Extra's Ascent

The protagonist of Arthdal Chronicle was designed to straddle the line between simplicity and complexity—a deliberate choice by the author.

According to their vision, he was meant to surpass the conventional tropes of heroism and villainy that most novels adopt.

Some readers might label him an anti-hero, but as the story progresses, it becomes evident that he exists in a realm far beyond that simplistic categorization.

He is layered, nuanced, and undeniably enigmatic.

"That guy is a total douche," Saldrich muttered, her words clearly directed at Dante, who had just stormed out of the hall.

Douche? Aldrich thought, silently agreeing with her sentiment.

Absolutely. But there's more to him than that.

The recent exchange between Edward and Dante played out almost exactly as described in the original novel—not necessarily word-for-word, but the essence remained intact.

And its purpose? On the surface, it painted Dante as a brash, self-centred ruffian who flouted the rules with impunity.

But that was only a fraction of the truth.

Beneath the surface, Dante's actions served a vital narrative purpose: they were meant to push the privileged main cast out of their gilded comfort zones.

These teens, hailing from the elite district of Upstate, had lived lives of luxury and entitlement.

Their mystic abilities had taken a backseat to their affluent backgrounds, which they relied on to navigate challenges rather than hone their skills.

Dante's brutal confrontation with Edward was a wake-up call.

His scathing words cut through Edward's pride and left him defenceless, exposing the vulnerability beneath his arrogance.

This pivotal moment not only set the stage for a brewing rivalry between Edward and Dante but also marked a turning point for the main cast, forcing them to take their mystic roles seriously.

However the jealousy subplot involving Edward and Dante's connection to Fiona might have been omitted in this world since Dante did not take the role of Fiona's partner, wowing everyone.

Aldrich mused, the rivalry remains nonetheless.

The tension between the pride of the Pendragon clan and the boy wonder of the Henderson household is still alive and kicking.

"I can't wait," Aldrich muttered to himself, feeling a strange excitement at how smoothly the plot had unfolded despite his interference.

Fiona and Dante's private meeting never happened, yet the story moved forward as though it were never necessary in the first place.

'But that shouldn't be. A major plot getting omitted just like that...' Aldrich thought sceptically.

There has to be a consequence for derailing a major plotline.

His mind churned with doubt, convinced that repercussions would strike when he least expected them.

"Aldrich!" Fiona's voice jolted him from his thoughts.

He turned to see her hurrying toward him, relief etched on her face.

"Fiona," he greeted, shaking off his musings.

For the moment, he is relieved to see parts of the story going as it should and his existence not completely derailing the story from what it is.

"Oh, thank goodness you're okay," she said, exhaling deeply as she reached him.

"I could say the same about you," Aldrich replied warmly, his concern genuine despite knowing she was unharmed.

"I was with my parents when everything happened. It all unfolded so fast," Fiona explained, her gaze shifting briefly to the girl standing beside Aldrich.

"This is my younger sister, Saldrich," Aldrich introduced, gesturing to the stoic girl. "We were together during the incident."

"Sal, this is Fiona Helmswoth—my date for tonight," he added, a playful grin on his face.

"Hi, Sal. I'm Fiona," she said, extending a hand. "Your brother has told me a little about you."

Saldrich hesitated, her scepticism evident as she eyed Fiona's outstretched hand.

"Don't mind her," Aldrich interjected with a chuckle. "She's just worried about angering the queen bee by associating with you."

Saldrich's sharp nudge to his side made him wince.

"What? It's true, isn't it?" he teased, rubbing the spot she'd hit.

"It's okay," Fiona said with a soft laugh. "I understand if you'd rather keep your distance. Honestly, I think your brother's the odd one for not fearing Selina's wrath."

"Hey! I take offence to that. What do you mean, wei—"

Aldrich froze mid-sentence as his instincts flared.

He wasn't alone—Saldrich felt it too, a tingling sensation warning of imminent danger.

Could it be…?

His thoughts were cut short by a sharp spike in his senses.

Scanning the hall, he noticed the crowd thinning as people evacuated.

"I'll never accept this!" a robber shouted, his voice laced with desperation.

It was the first robber that had fallen under the terrifying claw of Dante pummeling his face to the floor.

'He is not dead!'

It was a pretty loud slam that would have many believing he was dead.

The man staggered to his feet, a pistol clutched tightly in his hand.

With a furious yell, he charged the weapon with mana, unleashing a glowing projectile of pure destruction.

Aldrich's heart raced as he watched the deadly blast hurtling toward them.

Before he could react, Edward stepped in.

Drawing into the air with practised precision, Edward conjured a raging gust of wind that collided with the incoming attack.

The clash of energies created a violent explosion, sending debris and dust flying.

The resulting chaos temporarily obscured everyone's vision, but not before Aldrich caught sight of a small, lethal detail—a pocket knife spiralling through the air, headed straight for Fiona.

No!

Without hesitation, Aldrich moved.

His body acted on instinct, propelling him forward.

Everything felt sharper, clearer—time seemed to slow as he positioned himself in front of Fiona.

Stretching out his hand, he tried to mimic Dante's earlier move, hoping to deflect the knife with sheer will.

Reality, however, was less forgiving.

CHUCK!

The knife's trajectory shifted slightly in the chaos, but it still found its mark, embedding itself in Aldrich's chest.

"Al!" Saldrich screamed, rushing to his side.

"Aldrich!" Fiona cried out, panic evident in her voice.

As for Aldrich? Pain coursed through his body, sharp and unrelenting. Yet amidst the agony, one thought stood out: how strangely clear everything looked.

Then, darkness overtook him.