I AM EXTRA IN A SHONEN MANGA

The torch-lit stronghold echoed with the clamor of bells, cries, and the hiss of Voidborn spilling in from the outer fields.

Captain Kaedros barked orders, his greatsword glowing with stone resonance as he directed the villagers to the temple ward. Guardians rallied at his side, forming a steel wall between the citizens and the shadows.

Meanwhile, the young Veinwalkers divided.

….

Team One – The Frontline (Rael, Kaen, Lira)

The air crackled with tension as Rael Eluron adjusted his gloves, eyes narrowing on the swarm of twisted figures.

"Voidborn of this scale… they're testing us." His tone was calm, but inside he was calculating. (If this is just a vanguard, then someone is pulling the strings. Someone close.)

Beside him, Kaen Suro slammed a fist into his palm, fire flickering across his arms.

"Who cares if they're testing us? We'll burn 'em all before they reach the gates!"

Lira Valenne stepped forward, silver-pink hair swaying, her lavender eyes soft yet resolute. She extended her staff, Bloom energy flowing like petals in the wind.

"Don't be reckless, Kaen. Remember—we fight to protect, not destroy."

Her Shinrei shimmered a radiant green, spreading out to coat both boys in a healing glow. (Hope… that is my flame.)

From above, Rael's Echo Spirit, Seraphis, unfurled shimmering wings, casting light over the battlefield.

"We strike together. Kaen—frontline. Lira—support. I'll disrupt their formations."

Kaen smirked, flames bursting in his fists.

"Fine. Just don't steal my kills, lightning boy."

And then the clash began.

Rael blurred forward with Mirror Shift, weaving through enemies like afterimages of lightning. Chains of radiant current lashed outward binding Voidborn into sizzling arcs.

Kaen followed with Blazing Step, fists blazing with flame. Each punch exploded like a cannon, scattering corpses of smoke and ash.

Behind them, Lira whispered softly.

"Echo art: Resonant Petals."

Healing waves cascaded, their wounds sealing almost as fast as they came.

But in her heart, unease whispered: Something darker waits…

…

[Team 9 side]

In the quieter streets, far from the chaos, Khael Corzedar walked at the head of the trio. His sharp eyes lingered on the ruins, on the faint traces of energy the others couldn't see.

Juno Arkai, hands in his pockets, followed silently. His body was loose, casual yet his Shinrei was coiled, ready. He could feel the pull of his Taishin Gates, the tempting burn of the Fifth.

(I'll hold until Khael gives the word. Afterall… he sees more than he lets on.)

Beside them, Ceyla Nox twirled her dagger, storm energy humming faintly around her. She threw Khael a side glance, her heart betraying her with a sudden flutter.

"Tch. Don't keep us in suspense. You said you had a plan."

Khael stopped, crouching near a scorched wall. He touched the stone, his voice calm.

"Look at the burn marks. These aren't from Veymorr's Wrath… no, they're cleaner. Controlled. Someone else is here."

Juno's brows furrowed.

"Another enemy? Who?"

For a second, silence. Khael's thoughts stirred, heavy with secrets of another life. (Lady Sythen… Eclipse of Jealousy. But if I speak her name now, suspicion will fall on me. How could I possibly explain knowing her? That I've read this story once before?)

Instead, he straightened, eyes sharp.

"We don't know yet. But someone orchestrated this. If we play it right, we can lure them out."

Ceyla's storm flared slightly, her pulse racing.

"You sound… too sure. Almost like you already know."

Khael gave the faintest of smiles.

"Intuition. Trust me."

Her heart thumped faster. (Damn you, Khael… why do I feel like this whenever you speak with such certainty?)

Juno smirked faintly, folding his arms.

"Fine. You lead, we'll follow. But if this intuition of yours goes south, don't expect me to open the Taishin Gates to bail you out."

Khael's gaze drifted toward the temple's shadowed spire, where the wind carried whispers no one else could hear.

(Jealousy has already entered the board. The question is… how long until she shows herself?)

Back to Team 3

Kaen's fists burned bright, each swing leaving streaks of flame in the air.

"Echo Art: Fire Blazing Fist!"

