The Likely Rise of an Extra

Kiel had just stepped out of the shower, his hair still damp.

Today had been exhausting, and he didn't even want to think about what tomorrow might bring.

His mind drifted back to the test. 

Sure, he passed, but only because he knew about the automatons weakness beforehand— and because of Harlett's strength.

He ran his hand over his abdomen, where his Sigil was.

He couldn't even use magic. 

How was he supposed to survive in this school, let alone figure out how he ended up here?

With a sigh, he moved to the living room and sat down on the white couch.

He picked up his phone.

Three new messages.

He opened the app and scrolled through them. 

Two were spam, but the last one was from 'Big Sis.'

Big Sis:

[How's it going little bro? Heard you did well on today's test.

That's a first, but I'm proud of you! I didn't expect you to do well in the physical test—you always said you'd rather study than do any physical training.

Speaking of studying, I hope it pays off tomorrow during the written exams.

Hope you made some new friends and don't forget to take care of yourself okay?]

He didn't know who this Kiel person was supposed to be but, it seems his sister really cares about his well being.

'Hmmm, do I text her back? Nah probably not…'

Kiel pondered for a moment then decided to send her a short text saying , something like 'school was tiring' and that he thinks he made some friends already.

His thoughts wandered back to the restroom earlier, when he tried to summon the main character's system AI—Asterix.

'I wonder if Leon's there right now,' Kiel thought, checking the time on his phone.

7:09 PM.

"Still too early," he muttered with a sigh.

His eyes narrowed as another thought crept in. 

"What if I just take it?"

He shook his head almost immediately.

"No, no, that'd be dumb. Leon needs it to deal with literally every obstacle he comes across."

He knew that taking it will affect how Leon's story plays out that's why he was having a hard time thinking about this.

Kiel leaned back, ruffling his hair in frustration.

"Wait… there were supposed to be others there too," he mumbled, pausing to piece his thoughts together.

"And it's not like it picked him or anything. He just grabbed it and ran."

He scratched his head, clearly torn.

'I don't have a choice. I'm going.'

◇◇◇

He descended the staircase and stepped out onto the bustling streets below. 

This time, he made sure to grab his allowance. 

The currency, described in the novel as rectangular flat coins, turned out to be far from his expectations. 

Now that he held it, it resembled ordinary paper bills—though slightly heavier than usual.

"What kind of metal is this?"

He pocketed about 100 credits.

Credits were the local currency in Orbis city, if he had to guess based off the cost of the things he ate with Zach and Leon, 1 credit would be equal to 1 dollar.

And his allowance was 4000 credits— which shocked him when he first saw it.

He waved down a cab, when he entered the driver asked.

"Where to?"

"Old Ashfield Academy district," he replied, glancing at the glowing display on his bracelet. 

The time read 8:13 PM. 

"And please, step on it."

The driver shot him a look through the rearview mirror that practically screamed, 'Yeah, sure, totally normal request at this hour,' before reluctantly starting the engine.

Without a word, he floored the pedal, and the car speed off into the night.

As the car drove away, a voice echoed faintly from where Kiel had been just a moment ago.

"Where is he off to now?"

◇◇◇

8:28 PM

The city's pulse alive with the hum of traffic and the low murmur of distant chatter.

The wind carried a chill that nipped at exposed skin, but atop a towering skyscraper, one figure remained unaffected.

She was wearing a sleek black spandex and a yellow hoodie.

She stood motionless against the backdrop of neon lights and flashing holographic signs, a half-empty energy drink dangling loosely from her fingers.

Her gaze swept over the sprawling city below her.

Her mind was somewhere else— completely checked out.

"H… llo… He… Hey! Willow!" The voice crackled in her ear, startling her back to reality, so much that she almost dropped her energy drink.

"Woah, yeah I can hear you. No need to yell," Willow responded to the voice, tapping the earpiece with her fingers.

She glanced down at her bracelet, its digital display reading 8:30 PM.

"It's time, huh?" She stretched, cracking her fingers and crushing the empty energy drink can with her hands.

"Yes," came the voice from the earpiece, sharp and clear.

"I'll guide you through the mission, so try not to mess this up like last time, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I promise not to repeat my mistake, oh Mrs Wise Owl," Willow teased, a grin creeping onto her face.

"Don't you dare call me that again," the voice shot back, exasperated.

"I swear, every time I'm assigned to work with you I get a headache."

"Aww, that hurt," Willow said, her voice sounded playful.

But then it shifted into a much more colder tone.

"So, infiltrating Castor huh? Mom really know's how to punish someone."

"You brought it on yourself," the voice in her earpiece retorted sharply.

"Fail this mission, and you're gonna have to start going to school like big brother."

"Ugh you don't need to tell me twice, I can't stand that place. Plus I need the allowance money," Amari replied.

"You're still sending it to him... Your allowance?" The female voice sounded a little saddened.

