Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

'!' Adrian's eyes widened in realization. Was that why the adults were content and seemed happy? Was the the reason why the old man was a bit younger the first time? Adrian started to guess one after another.

"You think this is acceptable?" He asked in a cold tone.

The chief's smile widened. "It's a small price to pay for our well-being. Besides, those children wouldn't have been born or survived without our protection anyway. This way, they serve a greater purpose."

Adrian clenched his fists, struggling to control his rage. "This is monstrous. You're sacrificing innocent lives for your selfish gains."

The chief shrugged. "It's the way of the world, boy. You can't change it."

"We'll see about that," Adrian muttered. With a sudden movement using Shadow Glide, he appeared behind the chief.

But as he was about to hit the chief, a loud laughter echoed through the cavern, stopping Adrian in his tracks. The chief turned around, unfazed by Adrian's sudden appearance. "You think you can stop this, boy? The Sacred Spirit has been appeased for centuries. One brat can't change that."

Adrian felt a chill run down his spine as the laughter grew louder, reverberating off the cavern walls. The other children clung to each other, their eyes wide with fear. He had to act quickly before things spiraled further out of control.

Without hesitation, Adrian lunged at the chief again, but this time the chief was ready. With a swift motion, he raised his hand, and an unseen force pushed Adrian back, sending him sprawling to the ground. "I warned you," the chief said, his voice now filled with malice. "The Sacred Spirit will not be denied."

Adrian struggled to his feet, his body aching from the impact. It seems his real strength has been sealed or lost in this illusion too. The cavern was filled with a palpable tension, and the air seemed to crackle with dark energy. The laughter ceased abruptly, replaced by an eerie silence.

Suddenly, a blinding light filled the cavern, and a figure descended from above. The Sacred Spirit landed gracefully on the ground near them, its form ethereal and otherworldly. It looked holy, with a radiant glow surrounding it, but there was an unmistakable dangerous and dark aura emanating from its presence.

The children huddled together, trembling in fear. The village chief knelt before the Sacred Spirit, his face a mix of reverence and desperation. "Great Sacred Spirit, we offer these children as your tribute, as we have done for centuries. Please continue to bless our village with your protection and prosperity."

The Sacred Spirit regarded the chief with cold, calculating eyes. "Your tribute is noted," it said, its voice a chilling blend of sweetness and menace. "But there is dissent in your ranks. This one," it pointed at Adrian, "dares to challenge my order, the sacred order."

Adrian stood his ground, his mind racing. He knew he had to find a way to protect the children and stop this twisted ritual. That was probably the condition to pass the illusion. Well, even if it wasn't, he was still going to do it anyway. It's true he wasn't a hero, but he was a human.

And his humanity wouldn't allow him just to accept all these.

"This is wrong," he said out loud, his cold voice echoing in the cavern. "You claim to protect the village, but you're nothing more than a monster preying on the innocent."

The Sacred Spirit's eyes narrowed, and it took a step closer to Adrian. "You speak boldly for one so young," it said. "But your defiance is futile. The cycle cannot be broken."

Adrian felt a surge of determination. He couldn't let fear control him. "I'll find a way," he said firmly. "I won't let you continue this."

The Sacred Spirit laughed, a sound that sent chills down everyone's spines. "Then you shall witness the true power of me, the Sacred Spirit," it declared.

Before Adrian could react, the Sacred Spirit raised its hand, and dark tendrils of energy shot towards him. He tried to dodge, but the tendrils were too fast, wrapping around him and lifting him off the ground. He struggled against their grip, but they held him tight. It seems this body was just a mortal body.

The Sacred Spirit turned its attention to the children. "You shall be the first to witness the fate of those who defy me," it said, its voice dripping with malice.

"!"

The next moment, darkness enveloped Adrian's vision.

_____

"..."

Adrian's eyelids twitched as he tried to regain his vision. "Urgh..."

'Did I die?'

The back of his head was in pain as if it had hit a while ago.

He ignored the pain and focused on his Aether Core.

'Hmm... It seems my strength returned. If that's the case...' Adrian knew he was definitely in the past of this illusion. 'Well, that worked out well at least...'

Then he glanced around and saw the 9 children lying on the ground but on top of grand mattresses as if they were a gift, a delicious offering for the Sacred Spirit.

'Nah, it's probably a Devil or a Demon.'

"Oh, you woke up earlier than I thought." The chief's voice came from the side.

Adrian's expression turned cold as he looked at the chief. "Chief, what exactly is the Sacred Spirit? And why are you sacrificing children for it?"

"That old wretch was right; you are indeed a smart young man," he chuckled. "Alright, I'll tell you, since you will be dying soon anyway."

Adrian repeated the same conversation he had with the chief.

"We'll see about that."

But when he repeated these lines, the chief's eyes widened in surprise.

"Remember now?" Adrian chuckled coldly.

"You-!" Before the chief could say anything, Adrian appeared behind the chief using Phantom Step and with one move, Adrian finished him for good.

Adrian took a deep breath, wiping the blood from his dagger as the chief's lifeless body slumped to the ground. He knew this was only the beginning; the true threat was yet to come.

Just as he anticipated, a loud, enraged voice echoed through the cavern. The ground trembled, and a gust of wind whipped around him as the Sacred Spirit descended, landing gracefully near him. Its eyes, now blazing with anger, fixed on Adrian.

"You dare to defy me, mortal?"