Reborn as an Extra Chapter 606: S-rank Dungeon, A Forgotten Nation. Part-1.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
"Haha, how long are you going to keep gazing at him? It's time to concentrate on your own path ahead, don't you think?"
After catching her father's playful remark, Lia puffed her cheeks out and shot back,
"Hmph! I was merely checking whether he'd departed or still lingered..."
The vehicle pressed onward, and Rio's figure gradually vanished from the car's rearview mirror.
Once he was out of sight, a wave of sadness washed over Lia immediately, yet the locket Rio had gifted her emanated a soothing warmth that evoked his nearness, helping her soothe her unwilling emotions.
’In order to remain at his side... without becoming a hindrance to him, I have to grow stronger continuously; I can't stay feeble and dependent on him forever...’
From the outset, Lia possessed keen self-awareness.
Right from the beginning, she recognized Rio's exceptional talent, which blazed vividly as he triumphed over Link repeatedly!
Prior to Rio earning the moniker of the ’Rising Dark Star,’ Link—offspring of the planet's mightiest warrior—held the spotlight as the top prodigy of the youth.
However, as moments unfolded, Rio's fame surged wildly, overshadowing even Link's acclaim.
Through his victory in the ’Supreme Talent’s Tournament,’ Rio established beyond question his status as the premier talent across the world's younger generation!
Therefore, Lia harbored zero uncertainty that his growth would accelerate relentlessly with passing time, widening the gap in their power ever further.
In truth, among her whole crew, Lia ranked as the least gifted.
’Sigh... who would've thought a day would come when I'd feel this sluggish and helpless...’
Within Team Astra, Link, Riya, Rio, and Liam boasted SS+ rank talents, excelling as authorities in their domains.
Every one of them had unlocked a legendary skill, demonstrating the profound command they wielded in their specialties.
Lia alone lagged far behind.
Riya, despite being the feeblest in brute force among them, demonstrated her value and prowess during the Spire of Ascension!
Absent her intervention, neither Ashtel nor Jin could have endured, nor would Alverto have been compelled to forfeit a fragment of his soul for a desperate teleportation escape!
Riya even cornered the formidable Alverto, whereas Lia merely observed from the edges without influencing the battle.
She failed to deliver a solid strike against Alverto or pose any real danger to him.
Beside Link, Rio, and Riya, Lia appeared utterly ineffective in that crucial confrontation.
’My own frailty fills me with shame...’
Lia gripped her tiny fist firmly while gazing at the passing views, her head resting on the car window.
’I crave a power that's truly mine... a capability exclusive to just me...’
Much like Rio and the rest, Lia yearned for a ’Legendary Skill’; being a sword wielder, sword intent topped her wishes, though she realized its attainment was virtually unattainable for her.
Lia lacked strong connection to the ’Law’ of ’Swords,’ and she refused to cling to unrealistic fantasies naively.
Far from talentless, she simply stood as the weakest in talent relative to her companions.
In the original timeline, miasmic corruption prevented Lia from ever unlocking her latent talent, forcing her to depend entirely on miasma to attain rank S.
Throughout the original novel, Lia trailed the other antagonists in aptitude, yet her sly demeanor kept her surviving to the finale.
Today's Lia lacks the shrewdness and guile destined for her, as such traits hold no purpose now.
Indeed, she possesses potent talents like ’Absolute Precognition’ and a formidable skill in ’Spiritual Ascension,’ bestowing vast abilities upon her.
Nevertheless, the bulk of her talents' and skills' might remains sealed away owing to her modest rank.
Absolute Precognition holds even greater powers, yet they stay inaccessible because of Lia's current frailty.
Lia understood well that attaining rank S could unlock that concealed potential within her.
’How much time will it require to hit rank S relying on my S-rank sword aptitude, I wonder...’
Distress shook Lia's head as unease gripped her, but right as sorrow threatened to take hold, the locket from Rio emitted a comforting glow, instantly easing her mind!
’Um... You're urging me to push forward diligently without wavering, right?... Yes, you're correct... I won't surrender so easily...’
’Even if my talent pales next to theirs, I'll compensate through sheer diligence!’
Her sword, laid flat across her thighs, quivered excitedly, as though detecting her surging zeal!
[Oho, I sense a newfound flame of passion burning in your sea of consciousness. Are you ready to become strong and beat that arrogant stone-faced kid now!]
[I am ready! Let’s go! We will train hard and come back stronger than ever!]
[Rank-S is a major watershed for all awakeners! And for a divine spirit user like you, reaching rank S would bring a major qualitative change!]
[Your strength will multiply many times over!]
’Heh, I sure hope that is true... By the way, don’t call him stone-faced, okay! He’s definitely got a lot of expressions, you know!’
’It’s just you can’t see them! You have to see them with the eyes of your heart!’
[Ahem, Forget about it... with how overwhelming his sword intent is becoming... I-I would rather not see him at all...]
As she bantered to and fro with Kai, Lia Silver embarked on one of the pivotal journeys of her existence!