The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist-Chapter 144 : A confession

Sephira let out a piercing scream as her right arm was ripped clean from her shoulder, blood spraying like a crimson mist. She stumbled back, disbelief etched deep into her face.

"MY ARM! MY—"

The pain she was going through was unimaginable.

’Impossible...’ she thought, eyes trembling. ’I’m a Master (Peak)-rank powerhouse... and he... he’s just an Expert (Low)-rank! How?!’

But her shock didn’t stop the pain.

With a furious snarl, she clenched her teeth, fire gathering around her left fist.

"You little freak!" she roared.

Sephira lunged and slammed her flaming punch into Ethan’s chest.

BOOOOM!

The explosion sent Ethan skidding backward across the forest floor, tearing through dirt and roots before he ground to a halt.

He coughed once, a puff of smoke escaping his lips.

Sephira didn’t wait.

She dashed toward the location where her arm had fallen. Time was running out.

’If I don’t reattach it within seconds... it’ll be gone forever!’

Her legs pumped desperately. Each second felt like an eternity.

She reached it—bloodied, twitching, still warm. As she crouched to grab it—

A shadow loomed over her.

Her breath hitched.

Ethan stood right in front of her, body still smoldering from the fire punch.

His golden eyes stared at her with cold intensity.

’How... how is he this fast?!’

His fingers curled.

With a roar, Ethan’s hands turned into blazing black claws as he thrust them forward—aimed straight for her chest.

"Die."

But the blow never landed.

With a flicker of spatial energy, Sephira vanished.

SWOOSH. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She reappeared beside James—teleported at the last second.

Her legs gave out as she collapsed to the ground, clutching her shoulder and gasping.

Pure fear was painted across her face.

’I was... that close to dying... and from a kid.’

From across the field, Ethan hovered in the air—black wings spread behind him like a vengeful reaper.

He looked down at them with a confident smirk.

"What’s wrong?" he said coolly. "I thought you were here to capture me?"

Sephira trembled.

"That kid... that kid is a monster!"

Even James and Daniel stood still, expressions grim.

Daniel clenched his jaw.

"You’re dead meat."

He reached for his long obsidian spear.

But before he could blink—

BOOM!

Ethan vanished in a blur.

CRACK!

A brutal punch slammed into Daniel’s gut, folding him over instantly.

Blood burst from his mouth as his body launched skyward like a missile.

Before he could recover, Ethan was above him.

"Try mocking me again," Ethan snarled.

Another punch—this one downward.

THOOM!

Daniel was hammered into the ground, creating a crater that shook the trees.

Dust clouded the area as Daniel’s body lay sprawled, unmoving.

Sephira and James stared at Ethan, horror dawning in their eyes.

James muttered,

"...He knocked Daniel out... in two hits?"

Sephira growled, pressing her hand to her shoulder. A glowing circle of healing magic formed, halting the bleeding.

But the rage in her eyes burned hotter than ever.

Ethan landed on the ground, cracking his neck.

"What’s wrong?" he taunted. "Don’t tell me you’re scared now. Come at me."

James and Sephira exchanged a glance. Then they both nodded.

"Together," James said coldly.

In a flash, James leapt forward—his twin daggers gleaming as space twisted around them.

He warped from one location to the next, blinking across the battlefield.

Sephira followed, a whip of crimson fire unraveling from her back. With a crack of flame, she lashed toward Ethan.

Ethan ducked—but kept his eyes locked on her shoulder.

’That arm... I’m not letting her keep it.’

He extended his hand—flames swirling.

"Burn."

A massive fireball, infused with his draconic power, exploded forward—

FWOOM!

Sephira’s severed arm, still lying nearby, was instantly disintegrated into ash.

"NOOOO!" she screamed.

"That’s payback."

Her rage exploded.

James and Sephira attacked in tandem—Sephira’s whip slicing through trees while James blinked behind Ethan again and again, daggers slashing in a flurry.

"Too slow!" James sneered, warping again. "What happened to that earlier confidence?!"

Ethan blocked one strike—but the second dagger grazed his side, spilling blood.

Sephira’s flaming whip wrapped around his ankle and yanked him down—right into James’s rising knee.

CRACK!

Blood burst from Ethan’s nose as the coordinated assault continued.

He grunted, spinning and slashing with a claw—but missed.

Sephira swung her whip again, catching Ethan’s back, searing his flesh.

Then James warped again—this time landing both daggers deep into Ethan’s side.

Schlk—

"Got you!"

Ethan howled, staggering back, blood dripping from several deep wounds.

He dropped to one knee, clutching his side, panting heavily.

’Dammit... they’re fast. Coordinated. More experienced...’

His mind whirled.

’Does this mean... I’m going to lose?’

He stared down at his bloodied hand—

And smiled.

’No. I haven’t even begun yet.’

Flames erupted from his wounds, swirling across his skin.

The gashes began to close rapidly—tissue regenerating as though time itself rewound.

James and Sephira froze.

"...What?" James muttered. "Just... what kind of awakening did he go through?"

"This is cheating... just what the hell kind of monster is he?" Sephira whispered. "This—this is impossible."

---

Meanwhile...

Near the earth dome protecting the civilians—

Alden and Ava stood side-by-side, facing off against fifty Advance (Low)-rank attackers.

Masked enemies snarled and crept forward, blades and mana glowing.

Alden looked around, then turned to Ava.

"Pipsqueak..." he began.

Ava raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I don’t know if we’re getting out of here alive, so let me say this—"

He took a deep breath.

"I like you. Will you go out with me?"

Ava blinked.

"You’re an idiot!" she yelled. "This is not the time—!"

But the words barely left her mouth before the enemies lunged forward.

A split second before impact—

"Fire Resonance," Alden muttered.

His body ignited in crimson flame—his entire form wreathed in fire like a burning warrior.

Ava’s eyes glowed bright green.

Vines burst from the earth—trees twisted and cracked open as nature answered her call.

"We’ll talk about it after we get out of here alive!" she shouted.

The battlefield erupted.

Fire and nature clashed with steel and malice as Alden and Ava charged forward to protect the innocents.

---

A/N:

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