Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"You guys done?" Ella's voice cut through the tension of the battlefield, formal and curious, as she and Claire walked toward the group. In her hand, she held the Golem Guardian's core, glowing faintly with residual energy. Claire stood beside her, arms crossed, wearing an expression that was more amused than exhausted.

Ceil, still catching her breath after the fierce battle, nodded in response. She lowered her sword and surveyed the battlefield, ensuring there were no immediate threats left.

The others turned toward the brown-haired young man who had just finished off the last monster. Adrian stood a medium distance away, his sword gleaming with the blood of his foes. He wiped his blade clean, ran a hand through his tousled hair, and glanced in their direction. The girls were stunned for a moment.

While, there was a flicker of surprise on Adrian's face, though he quickly masked it, his usual calm demeanor returning as he met their gazes.

A brief silence fell over the group, the wind carrying the lingering scent of battle as they waited for Adrian to approach. He took his time, walking steadily toward them, his expression unreadable but his posture relaxed.

Ella raised an eyebrow when he arrived, her sharp eyes scanning the battlefield behind him. "Where are the others?" she asked, her tone neutral but curious.

Adrian straightened up, his voice calm and clear as he replied, "It was me who sent them away to help the other groups with Mr. Dorian and Bane, the Rylath."

Ella's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, there was a tense pause as she considered his words. "Did you ask my permission for that?"

Adrian shook his head, unbothered by her scrutiny. "No, Captain," he said evenly, "but that was the right choice at the time. Other groups probably needed help, and we had enough numbers. I thought it was better to act quickly. And... we should hurry since we have time now.

If they awaken the Platinum Tier Ruins, we'll only be able to defend from inside the city walls. So, until the stronger monsters arrive, we need to deal with these current waves quickly first."

The group stood in silence as Ella mulled over his explanation. The others watched closely, curious to see how she would respond. Adrian held her gaze steadily, showing no signs of backing down from his decision.

Ella sighed after a long moment, her shoulders relaxing slightly as her earlier irritation seemed to melt away. 'Am I really getting angry just because the boy made the right call? Or...' she thought to herself, shaking her head internally. She knew he had acted with good judgment, but the lack of communication still gnawed at her. Or it was just her being petty.

She exhaled through her nose, crossing her arms as she met Adrian's eyes again. "Fine. You did the right thing," she said grudgingly, "but next time, you ask me first. Clear?"

Adrian nodded, the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Understood, Captain."

Ella turned on her heel, motioning for the others to follow. "Alright, let's move. We'll help the other groups now."

Without hesitation, the group fell into step behind her, the adrenaline from the battle still buzzing in their veins as they prepared for the next wave. Ella shared high grade potions with them along the way to restore their stamina and aether.

________ ____ _

The group moved swiftly through the outskirts of the city, their footsteps a blur of motion as they navigated the chaotic landscape. Monsters still roamed the outer regions, remnants of the previous wave, but with renewed focus and precision, Ella's team handled them efficiently.

Adrian led part of the way, his sword flashing as he dispatched any stragglers in their path. Claire's magic provided critical support, sending blasts of energy to weaken larger beasts while Ceil and Aurelius coordinated swift strikes to finish them off. Each attack was purposeful, calculated, and effective, their teamwork honed by countless battles before this one.

As they progressed, they encountered smaller groups of defenders struggling against packs of monsters. With minimal words exchanged, Ella's team jumped in to assist, their combined might quickly overwhelming the beasts. They offered potions to the more fatigued fighters, restoring their stamina and aether before moving on.

The outer districts were slowly being cleared, but the looming tension in the air told them the battle was far from over.

After what felt like days but had only been about an hour or two, they had cleared nearly half the area around the city. The sense of urgency hung over them like a storm cloud, knowing they were merely buying time before the stronger enemies arrived.

Just as they paused to catch their breath near an abandoned watchtower, a loud voice echoed from the direction of the city walls, amplified by magic for all to hear:

"All forces, return to the city immediately! A wave of wyverns under the lead of a Black Wywern Lord is approaching from the south, more than 100 in number, and three packs of werebeasts—approximately 4,000 strong—are advancing from the east! Retreat and prepare for defense! Quickly, fall back to the city!"

The announcement sent a jolt through the outskirts. Ella cursed under her breath as she processed the gravity of the situation. It seems Adrian was right about his idea.

Wyverns and werebeasts meant a coordinated assault of both aerial and ground forces, and in such great numbers and strength, they weren't prepared to handle outside the city's defenses.

Ella turned to the others, her face set in determination. "You heard them. We need to move, now. We will continue to help others while approaching the city."

There was no hesitation.

The team fell into formation, their previous exhaustion forgotten as they began a rapid retreat toward the city gates. The air seemed to hum with tension, and in the distance, the faint screeches of wyverns could already be heard, their dark shapes starting to materialize on the southern horizon. Enjoy new chapters from empire

'The mid-event - city defense is gonna start now.' Adrian commented as he looked in Wywerns' direction. 'Prinicipal is probably dealing with the Red Dragons Guildmaster and his wife, as well as the leader of the symboled men - De-Solar Artisan...'

'Hope he will heed to the advice I gave him...'