The Game's Extra: Azhriel Odyssey-Chapter 134: Rescue Mission-2

The group moved swiftly through the quiet, lamplit streets of Mosseira, their boots tapping against the stone as they followed the trail the artifact had marked earlier.

The night air was sharp and cold, and the moon above watched like a silent witness.

Prince Karevan led at the front beside Maera, his long silver hair flowing behind him, his steps confident but filled with tension.

The others—Azhriel, Raymond, Chloe, Sydelle, Nyverra, and Caelyn—kept close, alert for any movement in the shadows.

As they passed a street corner, Karevan spoke suddenly, his voice low but clear.

"By the way, cadets of the Academy," he began, "did you know that not too far from here, there was a fight earlier tonight? One that nearly destroyed the entire street."

The group froze for a moment.

"Fight?" Raymond asked, turning toward the prince. "What kind of fight?"

"A serious one," Karevan said. His expression was dark.

"About an hour ago, a Seeker-ranked demon was seen battling an unknown person. When the knights arrived,the demon was found dead and the anonymous person were gone, but the damage…" He shook his head. "The street was left in ruins."

"Seeker-ranked demon?" Sydelle's eyes narrowed, lightning faintly sparking around her eyes. "That's no small fight. For someone to face that alone…"

Her voice trailed off. The thought connected in everyone's head almost instantly.

One hour ago.

A Seeker-ranked demon. The streets near the auction district.

All eyes slowly turned toward Azhriel.

Azhriel's eyebrow twitched.

'Oh, wonderful,' he thought dryly. 'Exactly what I needed right now. A group interrogation in the middle of a rescue mission.'

He exhaled slowly through his nose, pretending not to notice the way everyone was staring at him, but the attention was prickling.

"Ah…" he said finally, glancing around with a faint, awkward gaze. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

Raymond raised his hand pointing his finger towards him. "You tell us. You disappeared right after the auction ended, then returned an hour later, saying something about your small errand."

"Coincidence," Azhriel said smoothly, as he walked.

"Coincidence, my ass," Chloe muttered, narrowing her eyes.

"The timing's too precise. You vanish right before a fight with a Seeker demon breaks out, and now the prince mentions it like it's just a fun little detail."

Azhriel turned his head, meeting her gaze calmly. "So you're saying I fought a Seeker-ranked demon?"

Chloe shrugged her arms. "I'm saying it's suspicious."

Azhriel stared at her for a long moment, then gave a soft fake chuckle. "If I'd fought a Seeker-ranked demon, Chloe, I wouldn't be standing here so calmly."

"You're right," Sydelle said thoughtfully. "You'd probably be dead about ten times right now, and Zephyriah would be crying her eyes out."

"Exactly," Azhriel said, nodding once with mock seriousness.

Zephyriah, sitting on his shoulder, blinked and looked up at him. "But Papa was hu-" she said innocently but Azhriel hand was fast as it came to stop her mouth.

The group turned to him again.

"Zep, haa. " Azhriel whispered under his breath to the baby dragon, who blinked in confusion.

Karevan, watching the exchange from the front, gave a small amused smile. "You all seem quite… lively."

"More like suspicious," Raymond muttered.

"Let's not get distracted," Azhriel said quickly, waving a hand. "Our focus should be on the prince, not some random fight that has nothing to do with us."

Chloe's eyes narrowed again. "You really don't like talking about what you do, huh?"

"I just prefer to talk about things that matter," Azhriel replied with a faint smile.

"Like how we're walking straight into a black spirit's hideout?" Sydelle asked dryly.

"Exactly."

The group fell into uneasy silence after that, though a few glances still shot Azhriel's way now and then.

As they walked deeper into the dark part of the city, the streets grew narrower and quieter. The bright golden lights of Mosseira's main district faded into the dim orange flicker of oil lamps.

Azhriel's steps slowed slightly. His senses sharpened—he could feel it now, the faint hum of corrupted mana in the air. It was like static crawling over his skin.

"We're close," Karevan said quietly.

Raymond nodded, as he asked. "How close?"

"Two hundred meters. Maybe less. The barrier's weak here."

The First Prince glanced at Maera, who nodded silently and drew her sword.

The group prepared themselves as the tension thickened, mana flaring faintly around each of them.

Azhriel's hand brushed Frostborn's hilt. He could already tell this wouldn't be easy.

Slash.

With a clean motion, Maera's sword cut through the shimmering barrier like it was nothing but thin paper. The faint hum of energy shattered in the air, fading into silence. She had almost fully recovered from the effects of the drug, her steps steady and her expression sharp once again.

Karevan didn't wait a second longer. His pace quickened as he led the way toward the dark, worn-down building that stood ahead. They had left their royal guards behind—bringing too many would only draw attention and alert the enemy.

Now, only the First Prince, his knight Maera, and the academy group followed.

The air grew heavy the closer they got. The faint scent of burnt mana hung in the wind, and even the night itself seemed quieter.

As Karevan and Maera advanced, Azhriel suddenly lifted a hand, stopping the main cast in their tracks.

"Azhriel?" Raymond asked, frowning.

"Do you think it's this easy Azh?" Elizabeth said.

"Shouldn't we warn them?" Sydelle added. "If there's danger, they deserve to know."

Azhriel looked at her quietly for a second before replying.

"Go ahead then, Sydelle. Tell them. But tell me this—do you really think a brother desperate to save his sibling would stop just because we warned him?"

Sydelle hesitated, her lips parting but no words came. Then she sighed. "I guess you're right."

Kevin crossed his arms, his brows furrowed. "Okay, geniuses, then maybe can you all explain why you stopped us instead?"

Azhriel turned his gaze toward him, his expression calm but cold.

"Simple," he said.

"They managed to kidnap the prince from his own home, right under the royal family's nose. What does that tell you?"

"That they're strong?" Kevin guessed.

"Strong, yes," Azhriel said, his tone dropping lower.

"But also cunning. The Black Spirits aren't just simple chaotic beings—they're sadists. They like to play games. This…" He pointed toward the dark building ahead, its windows faintly glowing red. "This is too easy. Too obvious."

He looked around, scanning the surroundings, every muscle in his body tense. "Which means it's almost certainly a—"

BOOOOOOM.

A violent explosion tore through the night. The entire street shook as flames burst from the upper floors of the building ahead.

The shockwave threw dust and debris into the air, scattering sparks like fireflies.

"Trap," Azhriel finished, his voice quiet but hard as steel.

Chloe shielded her face from the blast of wind. "Damn it." she shouted.

"Maera!" Nyverra yelled, her voice trembling slightly.

The group stared ahead as the blazing building illuminated the dark street. Somewhere through the smoke, they could see figures moving—shadows writhing like demons in the flames.

Azhriel's expression darkened, the faint light of the fire glinting in his eyes. "I knew it," he muttered. "They were waiting for him."

Without another word, he stepped forward, frost forming beneath his boots.