The Extra's Reincarnation-Chapter 92: High Peak Mountain (4)

"Erica, the seal... it’s weakening faster than I anticipated. Even with my strongest reinforcements, the abyssal energy is seeping through… I’ve managed to devise a method to redirect the leaking energy back into the barrier, but..."

"But?"

"The redirected energy... it comes back stronger with each cycle, It’s like a raging river, constantly eroding the banks, threatening to overflow."

Erica nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

The abyssal energy was not only leaking, but it was also growing more potent with each attempt to contain it. It was a losing battle, a race against time.

"How long do we have?"

"A week, perhaps two at most," Percival replied, his eyes filled with regret.

"I’m sorry, Erica. I’ve done everything I can, but..."

Erica’s hand trembled, but she quickly regained her composure. She had faced countless challenges in her life, overcome obstacles that would have crushed others. This was just another hurdle, another battle to fight.

And she would face it head-on, for the sake of her son, for the sake of the village, for the sake of the world.

"It’s alright, Percival," she said, her voice surprisingly calm. "I understand."

Percival looked at her, his eyes filled with admiration. "Even after all these years, Erica, your strength never ceases to amaze me. You’ve already given so much, sacrificed so much..."

He hesitated, then added, "Even though you’ve already had a child, I’m sure this is nothing compared to what you would do for Julian."

A soft smile touched Erica’s lips as she thought of her son, her precious Julian. He was her world, her reason for being. And she would do anything, face any danger, to protect him, to ensure his future.

"You’re right, Percival," she said, her voice filled with a newfound resolve. "I’ll start preparing tomorrow."

Percival nodded, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes.

Follow current novels on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

"Thank you, Erica. Summit Village, and indeed the world, owes you a great debt."

Erica simply smiled, her heart filled with a quiet determination. She would not let them down. She would not let her son down. She would face the abyss, and she would emerge victorious.

***

Snore…snore….snore…

Drifting away into sleep in a cozy small room, Julian laid on his bed without a care in the world.

However, from above, an ethereal form of starlight appeared, hovering silently within the small, cozy room.

"Now that he’s asleep, I can’t get a better look at him now."

As the Mentor observed the boy, its attention was drawn to his hair.

It was a deep, inky black, unlike the typical brown hair common among the villagers. But it was not the color that intrigued the Mentor, but the way the light seemed to refract off each individual strand, as if they were imbued with a subtle magic.

"Fascinating,"

Upon closer inspection, Mentor noticed something truly remarkable. Embedded within each strand of hair, almost invisible to the naked eye, were intricate runes.

-Ah, It’s sealing magic, and not just any sealing magic... this is Erica’s handiwork. The runes were unmistakably hers. But why? Why would Erica go to such lengths to conceal her son’s true nature?

Mentor couldn’t understand what she was thinking, but he could only make something off the assumption of the great erasure from 1000 years ago.

But before he could even make a single thought about it.

BOOM!

The entire mountain shook as a massive bolt of purple lightning crashed down from the sky.

"What’s this...?" Mentor murmured, phasing outside the room to see the commotion.

WAHAHA!

From beyond the barrier, high atop the mountain peak, he could hear a sound that made him feel uneasy.

Laughter. Cruel, mocking laughter that echoed through the desolate landscape.

"Abyssal creatures...?" Mentor wondered. "But that laughter... it sounded almost... human."

His curiosity piqued, but it couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. Mentor had to investigate to ensure the safety of the village, but first...

He turned his attention back to Julian, who still slept peacefully, oblivious to the chaos brewing outside.

Mentor extended his ethereal hand, focusing his energy into a concentrated burst of power.

"Forgive me, young one," it whispered, "but I need to know what you’re truly capable of."

WHOM!

With a sudden surge of force, Mentor unleashed his power upon Julian.

"…!"

The boy’s eyes snapped open, his body jolting upright in bed. He looked around wildly, his face etched with fear and confusion.

"What’s happening?!"

But the Mentor simply smiled, his gaze fixed on Julian’s new appearance.

-I see… so the sealing spell was merely holding back his power, but the seals on his hair strands seem to be recovering at a slower rate because of my attack.

Mentor’s purpose wasn’t to hurt Julian out of curiosity but to see how well the seals reacted to being dispelled, but he didn’t know how well they were reinforced, it was as if the sealing spell was cast onto this boy more than 1000 times…

"Wh-who are you?" Julian stammered, his voice trembling.

He stared at the shimmering figure before him.

He had never seen anything like it–a being of pure light, his form shifting and swirling like a miniature galaxy.

And yet, there was something familiar about it, something that resonated deep within his soul.

The Mentor smiled, its ethereal form radiating warmth and reassurance.

