I'm an Extra, so What?
Chapter 132 - 132: Looking For Answers?

The walk back to the city felt longer, heavier.

The corrupted forest behind them seemed to breathe its last toxic sighs as shadows clung to every tree and whispered threats that only the darkness understood.

Luka's footsteps echoed hollowly on the cobblestones, his thoughts a whirlwind.

Snow fluttered beside him, occasionally alighting on his shoulder to nuzzle his neck. Despite the chaos, the little dragon remained a small anchor of calm.

Serene kept pace silently, her eyes scanning every shadow, every flicker of movement with the precision of a seasoned sentinel.

Neither spoke much—words felt insufficient against the weight of what they had uncovered.

By the time they reached the guild's heavy wooden doors, dawn's light was a pale promise on the horizon.

Inside, the guild was just waking up. The receptionist, still at her desk, glanced up as they approached, concern flickering in her eyes as she saw Luka's grim expression.

He handed over the report, careful to include every detail: the corrupted leyline, the twisted obelisk, the mutated monsters, and the explosion that shattered the beacon but hadn't healed the forest's wound.

"Serious trouble," he said quietly. "We need more eyes, more hands. This is bigger than a simple monster migration or rogue dungeon."

The receptionist nodded, already reaching for a messenger scroll.

Before she could send it, footsteps approached fast—Arthur's boots clattered against the stone floor, his expression sharper than usual.

"Back so soon?" he asked, voice edged with impatience.

"We need reinforcements," Luka said without hesitation.

Arthur's gaze flicked toward the folded report in the receptionist's hands.

"You're not the only one who saw the rot," he said. "The council's been uneasy. They just need proof."

Serene interjected, "Then let's give it to them. Time isn't on our side."

Arthur hesitated, then nodded slowly.

Luka's shoulders relaxed for a brief moment.

"We'll need a team—healers, mages, tanks. And fast," he added. "Before this spreads."

Arthur smirked. "Looks like you're finally learning teamwork."

Luka met his gaze, eyes steady.

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just tired of doing this alone."

Serene smiled faintly, but there was no mistaking the gravity beneath the exchange.

Outside, the city awoke fully. The streets filled with merchants, adventurers, and townsfolk oblivious to the creeping threat lurking beyond the trees.

Luka glanced toward the horizon.

The messenger scroll vanished into the guild's courier system almost as soon as the receptionist released it, its enchanted parchment glowing faintly as it sped toward the city council chambers.

Luka and Serene exchanged a glance. Neither trusted that the city's leadership would react quickly enough—but it was the best chance they had.

Arthur stretched and cracked his knuckles. "I'll round up the others. Gregor's been itching for action, and the healer should be ready as well."

Luka nodded. "I'll check in with the Alchemist's Guild—maybe they can supply more of those bombs."

Serene hesitated, then added, "And I'll see if I can scout the edges of the forest. We need to know if that corruption is spreading beyond what we saw."

Their plan was simple but urgent: prepare, gather, and strike before the corruption could gain any more ground.

The following hours passed in a blur of preparation.

Luka found himself in the Alchemist's workshop, the sharp scent of chemicals burning his nose as potions bubbled and hissed in glass vials.

The head alchemist, a wiry woman named Mira, eyed him cautiously. "You really used one of our prototypes on the field?"

Luka nodded. "Saved the city. But we need more. Something stable enough to deploy in larger numbers."

Mira sighed, pulling out a battered notebook filled with scribbles and diagrams. "It's risky work, but I'll see what I can do. We might have a batch ready within the day."

Meanwhile, Serene moved like a shadow at the forest's edge, her footsteps light on the damp earth as she traced the corruption's boundary.

She marked spots where the rot had leached outward—fallen leaves blackened and curling, small animals fleeing deeper into the woods.

Her heart tightened at the signs. The blight was growing.

Back at the guild, Arthur gathered their team in the war room.

Gregor, the massive tank, stood silently polishing his armor, muscles taut and ready.

Lysa, the healer, checked her supplies, lips pressed in concentration.

And Fenric, the mage, traced arcane runes in the air, his expression serious beneath his hood.

Arthur's voice cut through the low hum of preparation. "We don't have the luxury of time or numbers. This isn't just a fight against monsters. It's a battle against corruption itself."

He looked at each member. "We'll move at dawn. Our priority: protect the city outskirts, then strike at the source."

Luka felt the weight of the mission settle fully on his shoulders. This time, it wasn't just him or Serene. It was all of them.

That night, as the city slept under a fragile veil of stars, Luka stood atop the guild's highest tower.

Snow perched nearby, eyes glinting like tiny lanterns.

