The Extra's Rise-Chapter 126: Vakrt (2)

I picked up one of the chocolates Rachel had given me and bit into it. It was rich and sweet, with a faint bitterness that melted away on my tongue. Then I reached for Cecilia’s box, then Seraphina’s, then Rose’s. Each had its own flavor, its own personality. Rachel’s was handmade, a little imperfect but undeniably warm and comforting. Cecilia’s was elaborate and expensive, sharp and bold. Seraphina’s was cool, minty, and refreshingly straightforward. Rose’s was sweet, playful, and just a little surprising.

I set the boxes down, staring at them. Each one was so distinct, so real.

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’I see now,’ I thought. For the first time, I truly saw.

Even though I did care for them—each of them, in their own way—I had never really seen them. To me, they were roles, characters playing their part in a story I thought I already knew. I had boxed them in, reduced them to archetypes in the grand narrative of a novel.

That was why Seraphina had been disappointed in me. That was why her words had echoed so loudly.

’I don’t know how I came to this world,’ I thought, ’but it’s not just some fantasy, not just a novel.’

The plot had already changed too much. People weren’t adhering to their "roles." They were alive, making choices I could never predict, and now it was clear—they weren’t here to serve my story. They were their own stories.

And I couldn’t treat them as anything less.

’Thanks, Seraphina,’ I thought, feeling the weight of my realization settle in. She’d seen the cracks in my thinking long before I did, nudging me toward them until I couldn’t ignore the truth.

It was Saturday, and I pulled out my phone. I shot a quick message to Rachel and Cecilia, apologizing for my silence over the past few days and assuring them I was okay. Rachel replied immediately, her text full of concern, while Cecilia sent a curt but genuine "Glad you’re fine, dummy."

Then I texted Seraphina. Just two words: Thank you.

Finally, I texted Rose. "Are you free today? I need to go to Avalon City."

Rose replied almost instantly. "Free as a bird. Meet me at the warp gate?"

I grabbed my things and headed out.

Rose was waiting for me at the warp gate, leaning casually against one of the sleek metal pillars. She straightened up when she saw me, her crimson braid catching the light.

"You look like hell," she said, blunt as ever.

"Thanks," I replied dryly. "I’m fine, though."

"You better be," she muttered, falling into step beside me as we entered the warp gate. "You vanished for days without a word. Rachel and Cecilia were worried. Even Seraphina looked like she was thinking about sending a search party."

I smiled faintly. "I’m fine now. Just needed some time to… think."

Rose gave me a side-eye but didn’t press. "So, what’s the plan in Avalon? More skeleton business?"

"Yeah," I said. "I need to finalize some work with Vakrt. Basic programming for the Source and the Skull."

She nodded. "Alright. I cleared my schedule, so you’ve got me for the day. Lucky you."

The Vakrt headquarters in Avalon City was as imposing as ever. The glowing skull logo seemed to glower at us as we approached, its eerie light contrasting with the otherwise futuristic elegance of the building. The receptionists greeted Rose with deference, bowing slightly as she led the way to the elevators.

We descended to level B6, where Benjamin, Reed, and Lily were waiting in the same dimly lit lab as last time. Benjamin greeted us with his characteristic calm, while Reed gave a curt nod, and Lily offered a polite smile.

"You’re back sooner than I expected," Benjamin said, his sharp eyes glinting. "I assume you’ve made your decisions?"

"I have," I said, placing the Source and the Skull on the table between us. "I want you to handle the basic programming for these."

The three of them exchanged glances, murmuring quietly to each other.

"It’s a reasonable request," Lily said finally. "The Source is the trickiest part, but for basic programming, it shouldn’t take long."

Reed leaned in, inspecting the Basilisk Heart with something akin to reverence. "Incredible material," he muttered. "The sheer potential here... Are you certain you want to handle the final coding yourself?"

"I’m certain," I said. "But the foundational work—connecting it to the skeleton, ensuring compatibility—that’s where I need your expertise."

Benjamin nodded. "We can do that. It’s a delicate process, but nothing beyond our capabilities."

"How much will it cost?" I asked, bracing myself.

"Nothing," Rose said, cutting in before Benjamin could answer. "This level of work is a fraction of what you’ve already paid for the Skeleton. It’s practically negligible in comparison."

