Path of the Extra

Chapter 276: Guardian

”Very well, my lord. Please rest here. I promise Iʼll return as soon as possible.”

”...”

With a final look of concern, Mio turned and quietly exited the cabin.

She left Azriel alone.

It took several long minutes before Azriel finally regained his senses. His vision blurred for a moment before slowly coming back into focus.

”...Huh?”

Staring vacantly toward the cabin door, he blinked repeatedly, yet the haziness in his gaze refused to dissipate. Gradually, he stood up, and almost unconsciously, his hands drifted to touch his waist.

...He was whole again.

Only then did the realization fully strike him.

He had died.

Again.

Azrielʼs eyes widened as he turned sharply toward the closed door.

ʼI… died? But—ʼ

Goosebumps crawled over his skin. This time, he hadnʼt been sent back to the moment before they were meant to leave the cabin together. No—heʼd returned precisely to the instant when Lady Mio left.

Which could only mean—

”Ukh…!”

A wave of nausea struck him, violent and sudden, churning painfully inside his stomach. Azriel collapsed to his knees, knocking a nearby glass to the floor, shattering it into countless shards. He lurched forward, retching uncontrollably, acid and water spilling from his throat.

”Khu... uagh!”

He continued vomiting, unable to stop. There was nothing left in his stomach, yet he kept choking, forced to endure the agony of dry heaving when nothing else came forth. His throat burned, his muscles ached, and still, he convulsed again and again, each painful spasm tormenting him mercilessly.

Finally, Azriel slumped forward, gasping desperately for breath, his palms pressed against scattered shards of glass. They couldnʼt pierce his skin, yet the feeling was unbearably uncomfortable.

After several painful moments, Azriel groaned, pushing himself back up onto trembling legs. He staggered briefly, struggling for balance, then steadied himself with deliberate effort. Clarity slowly returned to his single remaining eye as he scanned the cabin warily.

Images flashed violently through his mind—the blood, his mutilated body, the putrid stench, and worst of all… the skinwalker.

Azriel shook his head sharply.

No, there was no time.

He couldnʼt afford to linger in these thoughts.

ʼI was wrong… There arenʼt rules.ʼ

No, it was something far more sinister.

ʼThereʼs simply a time limit. And every time I die, the limit shrinks. If thatʼs true, I only have around seven minutes left before I die again.ʼ

At least the last two times heʼd died at nearly the same moment—perhaps this consistency could serve as his only advantage. Within those seven minutes, he would lose access to his mana core, rendering him defenseless, just an ordinary human at the mercy of an unimaginable force determined to slaughter him.

ʼThe Forest of Eternity… No, the guardian of this forest. Itʼs protecting Lady Mio. No matter what I attempt, I canʼt harm her or even harbor hostile thoughts toward her. Whateverʼs behind this must be terrifyingly powerful.ʼ

Think.

He had to think.

How could he possibly escape this nightmare?

A dream specifically created to trap him in an endless cycle of death.

Someone had gone through the trouble of trapping the Son of Death himself… in death?

Who else could know his true identity—know that he was the child of a god?

ʼA nightmare precisely tailored to shatter me—mentally and physically. Forcing me to endure fear, pain, disgust, despair… Is every loop meant to deliver a new, uniquely horrifying death so I never grow numb to it?ʼ

But why?

Why would someone—

ʼAh, thatʼs right…ʼ

Slowly, Azrielʼs lips curled into a faint, defiant smile.

”Are you trying to break me?”

Despite his words, no answer came. Yet Azrielʼs smile never faltered.

His body still trembled slightly, his mana core burning painfully within him. However, its condition was precisely the same as just before heʼd been killed by the skinwalker—meaning it had not grown any colder or burned any hotter.

This could only mean one thing.

”Lady Mio mentioned that Margrave Alaric and High Commander Pierre were considered among the strongest humans in this world,” Azriel said quietly, a hint of disdain creeping into his voice. ”Advanced-ranked humans are revered as powerful? At first, it puzzled me—but now I understand. Humanity here hasnʼt evolved enough for everyone to possess a mana core, and those who do are mediocre at best. The strongest people in this world… theyʼre actually quite weak. Yet, this kingdom thrives despite that. It makes me wonder—if you are indeed a Void creature, arenʼt you just as weak as they are? Are humans and Void creatures here on equal footing?”

”…”

There was still no response, yet Azrielʼs cold, vicious smile only widened as he continued.

”You arenʼt trying to kill me, are you? Youʼre trying to break me. The Forest of Eternity has existed in this world for ages—all thanks to your spell. But no matter how powerful you are, mana has limits. A spell powerful enough to sustain an entire forest must be terribly draining, so you use everyone who enters as batteries, slowly draining their strength, breaking their spirits until they lose the will to resist.”

A sudden chill ran down Azrielʼs spine, causing him to shudder involuntarily. Some primal dread tried desperately to claw its way into his heart, to consume him from the inside.

Yet still…

Still, Azrielʼs twisted smile only grew larger.

ʼItʼs listening.ʼ

”Youʼve seen my memories, havenʼt you, oh Guardian? Then you should already know—sending Void creatures to torment me wonʼt even come close to breaking me!”

As Azriel glared upward defiantly with his single remaining eye, he felt the air shudder violently around him. Another terrible presence emerged, suffocating and oppressive. Azriel gritted his teeth, turning sharply toward the door.

ʼThis aura… itʼs horrifying.ʼ

Heavy footsteps echoed clearly through the silence—as if resounding down an empty hallway. But that made no sense; outside was nothing but grass. Still, the footsteps grew louder, closer with every passing second.

ʼWhat can I use…? A mana contract? No, too risky—dream or not.ʼ

He had no choice left. He had to fight.

Azriel summoned Void Eater…

…or rather, he tried.

But the weapon never appeared.

Azrielʼs eye widened sharply.

”Hah!”

A dry, bitter laugh escaped his lips as he stared disbelievingly at his empty right hand.

ʼThere should still be three minutes left… Does the time limit mean nothing after all? Are you telling me the Guardian can simply act like a god here?!ʼ

Ridiculous!

At that moment, the cabin door slammed open violently, and a shadowy figure stepped slowly inside.

”Indeed,” the figure said softly, the voice disturbingly familiar yet carrying a strange, ominous undertone.

”After seeing your memories, I realized it would be quite difficult to make you obediently submit.”

Azrielʼs expression twisted into confusion and disbelief as he stared, frozen in shock.

”…Jasmine?”