He struck down a cluster of Voidborn, their shrieks dissolving into smoke and ash. Yet for every one that fell, two more crawled out of the black mist.

Kaen grit his teeth.

"Tsk… there's too many of them!"

Beside him, Rael narrowed his eyes, expression cold as ever.

"Tsk… you're too loud."

Captain Kaedros cut down another wave with his broad halberd, his armor glinting under the corrupted moonlight.

"Kids, are you all okay?" he shouted.

Kaen raised his blazing fist.

"We're fine, Captain!"

Rael's voice rang sharp and commanding.

"Seraphis!"

The radiant form of his Echo Spirit unfurled behind him, angelic wings of light spreading wide. The battlefield seemed to shudder as Rael's Shinrei surged.

His hand gripped his blade, Seireiken, the Spirit Sword and the silver edge gleamed with holy sparks.

Rael stepped forward, his aura slicing through the suffocating void.

"Move away… loser."

Kaen's fiery eyes widened.

"What did you just—?"

But before he could finish, Rael blurred ahead, his blade carving through the Voidborn like a divine judgment. Every slash of Seireiken severed them utterly, light bursting with each cut.

When the last one crumbled to dust, Rael lowered his sword slightly, then glanced at Kaen with his usual scorn.

"Hmph."

Kaen clenched his fists, flames still burning around them. His pride screamed, his fire urging him to shout back.

"Tch… arrogant bastard." he thought, shoulders tense.

Behind them, Lira whispered under her breath, lavender eyes following Rael's movements.

"…So precise. Even his blade sings."

Kaen caught it, and his jaw tightened.

"Damn it. I'm not letting him take all the glory."

Flames surged around his fists as he lunged forward, carving a path through the Voidborn. Each punch detonated like a fiery cannon, scattering ash across the cracked stone.

"Echo Art: Blazing Fist Barrage!" Kaen roared, his strikes chaining together in rapid bursts.

Rael, not even winded, shifted his stance. Seireiken hummed with radiant energy as Seraphis' wings flared behind him. With one fluid motion, he swept aside a cluster of Voidborn that Kaen had been charging toward.

"Too slow." Rael's voice was flat, dismissive.

Kaen's flames sputtered mid-swing as his eyes narrowed.

"What did you say?"

Another Voidborn lunged at Kaen's side but Rael was already there, cutting it down with surgical precision. His blade flicked once, light scattering like glass shards.

He looked back at Kaen, smirking faintly.

"You'll just burn recklessly. Leave the real battle to me."

Kaen's Shinrei flared violently, his fire intensifying.

"You arrogant—! I'll show you who's reckless!"

He hurled himself at the next wave, fists igniting into a blazing arc. The heat of his strike burned away three Voidborn at once, their screeches fading into smoke.

Rael stepped into the same swarm, his movements calm and calculated.

"Echo Art: Judgment Spark."

Lightning entwined with his blade, and in one sweeping slash, five Voidborn disintegrated, their bodies pierced by radiant bolts.

The two boys stood back-to-back for a moment, breathing heavily. But instead of cooperating, their Shinrei clashed, flame against light, heat against radiance. Sparks erupted where their auras overlapped.

Kaen gritted his teeth.

"Don't get in my way."

Rael smirked, not looking at him.

"Then keep up."

The two surged forward almost in unison, competing with every strike. Kaen's fists blazed through one flank, Rael's blade cut down the other. To an onlooker, they were unstoppable together but to themselves, it was a duel.

Finally, Captain Kaedros' booming voice cut through the chaos.

"Enough, both of you! This isn't a competition — it's survival!"

His halberd swept across the field, cleaving a massive Voidborn in half with sheer force. He planted the weapon into the ground, glaring at them both.

"You want to prove yourselves? Then fight as comrades, not rivals!"

Kaen exhaled sharply, fire flickering around his fists. Rael slid Seireiken back into stance, expression unreadable.

For a heartbeat, silence hung between them. Then another horde emerged from the void mist.

Kaen smirked.

"Fine. But I'm still going to burn more of them than you."

Rael tilted his head, eyes glinting.

"Try."

Both charged forward again, shoulder to shoulder, rivals, but unwilling allies in the firestorm.

To be continue