Transmigrating as an Extra, But the Heroine Has Regressed?!-Chapter 323: Focus, Kael!

For a moment, the world stayed silent.

Not because the fighting in the background stopped—Elysia and Dakin still crashed through the remains of the festival, light and shadow flaring violently—but because everything else around Kael simply ceased to matter.

His body didn't respond. His breath stayed shallow. His head hung slightly forward. Blood dripped from his lip, falling in slow red beads onto the cracked stone.

But inside—

Inside something aligned.

Not power.

Not awakening.

Not mana.

Just… focus.

A quiet, stubborn, absurd, drunken clarity.

A feeling like:

No. I'm not done. Not yet.

Ethan, crouched before him, leaned in with a mocking smirk.

"Still awake? Huh. I'll give you that. You're tougher than you look."

The faint curling of his fingers hinted at another strike.

Kael still didn't move.

The third-year behind Ethan scoffed, "Forget it, man. He's barely conscious. Just put him down already."

Ethan didn't reply.

He watched Kael's eyes.

Something was wrong.

Not power.

Not killing intent.

Not fear.

It was something much worse for someone like Ethan:

Kael didn't break.

He wasn't begging.

He wasn't trembling.

He wasn't even glaring back.

He was simply still.

Like a man who had accepted pain so thoroughly that it no longer registered.

Ethan's smile thinned. "You annoy me."

He grabbed Kael's hair and jerked his head up—

—or tried to.

Kael's head didn't move.

His neck muscles tensed just enough to stop Ethan cold.

The third-year on Kael's back frowned. "Oi. Did he just resist that?"

Ethan tightened his grip and pulled harder.

Kael's body shifted slightly from the force—

But his head didn't lift.

Ethan's brows lowered. "You—"

A fist moved.

Slow.

Drunken.

Sloppy.

But it moved.

Kael's arm rose from the ground like a rusted machine trying to operate after years of disuse.

His fingers curled, trembling, stiff, coated in dirt and blood.

The third-years blinked in confusion.

Kael didn't punch Ethan.

He didn't strike.

He simply placed his hand on Ethan's forearm—the one clutching his hair.

Ethan felt the pressure. Not strong. Not even painful. More like an anchor.

Kael's voice finally surfaced, scraped raw.

"…Don't… touch me…"

Ethan's expression froze.

Then twisted into anger.

"You little piece of—"

Kael's other hand moved.

Even slower.

Even weaker.

But it pushed against the ground.

He wasn't trying to fight.

He was trying to stand. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Ethan laughed once, incredulous. "You're seriously trying to get up? In that condition?"

Kael didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

His knee shifted, scraping stone.

His foot found purchase, sliding backward as he steadied his weight.

Every muscle trembled violently under his bruises.

The third-year pinning his back scoffed and pressed down harder.

"Stay down, idiot."

Kael's back arched from the pressure—

His fingers dug into the stone—

His legs shook—

His vision blurred—

—but he didn't collapse.

Somehow.

Somehow, he remained upright on his knees.

The third-year blinked. "What the hell…?"

Kael lifted his chin half an inch.

His breath rattled through his chest.

"…Move."

The third-year snorted. "Or what? You gonna stand? You can't even—"

He didn't finish.

Because Kael started standing.

Not quickly.

Not powerfully.

He rose like a dying man refusing to lie down, using nothing but stubbornness to force his battered body up.

His legs trembled violently beneath him. His arms shook as if they'd snap under his own weight. His back screamed under the third-year's boot grinding down on it.

But he still rose—

One inch.

Another.

Another—

The third-year on his back growled. "What—why isn't he—stay DOWN!"

He pressed harder.

Kael's spine bent—

—but he didn't fall.

The third-year swore.

Ethan's eyes narrowed with something new.

Annoyance.

And a hint of disbelief.

He leaned in, voice low. "What are you trying to prove? You can't win. You can't fight. You can barely stay conscious."

Kael's answer was a shaky whisper.

"…You… kicked me… too many times…"

Ethan blinked.

"What?"

Kael finally lifted his head enough to look him in the eyes.

"Now… I'm annoyed…"

The third-year on his back shoved with full force. Kael's legs buckled—

—but one of his feet slid back into a steadier stance.

He held.

Barely, but he held.

Ethan's expression twisted again. "You're pissing me off."

He raised his hand, mana gathering—

But he never got to finish that spell.

Because Elysia crashed between them.

A burst of silver light exploded through the ground, and the shockwave blew Ethan backward, forcing him to skid several meters. The third-year on Kael's back was flung off entirely, tumbling across the broken stone like a ragdoll.

Kael dropped—

—but Elysia caught him before he hit the ground.

Her arms wrapped under his shoulders, pulling him upright. He sagged against her, barely conscious, blood smearing across her sleeve. But his eyes were open.

