The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 291

Chapter 291: Chapter 291 : The World rankings and new dangers

At Crestvale Manor, the flickering light from tall candelabras danced across the grand dining room. Serena von Crestvale sat at the head of the long table, her posture regal despite the weariness that softened her sharp features. Alden von Crestvale and Alicia von Crestvale flanked her, each picking at dinner in silence.

A quiet tension filled the air. The fourth chair — always set out, always waiting — remained empty.

Serena’s voice finally broke the silence as she glanced at the vacant spot. "She didn’t come out to eat again, did she?"

Alicia, her gaze low and words tinged with sadness, answered, "She still can’t get over Uncle Edward’s death. She hasn’t been eating for days, mom. At this rate, she’ll get sick..."

A shadow passed over Serena’s face. Alden nodded in agreement, the scrape of his fork loud in the hush that followed. "Edward’s passing hit her harder than we thought."

Alicia looked at her mother, then hesitated before going on. "You know, mom... you don’t have to be so strong for us all the time. You’ve been crying at night too, and you lost your only brother. You don’t have to hide it from us."

Alden added, "We noticed, mom. It’s okay to not be strong."

Serena inhaled shakily, surprised at being found out. "So you both saw that, huh..." Her facade cracked, and her eyes glimmered with a deep, haunting grief. "These last three months have been too much. First, I lost my best friend Selena, and now my brother... it’s just too much to bear."

Tears began flowing freely down her cheeks, and without a word, both Alicia and Alden rose and hugged her tightly, drawing her into the circle of their arms.

"Yes, mom," Alden said quietly. "It’s been hard for all of us."

Suddenly, Serena’s etherPad buzzed loudly, breaking the fragile peace. She broke from the hug, composing herself as she answered.

She listened, her eyes widening in disbelief. Within seconds her expression transformed from shock to radiant joy. "Are you sure? Are you telling me the truth?!"

A smile bloomed on her lips as the voice on the other side assured her. She ended the call abruptly, turning proudly to her children.

"Kids! Finally, some good news... Alex just woke up from his coma!"

Alicia stared a moment—then whooped with joy, her grief forgotten. "Are you serious, mom? Is that true?" She was so excited, she started shaking Serena by the shoulders.

"Stop shaking me, you brat," Serena said, half laughing, half crying.

But Serena suddenly noticed an empty spot at the table. "Where’s Alden?"

Alden’s voice echoed from the hallway as he called back, already halfway out the door, "Looks like he’s already run to meet him!"

Serena barely finished when Alicia cursed. "Alden, if you leave without me, I’m going to break both your legs!"

Alden sprinted even faster towards his car, Alicia in hot pursuit. Just as he opened the driver’s door, Alicia managed to catch up and kicked him out with expert precision. "I’ll drive!" she declared. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Alden groaned. "If you drive, we’ll end up in heaven instead of the hospital!"

Alicia shot him a glare. "Shut it! My driving’s improved." She floored the hover car’s accelerator, and within seconds they were racing away from Crestvale Manor.

Alden whispered a prayer for himself and for anyone else unlucky enough to cross Alicia’s path on the road.

---

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Alex sat silently on his bed. In front of him was Dr. Emma.

"Alex, do you need something?" Emma asked gently.

He looked up with dull eyes, responding in a monotone, "No."

Emma tried to spark some light. "You’re a hero, you know. Everyone says you saved the world, the human empire—"

Alex’s lip curled in a bitter, unhinged laugh. "Hero? Hero my ass. People are hypocrites. Give them one reason and they’ll turn on me in a second."

Emma couldn’t find the words. All she could say was, "It’s not—"

"Just leave me alone," Alex said, voice cold and final.

Emma nodded, sighing. "Your family will be here soon."

Alex didn’t reply. Emma left, and the silence returned.

Now alone, the system’s voice broke through. [ Host. ]

’What? You want to talk some bullshit too?’ Alex thought.

[ There are some things you should know. ]

’Like what?’

[ See this. ]

Dozens of system message windows erupted before Alex’s eyes—

[ System Notification ]

The God of Death — Hades has offered you to be his Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The Goddess of Life — Elyndra has offered you to be her Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The God of War — Valgor, the Crimson Banner has offered you to be his Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The Goddess of Wisdom — Seluria, Keeper of the Eternal Library has offered you to be her Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The God of Space — Zerath Voidborne has offered you to be his Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The God of Chaos — Orochron, Devourer of Order has offered you to be his Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The Goddess of Fate — Seraphis, Weaver of Threads has offered you to be her Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The Goddess of Darkness — Nyxara, the Eternal Night, has offered you to be her Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The God of Storms — Zephyrion Thunderheart has offered you to be his Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The Goddess of Ice — Freyis Wintercrown has offered you to be her Avatar.

[ System Notification ]

The God of Fire — Ignivar, the Inferno Lord, has offered you to be his Avatar.

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