He gazed toward the dark forest—an ominous shadow against the horizon.

A quiet vow formed in his mind.

No matter what came next, he would stand between the city and the creeping darkness.

Because if he didn't—

No one else would.

The first light of dawn bled over the city walls, casting long, cold shadows as Luka and the team assembled at the gates. The air was thick with tension—each breath tasted of anticipation and the faint metallic tang of coming blood.

Gregor hefted his massive shield, the faintest crack visible near its edge, a souvenir from previous battles.

Lysa tightened the straps of her healer's pack, her eyes flickering nervously between the trees. Fenric's fingers traced faint glowing runes on his staff, the soft hum of magic pulsing beneath his skin.

Arthur stood tall.

"Listen up," Arthur commanded, voice steady and sharp. "We hold the line here. No one lets the corruption spread beyond the forest's edge. Gregor, you're the wall. Lysa, keep us alive. Fenric, cover our flanks with magic. Luka, you're the scout. Find the source, report back."

Luka nodded.

Snow fluttered ahead, a tiny beacon of white against the dark underbrush.

The forest loomed, a living shadow that seemed to inhale as they crossed its threshold. The scent of rot and magic was thick, a sickly sweet decay that clung to their skin.

Movement flickered in the shadows.

A twisted howl tore through the morning mist.

The battle had begun.

Creatures emerged—blighted wolves with brambles for fur, eyes glowing sickly green; mutated crows with razor-sharp beaks; and worst of all, more corrupted Nightwings, their cries echoing like death itself.

Gregor planted his feet firmly, shield raised, taking the brunt of the first charge.

Lysa's hands glowed with healing light, mending wounds almost before they formed.

Fenric unleashed bolts of crackling energy, cutting down foes with surgical precision.

Luka darted through the chaos, blades flashing, eyes sharp.

He spotted the twisted obelisk in the distance—still throbbing with dark energy despite the earlier blast.

"Source spotted," Luka called out through the comm-link.

Arthur signaled the team to hold.

"We need to destroy that beacon again—permanently."

Luka's heart pounded. "I'll get there."

Dodging tendrils of corrupted magic and leaping over fallen branches, Luka sprinted toward the obelisk.

Snow flitted at his side, firing bursts of flame at pursuing monsters.

Serene's voice crackled in his ear. "Watch your flank! Another pack coming from the east!"

He twisted and slashed, clearing a path.

At the obelisk, the runes burned brighter, pulsing with malignant energy.

Luka pulled the remaining bombs from his pouch, hands steady despite the chaos.

He placed them carefully, then rolled back just as the last one detonated.

The explosion was deafening, a wave of pure mana that shattered the corrupted ground.

The obelisk cracked, splintered—and then imploded in a storm of shards and shadow.

Silence.

For a moment, the forest seemed to hold its breath.

Then, the creatures faltered, snarling as the corruption began to fade.

Gregor's voice came through, steady but weary. "Line holds. No breach."

Lysa's healing light brightened the clearing.

Arthur's tone was grim but hopeful. "Good work, everyone. Let's push them back and secure the area."

Luka lowered his blades, chest heaving.

Snow chirped, landing on his shoulder with a tired flutter.

The threat had been stopped—for now.

But Luka knew this battle was only the beginning.

The sun climbed higher, burning away the last wisps of mist as the team gathered near the shattered remains of the obelisk.

The forest around them was quieter now — the unnatural hum of corruption fading into a dull ache in the air.

Gregor leaned heavily on his shield, his breath ragged but victorious. "That was close. Too close."

Lysa wiped sweat from her brow, already tending to minor wounds. "We need to keep watch. If that was only a seed, more could sprout elsewhere."

Fenric nodded, his gaze dark beneath the hood. "The magic here was deeply rooted. Whoever did this has power—and patience."

Arthur folded his arms, eyes scanning the treeline. "City council will hear about this. They can't ignore it now."

Luka's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, where the forest stood as an ominous wall. "This wasn't random. Someone wants to control this land—or destroy it."

Serene approached, shield resting on her shoulder, expression grim. "We've bought some time, but the question is—what's next?"

A sharp crack echoed from the edge of the clearing.

Everyone spun.

A figure stepped forward from the shadows—a hooded stranger, cloak tattered, eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light.

"Looking for answers?" the stranger said, voice low and echoing. "Perhaps I can help… for a price."

The team exchanged wary looks.

Luka tightened his grip on his blades.

Arthur stepped forward, voice hard. "Who are you?"

The stranger smiled—a chilling curve of lips. "Call me a seeker of truths. And I have a proposition."

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