Reborn As An Extra In My Own Novel-Chapter 57: Weaver Of Truth [2]

A wave of black fire erupted in Hari’s hands as it surged like a violent blaze through the air.

The sky-blue clouds were completely engulfed by the radiance of the black flames, as the world plunged into darkness, she twirled her fingers slightly, and my eyes widened, this wasn’t an attack I could evade.

An attack whose radius spanned the breadth of the entire dungeon, which was comparable to the size of a planet.

I swallowed hard, then expanded my zone just enough to encompass both Gumiho and myself, infinite adaptability activating on its own.

But just as the attack, like a veil composed of pure black flames, was mere inches from striking the ground, a golden light engulfed the world. And at the center of the radiance was an enormous magic circle that emitted a divine glow, and within it stood a single, petite figure.

In one of her hands was a wooden magic staff, and she wore the high-tech combat armor of mages. She raised the staff like an enchanter as the rumbling beneath my feet intensified.

Her radiant pink hair and glowing moonlight-gray eyes appeared almost otherworldly, she was, after all, the first human born directly as an S-rank.

Anica remained expressionless even behind the gas mask; cold vapor escaped its filters as she uttered a single word. "Flare bomb."

It was a gift she had cultivated through years of harnessing her divine talent.

The brilliant golden light clashed against the black flames as if light and darkness were warring for supremacy.

The sky split apart as the two forces collided, but without a moment’s hesitation or reliance on the success of her first attack, Anica conjured another massive magic circle, creating a large orb from it and launching it like rapid fire toward Hari.

The black flames gradually consumed the golden light, but as Anica’s magic circle dimmed, a faint brilliance, so subtle it might have gone unnoticed, if not for the shrouded world—emerged from within both the smoke and the flames.

The light intensified with each passing second, making everyone present close their eyes.

As our vision adapted to the light, Hari’s eyes widened as the flames erupted into a cascade of divine brilliance, restoring sunlight to the world once again.

Hari’s face twitched, she frowned slightly before it transformed into a grin.

The world had quieted down, and the golden magic circle slowly faded into icy silence. Anica collapsed near me, her body drained of both energy and mana.

Relief surged through me—then irritation, I could even feel my veins pulsing.

Without thinking, I picked up an ice shard and flung it at her.

"Ouch," she muttered, blinking up at me as a red mark bloomed on her forehead.

I massaged my temples, trying to regain my composure. Anica’s attack had undoubtedly aided the team, but she should’ve left it to Matt, who had a broader arsenal of techniques.

Yet that wasn’t the sole reason I was irritated, if there had been even the slightest possibility that Deerheart was unaware of our presence, that chance had been obliterated by her attack. And worst of all... the ice was beginning to melt.

That meant the terrain we were fighting on was undergoing drastic changes.

"Even if your goal was to eliminate her attack swiftly, you should have thought before acting."

Anica glanced down at the melting ice beneath us, her back hunched from her sitting position. "Sorry."

I exhaled deeply. There was no point in chastising her, despite the disruption to my plans, she had acted with reason and saved us from Hari’s onslaught.

"Thank you."

She looked up at me and smiled. "Choco cream."

I couldn’t help but smile back. "That’s if you carry out your duties as the strongest."

She nodded, then added, "Okay." She paused for a moment. "...But I’m out of mana."

I stared at her, and she stared back at me.

Rubbing my temples, I replied. "Just rest until you recover enough mana. After that..."

She nodded. "I will come help you guys."

I didn’t respond. Instead, I moved forward, casting one last glance at her and then at the entire dungeon’s icy ecosystem, which was steadily dissolving.

I couldn’t help but be awestruck.

Magic was truly a fascinating thing.

But... beyond that, it was terrifying when misused.

"I sound like an old man... Maybe Murim would have been the better world for me." I smiled a little at my own remark. "Nah, young master Fang would definitely kill me."

Hari was currently engaged in combat with Matt, who didn’t seem fatigued in the slightest. Amy was providing support, while Reni held position in the rear.

"I guess she can’t use spirits now."

But it was still critical for my plan because I doubted Deerheart would just sit idle and wait for us.

And soon enough, all the drifters in this dungeon would converge here, because a spell from this location had destroyed their homes, and the stronger ones will be attracted by the mana.

Meaning, if that horde of drifters migrated to this area and Deerheart activated his special demonic order, then all those creatures would flood into the academy as soon as he fractured the dungeon’s astral barrier.

Which left me with only three options... The first was conditional, and I had already coordinated it with Neko-sensei and the teachers, so for now, it was off the table.

The second would be to defeat Hari, bring her back to our side, and then utilize her newfound power alongside our own to overcome Deerheart.

But that would demand time, energy, and mana, things we currently lacked, and there was still a possibility she might collapse upon awakening or be unable to access that power.

That meant regardless of whether Deerheart had activated his order by then or not—we would all perish.

That left me with only one option—

"Go to the lab and defeat him..."

And for that, I needed Amy to use her catapult to send me there, and finally, Reni.

Not because of the impulsive desire I had been feeling to protect her, nor because of her future sight, but because of one of the six spirits she was contracted with.

Zioles—the cunning spirit of luck.

Was important for my plan to succeed.

I quickened my pace and moved toward the ongoing battle, trying my best to avoid the parts of the ice that had already melted.

Brilliant hues of varying colors formed what resembled a rainbow as the three mages fought relentlessly. However, none of it truly harmed Hari, only one of Matt’s sword cleaves could even scratch her.

Matt needed Anica to win... We both needed Amy to fight and simultaneously construct the catapult. And I needed Reni to take down Deerheart...

I glanced at Anica, who was still regaining her mana. "Damn it, what now!"

Tick! Tock!

Like I always said... again and again... nothing ever goes according to the long planner’s vision.

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The dungeon itself seemed to pulse as a straight beam of light, not just of mana but a compressed zone—burst upward.

A vivid purple radiance erupted from the ground some distance away, precisely where Deerheart’s lab was located.

Like a colossal staff extending toward the heavens, the purple light shimmered, unwavering in its intensity. The world throbbed as mana from every corner of the dungeon except the west converged toward it.

Even the drifters weren’t spared, the sky split open as the dungeon began to fracture and disintegrate.

Hari’s gaze softened. "Master has finally completed it."

"No way!"

The scale of what I saw, the drifters that were disintegrating into dust, the several drifters and mana beasts that appeared from the light, and even the sky that was now filled with hovering creatures... they were all truly, utterly terrifying.