Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"Hmm, all that rage was just this?" Adrian muttered in a surprised voice looking at the corpse of the Destroyer. He thought it would be really difficult to take down the Destroyer.

Indeed it was difficult and the battle had been intense but it was also brief.

Adrian had utilized his team's strengths to their fullest. The golems had engaged the Destroyer directly, absorbing its powerful blows and keeping it occupied. Meanwhile, the archers on the archer towers had unleashed a relentless barrage of enchanted arrows, each one aimed with deadly precision.

The mages, standing behind the walls, had cast a series of spells that created explosions of fire, ice, and lightning upon impact.

With the Destroyer momentarily blinded and staggered by the combined assault, Adrian had seized the opportunity to direct a concentrated attack on its head, bringing the beast to its knees with the golems' help. Then the golems had moved in for the kill, delivering a series of crushing blows that finally brought the monstrous creature down.

The entire battle lasted just about 25 seconds, a testament to Adrian's strategic planning and the exceptional coordination of his team.

Adrian's name flashed at the top of the ranking list, marking him as the first to clear the 10th wave.

[Congratulations, Adrian Lighthaven! You have completed the 10th wave in 25 seconds, securing first place. Bonus Reward unlocked!]

Adrian's eyes landed on the new message showing the rewards for the 10th wave clear.

[ Wave 10 Clear Rewards:

250 Aether Crystals

1000 Wood Units

1000 Stone Units ]

[Bonus Reward: Enchanted Sigil - This sigil can be placed on any structure or unit, providing a significant boost to their defenses and attack power for a full one wave.]

Adrian smiled, satisfied with the rewards. The Enchanted Sigil would be a valuable asset in the upcoming waves, offering a crucial advantage when the competition intensified.

As he took a moment to catch his breath, another notification appeared.

[Second Place: Luna Frost has completed the 10th wave in 32 seconds.]

Luna's name flashed on the ranking list just below Adrian's. She had managed to clear the wave seven seconds after him, her own strategic brilliance evident in her performance.

A few seconds later, another notification followed.

[Third Place: Ceil Skyborn has completed the 10th wave in 35 seconds.]

Ceil's name appeared in third place, ten seconds behind him. Her unique blend of aerial tactics and ground assaults had proven effective, but not enough to surpass Adrian or Luna. Not yet for now.

Twelve seconds after Ceil, the fourth notification came through.

[Fourth Place: Ella Highwind has completed the 10th wave in 39 seconds.]

Ella's name appeared in fourth place. The fifth place was surprisingly Rowan - the second strongest second-year who rose by 4 ranks in one swoop.

By the end of the 10th wave for everyone, only about 8 of the contestants managed to take down the Destroyer while about 23 participants could hold on for a minute. The rest of the contestants about 30, failed to hold on and their fortresses were destroyed by the Destroyer resulting in their loss.

So, after the 10th wave, only 31 participants were left.

As the announcers said, the 10th wave played a big role in sorting the participants.

However, Adrian didn't have much time to dwell on the rankings, his 11th wave was about to arrive in 2 minutes after the 10th wave.

______ ___

As the 11th wave began, the nature of the monsters changed completely. The creatures were now stronger, bigger, and faster. Instead of goblins, trolls, or kobolds, hordes of highly agile and powerful beasts stormed towards Adrian's fortress. These new adversaries required constant vigilance and quick adjustments to tactics.

Adrian adapted swiftly. He placed the two Rare Enchanting Scrolls he received as a reward on both Archer Towers, turning them into a bastion of rapid-fire death. He wanted to upgrade his golems but unfortunately, scrolls didn't work on them.

His mages employed crowd-control spells to slow down and corral the beasts, making them easier targets for the archers. The golems, now supported by the more durable team, held the line at the gate, their blows shattering bones and armor alike.

The battles were relentless. Each wave brought a new challenge, and Adrian's strategic mind was tested to its limits. The 11th and 12th waves passed with Adrian holding his lead, but by the 13th wave, the tide began to shift.

Ceil Skyborn, using her resource advantage and an arsenal of elemental spells, surged ahead. Her tactics of striking from above and retreating the soldiers to safety before the enemies could react allowed her to clear the waves with remarkable speed. Luna, despite her tenacity and skill, found herself falling to third place as Ceil's innovative strategies paid off.

Adrian watched Ceil's ascent with a mix of admiration and determination. He knew she was not only a battle maniac but also a person with a strategic mind and leadership skills.

The competition was fierce, but he relished the challenge. The 14th wave tested his defenses to the brink, with monstrous ogres and swift werewolves attacking in concert. It was a brutal onslaught, but Adrian's well-coordinated team managed to repel them.

Then, the 15th wave arrived.

Another wave was led by a powerful Alpha monster.

As the 15th wave arrived, the atmosphere grew even more charged. The ground shook with the approach of the new threat, a sense of anticipation and dread filling the air. Adrian stood on the walls, his eyes scanning the horizon. He knew this wave would be unlike the easy 5th wave.

The announcers' voices echoed through the arena, heightening the tension.

"Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves! The 15th wave is upon us, led by a fearsome Alpha monster!" the male announcer exclaimed, his voice booming with excitement. "This is where the true test of strength and strategy will take place."

The female announcer added, her tone filled with anticipation. "That's right! The Alpha is not only powerful but also cunning. It commands a horde of beasts, each one more deadly than the last. Will Adrian Lighthaven maintain his lead, or will another competitor rise to the challenge?"

"Can everyone pass the 15th wave? Or there will be casualties? Let's watch and see!"