The Extra's Reincarnation-Chapter 93: Vykekard The World’s Greatest Knight?

[Julian’s POV]

I never realized what exactly caused this situation to happen and honestly I’m not even mad about it.

Earlier, during our ascent to Summit Village, I sensed something different, as if my senses were heightened and something was watching me.

It turns out it was a grand spirit all along. This being, known as Mentor, is the Grand Spirit of Guidance, which I found to be an unusual title for a spirit. In the novel’s world, there are rankings that determine a spirit’s status and position.

There are three main categories, each with its own hierarchy:

Pinnacle Spirits: These are the rarest and most powerful spirits, the ones that can shake the very foundations of the world.

Unique Graded Spirits: These are spirits that have achieved a unique level of power and individuality. They’re often associated with specific legends or historical figures.

Standard Graded Spirits: These are the most common spirits, ranked according to their strength and abilities.

And it just so happened that the ranking of a grand spirit is within the Pinnacle Spirits category.

So, yeah, having a Grand Spirit as a guide is kind of big deal.

And the fact that he’s guiding me, of all people, is even more baffling.

But as we journeyed deeper into the heart of the mountain, I started to get a sense of why.

He wasn’t just guiding me physically, through the treacherous paths and the dangers on the road. He was also guiding me spiritually, helping me to navigate the emotions that surged within me, the confusion and uncertainty that clouded my mind.

He was a beacon of light in the darkness, a voice of reason in the chaos.

He spoke of a purpose, a destiny that awaited me at the summit.

He spoke of challenges, of dangers, of a path I must walk alone.

Though I was curious about why, I was even chosen by him in the first place.

"Mentor, why me? Why would you, the Grand Spirit of Guidance, go out of your way to... well, guide me?"

The Mentor paused, its ethereal form flickering with a somber light.

"I cannot fully explain it, child, but something... something compels me to do so. I’m not sure why, but it’s just how it is..."

It turned to me, its ethereal eyes filled with a gravity that weighed heavily upon my soul.

"There is something seeking you here, Julian. Something that awaits you at the peak of this mountain. And I believe it is my duty to guide you to it."

"Something seeking me? But I don’t understand. What am I looking for?"

I frowned in confusion because there’s absolutely no way a person at the top of a mountain is waiting for someone like me to arrive. If anything, it’s more stupid than it is dangerous.

The Mentor’s form shimmered, its voice taking on an almost pleading tone.

"You will know when you find it, Julian. Trust your instincts, follow your heart, and the answers you’ll seek reveal themselves."

"But I must warn you. Once we’ve reached a certain point onwards, you will have to go up alone."

Well, I’m already passed the abyssal gate anyway, there’s simply just no turning back from this.

With a deep breath and a forced surge of determination, I continued my ascent, and when I had gotten closer, Mentor eventually left as I climbed higher.

The path grew steeper and more treacherous, the air thinner and colder.

But I pressed on, driven by a curiosity that burned brighter than my fear, and a strange sense of anticipation that tugged at my soul.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I reached a point where the path ended abruptly.

Before me loomed a sheer cliff face, its surface scarred and weathered by the elements.

I gazed up at the towering peak, its summit shrouded in swirling mists, and a shiver ran down my spine.

There was no way forward, no visible path to the top. Had the Mentor led me here to die? Was this some cruel joke, a test of my faith?

But then, as I scanned the cliff face, I noticed something. A faint glimmer of light, emanating from a small opening hidden amongst the rocks.

A cave.

"Was that it… seriously? a spirit led me to a cave that I didn’t even know existed…"

I could only face palm feeling disappointed that all the effort being protected got him to a place that had almost nothing.

But I didn’t have a choice, so I scrambled towards the cave in the hopes of finding something worth the travel.

***

The cave was a bare compared to the forsaken land outside. There was no abyssal energy to be felt inside of the room.

It was a silent place with nothing inside, though for Julian, his eyes quickly adjusted to the dim light, cautiously making his way deeper into the cavern.

And then he saw it.

Perched atop a raised platform, bathed in a faint, ethereal glow, sat a suit of ornate knight’s armor.

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It was clearly ancient. the metal tarnished and worn, yet it radiated an aura of power, of a warrior’s spirit that refused to be extinguished.

But what drew Julian’s attention was the helmet. It rested atop the breastplate, its visor open, revealing... nothing.

No face. No body. Just an empty helmet, its interior shrouded in shadows.

Julian’s brow furrowed so low that even a fly could probably trip over it.

-Was this some kind of elaborate trap?

