Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The announcement sent a ripple of excitement and tension through the arena. The announcers' voices crackled with anticipation, heightening the atmosphere.

"Here we go, ladies and gentlemen! The first 10th wave of the competition is upon us!" the male announcer exclaimed, his voice filled with energy. "For those unfamiliar with this wave, prepare yourselves for a real spectacle. The Destroyer is not your typical enemy. It's a massive beast focused solely on obliterating the base.

Many competitors won't make it past this point unless they've prepared exceptionally well."

The female announcer chimed in, her tone equally animated. "That's right! The Destroyer is 3 times taller than an orc and five times as strong. It's a behemoth of destruction, and its sole purpose is to break through defenses. This is where true tactical prowess and resource management are put to the ultimate test. Will student Adrian Lighthaven's strategic genius see him through this wave?"

The audience buzzed with curiosity and excitement. Many had heard tales of the Destroyer but had never witnessed it in action. The challenge seemed insurmountable, adding an edge of suspense to the event.

After 15 seconds of Adrian's clear time, Luna came in second. However, as soon as she heard the notification about the Destroyer and the 10th wave, her fists clenched tightly. She had been coming well till the 7th wave, but suddenly the second place leaped past her, stealing her first place.

And only after getting the second place, did she realize the difference between the rewards. If she were to calculate, the first place would always get 30% more Aether Crystal than the first place and 40% more wood and stone units.

She was enjoying that privilege but now it was stolen. Not to mention the first place was also closing in.

She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking deeply, and then her attention shifted to the resources she had. She had plenty of wood and stone units. However, her Aether Crystal wasn't that high. About 250 of them were left. She would've thousands of them by now if she hadn't used them nonstop.

'Ok, let's go all out again!' She decided. 'I will get more prizes since this is a more rewarding wave anyway.

She then went to the summoning. Without hesitation, she chose to summon a golem, an archer tower, and a magical barrier.

'Let's destroy this destroyer!' She smirked inwardly and headed to the walls to command her subordinates.

______ __ _

"Now, we are ready," Adrian muttered, standing on the walls near the archers.

He first looked at the two archer towers equipped with automatic targeting mechanisms. Each tower was manned by skilled archers who were already loading their quivers and preparing for the impending assault. Their strength was three times stronger than his normal archer soldiers. Their arrows were much stronger and more durable as well.

The reinforced towers were designed to rain a relentless barrage of arrows on any enemy that approached, making them a formidable defensive and offensive asset.

Adrian's gaze then shifted to the two golems standing like sentinels in front of the gate. These towering constructs, made of enchanted stone and metal, radiated an aura of raw power. Their primary function was to engage the Destroyer directly, keeping it occupied and away from the walls or the fortress.

Adrian had chosen not to invest in a magical barrier, knowing that the golems' sheer strength and resilience would be enough to hold the line. He didn't want to waste 75 Aether Crystals for nothing. It was a one-wave thing after all. So, he bought another golem instead. Even if one golem would be enough to keep the Destroyer at bay, he didn't want to take a gamble.

Not to mention he was planning to take first place in this wave too. He was really interested in the rewards.

So, he had spent his resources as wisely as he could, ensuring that the golems were heavily fortified and the archer towers were positioned optimally. His strategy was clear: use the golems to tank and distract the Destroyer, while the archer towers and his ranged units - mages focused on dealing maximum damage.

As Adrian surveyed his defenses, the ground beneath him began to tremble. The vibrations grew stronger, a deep rumble resonating through the earth. The air was filled with a palpable sense of impending doom.

So, he shifted his focus waiting for the Destroyer to make its appearance. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched the horizon.

Suddenly, a massive silhouette appeared in the distance, slowly emerging from the shadows. The Destroyer. As it drew nearer, its sheer size and presence became more apparent. The beast was a towering monstrosity, four times taller than an orc and five or sixt times as powerful. Its skin was covered in thick, armored scales, glistening ominously under the light.

Muscles bulged beneath its hide, each step it took sending shockwaves through the ground.

The Destroyer's eyes burned with a malevolent red glow, its gaze fixed on the fortress. It moved with a terrifying purpose, its massive limbs leaving deep imprints in the earth. The beast's breath came in guttural snarls, each exhale a reminder of its immense power and destructive intent.

As the Destroyer closed the distance, its full form came into view. Massive, clawed hands hung by its sides, each finger tipped with razor-sharp talons capable of rending stone and steel. Its mouth, lined with rows of jagged teeth, opened in a primal roar that echoed across the battlefield.

When the Destroyer was only fifty meters away, a notification appeared before Adrian.

[The 10th wave has begun!]

"Now!" Adrian shouted. "Golems, engage the Destroyer!"

The golems sprang into action, their massive forms moving with surprising agility. They positioned themselves directly in the path of the Destroyer, ready to intercept its advance.

"Boom!"

"Swoosh!"

A loud clash resounded as the golems met the Destroyer head-on, their enormous fists colliding with the beast's armored hide. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them. The Destroyer staggered momentarily, but quickly regained its balance, its eyes burning with fury. It was angry.