Barely.

"…You okay?" Elysia whispered urgently.

Kael rasped, "…No…"

Elysia exhaled sharply in relief. "Good. That means you can still hear me."

Behind her, Dakin flickered into existence again, landing lightly atop a shattered stall. His eyes shone red with amusement.

"Oh? The little human is still alive."

Elysia didn't glance back. "You're next if you don't step back."

Dakin grinned. "Promises, promises."

But he didn't move.

Ethan, however, did.

He rose slowly, brushing dirt from his jacket, mana sparking at the tips of his fingers. His third-years regrouped behind him, though noticeably shaken.

"You're protecting him now?" Ethan said, voice low and cold.

Elysia didn't respond.

She adjusted her grip on Kael, making sure he could breathe properly.

Ethan's jaw tightened. "He's nothing, Elysia. He's a coward. A useless nobody who got lucky once. Why bother?"

Elysia finally looked at him.

Her eyes were calm.

Too calm.

"Because he's mine."

Ethan blinked.

Dakin's eyebrows rose.

Even Kael managed a tiny confused noise.

Elysia added, unflinching:

"My responsibility."

Ethan's shock melted back into irritation. "Oh. So you're just pitying him."

"No," Elysia said. "I'm angry."

Silver mana crackled behind her, cold and sharp.

Ethan's team shifted nervously.

One whispered, "Damn, she's serious…"

Ethan raised his hand. "Don't step in. She's bluffing."

But they didn't look convinced.

Elysia gently leaned Kael against a broken post. He slumped forward, catching himself with one arm.

His breathing was uneven. His vision was blurry again. But—

He stayed conscious.

Watching.

Noticing.

Not broken.

Elysia stepped past him toward Ethan, her presence radiating quiet fury.

"You hit him," she said.

Ethan scoffed. "That's what happens when trash gets in my way."

"You humiliated him."

Ethan shrugged. "He deserves it."

"He fought," Elysia continued.

Ethan paused.

"He fought something you sent after him," she said. "And he survived. You wouldn't have."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Are you comparing us?"

Elysia didn't blink.

"Yes."

Ethan's blue mana surged violently. "Fine. Then I'll show you the difference."

She took a single step forward—

And the air snapped.

—

—

SHRRRAAAAK—!

A black claw slashed down between them, carving a deep scar across the stone.

Ethan froze.

Elysia froze.

The claw withdrew, shadows twisting back into Dakin's arm as he smiled lazily.

"Don't stop on my account," the demon teased. "I'm enjoying this."

Elysia turned toward him sharply. "Stay out of this."

"No," Dakin replied casually. "I don't think I will."

Shadows rippled outward under his feet.

Ethan snarled. "Demon filth—"

Dakin's gaze snapped to him.

"You speak again," he said softly, "and I'll crush your lungs."

Ethan's teeth clenched, but he held his tongue.

Elysia glared at Dakin. "I'm not fighting you and them at once."

"Who said you were?" Dakin tilted his head. "I'm only here for him."

He pointed at Kael. "The Marked One."

Kael groaned. "…Can we… not… call me that…?"

Elysia shot him a look. "Don't talk."

"…Okay…"

Dakin stepped forward lazily.

Elysia's stance tightened—

But Dakin raised his hands disarmingly. "Relax. I'm not taking him now."

His eyes slid toward Kael, hungry and amused. "He impressed me."

Kael blinked slowly. "…Thanks… I guess…?"

"I didn't say it was a compliment." Dakin smirked. "You interest the Abyss for a reason. Watching you struggle is quite… entertaining."

Elysia summoned more light around her.

Dakin retreated with a laugh. "Not today, little saint. Tonight was just the taste."

In a swirl of shadow, he vanished.

Silence finally settled.

Ethan exhaled slowly, the tension draining. "Good. One less monster to deal with."

Elysia turned her gaze back to him.

"No," she said. "There's one left."

The third-years stiffened.

Ethan clenched his jaw. "You really want to do this?"

"Yes."

He scoffed. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you—"

"Ethan."

He paused, eyebrows rising.

Elysia's tone wasn't loud.

Wasn't angry.

Wasn't even cold.

It was simply final.

"Leave!"

Ethan flicked a glance at Kael—who stared back, barely conscious, eyes half-lidded but still unbroken.

Something in Ethan's expression shifted.

Not fear.

Not respect.

But irritation sharpened by recognition.

"…Tch."

He turned away.

"Let's go."

His team hesitated, confused. "But—"

"Now."

That tone left no room for argument.

They followed. Ethan didn't look back.

Once they disappeared beyond the broken stalls, Elysia finally dropped to one knee beside Kael.

Her hands hovered uncertainly before settling on his shoulders.

"Kael? Hey." Her voice softened, urgent. "Look at me."