Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Despite Adrian's revelation, the atmosphere in the hall didn't shift as much as he had expected. The tension grew thicker, but no immediate plan of action followed. Whispers stirred once more as instructors and students exchanged uncertain glances. The Vice-Principal's face remained unreadable, but a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes.

It was clear: even with all the information laid out before them, the situation had not fundamentally changed.

And it was becoming more dire by the second.

The screens continued to flicker with scenes of the academy's defenses—students preparing, the eerie movements of the weremonkeys outside the perimeter, and flashes of abominations prowling the city. The lockdown was holding for now, but it was only a matter of time before the defenses would crack under pressure.

Adrian could feel it.

They knew this wasn't enough too.

Waiting like this, hoping for a breakthrough, wasn't a plan.

His hand twitched at his side, clenched tight into a fist. He had done his part, but there was no one stepping forward to fill the void of leadership. Both the Principal and the General were absent—likely dealing with their own fronts in this crisis. Without their guidance, the academy was drifting in indecision.

He couldn't let this continue.

Clearing his throat, Adrian stepped forward once more, drawing all eyes back to him. His voice cut through the rising murmurs like a blade.

"We don't have time to sit here and wait for someone to save us," Adrian said, his tone sharp. "the Mastermind's plan is already in motion. The city—our academy—won't survive if we just react to what's happening."

A heavy silence followed his words. The Vice-Principal's gaze hardened, and several instructors straightened, their attention now firmly on him.

Aria and Aurelia stood silently behind him, their presence lending him a subtle but palpable strength.

"What do you propose?" the Vice-Principal asked, his voice steady, but there was a tension there, a challenge that hung in the air.

Adrian's eyes flicked toward the screens once again, his mind calculating, piecing together the threads of his plan. His heart raced, but he knew what needed to be done.

"I have a plan," he said, his voice unwavering. "But first, we need to deal with Sezar, the Guardian of the Red Moon Ruin."

A murmur rippled through the room at the mention of the Guardian, a being of immense power and cunning intelligence tied to one of the most dangerous Platinum Tier ruins in the region. Sezar wasn't just a random enemy—they had all heard the legends of his strength, his role in ruling the ruin.

"We can't defeat him," Adrian continued, his tone grim. "Not without the Principal or General Theron here. He's too strong for us to take down right now. Not to mention his 2K army."

The room grew even more tense, the realization sinking in.

"But," Adrian pressed on, "we don't need to defeat him. We just need to stall for time. Distract him, keep him occupied. While he's focused on the academy, I'll lead a group to find and stop the Mastermind."

Another ripple of murmurs swept through the crowd, but this time there was more urgency in their tones—people grasping at the possibility of action. The tension was shifting now, turning into something more focused.

"Sezar isn't our main target," Adrian emphasized. "the Mastermind is. If we don't take her out, none of this will matter. She's the one orchestrating this, and she's close to completing her final experiment. If we can distract Sezar long enough for me to confront her, we can stop all of this before it spirals out of control."

The Vice-Principal narrowed his eyes, his arms folding across his chest. "You're asking us to split our forces. That's risky—especially with our top fighters already occupied with defending the academy or being absent."

"It's our best option," Adrian countered, his voice firm. "We don't have the luxury of waiting for reinforcements. Every second we wait, the Mastermind gets closer to finishing whatever twisted creation she's planning. We need to act now."

A heavy pause filled the room.

It was clear that no one wanted to fight Sezar—least of all with their most powerful allies missing. The thought of facing a ruin guardian was daunting, even to the strongest Awakeners here. But there was a quiet understanding that Adrian was right.

The Vice-Principal exchanged a long look with Professor Malcolm the Strategist of the Academy, who gave a nod.

Finally, the Vice-Principal turned back to Adrian. "And what will you do once you find Evangeline?"

Adrian's gaze hardened. "I'll stop her. I'll do whatever it takes."

The Vice-Principal studied him for a moment longer, the weight of the decision settling into the room like a stone. Then, with a slow exhale, he gave a nod.

"Very well," he said quietly, though his voice carried through the hall. "We'll organize a team to distract Sezar. But I'm warning you, student Adrian—this is a huge risk. If we fail, we could lose everything."

Adrian nodded. He knew the risks. But this was the only way.

"I won't promise I won't fail," he promised, his voice low but filled with conviction. "But, again, this is our only way right now."

After a momentary silence, Malcolm stepped forward, his sharp gaze locking onto Adrian. His presence, calm but calculating, had always commanded respect. Even in the midst of a crisis like this, his mind was already working several steps ahead.

"The boy is right, Sir," Malcolm said, his voice steady, cutting through the tension like a knife. "But I'd suggest a small adjustment."
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Adrian met his gaze, unsure of what Malcolm had in mind. Though he respected Malcolm's brilliance, the Strategist's plans often involved layers of complexity that sometimes escaped others. Adrian had been expecting resistance, not collaboration.

Malcolm took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room before returning to Adrian. "You've brought us vital information about the Mastermind and her forces. You've clearly put thought into the plan, but you're the only one here who seems to understand the full extent of her strategies." He gestured toward the gathered instructors and students.

"That means you, Adrian, are in the best position to select the team you'll take with you to confront her."

A ripple of surprise went through the crowd, and Adrian blinked but was not taken aback. He just didn't expect Malcolm to place such trust in him, especially when others seemed hesitant to do so.

"Pick your team carefully," Malcolm continued, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "You know what this Mastermind is capable of. Choose those who can complement your strengths, cover your weaknesses, and counter the enemy. A team that can adapt to unexpected circumstances."

Adrian nodded slowly, his mind already working to assemble the right group. He needed people who could hold their own but also those who could think on their feet, especially when faced with the unknowns surrounding Evangeline's experiments. Well, now, he had already formed the team in his mind.

Malcolm wasn't done, though.

"Now, as for Sezar…" The strategist paused, his fingers tapping thoughtfully on his arm. "Facing a Ruin Guardian head-on would be suicide, even for our strongest fighters. But we don't need to defeat him. We just need to buy time, and there are more ways to do that than simply distracting him with brute force."

"And, I do have something in mind."

"Thank you for trusting me, Professor Malcolm. And I am sure you will think of a great plan. But..."

"He is not the Sezar, The Guardian, we know."