Benjamin inclined his head in agreement. "The young lady is correct. This is minor work compared to the assembly of the Skeleton. Consider it part of the service."

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. "Thank you."

Rose smirked. "Don’t thank me yet. They’ll still want to take their time. You’re working with some of the best in the field, and they’ll make sure every detail is perfect."

"I wouldn’t expect anything less," I said, watching as Benjamin and his team began circling the materials like hawks, their murmurs carrying the weight of scholarly obsession. They were already tossing around terms I didn’t fully understand, their voices a harmony of technical jargon and enthusiasm.

Benjamin suddenly looked up. "Before you go, we need to discuss something."

I paused, turning back to face him. "What is it?"

He crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful yet faintly apologetic. "The issue now is the sheer disparity in the materials’ quality."

My stomach tightened. "Disparity?"

Benjamin gestured toward the table, where the Skull, the Skeleton plans, and the Basilisk Heart lay side by side like contestants in a macabre beauty pageant. "The Skull, as you know, is from a nine-star Arch Lich—a specimen of unparalleled power. The Skeleton, while exceptional, is from an eight-star Blood Wyvern. That’s already a one-star gap, which we can work around. The real issue is the Source. It’s a full tier beyond even the nine-star Arch Lich Skull and two tiers above the Skeleton."

I frowned. "Does that make it impossible to assemble?"

Lily shook her head. "Not impossible. But challenging. You’re already planning to use a limiter for your control, yes?"

I nodded.

"Good," Benjamin said. "We’ll need to add another limiter, specifically targeting the Basilisk Heart. This will cap the Lich’s potential at eight-star until you upgrade the Skeleton to match the other materials. Only then will the Lich be able to ascend to nine-star and beyond."

"Without the limiter, the imbalance could destabilize the entire construct," Reed added, his tone grim. "It’s not just about control—it’s about keeping the thing functional. The Basilisk Heart alone has the potential to overwhelm the rest of the components."

"But with the limiters, I can still upgrade it later?" I asked, my brows furrowing.

"Precisely," Benjamin confirmed. "The limiters will ensure the Lich’s growth is in harmony with your materials and your mana rank. Once you obtain a nine-star Skeleton, the path to creating an Arch Lich will reopen."

I let out a slow breath. "Alright, I can live with that."

Lily exchanged a glance with Benjamin, then added delicately, "There’s one more thing. To apply the limiter effectively, we’ll need to weaken the Basilisk Heart permanently."

That hit like a punch to the gut. "Weaken it? Why?"

"A Basilisk Heart is an artifact of unimaginable power," Reed explained. "Even with the limiters, it’s a Source worthy of a Lich King. To safely integrate it with the other components and ensure stability, we’ll need to reduce its raw potency. Think of it as trimming down a masterpiece—not to ruin it, but to make it compatible with the rest of the structure."

"But it won’t stunt the Lich’s potential?" I pressed.

"No," Benjamin reassured me. "The Lich’s ultimate potential will remain unchanged. This is simply about making the components work together at their current levels. The growth of the Lich will still depend on your future upgrades."

I paused, considering this. "What happens to the parts you cut off?"

"They’ll still retain a significant amount of power," Lily said, her voice measured. "Even as fragments, they’ll be invaluable. You could sell them for a small fortune—easily more than you spent here at Vakrt. That kind of material would be highly sought after by alchemists, researchers, even other necromancers."

Luna’s voice rang in my mind, calm but firm. ’Don’t sell it. There’s something else you can use it for in the future. Trust me.’

"I’ll keep the cut-off parts," I said finally, my voice steady.

Benjamin inclined his head in approval. "A wise choice. We’ll package them separately when the project is complete. It will take approximately a month to finalize everything. When it’s done, you’ll receive the programmed Skeleton, Skull, Source, and the separated fragments of the Basilisk Heart."

"Thank you," I said, inclining my head toward the three of them.

Benjamin gave a slight bow. "Your ambition is admirable, Arthur Nightingale. We’ll ensure it’s matched by the quality of our work."

As I turned to leave with Rose at my side, the gravity of what I was undertaking settled on my shoulders. This wasn’t just a project anymore—it was becoming a battle of wit, resources, and sheer will. And I had no intention of losing.