The Extra's Rise-Chapter 178: The Sovereign (1)

"Incredible," Duke Blazespout murmured, leaning forward as his keen Immortal-ranked senses cut through the swirling storm of dark mana that blanketed the battlefield. Even with the supernatural shroud that Arthur had conjured, Blazespout could see the precision behind his movements. "He’s using the Gift of the Lich to cloak himself from Lucifer’s second Gift, effectively nullifying its advantages. And since he can’t yet wield the full power of his Lich yet, he’s refining it into an advanced Bone Armor—enhancing his physical capabilities just enough to break Lucifer down."

"A perfect adaptation," Valerie observed, her dark eyes sharp with interest. "He’s turned what should be a disadvantage into a tactical edge. His approach isn’t just creative—it’s ruthlessly efficient. What do you think, Paul?"

Paul Lucrian sat in silent contemplation, his fingers steepled as his eyes remained locked onto the battle. His expression was unreadable, but the weight behind his silence spoke volumes.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"…I agree," Paul said, his voice quiet yet firm. "Given the constraints, I cannot think of a better way to utilize a Lich."

In the arena, the battle reached its climax. Arthur’s movements, once calculated and methodical, now surged with overwhelming force. Lucifer, for all his prowess and divine potential, faltered under the relentless assault. Each clash of their blades, each burst of mana, sent shockwaves through the grand coliseum.

And then—Lucifer fell.

A hush rippled through the audience as reality set in. The Child of Prophecy, the undisputed Rank 1 of Mythos Academy, had been defeated.

Leon exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief. "How the hell did he use a light mana movement in the middle of all that? His body was drowning in dark mana, but he still pulled it off."

Paul’s expression remained impassive, but his eyes gleamed with understanding. "Because of the Lich," he explained. "Arthur isn’t controlling all of that dark mana himself. He’s delegating the manipulation of it entirely to the Lich, keeping it separate from his light mana. Normally, maintaining such a fine balance should be impossible, but with his Gift…"

"The tranquility effect," Valerie finished, realization dawning. "He creates harmony between forces that should repel each other. He isn’t just wielding both dark and light mana—he’s orchestrating them."

Li Zenith let out a slow, pleased sigh. A proud smile stretched across his face as he leaned back in his chair. "As I thought," he mused. "He won."

But as he spoke, his eyes flickered to Kem Kagu.

The man’s expression had twisted into something unreadable, his jaw tight, his fingers digging into the armrest of his seat. His white knuckles betrayed the storm brewing inside him.

And then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

The space where he had been rippled, as if the very fabric of reality had momentarily distorted to accommodate his sudden departure.

Down below, in the student stands, the reactions were far less composed.

Ian Viserion burst out laughing, slamming a fist against his knee as he leaned forward. "Hah! He really did it! He beat Lucifer!" His golden eyes shimmered with excitement. "And Lucifer even unlocked a second Gift, but he still lost!"

Beside him, Jin Ashbluff exhaled, folding his arms across his chest. "I expected it," he muttered, but the way his fingers clenched his sleeves betrayed the tension he had been holding in. "Still… Damn."

Rachel’s sapphire eyes were locked onto Arthur, standing amidst the shattered remnants of the battlefield. She wasn’t smiling. She wasn’t cheering. She was simply watching, something deep and unreadable stirring in her chest.

Cecilia, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear. "Well, well," she mused, resting her chin on her palm. "Looks like my dear Arthur finally knocked the golden prince off his throne."

Seraphina, sitting a row below them, let out a quiet breath. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulder as she closed her eyes for a moment, as if absorbing the magnitude of what had just happened.

Alice Nightingale, sitting beside her husband, covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes glistening with something between awe and disbelief.

Their son—Arthur—had just defeated the greatest prodigy of his generation.

Aria was cheering happily, her face flushed with excitement.

Back at the coliseum, Arthur stood in the center of the battlefield, his chest rising and falling as he exhaled a long, steady breath. His body ached. His muscles burned. His mana reserves were nearly drained.

And yet, he had won.

As the crowd roared, as the realization settled into the bones of every spectator, Arthur allowed himself a small, quiet smile.

The world had doubted him.

And now, the world had no choice but to see him.

__________________________________________________________________________________

I won.

I won.

