The Extra's Rise-Chapter 781: Civil War? (2)

The private meeting room in the Imperial Palace’s diplomatic wing was supposed to be neutral ground—a place where even enemies could conduct necessary business without fear of interference or surveillance. Which made it the perfect location for Jack Blazespout to spring whatever trap he had been preparing since my engagement announcements shattered his careful political plans.

"Arthur," Jack said as I entered the elegantly appointed chamber, his voice carrying that familiar combination of charm and malice that had characterized our relationship since our first confrontation four years ago. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice."

He stood near the room’s tall windows, silhouetted against the afternoon light in a way that made his features appear sharper and more predatory than usual. There was something different about his demeanor today—a confidence that went beyond his typical arrogance, as if he knew something I didn’t.

"Jack," I replied with carefully controlled neutrality, positioning myself where I could observe both him and the room’s exits. "Your message suggested urgent business that required private discussion. I’m curious what could be so important."

The tension between us was immediate and familiar. Four years had passed since our last private confrontation, but nothing had changed about the fundamental dynamic. We both knew exactly what the other was—I understood his connection to the Order of Fallen Flame, while he was aware of Luna’s existence within me. A stalemate of mutual knowledge that had kept us from openly destroying each other. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"Several things, actually," Jack said with a smile that never reached his eyes. "But let’s start with what we both know has always been the most pressing issue between us."

’He’s different today,’ Luna’s voice whispered in my mind with obvious concern. ’More confident. More dangerous. Be very careful, Arthur.’

"I’m not aware of any pressing issues between us," I replied evenly, though my magical senses were already beginning to detect subtle wrongness in the room’s atmosphere. "Perhaps you could be more specific."

"Rose Springshaper," Jack said bluntly, his mask of diplomatic courtesy dropping entirely to reveal the obsessive hunger that had driven his interest in her for years. "As I mentioned before, her mother Evelyn has been quite distressed about the lack of communication from her beloved daughter. The Pope of the Order of Fallen Flame feels entitled to... guidance... regarding Rose’s recent marriage arrangements."

The demand was both politically impossible and personally offensive, but I recognized it as the same pattern from our previous confrontations—Jack pushing boundaries to see how far he could press before I broke.

"And if I decline this... request?" I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear him say it directly.

"Then we move to more... persuasive... approaches," Jack said with the kind of cold smile that suggested he was looking forward to such escalation. "Though I should mention that there’s another matter we need to discuss as well."

"Which is?"

"Elara Astoria," Jack said, his voice carrying a note of possessive anger that made my protective instincts flare immediately. "That particular arrangement was always intended to be temporary. She belongs with someone who can appreciate her... unique qualities... properly."

The barely controlled fury in his voice when he mentioned Elara told me more about his motivations than any amount of political analysis could have revealed. This wasn’t just about strategic positioning—Jack had developed genuine feelings for her, which made him exponentially more dangerous.

"Elara belongs with whoever she chooses," I replied with steel in my voice, my own anger beginning to override diplomatic caution. "And she’s made her choice clear. Any attempt to interfere with that decision would be... inadvisable."

"Still playing the noble protector, Emperor of the World?" Jack asked with obvious amusement, using the title he had discovered during our first confrontation. "How long do you think you can keep protecting all of them? Against us?"

The echo of his words from four years ago sent chills down my spine. He had threatened me then about my inability to protect everyone I cared about, and now he was making good on that promise.

"Be very careful about your next words, Jack," I said quietly, my voice carrying the kind of controlled threat that came from peak Ascendant-rank magical power barely held in check. "Some accusations can’t be taken back."

"Threats, Arthur?" Jack replied with obvious delight, his own magical aura beginning to manifest as dark energy that seemed to absorb light rather than reflecting it. "From someone who’s supposed to be a pillar of civilized society? How... disappointing."

I could feel the room’s atmosphere growing heavier as both our magical energies clashed in the space between us. Peak Ascendant-rank power was nothing to trifle with, and having two such forces in direct opposition was creating pressure that made the air itself seem to vibrate with potential violence.

"You know what I am, and I know what you are," I said, allowing some of my true power to manifest as golden light that pushed back against Jack’s encroaching darkness. "The difference is that I’m not hiding behind political immunity while threatening innocent people."

"Innocent?" Jack laughed with genuine mirth. "Arthur, you really don’t understand what’s happening here, do you? This isn’t about innocence or guilt. This is about power, and you’ve just proven that you don’t have enough to stop what’s coming."

Without further warning, Jack’s energy erupted outward in a wave of dark force that shattered several pieces of furniture and sent me staggering backward. Peak Ascendant-rank or not, his attack carried the kind of raw malevolence that spoke to powers beyond normal magical training.

I responded instinctively, golden energy spiraling around me in defensive patterns while I prepared counterattacks that could level buildings if not carefully controlled. But even as we engaged in combat that should have been impossible in the heart of the Imperial Palace, part of my mind was analyzing the strangeness of the situation.

"You’re stronger than before," I realized as our energies clashed in the center of the room, creating feedback loops that made the walls themselves groan under the pressure. "The Heavenly Demon’s influence has grown."

"What I had to do," Jack snarled as he pressed his attack, miasma taking forms that seemed to move independently of his conscious control. "What you forced me to do when you stole everything that should have been mine!"

I was beginning to notice something odd about Jack’s defensive patterns.

He was leaving openings. Subtle ones, carefully disguised, but definitely intentional gaps in his guard that seemed designed to invite specific attacks. As if he wanted me to hit him in particular ways...

The realization came too late. As my astral blade sliced across Jack’s shoulder, drawing blood that should have weakened him, I felt something cold and alien surge through the contact point between our magical auras. Miasma that felt like corruption itself flowed into my system faster than I could react to block it.

"What—" I began, but Jack’s triumphant smile told me everything I needed to know.

"Miasma," he said with obvious satisfaction as the alien energy spread through my magical pathways like poison. "Difficult to detect until it’s too late, impossible to remove without specialized knowledge, and absolutely damning when discovered during official investigations."

’Arthur!’ Luna’s voice screamed in my mind as the corruption tried to reach toward her presence. ’He’s planned this perfectly. The miasma signature will be impossible to explain.’

The room’s doors burst open as Imperial Knights in full combat gear flooded into the chamber, their weapons drawn and their magical sensors already scanning for threats. Their leader took one look at the destroyed room, the combatants, and the readings on his detection equipment before his face went pale with shock.

"Miasma detected!" he announced loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Grandmaster Nightingale is showing positive readings for miasmic contamination!"

"Citizens of the Empire," Jack called out in a voice that carried clearly to the assembled knights, "I call upon you to witness! Arthur Nightingale has revealed himself as a demonic contractor, corrupted by powers that threaten our very civilization!"

As the miasma continued spreading through my system and the Imperial Knights moved to surround me with weapons that could neutralize peak Ascendant-rank threats, I finally understood the full scope of Jack’s trap.

He had orchestrated this entire confrontation, knowing exactly how I would respond to threats against Rose and Elara, planning for the moment when he could inject demonic energy during our combat and then call for witnesses to discover the "evidence" of my corruption.

New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com