Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"The Guardian is an Elite Wraith disguised as the Castle Lord," Thalia continued, her voice firm and commanding. "It's immune to physical attacks, and its magic is deadly for anyone without sufficient magical defense. I'll handle the Guardian myself. Adrian, you and the other physical attackers will focus on its minions—ghouls disguised as butlers and maids.

Lyra, Nora, you'll provide support with defensive magic and keep everyone safe. Understood?"

Adrian nodded, glancing at the group. "Got it."

Lyra and Nora exchanged a quick glance before nodding in agreement. "We'll do our best to protect you all," Nora said, her voice steady despite the tension.

Thalia quickly repeated the plan, ensuring everyone was clear on their roles. "Remember, our priority is to neutralize the Guardian and its minions as efficiently as possible. Don't underestimate the ghouls—they may look like ordinary and zombie-like easy monsters, but they are fast and vicious, and their regenerative power is also high. So be careful when dealing with them.

Once I finish the Guardian, we will regroup and finish off any remaining enemies. Let's move."

With a deep breath, Thalia pushed open the heavy double doors to the Guardian's chamber. The air was heavy with a dark, oppressive energy, and a cold mist seemed to seep from the walls, chilling them to the bone.

As they entered the room, the Guardian came into view. The Elite Wraith, shrouded in tattered, spectral robes that seemed to flow like smoke, hovered near a grand throne at the far end of the chamber.

Its eyes glowed with an eerie, otherworldly light, and its skeletal face was set in a permanent, malevolent grin. It looked almost human, but its translucent form flickered and shifted, revealing the ghostly nature of its existence.

Surrounding the Wraith were its underlings, the butler and maid ghouls. They were grotesque parodies of the human servants they once were, with gray, decaying flesh stretched tightly over their bones.

The butler ghouls wore ragged remnants of old-fashioned suits, while the maid ghouls were dressed in torn and stained uniforms. Their eyes, hollow and black, stared lifelessly ahead as they waited for a command from their master.

Thalia moved first, as planned. Her weapon which was a spear, now imbued with bright, flickering flames, cut through the mist as she charged straight at the Wraith. The firelight danced in her eyes, reflecting her fierce determination. She moved with fluid grace, striking with precision and strength as she swung her spear at the Elite Wraith, her attacks blazing with magical energy.

The Wraith let out a chilling shriek as Thalia's spear struck it, the flames licking its ethereal form but not fully connecting with any physical body. The Guardian retaliated with a powerful blast of darkness, forcing Thalia to leap back, her spear still burning with magical fire.

Meanwhile, Adrian, Lara, and Jax engaged the ghouls as planned. Adrian dashed forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light, slicing through two ghouls with swift, clean cuts.

The creatures staggered, dark ichor oozing from their wounds. But just as Thalia had warned, the ghouls' regenerative abilities kicked in almost instantly. The wounds knitted themselves together, and the ghouls lurched back to their feet, their blank eyes locking onto Adrian with renewed hunger.

"This is why I hate regenerative monsters," Adrian muttered, his frustration evident. "They just waste your efforts." He gritted his teeth, deciding to change his strategy. "Fine then, I'll just go for their heads!"

With a burst of speed, Adrian activated his Phantom Step movement technique, his form blurring as he appeared behind one of the maid ghouls. With a swift motion, he severed its head, the creature collapsing to the ground in a heap. This time, the ghoul didn't rise again.

He quickly glanced around, keeping an eye on the others. Lara and Jax were struggling against the relentless onslaught of the ghouls, their faces set in grim determination. They were holding their ground, but it was clear they were being pushed to their limits.

Kale, Lyra, and Nora were in the back, casting spells to provide support. Kale sent out bursts of light to blind and disorient the ghouls, while Lyra and Nora focused on defensive magic and healing, their faces tense with concentration.

Seeing his teammates holding their own, Adrian focused back on the ghouls, speeding up his attacks. He moved like a true phantom, darting from one ghoul to the next, slicing off heads and dispatching the monsters with swift efficiency. The ghouls fell one after another, their bodies collapsing into heaps of rotting flesh.

As he fought, Adrian's eyes darted toward Lyra and Nora, who were chanting in unison, reinforcing their defensive spells. He noticed two maid ghouls creeping up behind them, their bony fingers reaching out with deadly intent. Adrian paused, choosing to observe instead of intervening.

The moment the ghouls launched at the girls, a sharp whistle cut through the air. A white arc flashed, and a second later, both ghouls' heads were cleanly severed, their bodies crumpling to the ground. Adrian's lips curled into a slight smile. 'Lyra really is living up to her skills,' he thought, impressed by her scythe skills.

Even though she wasn't a frontline fighter right now, her quick reflexes and sharp aim with her deadly scythe made her a formidable ally.

'Thank goodness, she didn't turn into a villainess this time...'

With the immediate threat to Lyra and Nora dealt with, Adrian turned his attention back to the remaining ghouls. Thalia was still locked in battle with the Elite Wraith, her movements a blur as she expertly dodged its dark magic and retaliated with powerful thrusts of her fiery spear. The Wraith, for all its strength, seemed unable to land a decisive blow, its form wavering with each hit.

Adrian knew they needed to finish this quickly. With renewed determination, he continued his assault, cutting down the remaining ghouls with precision. Stay updated via mvl

Adrian's swift strikes decimated the remaining ghouls, but just as he was about to finish off the last one, something strange happened. The bodies of the fallen ghouls began to shudder and twitch, their severed limbs crawling across the floor toward the Wraith.

Adrian's eyes widened as he watched the grotesque sight. "What the hell...?"

"KAKAKAKA!"

The Wraith's eerie laughter echoed through the chamber, its voice a chilling mix of malice and delight. "Did you really think it would be that easy, mortals?" it taunted, its skeletal grin widening. The Wraith raised its hands, and a dark, swirling mist enveloped the remains of the ghouls, pulling them together.

The bodies merged into a single, massive form—a grotesque, bloated ghoul that towered over them. Its eyes were empty black pits, and its mouth gaped open, revealing rows of jagged, rotting teeth. The creature let out a guttural roar that shook the chamber, causing dust to fall from the ceiling.

"That's... something I have seen before," Adrian muttered, gripping his sword tightly. He glanced at Thalia, who was still locked in battle with the Wraith. She, too, had noticed the transformation, her eyes narrowing in determination. "Guess, the round two is about to begin."