An Extra's POV-Chapter 998: Liberation

The sky was gold.

Not the kind of gold found in coins or metal, but the living gold of morning light—soft and warm, alive with promise.

It spilled across the valleys of H'Trae, bathing the mountains and forests in hues of peace. Birds, once silenced by the oppression of the System, now sang freely into the air. Rivers flowed with ease. Wind moved through the trees like gentle laughter.

And in the center of it all, in the heart of the Northern Continent, the people were cheering.

Their voices lifted like a hymn, a sound that hadn't been heard in lifetimes—a song of survival, of joy, of rebirth.

At the center of the crowd stood a figure. Cloaked in light, standing tall but visibly dazed, his eyes wide as if still unsure of where he was.

It was Rey.

He looked around, breath short and chest rising and falling with disbelief. Everything felt real. The grass beneath his feet. The heat of the sunlight on his face. The feeling of wind brushing his hair.

He was here.

Alive.

Before he could speak, the crowd surged forward, screaming his name in tears and laughter.

"Rey! Rey! He's back!"

Lucielle was the first to break from the crowd.

She ran like the world depended on it—like every step was a prayer finally answered. Her wings shimmered faintly, her eyes already flooding with tears.

Her hair caught the wind like a flame.

"Rey!"

He turned at the sound of her voice.

And then she collided into him—arms around his neck, face buried in his shoulder. Before he could react, she pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but she silenced him with a kiss.

Warm.

Desperate.

Real.

For a moment, Rey didn't respond. His mind was still trying to grasp what was happening. The last memory he had was the darkness that accompanied Adrien's defeat, his absorption of the entire domain… and the sea of nonexistence that followed.

Then nothing. Only void.

And now... this?

But as her lips met his, and her arms wrapped tighter around his neck, Rey's thoughts melted into feeling. Slowly, he kissed her back, holding her close. The cheers of the people faded into the background. There was only her—Lucielle, alive, vibrant, full of joy.

No longer a fragment, no longer cursed.

Just her.

When they finally parted, her eyes glistened as she laughed through her tears. "I knew you'd come back."

Rey stared at her, heart pounding, and whispered, "I didn't think I would."

"Yet, you always surprise us, Rey." A familiar voice echoed from the side.

Rey turned.

Ater stood there, smiling—the same calm, wise smile he always wore. But this time, there was something more in his eyes.

Not sorrow. Not duty.

Relief.

Gratitude.

"You did it," Ater said. "You saved this world."

Rey blinked, confused. "I… don't remember. I just remember the void. I remember fighting, and then…"

Ater walked closer, placing a gentle hand on Rey's shoulder.

"It doesn't matter," Ater said softly. "You did what needed to be done. And now, this world is safe. You succeeded."

Rey looked down at his hands. They felt solid. His heartbeat was real. He wasn't flickering or fading. There was no system window. No Skills. No Class. Nothing.

Just... life.

He looked back up at Ater and smiled. "Then I'm glad. Truly."

Around them, the crowd broke into celebration. Music erupted. Confetti danced into the sky. Children laughed, and some even tried to hug Rey before shyness pulled them back. The light of the new sun swept over the land, painting the faces of everyone it touched.

For the first time in what felt like eternity, the people of H'Trae saw a sunrise untainted by fear.

They stood together, shoulder to shoulder, as the first golden rays of a new dawn reached across the world.

Rey looked up at the sun.

And smiled.

***************

[Months Later…]

Peace had returned to H'Trae.

No, more than peace.

Harmony.

Nations were rebuilt. Civilizations were alive with festivals. And all the races of the world were united as joint occupants of the world.

The old ruins were preserved, reminders of a painful history, but the fields nearby were blooming again. The economy was thriving, magic was stable, and the world—now unshackled from the System—breathed freely.

No more Classes.

No more dictated destinies.

Only choice.

And at the heart of it all stood Rey.

He was no longer an Otherworlder or Savior.

He was simply a man.

But today… he was something else too.

He was a groom.

The skies above the city were clear, and the streets were lined with flowers. Magic lanterns floated in the air, casting soft glows across the rooftops. Banners fluttered with the crest of a phoenix rising from ashes—Rey's chosen symbol for the new H'Trae.

Everyone was there.

Warriors, mages, merchants, scholars—those who had fought, those who had suffered, and those who had simply believed.

Noah, Trisha, Clark, Belle and Justin stood with the guests, beaming proudly.

The Fairies and Dwarves joked near the buffet, each one trying to sneak a drink before the ceremony. Elves were in their own corner, surrounding The Oracle, who basically reigned as their leader.

The Fairy King, likewise, was surrounded by his children.

Even the Giants were present, and they were in attendance—though in limited numbers.

At the altar stood Ater, robes of soft white and deep blue flowing in the breeze. He looked younger somehow, freer.

Lucielle stood beneath the archway, radiant in a gown of stardust silk, her horns crowned with blossoms. Her tail flicked with nervous excitement, her eyes fixed only on Rey.

She had her human form, but she chose this draconic appearance to better relate with every other race present—not just the humans. Plus, it was a reminder of the world's history, and its glorious present.

And Rey—dressed in robes tailored from the sky itself—stood across from her, breath stolen by her presence.

She remained as beautiful as ever.

Ater raised his voice, calm and clear. "Today, we gather not in honor of war, nor to mourn loss. But to celebrate the beginning of a new life. A life of peace. A life chosen."

He looked between them.

"Rey, Lucielle… You have walked through fire and emerged whole. You have stood against fate, and chosen love."

He placed a hand over their joined hands.

"Do you, Rey, choose Lucielle as your partner, in life, in heart, in all that you are?"

Rey's voice didn't falter.

"I do."

"And do you, Lucielle, choose Rey, in heart, in soul, in every path to come?"

Lucielle smiled, tears in her eyes. freeweɓnøvel.com

"I do."

"Then by the will of this world, and by my own joy in witnessing this moment…" Ater stepped back, smile wide. "I pronounce you husband and wife."

Rey leaned in.

Lucielle didn't wait.

Their lips met, and the world erupted.

Fireworks exploded in the sky—not just mundane sparks, but magic woven into color and wonder. Golden dragons danced across the heavens, while silver doves soared in trails of stardust. Laughter rang out. Music roared. And magic cameras floated to capture every moment in glowing frames.

Rey and Lucielle held each other beneath the raining light, as their friends surrounded them in cheers.

In that moment, H'Trae stood still.

Not in fear.

But in joy.

A new world had been born.

And this time—it would never be taken from them again.

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[A/N]

… Or would it?

Story isn't over yet, everyone! But, if you would like to stop here, I completely understand.

It's the perfect happy ending for the characters.