Reborn as an Extra Chapter 763: My Choice... Part-1.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Rio's thoughts drifted toward the looming threat of the demon king, a momentary distraction that Raika swiftly exploited with a casual flick of his finger.
The scenery of consciousness shifted in an instant, and Rio found himself situated in the heart of a bustling marketplace.
Overhead, numerous S-rankers materialized, their potent auras all converging upon him.
Among them were individuals Rio personally recognized: James, Lia’s father, along with Jin and Anna.
Link, Riya, and even Lia themselves appeared in the sky, their gazes fixed on him, burning with animosity.
Raika let out a giddy laugh at the spectacle, rising from the ground as he addressed Rio.
"Hahaha, so this is one of your deepest fears, Rio?"
"A confrontation with your loved ones while surrounded by innocent bystanders! Haha! You truly possess the mindset of a 'Hero' after all!"
"Listen closely, Rio! We can collaborate and fundamentally alter this universe's predetermined path! You and I would make an exceptional team!"
Observing Rio's silence as he gazed at the illusory projection of Lia, Raika's confidence swelled, and he continued.
"Rio! I can bestow upon you anything your heart desires; I can construct realities where every soul will revere you as a deity!"
"Power, renown, companionship, wealth – whatever you crave, I can manifest! Within my domains, I am omnipotent and capable of granting any wish!"
"Should you remain unsatisfied, simply channel your miasmic essence into me, and I shall fabricate whatever you desire within my realms before transporting it to the material world for your possession!"
A look of triumph graced Raika’s features as he proclaimed:
"The Lia you know in the outside world possesses a defiant nature and tends to make her own decisions. However, if you consent to join forces with me, I can craft a version of her who will be utterly subservient to you, Rio!"
"Your only role is to be the 'Hero'! My sole desires are vengeance for my home planet, a superior world for all beings, and the eradication of the miasma sea!"
"Take my hand, Rio; destiny has marked you for unparalleled greatness!"
Raika extended his hand towards Rio, a self-assured smile gracing his lips, as if he had already foreseen Rio's acceptance of his proposal.
Yet, he overlooked a crucial detail: Rio’s inherent, core-deep selfishness.
"Omnipotence, the ability to create anything, to traverse any location at any moment, and to simulate novel possibilities... this power is indeed extraordinarily unique..."
"But it seems you've forgotten one critical point, Raika. I can achieve all of this independently... All that is required is to purge your consciousness and claim this power for myself..."
Rio raised his sword, directing it at the cheap imitation of Lia, and unleashed his skill.
As if a vortex of nothingness had materialized around the tip of Rio's sword, darkness radiated outwards, completely annihilating all existence in its vicinity.
'Cosmic Decay' was a formidable ability that harnessed the power of miasma to systematically dismantle the very fabric of universal laws within a designated zone.
The miasma sea operated on a similar principle, and having long observed and comprehended its nature, Rio had gained a significant understanding of its capabilities.
Rio now not only wielded profound control over miasma but had also mastered Destiny Manipulation. This mastery, in turn, amplified the corrosive potency of his miasma-infused attacks, thus giving birth to the new skill, 'Cosmic Decay'!
Already weary of the bizarre fabricated realms conjured by Raika, Rio felt compelled to forge an ability specifically designed to dismantle these illusory worlds from their very foundations!
'Cosmic Decay' was his definitive response to every proposition Raika had presented.
"The notion of Lia being completely devoted to me is so abhorrent that my current anger towards you is beyond words..."
"To even suggest such a thing... I suppose you've never truly experienced love. Well, as a mere construct of an artifact's consciousness, perhaps you are incapable of comprehending love in the first place..."
Rio gazed at the disintegrating realm, his eyes settling on the fading form of the false Lia, and spoke his mind.
"Preserving the universe, rectifying it for everyone's benefit... While I lack personal interest, I possess the capability. However, I will not operate under anyone's directives..."
"Should the need arise for me to act, I will do so entirely on my own terms; otherwise, I shall abstain from involvement entirely..."
"To remain authentic to oneself and to never compromise that essence for any reason... that is the definition of an 'Anomaly'. Therefore, I shall embrace my selfishness until the very end... and I will not be the 'Hero' you envision, Raika..."
'A final convergence... sighed... I understand what you imply...'
Over three years had elapsed since his arrival in this world, and Rio now stood on the precipice of the demigod realm, mere moments away from achieving ascension.
He had already fulfilled every prerequisite necessary to ascend to the subsequent stage of existence.
The sole impediments were his own heart and his personal volition.
'Now is not the right time for this decision... I must hold on a bit longer...' Rio pondered. A crucial choice lay before him, and to progress, he needed a sharper understanding of his desires. 'I possess the ability to ascend whenever I wish, but all lingering doubts must be dispelled first. Otherwise, the consequences will not be favorable...' He shook his head, withdrawing his mana from its critical state and imposing a temporary seal upon his very soul. Rio understood that this juncture was not opportune for making such a pivotal choice; he required additional time to refine his thoughts.