Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

He stood tall, one hand casually gripping the reins of the flying beast, his other raised to his lips as he whistled once more, grinning down at the scene below. His black cloak flapped in the wind, and the blood and dust from earlier battles still clung to his figure, yet he looked as though the events that had nearly claimed his life were no more than a warm-up.

Whispers began to ripple through the ranks of soldiers and students alike.

"Is that... Adrian?"

"He's alive?"

"The hero?"

"He returned!"

"I thought he died in the explosion!"

The soldiers, still reeling from the destruction of the barrier, couldn't believe their eyes. The tension in the air, thick and suffocating moments ago, lightened with the sudden reappearance of the boy who had dared to charge headlong into the heart of the enemy.

However, not everyone welcomed Adrian's return.

One of the werebeast kings, the same one who had brutally executed the werefox king moments earlier, narrowed his cold eyes, a deep growl rumbling in his throat.

"This cockroach..." he snarled, his voice dripping with disdain.

Without warning, the werebeast king vanished from his position, moving so fast that to the untrained eye, it seemed as though he had simply blinked out of existence. Gasps of shock echoed from the city walls as the soldiers and students realized where the werebeast king had gone—right into the sky, directly in the path of the Rylath.

"Adrian, no!" Anthony shouted from below, his heart pounding in his chest. "Run!"

But Adrian didn't flinch.

The werebeast king reappeared, his massive claws outstretched, a sinister smile curling his lips. His speed was terrifying, his clawed hand mere inches away from slicing through Adrian and his mount. "Die, you insolent insect!" the king roared, his voice full of malice as his deadly strike descended.

The world seemed to slow in that instant. Soldiers on the ground watched helplessly, knowing that nothing could stop the attack in time.

But Adrian didn't move.

Instead of fear, there was only calm amusement on his face, his eyes glinting with a dangerous spark as he leaned forward slightly, his grin widening.

"You," he whispered, his voice low and steady, "are Doomed."

The werebeast king was a bit confused but he didn't care.

Its claws glistened under the sunlight, ascending toward Adrian with terrifying speed. His grin widened, confident that the boy before him would be torn to pieces in mere moments.

But just as the attack was about to land, something changed.

A bone-chilling cold crept up the werebeast king's spine, a primal sense of danger flooding his senses. His instincts screamed at him to stop, to retreat, but it was too late.

"HAHAHA!"

A booming laugh echoed through the sky, reverberating like thunder.

"!"

The werebeast king's eyes widened as a shadow loomed in his periphery. Out of nowhere, a towering figure intercepted his attack, meeting the king's clawed hand with his bare fist. The impact was immediate—a deafening explosion of force that sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

"Boom!"

The werebeast king was thrown back, his massive form hurtling toward the ground like a ragdoll. He crashed into the earth below with enough force to send debris and dirt flying in all directions, leaving a crater in his wake.

In the sky, the figure that had stopped the attack hovered effortlessly, only knocked back a few meters. He stretched his arm with a casual shrug, massaging his knuckles as though the collision had been no more than a minor inconvenience.

The man was enormous, his muscles bulging under the sleeveless vest he wore. His white hair was wild and thick, and a thick beard framed his chiseled face. Despite his rough appearance, his grin was wide and full of energy, showing off rows of teeth like a wolf about to dive into a feast. His skin gleamed with a slight sheen of sweat, highlighting every inch of his imposing physique.

The students and soldiers below gawked in awe.

"Is that...?"

"It's Instructor Doome!"

"Old Man Doome is here!"

"Thank goodness!" Continue reading on empire

The muscular man, now fully revealed to be Instructor Doome, gave a cocky smirk and flexed his arms, causing his massive biceps to ripple. His abs, sculpted like iron, seemed to glisten in the sunlight as he glanced down at his opponent, who was struggling to rise from the crater.

In the midst of it all, Adrian looked over at the barbarian with a bemused expression. "You're amazing, Teacher Doome."

He clearly didn't forget the old man liked to show off his physique.

Doome let out another deep, hearty laugh, striking a pose that would make even the bravest warriors question their strength. "Hah! This? This is nothing!" He pounded his chest, the sound reverberating like a war drum. "I've dealt with worse beasts on my morning jog!"

He flexed again, his muscles practically bulging out of his skin as he grinned down at the werebeast king, who had just managed to pull himself out of the crater. "Is that all you've got?" Doome taunted. "I expected more from a king!"

The werebeast king, his face twisted with rage, bared his fangs. His pride had been wounded, and fury now burned in his eyes as he glared up at the man who had humiliated him.

But before he could charge again, Doome casually raised a finger, wagging it as though scolding a misbehaving child. "Ah, ah, ah... Let me warn you," he said, his voice low and filled with playful menace. "I'm just getting started."

Adrian, still atop the Rylath, shook his head with a small smile. "Always the showman, aren't you?"

Doome's grin widened. "You know it, kid."

Below, the soldiers and students, who had been paralyzed with fear only moments before, now found their courage returning. Their confidence swelled at the sight of the legendary Instructor Doome taking on the werebeast king without breaking a sweat.

"Prepare for another volley!" Anthony shouted, seizing the opportunity while the kings were distracted. The defense forces quickly regrouped, sending a fresh barrage of magic and arrows down onto the remaining werebeasts below.

The real battle had only just begun.

The werebeast king snarled as he rose fully to his feet, his aura flaring with deadly intent. He was no longer playing around. "You... will regret mocking me, human."

Doome cracked his knuckles, his grin never faltering. "Bring it on, you doggy. I'm just getting warmed up."