Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 25: Battle Royale (1)

Merlin sprinted through the forest when a girl suddenly appeared in front of him. Her black hair flowed in the wind, and her blue eyes glowed like the endless ocean.

"Hey, what if we—"

Before she could finish, Merlin dashed forward, using space to accelerate. His rapier flashed.

The girl instinctively raised her sword to block.

'Too slow.'

Merlin's blade sliced across her hand. She flinched, stumbling backward. A strange crack formed on her skin—like glass about to shatter.

"Agh—!"

She groaned and looked at Merlin with a glare.

"You bastard!"

'...I'm the bastard?'

"?...This is literally the whole point of a battle royale."

Merlin took slow, deliberate steps forward. The girl glanced at her wounded hand, watching the cracks spread further.

"But we could've been teammates—"

Before she could finish, Merlin used space magic to appear right in front of her.

'Fast—!'

Her thoughts stopped—like a bankrupt business running out of money. It was over.

Merlin's rapier stabbed through her head. Her body shattered, disappearing in an instant.

'Weak.'

Shaking his head, Merlin continued through the forest.

—

A massive display lit up in the sky for all to see.

[Eliminated: 1]

'He's that strong already?'

Victoria smiled as she watched her brother's performance. She didn't know that Merlin wasn't even using half his strength. No, he was practically holding back.

The arena filled with whispers, but Victoria remained focused on the screen... and her phone, where she had the feed of Merlin's battle.

'You've got this, little bro...'

—

Morgana watched with a not-so-innocent smile as Merlin effortlessly defeated the girl.

'Ahhh... I like this one.'

She bit her lip, following Merlin's every move. Other instructors raised their eyebrows at her reaction.

Meanwhile, Reinhardt shook his head, and Vivienne clapped with a smile as she watched Merlin's performance.

—

Two daggers cut through the air, clashing against a sword.

"Not bad..."

Nathan grinned at his opponent—then disappeared.

An instant later, he reappeared behind the boy and drove his dagger into his back.

[Backstab]

'Tonight, I'm going all out. Every affinity. The quest says I have to win.'

Nathan had received a quest. If he won, he could unlock a new affinity to add to his collection of three.

'The only real challenge is Merlin...'

He recalled Merlin's parting words before they entered the game.

'I'll need luck?'

Nathan smirked, dodging an incoming arrow.

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A flicker of darkness—he reappeared behind the archer and plunged his daggers into her head.

"Sorry... but I want to win."

The girl shattered into nothing. Nathan turned and headed toward an open field.

—

Merlin reached the edge of the forest, stepping into a vast, open field covered in tall grass.

'If I didn't need more kills, I'd just camp in the trees.'

Clicking his tongue, he stepped forward.

Then, in the distance—someone was running.

'Who's that?'

They weren't just running. They were fleeing.

Merlin crouched low, creeping through the grass like a predator. Well, he wasn't really a predator.

...Okay, maybe a little.

He moved closer, step by step. Then—

The runner suddenly stopped.

'Did he sense me?'

Now, Merlin got a good look at him.

Blond hair, shining like gold. Amber eyes, glowing with a fiery brilliance.

'Adrian? Why is he running?'

Two other boys appeared behind him.

Merlin had no idea who they were. Probably not even worth calling extras.

'Seriously? He can't handle two nobodies?'

His cold expression twitched slightly. He kept moving.

"You won't win against me!"

Adrian shouted, gripping a battle-axe larger than his own head.

'...Cringe.'

Merlin circled around them. If he killed Adrian now, he'd have to fight both boys. But if he took out one first and wounded the other... Adrian, already injured, wouldn't get far.

Using space magic to lighten his footsteps, Merlin slipped behind the two enemies.

"Adrian, it's over! You don't stand a chance!"

The dark-haired boy smirked, flames forming in his palm.

"You can't run forever."

The white-haired one raised a stone pillar, pinning Adrian slightly in place.

'Now.'

Before they could combine their attacks—

Merlin struck.

His rapier cut straight through the white-haired boy's throat. He disappeared instantly.

"You—!"

The fire mage turned toward Merlin, a fireball burning in his hand.

Merlin gripped his sword.

"I'm the executioner."

'...That was fucking cringe.'

He blinked, then laughed at himself.

Adrian bolted.

'Like a scared rabbit.'

Merlin sighed, dashed forward, and pinned the fire mage to the ground using space. The guy struggled, but his legs started cracking like glass.

'Huh? Can he resist?'

Before he could resist further, Merlin stabbed him through the head. He shattered instantly.

'Guess not.'

LNow—"

Merlin turned to Adrian, who hadn't gotten far.

'Where are you hopping off to, little bunny?'

Wind surged beneath Merlin's feet, launching him forward.

'Well, the cat's out of the bag now.'

Everyone watching would realize he had more than one affinity.

Oh well. They would've found out eventually anyways.

Merlin did care. But it was better for himself this way. They would find out sooner or later. He couldn't hold back forever.

In seconds, he caught up to Adrian, who gasped as Merlin kicked him down.

"H-How?!"

He hit the ground with a thud.

THUD.

"I thought we were friends!"

Adrian shouted, trying to summon water in his hands.

Merlin distorted space, pressing him into the ground.

'Friends? Where did he get that idea?'

He said nothing, simply raising his sword—

Then—

An ice blade crashed into his rapier, forcing him back.

CLANG.

'Seriously...?'

Not far away, a girl stood with her arm outstretched.

Seraphina.

Merlin clicked his tongue as he dashed backward, glancing at the massive ice blade embedded in the ground where he had just been.

'Annoying.'

She stood with her hand still outstretched, her expression calm yet firm. Frost lingered around her fingertips, shimmering under the artificial sky.

Adrian gasped for breath, scrambling to his feet. His wide eyes darted between Seraphina and Merlin like a kid caught between divorced parents.

"You're too reckless, Adrian." she said, her voice carrying a quiet authority.

"You could've shown up sooner." Adrian muttered, shaking his hands to clear the numbness from Merlin's space magic.

Merlin tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.

'Was she... watching?'

It wasn't a wild guess. She could've easily interfered before he killed the two extras. But she didn't.

'Maybe I'm overthinking.'

"We can't take him alone." Adrian muttered as he stepped closer to her.

Seraphina said nothing. She simply gave a small nod, her expression unreadable, but her fingers twitched ever so slightly. Frost began to gather around her palm.

'What's he planning?'

Her thoughts swirled like a blizzard, but she kept her eyes locked on Merlin.

And yet, he just stood there. Calm. Unbothered. As if they weren't even worth his attention.

"...He's a Deviant."

Seraphina's voice was barely above a whisper, but Adrian stiffened beside her.

He swallowed hard before nodding. "Yeah."

The word lingered between them like an unspoken warning.

Then—

"Well?"

Merlin's voice cut through their thoughts like a hammer shattering glass.

"If you're not attacking—"

He disappeared.

The wind howled.

"Then I will."