Extra Borne: Transmigrated Into A System Apocalypse Soulsborne Novel-Chapter 79 - 77 – Watchful Eyes

The sting on my head lingered.

Even after we had settled things, Celia still made sure to get her revenge with a well-placed knock. She didn’t even look guilty about it.

I sighed, rubbing the spot as we walked.

The camp stretched before us, its loose formation scattered across the clearing like the remnants of a broken army, small groups forming where people had naturally clustered. The Wanderers had all received their exoskeleton bio-armors.. each unique in design, yet unified in purpose. The soft hum of shifting metal and synthetic plating filled the air, armor adjusting to movements like second skins.

We moved through the camp, weaving past other Wanderers, until we reached where Jess, Uvan, and Lovia stood.

The three of them were already deep in conversation.

Uvan’s armor bore a layered design for swift agile movement, plates stacked over one another like overlapping scales, giving him an almost reptilian appearance. Lovia’s was sleeker, its contours fluid, reflecting light in a way that made it seem almost liquid. Jess’...more functional, built for speed and movement, with less bulk and more segmented joints for agility.

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

A quick discussion passed between us... plans, updates, nothing too serious.

Then, the three of us.. me, Celia, and Jess, broke away from the loose camp, heading deeper into the forest.

Toward an open field.

For training.

The scent of damp earth and decaying leaves thickened as we walked. The trees stretched high, their twisted limbs casting long shadows. The deeper we went, the quieter the world became, the distant murmur of the camp fading behind us, swallowed by the dense foliage.

The path opened gradually. Beyond the thinning trees, a field spread before us.. wide, untamed, a clearing carved out of the wilderness by time and nature.

Celia’s gaze sharpened.

Her eyes locked onto something distant.

"We have company," she murmured.

I turned to her. "How many?"

She paused, closing her eyes for a breath, then opening them again... something shifting in her expression, the faintest flicker of concentration.

"Three Wanderers. One beast," she said, her voice firm.

Jess raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

Celia glanced at her, lips curving into a slight smile.

"Eagle Gaze," she said simply. "A new ability of mine."

Jess nodded, impressed. They continued talking after that, their conversation slipping into the background.

I didn’t join in.

My mind was elsewhere.

Who are these Wanderers? What do they want?

In this world, trust was a rare commodity. No one outside your circle could be relied upon. And even within it, caution was necessary.

There was also another thought lurking at the edges of my mind.

Had the others figured it out yet?

That consuming the larvae worm of a beast... or even another person, allowed one to evolve, to gain their trait ability.

A shortcut. A more brutal, efficient path to strength.

I exhaled slowly.

We stepped into the field.

The three Wanderers were already there.

Resting against a large tree, they were deep in conversation, their exoskeleton armors reflecting the soft, dappled light breaking through the canopy. Two boys. One girl.

But no beast.

Not yet.

Their gazes flickered toward us as we entered.

Brief. Calmly. Then dismissive.

They turned back to their discussion, as if our presence was nothing more than the passing wind rustling through the grass.

We didn’t acknowledge them either.

No greetings. No unnecessary interactions.

The field was vast, plenty of space for all of us.

We took the opposite side.

Stretching, loosening muscles, rolling shoulders. Readying ourselves.

I glanced at Celia.

"Why don’t you and Jess spar for a moment?" I said, smiling slightly. "For study purposes. I want to see something."

Celia didn’t respond immediately.

She studied me for a beat, then turned to Jess, who merely shrugged.. no objections.

Celia sighed. "I wanted all of us to spar at once."

I patted her shoulder, a reassuring squeeze.

"We’ll all spar after this," I said.

She held my gaze for a moment longer. Then nodded.

I stepped back, finding a spot near a tree, watching as the two moved to position.. spacing themselves apart, their stances shifting, settling into the language of battle.

The wind stirred.

"Whoever has the upper hand in five minutes wins," I announced.

Their eyes met.

"Start."

Neither moved.

Not at first.

They simply stared at each other.

waiting...

I leaned back against the tree, arms crossed, watching as Celia and Jess stood apart, facing each other.

Two predators.