The realization settled in, slow and surreal, as the final echoes of clashing mana faded into silence. My chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, my body trembling—not from exhaustion, but from the weight of what had just happened.

"The winner of the finals of the Sovereign’s Tournament, and thus the Sovereign of the first years of Mythos Academy—Arthur Nightingale!"

The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena, but it was drowned out by the deafening roar of the crowd. A sea of faces, cheering, shouting, stunned into disbelief or reveling in exhilaration. It didn’t matter. None of it registered.

Because in front of me, Lucifer Windward lay on the ground, defeated.

Even now, as he slowly pushed himself up onto one knee, his expression was unreadable. His verdant eyes, so often filled with an unshakable certainty, were shadowed with something else. Something foreign.

Doubt.

But before either of us could say a word, the air in the arena shifted.

It was subtle at first, a ripple of mana that made the hairs on my arms stand on end. Then, like a gathering storm, the pressure swelled—an overwhelming presence that sent a shiver down my spine.

I turned my head just as a man stood from his seat in the VVIP section.

Kem Kagu.

Ren’s father. One of the most powerful figures in the Kagu family.

And he was furious.

His gaze wasn’t on me. It wasn’t on Valerie, or even Ren. It was locked onto Lucifer, unwavering and unrelenting.

It didn’t take a genius to understand why.

Lucifer Windward had awakened God’s Eyes—the legendary Gift that had cemented the Kagu family’s place in history, the power that had ensured their dominance for generations. A power that was supposed to be exclusive to their bloodline.

And yet, here it was, manifesting in someone outside the Kagu lineage.

"Kem." Valerie’s voice cut through the tension, low and measured. Her mana flared around her in a silent warning as she stepped forward, placing herself between him and the stage.

Kem didn’t move. His hands curled into fists at his sides, but his voice remained dangerously steady. "I held back, waiting for the match to end. But I can’t just stand by now. The Kagu family needs answers."

"Not here." Valerie’s grip tightened on the sword she summoned from her spatial ring. "You don’t want to blow this out of proportion, do you?"

"Blow it out of proportion?" Kem scoffed, his expression twisting into something cold, something livid. "What else can I do when an outsider is wielding our Gift? The same Gift that runs in my son’s bloodline?"

The mana in the air crackled, thick with tension. The audience, who had been celebrating mere moments ago, fell into a hushed silence, watching the confrontation unfold with bated breath.

But before Kem could take another step forward, another voice rang out—calm, smooth, and laced with an authority that froze the air itself.

"I agree with Valerie. This isn’t the place."

A chill ran through my veins. The weight of this presence was suffocating, like an invisible force pressing down on every inch of my body. I turned slowly, my instincts already screaming before my eyes confirmed it.

A woman stood at the edge of the arena, clad in flowing robes of midnight and violet, her white hair cascading like silk over her shoulders. But it was her eyes that stole the breath from my lungs.

Piercing. Unforgiving. The same eerie violet as Ren’s.

Selene Kagu.

The head of the Kagu family. One of the eleven most powerful beings in the world.

My throat went dry. Unlike Ren, whose God’s Eyes granted him a triple affinity, Selene Kagu wielded four—ice, darkness, time, and water.

She wasn’t supposed to be here.

Which meant only one thing.

She had teleported.

The Kagu family had their own teleportation network, linking Mythos Academy to their main headquarters. Meaning, the moment Lucifer awakened God’s Eyes, she must have seen it.

And now, she was here for answers.

"Don’t worry, Kem," she said, her voice smooth and controlled. "I need answers too. But not here. Not in public."

Kem exhaled sharply through his nose, his fury restrained but far from gone. His fists remained clenched, but he gave the barest nod.

Selene’s sharp gaze flickered briefly toward me, and despite my best efforts, a shiver ran down my spine.

Then, she smiled. Not in amusement, not in kindness—but something knowing.

Her violet eyes narrowed.

But not at Lucifer.

She was looking at something—no, someone—beyond him.

’He’s here.’

Luna’s voice whispered through my mind, a quiet tremor of warning.

I stiffened, my breath hitching.

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And then—

A figure stepped onto the stage.

The already suffocating air grew heavier. A deep, unshakable weight settled over the entire arena.

Sleek black hair. Brilliant green eyes. A presence so absolute it made even Selene Kagu pause.

Arden Windward.

One of the two Kings of the North.

And one of the strongest swordsmen in the world.