Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Eldrid's form began to wither and blacken, the life force draining from its twisted branches. In its final moments, the tree's voice was a whisper. "I... I was only trying to survive..."

"Survival at the cost of trust and loyalty is no survival at all," Alex said, his voice unwavering.

As the last of Eldrid's life force faded, the forest was reduced to smoldering ashes. Alex and the Shadow Dragon hovered above the devastation, the dark flames reflecting in Alex's eyes. He wasn't a hero who would spare his enemies, especially not those who had betrayed him. Life was about survival and victory, and Alex had chosen his path.

With the traitors defeated and the relics secured, Alex felt a sense of grim satisfaction. He had come this far, and nothing would stand in his way now. He turned the Shadow Dragon towards the horizon, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in the final moments of the game.

The game was far from over, but Alex was determined to see it through to the end. With a steely resolve, he pressed onward, ready to give a surprise to the Fire Warlord who managed to surprise him.

Not to mention he just replenished his shadow crystals. And it seems Eldrid might have been the strongest chief after all. It alone gave a whooping 50 Shadow Crystals, making his collection surpass 200. It would be enough to summon another powerful summon or a small army of weaker summons.

With only five minutes left until the game ended, Alex hurried back to the temple ruin.

However, as soon as he arrived, his eyes landed on a surprising scene. From the looks of things, he didn't need to do anything at all.

The other three Warlords were locked in a fierce battle, their armies clashing with relentless ferocity. Amidst the chaos, Alex noticed that Rowan and Emma had teamed up against the Warlord of Light, Ceil. The alliance was unexpected but strategic, their combined forces putting immense pressure on Ceil's troops.

Alex observed the battlefield, his mind calculating the best move. A small smile played on his lips as he recognized an opportunity. "Shadow Dragon," he commanded softly, "attack the Flame Warlord's troops."

The Shadow Dragon roared in acknowledgment and swooped down towards the fray. Its dark flames erupted, engulfing Emma's forces in a blaze of shadowy fire. The sudden assault caught them off guard, and chaos ensued.

Everyone was shocked by the presence of another force, a fearsome and powerful force.

Emma turned, her eyes wide with shock and anger as she saw her troops being decimated. "What? Who dares—"

Her gaze landed on Alex, who hovered above the battlefield, his expression calm and composed. "You again," she snarled. "This isn't over!"

Alex merely smiled, knowing his intervention had also given Ceil a much-needed reprieve. The Warlord of Light seized the opportunity, rallying her knights and pushing back against Rowan's forces. With the unexpected support from Alex, Ceil's troops began to gain the upper hand.

Rowan, realizing the tide was turning, shouted orders to his soldiers. "Don't falter! We need to—"

But it was too late. The combined pressure from Ceil and the Shadow Dragon's relentless assault on Emma's troops had turned the battle in their favor. The clock was ticking, and everyone knew the game's end was imminent.

However, two people weren't worried about it at all. One obviously Alex, and the other is Rowan, who believed in his number of conquered territories.

The time ticked, so the hectic battle raged on, and the countdown reached its final moments.

With just a minute left, Alex directed the Shadow Dragon to unleash a final, devastating attack on everyone.

The dragon roared, its dark flames swirling and expanding in all directions. The battlefield erupted in chaos as the dragon's attack engulfed all the remaining forces, friend and foe alike. Emma, Ceil, and Rowan all turned their eyes toward Alex, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"What are you doing?!" Emma shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of the dragon.

Ceil's eyes widened in disbelief. "He's... attacking everyone!"

Rowan's face twisted into a slight smile. "..."

But Alex just smiled, an expression of serene confidence on his face. He had never been allied with any of them. This was a game, that soon would end in his victory.

As the dark flames continued to spread, consuming everything in their path, the clock reached its final moments. The landscape around them blurred, their bodies beginning to illuminate with a bright, ethereal light. The dragon's roar, the clash of weapons, the cries of soldiers—all of it began to fade into an indistinct hum.

The next moment, their vision blurred, and the world around them dissolved into a blinding white light.

Just before Alex's vision was filled with darkness, he caught a glimpse of Seraphiel's figure smiling at him and muttering some words he couldn't hear nor understand.

_______ ___ _

When the light subsided, Alex found himself back in the arena, standing on the grand stage. The familiar noise of the crowd filled his ears. Cheers and loud whistles echoed through the space, a cacophony of admiration and excitement. He blinked, adjusting to the sudden change from the intense battlefield to the vibrant, celebratory atmosphere of the arena.

The male announcer's voice boomed through the arena, amplified by magic. "Ladies and gentlemen, what a spectacular display of strategy, power, and skill! The Mystic Warlord's Conclave has come to its thrilling conclusion, and with it, the semifinals of the 7 Star Strategy Games!"

The crowd erupted into louder applause, the energy in the arena electric. Alex glanced around, spotting Emma, Ceil, and Rowan also reappearing on the stage, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and either joy or dissapointment. They, too, were greeted by the adulation of the audience.

"And now," the announcer continued, "the moment we've all been waiting for. I will announce the results and reveal the two contestants who have advanced to the grand final!"