The space between them felt stretched, as if something unseen was pulling at the air.. waiting for the snap.

Jess exhaled, rolling her shoulders. Then..

Fwoosh.

Flames erupted from her grasp, swirling into form. Her great sword took shape in an instant, a monstrous weapon wreathed in roaring embers, its surface glistening with a molten glow. Heat radiated from it, distorting the air, the ground beneath her feet darkening from the sheer intensity.

Celia remained still.

A deep breath.

Then cold.

Frost coiled around her hand, forming something sharper, more refined. A blade, long and elegant, pulsing with an eerie, glacial blue light. The air around her dropped, cold smoke curling at her feet, the very ground beneath her beginning to crystallize.

Two opposing forces.

Fire and ice.

Neither moved.

A long pause stretched between them.. then, Jess grinned.

And vanished.

BOOM.

The ground where she once stood exploded outward, flames bursting as her figure blurred. She was on Celia in an instant, great sword cleaving downward in a fiery arc, the force of the strike splitting the air.

Celia shifted.

A pivot, smooth and fluid, her blade rising.

Clang!

A sharp clash, sparks flying, heat and frost colliding in a blinding burst of energy. The shockwave rippled through the clearing, kicking up dust and scattering loose leaves.

Jess didn’t let up.

She spun, reversing her grip, flames surging along her sword’s edge as she went for another strike. Her movements were relentless, fluid yet brutal, each swing a intentionally calculated, mix of power and precision.

Celia met her step for step.

Each clash of their blades sent another burst of opposing elements spiraling outward.. flames eating at the frost, frost gnawing at the flames.

But Jess was faster.

Her omnidirectional movement gave her an edge, allowing her to adjust mid-air, twist at impossible angles, keep Celia on the defensive.

She pressed forward, her footwork unpredictable, her sword a blur of embers. A feint to the left.. then a brutal upward slash from below.

Celia barely managed to parry.

The force sent her skidding back, boots carving lines into the dirt.

A bead of sweat trailed down her temple, evaporating instantly from the residual heat.

Jess smirked.

She moved again. Faster.

A burst of flame launched her forward like a cannon shot, sword raised high...

And then, Celia changed.

Her eyes gleam with icy blue frost energy. Her stance shifted..

Not rushed. Not desperate. Just… different.

A slow exhale.

Then,

Snap.

The air itself froze.

Celia’s blade pulsed, a deep, chilling hum resonating from within. The frost spread outward in a heartbeat, tendrils of ice snaking across the ground.

Jess lunged.. only to feel herself slow down.

A fraction. A sliver. Barely a moment.

But it was enough.

Celia stepped in, movements suddenly seamless, swift. She caught Jess’ strike mid-swing, redirecting it, the shift in momentum forcing Jess off-balance for the first time in the fight.

And then, Celia countered.

Her blade carved through the air, an arc of glacial energy sweeping toward Jess’ side.

A perfect strike.

Jess barely managed to twist, avoiding a full hit, but the edge of the frost caught her arm.

Ssssshhhhh...

A harsh hiss. Steam rose as ice clashed against flame, a brutal burn forming where the cold met living fire.

Jess grinned more..

Now they were even.

They circled, breath heavy, bodies tense. Though Celia seemed to be only just starting.

The world around them had changed... the clearing a battleground of frost-bitten grass and scorched earth, steam rising in ghostly wisps where their powers had met.

Then, they moved again.

Fast. Precise.

Every step swift, every strike Intentional.

Celia was no longer just reacting.. she was dictating the flow. Jess’ relentless speed wasn’t overwhelming her anymore. She was reading it, seeing through it, adjusting before the next move even came as if it was only just a slow movement.

They were close now.

One last clash.

Both of them lunged, blades raised, fire and ice surging toward collision.

And then...

"Cut."

My voice sliced through the moment like a director halting a scene.

Celia and Jess stopped instantly.

Their weapons hovered mid-air, inches from impact.

Then, without a word, both let their weapons dematerialize.. flames snuffing out, frost dispersing into the wind.

I stood straight, stretching, clearing my throat.

Two pairs of eyes locked onto me, waiting.

Waiting for my verdict.

I opened my mouth...