The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist Chapter 412 - 413 : The strongest rules

The vast hall inside the mansion had at last descended into a tense silence.

Opulent chandeliers dangled from the high ceiling, with a few still swinging faintly from the prior devastation outdoors. Faint sunlight seeped through enormous glass windows, casting light upon the lengthy table situated in the room's center.

Alex, James, and Clara occupied seats on one side.

Camilla and Remus sat directly across from them.

Remus had only recently awakened.

Though his body had healed, a grim look lingered on his face while his piercing eyes fixed unyieldingly on Alex.

Open animosity poured from him.

Alex, by contrast, lounged back in his seat as though utterly unconcerned.

James coughed uncomfortably, attempting to diffuse the heavy atmosphere in the air.

"So... I assume Mr. Remus agrees with this choice as well?"

Camilla glanced over at Remus.

Remus kept staring daggers at Alex, seemingly intent on piercing right through the skeletal mask.

Seeing his unyielding quiet, Camilla spoke in a steady voice.

"I know you don’t like that guy."

She hesitated for a moment.

"Truthfully... neither do I."

Alex’s lips curved faintly under the mask.

Camilla pressed on without pause.

"But we can’t overlook his power."

Her voice grew firm.

"Within the Tower of Ascension, strength is all that counts."

"Nothing more."

"The faster you grasp that... the better your chances of survival."

Remus breathed out deliberately.

Her statement weighed profoundly on his thoughts.

’She’s correct.’

’My feelings are muddling my reasoning.’

He tsked in frustration before drawing a steadying breath.

"Fine."

Then his eyes turned back to her.

"And just how do you intend to justify this to the Clan Master... can’t you see how many members we’ve lost because of that guy?"

He jabbed a finger at Alex, who whistled innocently, irking Remus even more.

Camilla replied without delay.

"Don’t worry."

"She’ll understand."

Remus’s brow furrowed a bit.

"I hope you’re correct."

His attention finally moved to Alex.

"Lucifer... right?"

Before Alex could reply, James nodded swiftly.

"Yes, Mr. Remus."

A prominent vein throbbed on Remus’s forehead upon noticing Alex’s total disregard.

James stepped in quickly.

"Please ignore him."

"Lucifer suffers from... minor hearing issues."

Alex gradually swiveled his head toward James.

"Is that the case?"

"Why didn’t you mention it?"

James responded right away.

"I did mention it."

"You simply didn’t catch it."

Alex’s mouth quirked once more.

"...Is that right."

James nodded with conviction.

"That’s right."

"Now stay quiet for a moment, please."

Alex reclined further.

"Fine, fine."

James promptly faced Remus again.

"Sir Remus, we’ll support your clan with all our resources."

"Give us an opportunity."

Remus folded his arms.

"We’ll see."

Next, he gestured at Alex.

"But first... make him deal with that thing."

All eyes followed his pointing finger to the huge window.

Outside—

Looming over the mansion—

The Black Sun persisted in the heavens.

A horrifying orb of packed shadows.

Reality warped in its vicinity.

Even light recoiled from nearing it.

It resembled less a spell...

And more a manifestation of utter destruction.

James turned gradually to Alex.

"Lucifer... could you handle that, please?"

Alex cocked his head.

"Sorry."

"I’ve got hearing difficulties."

"Speak up a bit?"

James’s expression spasmed sharply.

Inhaling deeply, he shouted louder.

"LUCIFER!"

"REMOVE THAT BLACK SUN FROM OVER THE MANSION, PLEASE!"

Alex stayed mute.

James leaned in urgently.

"Please!"

"The people outside are frightened out of their wits!"

Following moments of insistent begging—

Alex let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Okay, okay."

"I’ll take care of it."

He lifted both hands nonchalantly.

Then—

Clap.

The clap resounded gently across the hall.

Beyond the window—

The Black Sun quivered.

Abruptly—

It shattered.

Shadows erupted into the sky like bursting stellar bursts.

Pieces of void power spread in dazzling formations akin to celestial displays.

A stunning spectacle lit up the firmament.

For an instant—

Darkness and daylight blended.

And then—

An even more astonishing event unfolded.

In the courtyard beneath, the mangled remains of Scorpion Clan warriors—once shattered like brittle shards—started to mend.

Time seemed to flow in reverse.

Shards drifted back together.

Severed limbs mended.

Spilled blood evaporated.

Fractured bones fused.

One after another—

Each downed warrior rose once more.

Alive.

Intact.

As though existence had been altered entirely.

James, Clara, Remus, and Camilla remained rooted in place, staring at the scene in the courtyard below.

Shattered corpses, strewn across the floor mere moments earlier like fragments of glass, gradually started to reassemble themselves.

Pieces rose up from the earth.

Blood reversed its flow.

Bones pieced back together.

Flesh regenerated.

Fallen warriors of the Scorpion Clan rose one after another, as though death was forbidden from taking them.

The chamber descended into silence.

Not one of them blinked.

No words escaped their lips.

Their brains couldn't comprehend the scene before them.

Clara's mouth opened just a bit.

James gripped the table's edge without thinking for balance.

Remus's pupils contracted sharply.

Camilla, who seldom displayed feelings, appeared truly shocked.

Camilla turned gradually to face Remus.

"See?"

"I told you."

Her eyes moved to Alex.

"That man is something else entirely."

Remus nodded deliberately, his face growing grave.

His previous animosity vanished, giving way to wariness.

’Who the hell is this guy...?’

His tone dropped.

"We need to inform everyone about him the moment we clear this floor."

Camilla agreed with a nod.

"Someone like him cannot remain unknown inside the Tower."

Meanwhile—

Alex yawned and stretched in his seat like nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

At last, he glanced at the group.

"Alright, guys."

"I kept my word."

He rose leisurely.

"Now can someone show me my room?"

He halted, then stated resolutely,

"And just so we’re clear... the biggest room will be mine."

Remus let out a deep sigh, massaging his brow.

"Take whichever room you want."

"I honestly don’t care anymore."

Alex gave an approving nod.

"Good attitude."

Wasting no time, he vanished into the mansion's depths.

Doors swung open.

Shut.

Opened once more.

Until—

He discovered the grandest bedroom throughout the estate.

A vast room adorned with opulent furnishings, silken drapes, and a gigantic bed by lofty windows facing the grounds.

Alex flung himself onto the bed right away.

The mattress yielded softly under his weight.

He gazed up at the ceiling.

’Now then...’

’Let’s think about what to do next... after a nap.’

’I really work too hard sometimes.’

A voice he knew resounded in his head.

[ You just wanted to laze around. That’s why you wanted a mansion. ]

Alex's brow furrowed a touch.

"How dare you accuse me like that."

"Did you not see how hard I worked to obtain this place?"

The System responded without delay.

[ I saw how hard you fought... to secure nap time. ]

Alex draped his arm over his eyes with flair.

"It’s called strategy."

"I need to remain at peak condition before battle."

"I just lost one percent of my mana."

He nodded to himself with gravity.

"And besides..."

A subtle grin formed.

"I’ve already thrown the bait."

"Now we just wait for the fish to bite."

Quiet settled over the room.

Then—

A soft voice resonated in the air.

"So... you are Lucifer."

Alex's eyes flew wide open.

He bolted straight up on the bed in a flash.

A cold shiver raced down his back.

He gulped.

"No one told me this house was haunted."

The space before him warped.

Reality wavered like rippled water.

Energy motes converged gradually in the room's heart.

A shadow started to emerge—

A form coalescing out of nothing.

And before Alex could move—

The shape kept solidifying.