Extra's Descent

Monsters obstructed her path on the way, but Belle handled it with ease. Wherever she went, radiant light engulfed the vicinity, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.

But in the middle of her endeavors, Belle, who had been traversing for a long while, suddenly grew panicked.

"I'm lost…."

Belle may have always appeared calm and collected. But she had a secret fear that she had kept to herself.

She was afraid of getting lost, especially when she was alone.

This stemmed from her trauma, when she found herself lost during her time in Milis.

Suddenly, while she continued to traverse on the path she thought she took, it was then when she noticed.

"...."

Mist.

A trail of mist lingered in the air, and at that moment, a sense of fear welled up inside Belle.

She had heard of the rumors.

A certain area within the forest, mist engulfed the entire vicinity, and whenever someone entered the mist, they would be attacked by apparitions.

With those thoughts in mind, Belle felt goosebumps all over, sending a shiver down her spine.

Just that alone was enough for Belle to take a step back and change directions.

As Belle tried to retrace her steps yet again, it was then.

—Hwoooooar!

A deep guttural roar echoed in the air, reverberating the forest. Belle had ventured far within the forest, deep into where most monsters reside.

For that reason, just a few seconds before whatever that scream was, Belle heard the sound of a rushing stampede ahead of her.

SHIIING—!

Remaining vigilant, Belle brandished her sword forward. Her eyes narrowed, and magic power gathered on her sword.

The tension was palpable in the air as Belle awaited the for her opposers. Gradually, the stampede grew louder and louder.

As soon as they entered Belle's peripheral vision, her eyes widened.

"Wha—"

There were way too many of them. Much more so than she could count.

She was confident she could take out at least forty of them before her stamina ran out.

For that reason, she concluded that it wasn't worth it. Fighting them with other cadets was the best course of action.

Sheathing her sword back in her scabbard—which was attached on her waist, Belle rushed back from whence she came.

"Ah."

The stampede loomed close, growing louder, and once again, Belle found herself back in front of the mist.

Of course, she could make a detour and run around the mist. However, there was no time for that. In a few seconds, the stampede would overrun her.

But still, the thought of entering the mist and seeing ghosts made Belle hesitate for a bit.

But her hesitation was only momentary as mana began together on her legs.

If she were to enter the mist, then she wanted to get out fast.

Boom—!

At that moment, the ground shattered, sending rubbles flying as Belle kicked the ground and bursted from her position.

But it had to be said.

"Hieaaa—!"

Belle screamed as she peered her eyes closed.

She didn't want to see even a single sign of the paranormal.

Of course, Belle opened her eyes occasionally, squinting them as narrow as she can, just so she can see where she was going.

A sudden chill ran down her spine as she felt an abundant amount of mana ahead of her.

The mana was ominously thick, and she felt like something was stuck at the back of her throat, choking her.

Belle suddenly had second thoughts.

She shouldn't have entered the mist at all.

But it was too late to go back. Swallowing her saliva, Belle pressed forward without ever looking back.

"Sis."

A whisper suddenly reached her ears. A familiar voice, whispering out to her. A voice she had always felt comfortable with.

There was only one person, other than her own mother. Especially when the voice just called her, 'Sis.'

Brandon.

Belle had never seen Brandon the past month. It was strange,

Knowing how Brandon was, he would've made himself known by now.

Yet for some reason, not once had she ever noticed signs of him. Not even his friends—which Belle had encountered back then—had seen him.

Truly, it was strange.

But now that she thought about it, if Brandon was within the mist, then everything made sense.

After all, cadets often avoided this area.

But that begged the question.

Why was Brandon even here?

And that ominous mana she had felt back then…..

Was it him?

"Sis."

"Brandon!?"

Belle—who had just opened her eyes, responded.

But at that moment.

"Hieeeeaa—!"

A sudden silhouette—like apparition stood right in front of her, sucking the soul out of Belle's body. She shuddered from fear as all the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

"It's me…."

The whisper was rather hoarse, as if it was exhausted.

No, not it.

"Brandon?"

"Follow…. Me…"

The silhouette faded and reappeared way ahead of Belle, urging for Belle to rush towards it.

'So he's the reason behind all this?'

The mana signature gradually became closer, and the sound of the stampede grew louder and louder, giving Belle a sense of unease.

"We've got no time for this, Brandon!"

However, her brother didn't respond. The silhouette continued to fade and appear way ahead of Belle—instantly traversing the mist.

"They're comi—"

But Belle couldn't finish her sentence.

How could she? When her brother looked bruised and disheveled, leaning his limp figure on a boulder.

Water bottles and wrappers scattered on the ground, and amidst all the mess, was Brandon, who looked like he hadn't slept a wink for a year.

It was a total mess.

He was a total mess.

"What happened to you….?"

"Don't worry."

Brandon, who had bags under his eyes, met her gaze. Belle's brows furrowed out of concern.

"Explain everything to me later. We've got no time!"

Belle cut straight to the point and neared Brandon, offering her shoulder as support.

"Don't."

However, Brandon refused her offer, limply holding his hand up.

"What do you mean don't?"

Belle exclaimed.

"I don't know what's going on. But we have to get out of here!"

"I'll stay here. You go ahead…."

"Brandon, now's not the time to play the hero. You're in no condition to move even!"

Belle's concern flowed out of her mouth and her expressions distorted. What is Brandon even thinking?

There was no way she would allow her brother to die in this place. Not here, not anywhere.

Never.

"Let them come…. Cough…!"

Brandon whispered, then coughed.

"What?"

"Trust me."

"...."

"If you want to stay, then don't ask. But I advise you to…. Cough…! Go!"

Ask?

"What are you—"

Belle turned around. All sorts of monsters that reside in the forest—monsters that Belle had been fighting for the past month, began to emerge within the mist.

To her shock, there were far more than she had ever anticipated.

"Brandon…."

However, as Belle turned to glance at where Brandon was laying….

"...."

He was gone.

Swoosh—!

Belle felt the cold mist brush through her skin, its smoky white mist flowing, scattering. It felt as if something had just phased through her.

And it was then.

Voooosh——!

The sound of flames crackled from behind her, and Belle turned around, only to see amethyst hues rippling—obscured by the mist.

The sound of screams echoed. But it wasn't Brandon's scream.

It was the monsters.