Path of the Extra

The moment those words left Iryndra's lips, Joaquin, Jasmine, and Nol froze, their expressions a mixture of shock and perplexity.

Azriel sighed inwardly, already regretting that he hadn't stopped this from happening earlier.

"Ow!"

He lightly chopped Iryndra on the head, causing her to yelp in protest. Standing beside her, he turned to Joaquin, whose gaze shifted from the little girl to Azriel, confusion evident on his face.

Azriel offered a wry smile before glancing down at Iryndra. She clutched her head, glaring up at him with watery eyes.

"I thought you didn't like that title."

"...It has its uses sometimes."

Iryndra huffed, still rubbing her head, while the others continued to stare at the two of them in stunned silence.

"She isn't lying," Azriel finally admitted.

"She's a Heptarch. Well... was one. As far as Neo Genesis is concerned, she's dead and forgotten."

The weight of his words struck the room like a thunderclap. Joaquin, Nol, and Jasmine all widened their eyes in disbelief.

Joaquin sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"So, why is a former Heptarch—no, in fact, I don't care if she was one. Clearly, she cares about you enough to attack me. So how did the two of you meet?"

Azriel smiled faintly.

"I'll explain everything once we're back home—what happened in the void realm, where I've been all this time, and why it took so long to return. I'll tell you everything. If you want to know, that is."

Joaquin looked genuinely taken aback, as did Nol and Jasmine. The latter had assumed Azriel would only reveal select pieces of the truth, not offer a full account of his time in the void realm.

Joaquin chuckled, a smile breaking across his face.

"I've been waiting months to hear your story... my son."

"S-son?"

Iryndra's eyes grew impossibly wide as she darted her gaze between Joaquin and Azriel, her face paling with every second. Finally, she locked eyes with Joaquin, who grinned at her mischievously.

"What is it, little girl? Just realized you almost attacked one of the four great kings—and the father of that troublesome boy?"

Iryndra's panicked expression was almost comical.

"I... I..."

"Dad, stop teasing her," Azriel cut in with a sigh.

"I wasn't lying. She's my little sister from now on."

"And mine!" Jasmine chimed in cheerfully, stepping forward with a bag of chips in hand.

Azriel pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head as Nol and Jasmine thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Iryndra, meanwhile, was staring intently at Jasmine's bag of chips.

Noticing her gaze, Jasmine smirked and walked over. Before Iryndra could react, Jasmine scooped her up effortlessly.

"Ah!"

She carried the flustered girl back, where another chair had appeared beside Nol's. Jasmine sat down, placing Iryndra on her lap, whose face was now as red as a ripe tomato. Without a word, Jasmine began feeding her chips.

Azriel and Joaquin exchanged a bewildered glance.

"Looks like she's not just your little sister anymore."

"...It hasn't even been a day, and I already feel like she's been stolen from me," Azriel muttered, exasperated.

Iryndra's face only deepened in color.

Joaquin's attention shifted back to Azriel, his gaze sharpening as he scanned his son's body.

"You seem perfectly fine now... so what happened to put you in a coma?"

Azriel shrugged.

"My body was probably just catching up on the years of sleep deprivation."

Joaquin narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced, but sighed after a moment. His expression grew more intense as he continued to study Azriel.

"Is something wrong?" Azriel asked cautiously, feeling the weight of Joaquin's scrutiny.

Joaquin remained silent. Finally, he spoke, his voice tentative.

"You... when did you learn to control your aura?"

The room fell into a stunned silence as all eyes snapped to Azriel.

A stiff smile crept onto Azriel's face.

'Shit... I've been unconsciously suppressing my aura since I woke up.'

Forcing himself to appear calm, he shrugged again.

"I learned it in the void realm. I just pretended not to know how to control it—it would've been troublesome if people noticed."

"But how..?" Joaquin demanded.

"It's possible to control your aura even before becoming a Master," Azriel explained casually.

"It's just... extremely difficult. But not impossible."

Joaquin's baffled expression lingered before he placed a hand on his chin, deep in thought.

"I see... That makes sense actually. When we undergo our second [Soul Rebirth] upon becoming a Master, our bodies change, making it easier to control aura. But theoretically, it shouldn't be impossible with enough effort—even for someone below level 5."

Then, unexpectedly, Joaquin threw his head back and laughed, his booming voice filling the room.

"As expected of my son! You've shown me again why you carry my blood!"

Jasmine looked at Azriel in awe.

"That's amazing, little brother. If this gets out, people will start worshipping you like a god..."

Azriel scratched the back of his head awkwardly as Nol looked at him with stars in his eyes. Iryndra clapped her small hands enthusiastically.

Azriel's thoughts, however, were far less noble.

'Well, it's not like I discovered it myself. But since the doctor is dead... I guess it's fine if I take credit for it.'

The reason why everyone stared at him in amazement was simple.

Aura.

It was a force so pivotal that, in the hands of a master, it could decide the outcome of any battle. The impact of aura was undeniable—if two grandmasters faced each other, and only one wielded aura, the one with aura would almost always emerge victorious.

But what was aura, truly?

