The Extra's Rise-Chapter 799: Meaning of Love (5)

The dimensional transition ended with a bone-jarring impact that sent me tumbling across alien soil, my enhanced reflexes barely managing to prevent a face-first collision with what appeared to be crystalline trees that hummed with otherworldly energy. I rolled to my feet, immediately activating my magical senses to catalog threats while taking in my first glimpse of another world.

The forest around me was beautiful in a way that made my chest tighten with unease. Trees of living crystal reached toward a sky that burned with two suns—one familiar yellow star, another that pulsed with deep crimson light that made shadows dance in patterns that hurt to look at directly. The air itself carried a metallic tang that spoke to atmospheric composition fundamentally different from Earth’s, while the ground beneath my feet felt somehow more solid, as if gravity operated according to different principles here.

But it was the oppressive magical signatures in the distance that truly disturbed me. Dark presences that pulsed with malevolent authority, scattered throughout the continent like infection sites in a diseased body.

"Welcome to Xerion Prime," came Original Arthur’s voice from beside me, his form materializing with the same casual ease he had displayed in the impossible garden. "Current demonic stronghold and your home for the next two years."

The casual way he delivered that information made my blood run cold. "Demonic stronghold?" I repeated, my hand instinctively moving to my sword hilt. "You brought me to a world controlled by demons?"

"Occupied by demons," Original Arthur corrected with amusement at my reaction. "There’s a difference. The local demon hierarchy tops out at Marquis rank—Immortal-level threats, certainly, but nothing you can’t handle with proper preparation."

I stared at him with growing comprehension. "The Demon Duke came from here, didn’t he?"

"Indeed. Vorthak was their regional commander until the Order of Fallen Flame managed to extract him for their assault on Earth. His absence has created something of a power vacuum among the local demonic forces." Original Arthur gestured toward the crystalline forest around us with obvious satisfaction. "Think of it as your personal training ground, complete with opponents who will push your abilities to their limits."

Before I could respond to that ominous statement, movement in my peripheral vision made me look upward through the crystal canopy. What I saw there drove every other concern from my mind with the immediate impact of existential terror.

Swimming through the space above the planet’s atmosphere was something that defied every assumption I had ever made about what was possible. It was whale-like in its basic configuration, but larger than continents, its blue-silver hide rippling with bioluminescent patterns that spoke to intelligence far beyond anything I had encountered. Massive fins that could have been mistaken for mountain ranges propelled it through the vacuum with grace that made orbital mechanics look clumsy by comparison.

The creature’s presence in the void above us radiated power that made my newly achieved Immortal-rank abilities feel significant but not overwhelming—like recognizing a superior opponent rather than an incomprehensible force.

"What," I said with genuine curiosity rather than terror, "is that?"

"That," Original Arthur replied with the kind of casual tone people used to discuss weather patterns, "is an Astral Leviathan. Specifically, Void-Singer Maethis, Guardian of the Xerion System and the reason why demons can’t simply portal reinforcements to this world whenever they feel like it."

I continued watching the impossible creature as it undulated through space with movements that created aurora-like distortions in the planet’s upper atmosphere. "It’s keeping the demons trapped here?"

"More accurately, it’s preventing them from receiving reinforcements or evacuating to cause problems elsewhere. The demons are currently engaged in multi-front conflicts across several star systems, fighting everything from crystal entities to void-born collectives. They can’t spare the resources to break Maethis’s blockade." Original Arthur’s expression grew more serious as he watched my reaction. "But that won’t last forever." ƒгeewёbnovel.com

The implications hit me like physical blows as I processed what he was telling me. "How long do we have?"

"Three years, maybe four if the demons’ other conflicts intensify. After that, they’ll send a Demon Archduke to eliminate Maethis and extract their trapped forces." Original Arthur let that information settle before continuing. "Archdukes are high to peak Radiant-rank. Even with two years of intensive training, you won’t be strong enough to survive that kind of encounter."

The comparison made my enhanced capabilities suddenly feel appropriately scaled rather than inadequate. I could challenge the Leviathan with proper preparation, but an Archduke would be beyond my reach even with accelerated development.

"So I need to get past Maethis and return home before the Archduke arrives," I said with growing understanding of the challenge ahead.

"Exactly." Original Arthur began walking deeper into the crystalline forest, gesturing for me to follow. "Fortunately, this world provides exactly the kind of challenges that will force that growth."

We walked through groves where crystal trees sang with harmonic frequencies that made my bones resonate, while bioluminescent flowers provided light that somehow enhanced magical perception. In the distance, I could sense the demonic presences moving through their territories—Marquis-level threats that would provide genuine challenges without being immediately lethal.

"Start with your Gifts," Original Arthur continued as we found a clearing where the dual suns’ light created patterns that shifted between natural illumination and geometric mandala displays. "Soul Resonance, Lucent Harmony, and Mythweaver. You’ve been using them individually when they’re designed to work in harmony."

"How?" I asked, though part of me suspected the answer would be more complex than I wanted.

"Each of your Gifts corresponds to an Aspect," Original Arthur explained, "Soul Resonance is of course Soul aspect, Lucent Harmony is Body aspect and Mythweaver is Mind aspect. Use them as much."

The theoretical framework he was describing made my mind race with possibilities. I had been thinking of my Gifts as separate capabilities, but what he was suggesting was systematic integration that would create exponential rather than additive improvements.

"Your Grade 6 art is similarly underdeveloped," he continued. "God Flash, Hollow Eclipse, and Stellar Cascade are impressive individually, but they’re components of a larger technique that you haven’t discovered yet. Two years should be enough time to develop the Fourth and possibly Fifth Movements—assuming you can handle the pressure of constant combat."

"The demons will provide that pressure?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"The local Marquises are intelligent, aggressive, and desperate to prove themselves worthy of promotion now that Vorthak is gone. They’ll hunt you relentlessly once they detect your presence, giving you the kind of life-or-death motivation that accelerates development." Original Arthur’s smile carried dark amusement.

"And my necromantic development?" I asked, sensing Erebus and Valeria stirring with anticipation in response to the ambient magical energy.

"Erebus and Valeria will also grow here." Original Arthur gestured toward the twisted landscape around us. "Plus, every demon you kill will provide opportunities to study different approaches to immortality and supernatural existence."

I nodded, feeling the scope of the training program settling into place. "And Purelight and Deepdark?"

"Will become tools for more than just balance. The local demons use corruption techniques that can only be countered through understanding both creation and entropy as fundamental forces. You’ll learn to weave them into applications that don’t exist in standard magical theory."

The Astral Leviathan’s song drifted down from space above us, a harmonic vibration that made the crystal trees resonate in response while creating patterns of light that spoke to intelligence beyond anything I had previously encountered. Looking up at that impossible creature, I felt challenge rather than despair—this was difficult but achievable.

"Two years to become strong enough to kill a cosmic guardian while avoiding Marquis-level demons who want to kill me," I said, more to myself than to Original Arthur.

"Two years to become worthy of returning to protect the people you love," he corrected gently. "The question is whether you’re ready to pay the price that kind of growth requires."

I thought of Stella’s tearstained face, of the five women who had agreed to wait for me despite not knowing what form I might take when I returned. I thought of Elara’s sacrifice and the millions of people who were alive because she had chosen to burn her life force for their benefit.

"I’m ready," I said with absolute conviction that seemed to resonate through the alien forest around us. "Show me where to begin."

Original Arthur’s smile carried approval and something that might have been pride. "Then let’s start with establishing a base camp that won’t immediately attract every demon on the continent. Your first lesson begins now."

The training that would reshape me from Immortal-rank mage to cosmic-level force was about to begin.

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