I AM EXTRA IN A SHONEN MANGA

"…Brat." Genzu stepped closer, his shadow stretching over Kaen like a shroud. His voice dropped, sharp as steel.

"Do you even know what it means… to ask me to teach you?"

Kaen blinked, sweat dripping down his temple. "…What?"

"You don't know," Genzu said, tone heavy. "What it means to be my disciple. It can cost you your life."

Kaen's head lifted slowly. His gaze burned like fire refusing to die.

"I won't die."

The monk's eyes narrowed. "…What?"

"If you're worried that I might die," Kaen said, steady despite his trembling body, "no… I won't."

Silence.

Genzu tilted his head, his grin fading into something unreadable. "…What makes you say that, brat?"

Kaen clenched his fists. His voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"I will never die until I achieve what I want."

The monk's breath caught, just slightly. "…And what is it you want to achieve?"

Kaen didn't hesitate. His voice thundered with unshakable resolve.

"To become an Eclipse Vanguard—

…and make everyone recognize that I am not a curse child, but Kaen the hero."

For a moment, Genzu saw not Kaen—but another boy, long ago. A pair of eyes filled with the same untamed fire, the same reckless hunger for recognition. The memory stabbed deep, twisting in old scars.

His chest tightened. Then—

"Pfft—"

And suddenly Genzu threw his head back, laughter bursting out, wild and echoing through the forest.

"Ahahahahahahahaha!!"

Kaen flinched, his expression tightening. "…Are you crazy, you pervert old man?"

Genzu wiped a tear from his eye, grin spreading wide again.

"You… brat… hahahaha… you're insane. Just like—" He cut himself off, his smile flickering for a fraction of a second. He suddenly stepped forward and before Kaen could even react grabbed the boy by the collar, lifting him clean off the ground with one hand.

"W-Whoa—! What are you doing, you pervert monk!?" Kaen thrashed in the monk's iron grip, legs kicking at empty air.

The forest wind howled as Genzu bent his knees, his Shinrei pulsing faintly flames licked against his calves, scorching the earth where he stood. The birds roosting in the canopy burst from the trees in a startled flurry.

Kaen's eyes widened. "H-Hey, wait, WAIT—!!"

Genzu's grin split wider, teeth gleaming.

"…Fine, brat. You want me to teach you? Then let's start now. Survive my hell."

In the next heartbeat, the Fire-Worn Monk exploded upward.

A thunderclap cracked from the sheer force of his leap. Leaves tore from branches, trees bent from the sudden pressure. Kaen's stomach lurched as they rocketed high above the canopy, the world spinning below them.

"ARE YOU CRAZY, OLD MAN!?" Kaen screamed, arms flailing. "PUT ME DOWN!"

"Gladly," Genzu snarled, and with a single savage motion, he hurled Kaen into the depths of the forest.

The boy's body whipped through the air, cutting across branches and shadows like a thrown spear. His voice echoed through the endless green—

"OLDDDDD MAAANNNN!!! PERVERT MONK!!!!"

He crashed through leaves, branches snapping, bark tearing at his clothes until finally—

BOOM!

Kaen slammed into the undergrowth, the earth splitting beneath the impact. A cloud of dirt and shattered roots billowed out.

The forest went still again.

From the top of the canopy, Genzu's silhouette loomed, arms crossed, eyes glinting. His voice carried, low and merciless:

"Four days, brat. Survive this forest with nothing but your wits and your Shinrei. If you crawl back alive… then maybe, just maybe, I'll consider you worth teaching."

Kaen groaned, forcing himself up through the rubble, fists trembling as rage and fire sparked in his eyes.

"…Four days…? Hah… you think I can't…? You'll regret underestimating me, old man…"

Genzu chuckled, the sound drifting like a predator's purr. "Show me….show me if you can live long enough to call yourself a hero."

And with that, the monk vanished into the trees, leaving the boy alone in the vast, breathing wilderness.

The forest was no ordinary place—shadows moved unnaturally between the trunks, and unseen growls rumbled low from the depths. Kaen clenched his jaw, standing tall despite the blood on his arms.

"…Four days, huh? Fine. I'll survive. And when I do… I'm gonna make that pervert monk acknowledge me."

..

Meanwhile, in the country of Mythrelian Skylands…

The floating citadels of Mythrelian hung above the endless seas of cloud, their spires like needles of crystal and marble piercing the heavens. The winds whispered with quiet hymns, carrying echoes of ancient chants across the archipelago of the sky.

Inside one such citadel, within the chamber draped in shimmering banners of silver and pale blue, stood Sage Erel Dranith — the Weaver of Echoes. His eyes, reflecting the pale light of countless stars, held the weight of wisdom carved from ages past.

Beside him, his confidant Anthon knelt, awaiting command.

Erel's voice was calm, but laced with gravity.

"It seems… we will need help from the Veinwalker students"

Anthon bowed his head. "Yes, my lord. I will do it right away."

Erel gave a slow, deliberate nod. His hands folded into the long sleeves of his white robes as he turned toward the wide, arched window.

Beyond, the horizon stretched endlessly—golden clouds bathed in dawnlight, pierced by the silhouettes of drifting sky-islands. He rested a hand upon the glass, his voice lowering to a murmur meant only for himself.

"…The village of Heliana… I pray the temple there still stands."

For a fleeting moment, his Shinrei stirred a faint shimmer of radiant light wrapped around him, like strands of woven starlight before dissolving into nothingness.

Somewhere far below, unseen beneath the rolling seas of cloud, the world stirred with dangers that would soon rise.

Meanwhile, in the village of Heliana…

The temple bells rang softly in the mountain air, their tones carrying over the mist-shrouded terraces and carved stone bridges of the village. Lanterns flickered at every corner, their flames painting the dusk in gold and crimson hues.

At the temple courtyard, a boy's voice cut through the chants.

Captain Kaedros, a towering figure clad in rune-etched armor, folded his arms and rumbled:

"Serin… you're causing mischief again."

The stubborn youth glared back, sweat dripping down his brow from overexerted training.

"Hhmp."

Elder Ryozen, seated cross-legged beneath a weathered shrine, cracked one eye open. His scarred face and weary ember-like Shinrei gave him the aura of a flame long past its wildfire, yet still burning steady.

"Serin, at this rate, you will never become a Guardian."

The boy spat the words out, voice sharp, but carrying a crack of pain.

"I don't need to be a Guardian anyway… Guardians are stupid. That's why they got killed."

For a heartbeat, silence fell.

The breeze stirred the temple banners.

Even Kaedros' jaw tightened behind his beard, but he said nothing.

Serin's fists clenched at his sides, his thoughts burning louder than his voice:

"(Including my father…)"

The boy turned his gaze away, hiding the sting in his eyes.

It was then that Wanderer-Seer Oryan entered the courtyard, his robes marked with faded constellations and his staff crowned with crystal shards that shimmered faintly under the setting sun. His voice was calm, yet edged with unease.

"Elder Ryozen… may I speak with you? Something important has come up."

The old monk exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing as he studied the seer's expression. Then, with a nod, he rose to his feet, the weight of his scarred past heavy in his movements.

Ryozen glanced at Kaedros.

The captain placed a heavy hand on Serin's shoulder. His voice was low, firm, yet not unkind.

"Let's go, Serin."

The boy pulled away with a grunt, but followed, his heart still simmering with unresolved fire.

Behind them, Oryan's crystal staff pulsed faintly—like a heartbeat echoing from beyond the veil.

Something was stirring.

To be continue