra...

Rio traversed the miasma-filled spirit realm alone to rescue Liam, undeterred by the dangers that would overwhelm even SS-rankers, driven by a promise to bring his friend back alive. As he conversed with Ellie near the giant door, the atmosphere grew heavy with sorrow; she revealed Liam's shattered body was beyond repair, leaving only his soul intact and forever marked by miasma, dooming him to a life of pursuit and struggle. Seeking hope, Rio shared a shadow dragon scale from Ellie's merged and tormented father, who had passed his final moments in bittersweet joy upon learning of her survival, before descending into uncontrollable rampage. Ellie agreed to craft a temporary soul container for Liam from the scale, though their path ahead remained fraught with uncertainty.

"Sigh... at least he didn't die feeling utterly hopeless... He served as an outstanding leader for the Shadow Dragon Race, yet as a father, he truly fell short..."

"I suppose... the miasma had long since eroded most of his sanity, so I can't hold it against him... Still, I wish he had stepped in to stop the others from holding me responsible for failing to meet their hopes..."

"He ought to have realized that creatures relying on mana simply can't advance past rank S within this spirit realm, which overflows with miasma..."

Within this domain, the miasma exerts such dominance that it overwhelms all other 'laws' of 'reality', rendering it impossible to attain rank SS without accessing a distinct pocket dimension in the spirit realm brimming with abundant mana.

Typical spirit and divine spirits, such as Kai, inhabit isolated pockets of the spirit realm that remain untouched by the sea of miasma so far or were cleansed by Astra over a millennium ago.

"And yet, he never stood up for me... There was a time when I genuinely resented him, but after enduring a thousand years trapped in this enclosed area..."

"All traces of my rage and bitterness have faded away over the centuries... A millennium can transform a person profoundly..."

With those words escaping Ellie's lips, she and Rio arrived at the foot of the hill where the enormous door loomed.

Up close, Rio observed countless chains, infused with mighty seals, that coiled around the massive door, anchoring it firmly to the earth and the very weave of space-time.

Certain chains were directly fastened to the fabric of space-time; without his exceptional ability to detect spatial disturbances, Rio might have assumed they were merely suspended in mid-air for no apparent reason.

"This seal possesses tremendous power... I doubt I could even scratch those chains, no matter how much of my strength I unleash..."

"The purification magic emanating from this seal is overwhelmingly intense..."

"Should a frail being make contact, their soul would be instantly cleansed of every memory, and their sea of consciousness would shatter in a flash..."

Stairs ascended the hillside toward the door. Ellie took the lead, ascending while explaining.

"That's precisely why I've never risked touching them during my entire stay here... I fear direct exposure to the heart of this formidable purification magic could leave me mentally shattered..."

"Astra... that timeless entity was truly legendary; her purification magic endures with such potency even after a full thousand years of miasmic assault and corruption..."

"I was far too young at the time, or I would have cherished the chance to encounter ancient icons like King Allen and Astra..."

Rio sensed the intense spatial ripples in the vicinity and inquired,

"Would this prove a suitable spot to house Liam's soul?... Won't the purification magic and those fierce spatial fluctuations destroy him?"

In response to Rio's query, Ellie offered a gentle smile and answered steadily,

"While the spatial ripples and purification magic pose threats to fragile souls and lesser beings..."

"Remember, Liam possesses the fabled skill 'Mana Field.' It empowers him by drawing on ambient mana, granting him unparalleled mastery and efficiency with all forms of mana..."

Gazing at the colossal door as they climbed the stairs, Ellie continued,

"This vast seal projects vast quantities of mana and purification magic into the surroundings... I have no idea what fuels its endless power, but positioning Liam's soul close to this door will greatly aid his recovery..."

The whole spirit realm brims with miasma, leaving scant mana anywhere; even Ellie's own enclosure holds only the tiniest traces of mana in its atmosphere.

Much of the available mana originates from the grand seal's emissions and the purification magic that repels the encroaching miasma from beyond.

"The key factor allowing me to survive without sustenance or hydration here for so long stems from harnessing the mana released by that massive door as my vital energy..."

Unlike Rio, who could draw sustenance from miasma as fuel, Ellie required a consistent flow of mana to persist in this desolate, accursed wasteland.

Deprived of mana, a dragon resembles little more than a common beast or monster; it is mana alone that unleashes their full potential.

"Believe me... no location in the entire spirit realm surpasses this for safeguarding Liam's soul; nothing could be more secure..."

As Ellie uttered those assurances, she and Rio crested the hill's summit.

Rio was about to pose another question when a strikingly familiar voice pierced his hearing, cutting him off.

"That's right, trust her judgment, Rio; after all, she's one of your closest allies. You really ought to heed her advice... Though it stings a bit that you won't accept my offer of friendship..."

Atop the vast hillside towered a colossal door, shackled by chains and seals that gleamed with golden and verdant light, while beneath it stood numerous torch stands.

Yet most of those stands bore no lamps or torches atop them, except for one where a soul hovered, radiating a violet glow.

Rio instantly recognized it as Liam's soul, but the real surprise lay in the figure lounging nearby, back pressed against the torch stand.

"What!? Who goes there!? Stay back from Liam's soul! Move away now! That stand is a delicate relic designed to hold delicate energies!"

"Step away, or I'll end you on the spot!"

Ellie's fury erupted in an instant, her shouts directed at the mysterious intruder, who appeared utterly oblivious to her warnings.

"Hey! Rio... it's been ages~"