"I am the Grand Spirit Mentor of Summit Village," it replied, its voice a gentle whisper that seemed to echo in the very air around them.

"And you, young Julian, are far more than you appear to be."

Julian’s eyes widened. The Grand Spirit Mentor?

He had heard stories about this legendary being, the protector of Summit Village, the guardian of the Abyssal Gate.

But he had never imagined actually encountering it, let alone in his own bedroom.

"But... how can I see you?"

The Mentor’s smile widened, a playful glint in its ethereal eyes.

"Indeed, young one. Indeed. Perhaps a glimpse in the mirror would provide some answers."

Julian, still bewildered, turned towards the mirror hanging on the wall.

"What the fuck-"

He gasped, his hand flying to his mouth.

Staring back at him was a stranger – a boy with hair as white as freshly fallen snow and eyes that shimmered with an icy, electric blue. He was... glowing. Literally.

A soft, ethereal light emanated from his form, casting an otherworldly aura around him.

"How...? How did you...?"

"Curious, aren’t you?" the Mentor chuckled, its voice like the tinkling of wind chimes.

"There’s much to discuss, but we don’t have the time for explanations."

Before Julian could utter another word, the Mentor extended its hand.

"Come, young one, there is something I must show you."

Julian hesitated, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Show me? Show me what? Where are we going?"

The Mentor’s expression softened, and a gentle warmth radiated from its ethereal form.

"Have faith in me, Julian," it said, its voice a soothing melody.

"Let me guide you to this place. You’ll understand soon enough."

***

[Location: High Peak Mountain - ???]

950 Years Ago

"To think that someone like you would come here to hide is incredible for your status,"

"You must be talking about a different person WAHAH!"

Mentor hovered in the air observing the headless knight who sat on a mountain pedestal within a cave.

"Your boisterous nature hasn’t diminished either, even after all these years."

"Of course not, old friend! A true knight never loses his spirit, even when he loses his head! WAHAHA!"

The cave they were in was located near the very peak of High Peak Mountain, a place untouched by the taint of the abyss.

The air was crisp and clean, filled with the energy of the world’s natural mana.

It was here that the Mentor had found Vykekard, hiding from the world.

"It is I who should be surprised, old friend," Vykekard continued, his laughter fading into a sigh.

"A Legendary Spirit, gracing my humble hiding spot with your presence. Perhaps... perhaps it is a sign."

The Mentor tilted its ethereal head, sensing a shift in Vykekard’s tone.

"A sign? What do you mean?"

"This..." Vykekard gestured with his head, "this is not how I envisioned my story ending. Defeated, disembodied, and a prisoner in my own armor."

"I fought him, you know. The one who calls himself ’King Of All Kings’ I fought with every ounce of strength, every shred of courage I possessed. But it wasn’t enough."

A tremor ran through Vykekard’s armor, a physical manifestation of his lingering despair.

"I lost everything, Mentor. My body, my comrades, my family, my wife, and my purpose... There is no one left to fight for, no reason to continue this... this existence, but even when I’m nearing death, I am cursed to live on…"

"I see…"

Mentor looked at Vykekard’s helmet with an expressionless face, he didn’t understand why his friend was acting like this.

"I’m not sure how I got to this place, but I hope… I hope someone would find me. Someone who could end this suffering, release me from this prison of flesh and steel."

The Mentor listened silently. Vykekard, the legendary knight, the "World’s Greatest Knight" as he was once known, was now a broken shell, his spirit teetering on the brink of oblivion.

And yet, the Mentor, for all its power as a Legendary Spirit, couldn’t lay their hand’s on a human.

The least Mentor could do is offer comfort, a listening ear, but true understanding of the human heart, the complexities of mortal emotions, remained beyond its grasp.

"Vykekard, I cannot comprehend the depths of your despair. But I can offer you this: rest. Sleep. Let time, the great healer, soothe your wounds, both physical and spiritual."

"Perhaps, one day, someone will come. Someone who can understand your pain, who can offer you the solace you seek. Until then, rest, my friend. Conserve your strength. For even in this state, your spirit shines brightly in this darkened room."

Vykekard’s helmet tilted, as if considering the Mentor’s words. A long silence filled the cave, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind.

"Haah… I guess you’re right," Vykekard finally said, his voice a mere echo of its former strength.

"Rest... yes, rest... until then I will be back,"

The red glow that had emanated from within his helmet, the last vestige of his life force, slowly dimmed, then flickered out.

The armor stood motionless, a silent monument to a fallen hero, a warrior awaiting his final redemption.

Mentor hovered towards his old friend’s helmet, his energy was still there however, his mind was now asleep…

"Sleep well, old friend, your time will come again."

And with that, Mentor departed, leaving Vykekard to his slumber.