The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The trial of will and agility

Chapter 9: Trial of Will and Agility

Alex stepped forward, his heart pounding as he stared at the massive stone archway before him.

The air around it shimmered ominously, an unnatural stillness filling the chamber. This was the third trial—the Trial of Will and Agility.

Unlike the previous trials, this one radiated pure malice, an oppressive weight pressing against his mind.

"This one's different," he muttered, gripping his Ether Extraction Dagger tightly. His instincts screamed danger, but there was no turning back.

As soon as he stepped through the archway, the world around him twisted. The ground beneath his feet vanished, and Alex plummeted into darkness.

Wind howled past him, the force making it hard to breathe. Then, just when he thought he would hit the ground—

BAM!

Alex landed hard on a stone platform, rolling to absorb the impact. Pain shot through his limbs, his back screaming from the impact. His arms trembled as he pushed himself up, gasping for breath.

The rough stone beneath his palms was slick with sweat, and blood trickled down his cheek from a fresh gash. But he barely had time to register the pain before the trial truly began.

A deafening roar echoed through the void. Multiple figures emerged from the darkness—phantom-like entities, each wielding weapons that shimmered with ethereal energy.

Their movements were erratic yet incredibly fast.

Alex barely dodged the first attack, twisting his body to avoid a sword slash aimed at his neck. He countered with a Heavy Strike, his dagger colliding with the phantom's blade.

Sparks flew as the force sent both of them skidding backward. But as soon as he steadied himself, another phantom was already upon him.

Gritting his teeth, Alex reached to his side, drawing a one-handed sword he had taken from a previous fight.

Holding the sword in his dominant hand and the dagger in the other, he adjusted his stance. If speed and adaptability were key, then he would fight with both weapons.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

His blade met theirs in rapid succession. Every impact sent jolts of pain through his arms, his fingers numb from the repeated force.

The sheer speed of this trial was brutal. He had never fought opponents this relentless before.

Alex gritted his teeth. If speed was the problem, he needed to adapt.

His Dual-Soul Resonance flared to life, his instincts sharpening. His mind raced, predicting the enemies' movements a fraction of a second faster.

His footwork became more fluid, his dodges more precise. He activated Dodge, barely escaping a lethal slash, then retaliated with a vicious stab from his dagger that dispersed one of the phantoms into mist while simultaneously slashing another with his sword.

But there was no time to celebrate. Another phantom lunged, cutting deep into his shoulder. Gah! He staggered, crimson staining his tattered clothes.

Another strike grazed his ribs, sending a searing jolt of pain through his torso.

Then came the illusions.

A familiar voice cut through the battlefield, stopping Alex cold. "Alex... why did you let us die?"

His blood ran cold.

He turned, his breath catching in his throat. Standing there—alive and well—were his parents. Their expressions twisted with sorrow. "We trusted you... but you weren't strong enough."

Alex staggered back, his vision swimming. His grip on his weapons faltered. The phantoms didn't stop.

His heart clenched. The weight of the illusions crushed his spirit, making his body feel like lead. His Will stat was high, but even that didn't make this easier.

At the last second, he forced himself to react—Titan's Resilience flared to life, and he barely blocked the strike.

Dodge. Strike. Block. Evade.

His Dual-Soul Resonance pushed him past his limits, enhancing his reaction time to near-perfection. Every dodge became smoother, every attack more refined.

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