Reborn as an Extra Chapter 754: A Future Without You... Part-6.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
"This is..."
Staring at the unfolding events, Link found himself speechless.
He wished to reject it all, yet the truth was undeniable; these occurrences could very well have befallen him had Rio not intervened precisely when he did.
Because of Rio’s timely arrival, Link’s and Riya’s destinies were irrevocably altered. Without him, the weight of guilt would have crushed Link, and his father, Ashtel, would have undoubtedly faced immense repercussions.
For Ashtel, the role of the nation’s guardian represented his ultimate aspiration, and safeguarding its people was his sworn duty.
However, should the populace discover that Ashtel’s own son was a malevolent figure who callously slaughtered countless innocents without remorse, Ashtel’s esteemed reputation would crumble.
The masses often disregard past good deeds and future potential; a single misstep, a solitary poor choice, is sufficient to transform a hero into a villain.
Considering Ashtel’s profound dedication to his ‘Path’ and his ambition to protect the nation, widespread opposition would trigger a catastrophic backlash.
Not only would his standing as the nation’s protector be annihilated, but his very ‘Path’ would fracture, inflicting severe internal devastation.
The primary reason Fade Crest ultimately triumphed over Ashtel Rex was that he confronted a vastly weakened Ashtel Rex, whose ‘Path’ had been shattered.
His worldly authority diminished, and his spirit broken by his son’s treachery, Ashtel stood at his lowest ebb when he faced Fade and his allies, having lost not only his dreams and loved ones but everything!
"I... No... I..."
The more Link witnessed the scene unfold, the greater his bewilderment grew, and a chilling panic began to grip his heart.
As if oblivious to Link’s mounting distress, the vision shifted. The younger Link found himself facing Fade in a contest of skill.
The surrounding crowd hurled condemnations and jeers at Link, scorning him for even appearing at the academy after his heinous acts.
By this point, Link had become one of the most reviled individuals across the entire nation. His innate sadistic tendencies had intensified, and his conduct had deteriorated further.
"Today, I shall bestow justice upon this world by eradicating the evil you have propagated, Link Rex!"
Fade, basking in the adulation of the crowd and already possessing a retinue of three devoted consorts, sneered as he publicly humiliated Link.
And Link, his sanity already teetering, could hardly endure such insolence in silence.
The duel commenced immediately, but to Link’s profound shock, Fade had already achieved formidable strength.
With Rio absent from this particular timeline, Fade had acquired all the potent skills and innate talents that rendered him overwhelmingly powerful, even for Link himself!
The formidable ‘Limitless’ talent alone possessed sufficient might to subjugate Link, and coupled with his ‘System,’ Fade held the decisive advantage of accumulating ‘Exp’ and ascending in power at a rate vastly exceeding any other.
The inherent limitations of talent were entirely dismantled by the ‘Limitless’ gift, and the ‘Exp’ required to advance various skills and techniques was reduced by hundreds of times solely due to the talent’s passive fast-learning attributes!
The fierce battle raged for nearly half a day. Ultimately, Fade emerged victorious, his triumph shattering Link’s already precarious mental state after witnessing Fade’s ability to contend with him on equal footing!
Yet, even in this severely diminished condition, with his mind fractured and his heart in ruins, Link remained undeniably the indomitable and exceptionally gifted individual he was.
He promptly unleashed his overwhelming ability, an act that had previously triggered a devastating rampage and left Fade grievously wounded.
One of the heroines, perceiving Link’s unrelenting assault, attempted to intervene and shield Fade. To her utter horror, Link abruptly turned, targeting her instead, and brutally pulverized her head into a gruesome paste!
Witnessing the demise of his beloved, Fade tapped into the potent forces of friendship and love, achieving a breakthrough on the spot, and subsequently dispatched Link.
Link, the nation’s most notorious villain, finally met his end, having slain one of the heroines and inflicted severe injuries upon Fade Crest.
The populace would continue to denounce him for days, as his transgressions would soon become common knowledge following the duel incident. Hundreds of thousands of protests would erupt across the nation, all clamoring for Ashtel Rex’s resignation!
With a fractured heart and a ruined reputation, Ashtel Rex would have no alternative but to relinquish his esteemed position as the leader of the human empire’s Awakener Association.
Left without a bulwark to contain the nation’s criminal elements, humanity would descend into an era of profound darkness. Criminals from every corner of the globe would flock to this land, drawn by its abundant resources and the consequent deficiency in security!
Ashtel Rex would retreat into solitude, while Fade would soon thereafter begin instigating conflict with the elf nation.
By the commencement of the human-elf conflict, Ashtel Rex is destined to emerge from his hermitage. His sole purpose will be to hunt down Fade, seeking to bring his son's departed soul peace. Though Ashtel had ordered Link to vanish from his presence, a thread of paternal care persisted until his final moments. Tragically, Fade's plot armor proves insurmountable, and Ashtel Rex will soon meet his end, fading into obscurity. The world will largely remember him as the father of a notorious criminal. As this dramatic scene concluded, a fractured thread of destiny drifted towards Link, imparting a message directly into his consciousness.