"Yeah well, he's our brother... it's the least I could do"

"And the girl you sent to watch him?"

"She's been sending reports daily. She did say he's been acting strange since yesterday though."

"Oh I see..." there was a brief silence before Willow broke it.

"Okay... let's get going"

Willow clapped her face and stepped onto the edge of the skyscraper's roof, the city sprawling out beneath her in a sea of glittering lights.

The wind howled in her ears as she peered down.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself.

And then she jumped.

WHOOSH.

The air roared past her, the wind whipping against her face as she plunged downward.

About halfway down, she flicked her wrist, and a grapple shot out from the bracelet on his arm.

It latched onto the ledge of a nearby building, stopping her free fall and sending her swinging like a pendulum.

She moved across three more buildings before landing on a rooftop with a controlled roll.

Panting slightly, Willow straightened up and looked ahead.

Looming before her was her target, a massive structure adorned with glowing signs that read: CASTOR CORPORATION.

"The Castor Corporation," the voice from her earpiece began, breaking the brief silence.

"We've confirmed their ties to the Sylvan Raiders. "

The name sent a ripple of unease through her.

An organization shrouded in secrecy, infamous for espionage and illegal biological research.

Their existence was known only to the most dangerous players in the underbelly of this city.

"You're to infiltrate and retrieve the research data on their most recent experiment," the voice in Willow's earpiece instructed.

"You mean the experiment where we found her?" Willow asked.

"Yeah. Aside from that I wasn't given much details."

"Figures," Willow muttered, stretching her arms over her head.

"Well, as long as I can get this done in time for my late-night show, I'm good."

The voice sighed, exasperation clear. "Sure, whatever keeps you motivated."

◇◇◇

Inside the Castor building Willow infiltrated, dodging security cameras and laser sensors.

Her movements were calculated and precise, evidence of her prior training in the art of espionage.

She arrived at the laboratory, it was surprisingly dark and empty.

With giant glass tubes that contained parts of abyss creatures, normal animals and green liquids.

The atmosphere made Willow think that something was off.

"Hey Owl didn't you say security would be tight today?" Willow asked as she crouched near the entrance of the lab.

Laura's voice was unsteady "Y-Yeah, I'm as surprised as you are... but hey that's good right? Makes the job a whole lot easier don't you think?"

Willow replied. "Yeah I guess you're right,"

Willow searched the room, going through drawer after drawer, checking different documents before obtaining what she came for,

"Found it! Now to get out of here"

Owl's voice could be heard from the other end,

"Willow there are some people heading your—" She didn't get to finish.

"Huh? Did you say something Owl?"

The door broke open and armed men pulled into the room, and started firing without hesitation.

The split second the door flew open.

Willow duck under a table and readied her gun to return fire.

Returning fire seemed impossible because there wasn't any opening for her, so she waited until they exhausted their ammunition.

After a while the shooting stopped.

"Did we get him?" Asked one of the men.

"I don't think so, he is known for being exceptionally elusive" replied another.

"You mean he could have survived this?"

"Pfft, I doubt it, it's a small room there's no way he could have evaded the bombardment" replied the one at the front of the group

"Haha yeah that would be–"

The room seemed to get colder and in a flash the man fell.

"What- hey whats happen-" Another one of them fell.

"Damnit he's still alive! Shoot him!"

Willow steadied her breathing her– eyes glowing a bright blue and rushed towards the man standing closest to the door.

She was fast, so fast that they couldn't make out her movement.

She took the man down before he had time to react.

"Stay away!"

Another one of them started shooting, hitting one of his comrades with the shots—there were only two of them left.

The one standing behind the other went closer to him and tapped him "Hey sorry about that brother, you alri–"

Almost instantly he was stabbed in the gut.

The person he tapped was already dead and was used as a shield by Willow to defend herself against the bullets.

"So… Security was tight after all wasn't it Owl."

"Y-yeah, I don't know how I didn't pick up anything from my setup. I'm sorry Willow"

"Don't worry about it sis."

Willow crouched beside one of the dead guards and lifted their mask.

The lifeless face stared back, their face was plastered with a look of shock and fear.

"Well, mission accomplished," she muttered.

"I've got the documents. Time to—"

"Yes, mission accomplished indeed."

Willow froze, a chill ran down her spine.

The distorted voice that spoke sounded calm, almost mocking.

She spun around instinctively, but it was too late.

Willows movements were fast but it couldn't match theirs.

Before she could fully see the figure in the shadows, her vision darkened.

A sharp, searing pain erupted in her chest and throat, stealing her breath.

She staggered, unable to focus on her attacker's face.

Her body collapsed as everything faded black.

"Willow? Willow what happened...? Will–"

The shadowy figure stomped on the earpiece, shattering it underfoot.

Its distorted voice, echoed through the silence saying.

"Everything must go according to the script. No deviations, no exceptions."