Wahahaha!

A voice of laughter echoed throughout the cave.

RUMBLE…RUMBLE…RUMBLE…

Julian turned his head around to hear where the noise was coming from but couldn’t exactly pin the location.

Thunder erupted from outside and shadows emerged from all lights that reflected within the cave.

Then finally, a voice of pure authority boomed through the cavern, shaking the very foundations of the mountain.

"Welcome! A visitor has finally come to see the Greatest Knight!"

Julian turned and twisted his body around, searching for the source of the booming voice.

He expected to see a towering, powerful being, a person worthy of such a grand proclamation.

But what he saw instead was... ridiculous.

Perched atop a weathered stone pedestal bathed in an eerie red glow, sat a lone helmet, its visor open, revealing nothing but darkness within.

And yet, that booming voice, that proud declaration, had clearly come from this disembodied head.

Julian stared at the helmet, his jaw slack, his mind struggling to comprehend what his eyes were seeing.

"Did... did that helmet just talk?" he mumbled, scratching his head.

"Ah, I think I’m finally gone crazy huh…"

The helmet tilted slightly, as if considering Julian’s words. Then, with a raspy chuckle that echoed through the cavern, the voice spoke again.

"Indeed, it did, young one, and no, you haven’t gone crazy. Though I can’t blame you for thinking so."

Julian blinked, still trying to wrap his head around the situation.

"But... you’re a helmet. A talking helmet. With no body."

"A keen observation, but I seem to have misplaced the rest of my physical form. A rather unfortunate incident involving a giant demon, a cursed sword, and a poorly timed sneeze. A long story for another time, perhaps."

Julian couldn’t help but grin. This talking helmet, despite its rather macabre predicament, had a surprisingly witty sense of humor.

"Okay???, you’re... a head in a helmet?"

"Essentially, yes, though I prefer the term ’disembodied consciousness with a penchant for headwear.’"

"Right. And you’re... the World’s Greatest Knight?"

"Once upon a time, perhaps,"

It was clear that the two weren’t getting along, seeing that during Julian’s five years he wouldn’t have ever expected to see a talking head.

But even with the head speaking, it was harmless within Julian’s eyes.

Wahaha!

"Fear not. Let me introduce myself once again, young knight!"

The knight’s head screamed and echoed from the caves all the way outside of the mountain.

On top there was a mount that the head looked down upon onto Julian.

"I am Vykekard, The World’s Greatest Knight and the man destined to slay the King Of This World!"

"…"

"It is my duty to uphold my honor for my family, and for this world which is doomed to fall at the hands of the one who controls all the lands."

Julian stared at the disembodied head.

The World’s Greatest Knight? Seriously, I think this guy actually has some loose screws. I’ve never heard of a Vykekard let alone a title for the greatest knight in the novel’s story. If anything, the person closest to this title is Retsu, the strongest swordsman or Kaelen, the main character.

However, a fact that was correct of what he had stated was the world being doomed to fall, that much was true.

But the details, the "King of This World" and this Vykekard character, they were completely foreign to me.

Was this some alternate timeline? A different version of the story? Or was this guy just plain delusional?

"Okay," I said slowly, trying to choose my words carefully. "Mr. World’s Greatest Knight, sir. I’m not sure I understand everything you’re saying. But I’m here to help, if I can."

The helmet tilted slightly, as if appraising me. "Help me, you say? A noble ambition, young one. But I fear my situation is beyond help."

"Maybe," I countered, "but maybe not. I’ve seen some pretty crazy things in my life. Maybe I can help you find a new body, or, I don’t know, reattach your head to something?"

The helmet remained silent for a moment, the red glow within its depths flickering. Then, with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of centuries, Vykekard spoke again.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, young one. But my predicament is not so easily solved. I am bound to this armor, my soul tethered to this metal shell. There is no escaping this fate, after all the person who made me like this was none other than-"

WOMMM!!!

Just as Vykekard was about to speak, his voice had been filtered and cut out.

Although Julian seemingly was unaware that he had a curse tilted his head in confusion to look at Vykekard for a moment.

"I didn’t catch you on that one..."

Wahaha!

"It is without a doubt that man had cursed me 1000 times over!"

Vykekard laughed and giggled.

"I am not lost, but you seem here to tread and trample on fate, young boy."

Vykekard’s voice suddenly turned tense and Julian could feel the pressure within this room become even more intensified.

"It may not seem that we have never met before, but I could count that I definitely met the ’you’ in your previous life." Your next read is at novelbuddy