Aura was not some mystical energy separate from one's being. It was simply the term used for the mana that naturally leaked from a person's body. Every living being, regardless of rank, unconsciously released a faint stream of mana into the world around them. However, this leakage was entirely passive—undirected and unnoticed by most.

Only those who ascended to the rank of Master could begin to perceive this mana. At that level, they gained the ability to control it—stopping the uncontrolled flow and harnessing it with intent. Yet mastery of aura wasn't tied solely to sight. Even before reaching this stage, those who were awakened—those attuned to the rhythm of mana—could sense it.

Aura could change the tide of battle. It could wrap around the body, fortifying it against strikes and amplifying strength. It could surge outward in an overwhelming rush, intimidating foes and cementing one's presence on the battlefield. Conversely, it could be restrained entirely, rendering a person invisible to the senses of their enemies—an assassin's greatest weapon. Aura could also bond with a weapon, wrapping the blade in a sheath of raw power, making it deadlier than steel alone could ever be.

This was the essence of aura—a manifestation of control, precision, and strength.

And yet, here Azriel stood, shattering expectations. He had discovered a truth long thought impossible: one did not need to be a Master to wield aura.

Joaquin grinned widely at Azriel.

"You're right. If anyone saw you controlling your aura, the world would be turned upside down. Ah, it makes you wonder—what other stupid beliefs have we put on ourselves that are holding us back from growing stronger?"

He then walked toward Azriel, placing his hands on his shoulders, his expression turning serious.

"You've discovered something amazing, Azriel. I don't know what lengths you went to in order to learn this, but... if it gets out that you're the one who discovered it, a lot of things will change."

Joaquin turned his gaze to Jasmine, who wore a serious expression. She carefully placed Iryndra on her chair before walking over and standing next to Azriel.

"With your recent achievement in dismantling Neo Genesis' plans, and now discovering how to use aura before becoming a master... public opinion will shift. Some bastards will start believing you should be the next Crimson King, not Jasmine. Some will try and push that agenda onto you, while others... others will try to kill you out of fear."

Azriel and Jasmine exchanged serious looks before turning back to Joaquin.

"I'm giving you a choice," Joaquin continued. "Keep this between us, and no one will find out until you're strong enough to handle it. Or, be prepared to face the consequences. If you choose the latter, know that the entire Crimson Clan stands behind you. I'll deal with anyone you can't handle."

Azriel's eyes widened at his words.

All of this was unexpected. He hadn't even anticipated being given the choice at all, let alone to be the one who discovered such a feat.

"What does it matter? Master can handle them easily anyway."

Before he could respond, Iryndra, who had been silent until now, spoke up from behind them. Everyone turned to look at her, her expression hesitant.

"Mist—b-big brother... if you reveal yourself, to the public... Neo Genesis might see you as a threat. They'll focus on you more, and if they do... they might find out about... you know..."

Her voice trailed off, unsure whether she should say more in front of the others.

Azriel looked at her warmly, and the others exchanged glances, questioning what Iryndra meant.

"Unfortunately, it's already too late for that," Azriel said, his voice calm. "I already punched back at them. Zoran's dead. They must know by now. But don't worry—everyone from back then is gone, and no one knows anything about you anymore."

Iryndra's eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling.

"Y-you... you took down Zoran!? But... how? He was absolutely crazy! And... how did you take down Doctor Arthur, Vincent, and all those void creatures... and everyone else there?"

She looked at Azriel, her face full of questions.

"...How are you even alive?"

At her words, more directed at herself than anyone else, Joaquin, Nol, and Jasmine's expressions hardened. Though they didn't fully understand, it was clear: this wasn't something good.

Azriel simply smiled, putting a finger to his lips.

"That's a secret."

Everyone stared at him bluntly.

Azriel didn't care. He turned back to Joaquin, taking a deep breath.

"I don't care if this feat gets credited to me or not," Azriel said with a wry smile. "But if you're worried about the consequences..."

Azriel's smile faded, and he looked at the others with a serious expression.

"There's a huge chance Neo Genesis will come after me after what happened in the Void Dungeon."

Just the fact that he was responsible for Zoran's death was enough. But Zoran wasn't just any Heptarch—he was an Apostle. Azriel wouldn't be surprised if Neo Genesis saw him as a much greater threat now.

But Azriel didn't regret his actions.

With his memories returned, he now felt a twisted satisfaction knowing he was the one who had taken down Zoran and their plans.

Joaquin sighed.

"I see... very well. I think we should head back home first and deal with all that trouble. Tch, I can't open a Void Rift here, can I?"

Jasmine looked at him, her brows furrowing.

"I heard about that. But why can't someone open a Void Rift here?"

Continue your saga on empire

Joaquin thought for a moment before answering.

"I'm not exactly sure, but I know it has something to do with a deeper source underwater... something beneath the Sunken Islands. My instincts are telling me I'll die if I go there, so it's best we stay ignorant for now."

Azriel and Jasmine's eyes widened at his words.

It wasn't every day they heard Joaquin back down from fighting a Void Creature. In fact, it was the first time. A chill ran down their spines as they realized how terrifying the being must be that could make a great king back off.

In the next instant, a black hole made of shadow appeared beneath their feet, and they all began sinking into it. Before they disappeared, they heard Joaquin's voice one last time.

"That old man and Mira better still be breathing."