The Extra Who Inherited Ragnarok

For the first time since the tournament began, there was no event.

No arena.

No countdown.

No contestants charging across a battlefield.

Hildgard had been given a single day to recover.

But nobody was treating it like a holiday.

The relic incident had changed the atmosphere.

Whispers followed every academy.

The three moons.

The ancient chamber.

The strange figure.

Joseph Yonder.

And most of all...

Noah Blackwood.

Noah sat alone in one of Hildgard’s quieter training courtyards.

His hands rested against his knees.

He had spent nearly an hour trying to summon Ragnarok.

Nothing.

Only ordinary orange flames appeared.

He extinguished them.

Tried again.

Nothing.

"Good."

He leaned backward.

"That’s probably better."

A voice came from behind him.

"Talking to yourself?"

Noah turned.

Laura stood there.

"No."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Looked like it."

"I was training."

"Without moving?"

"I was training mentally."

Laura smiled.

"That’s convenient."

Noah laughed.

She sat beside him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Laura looked at his hand.

"Try again."

Noah glanced at her.

"Why?"

"Because you’re avoiding it."

Noah sighed.

He raised his hand.

Orange fire appeared.

Laura watched carefully.

"Now push."

Noah concentrated.

The flame intensified.

Orange.

Brighter.

Hotter.

Then...

A tiny maroon spark appeared.

Noah immediately extinguished the flame.

Laura’s expression changed.

"You saw it."

"Yeah."

"Did you feel anything?"

Noah nodded.

"It felt like someone touching the back of my mind."

Laura went quiet.

"Did you hear a voice?"

"No."

Noah looked at her.

"Not this time."

Laura seemed relieved.

"Good."

A sudden shout came from across the courtyard.

"NOAH!"

Eric came running toward them.

Noah smiled.

"What’s wrong?"

Eric stopped to catch his breath.

"You’re both impossible to find."

Laura looked at him.

"Why were you looking for us?"

Eric held up a folded sheet.

"The tournament organizers released the next event schedule."

Noah took it.

He unfolded the paper.

EVENT NINE

TACTICAL RELAY

Below it was another announcement.

EVENT TEN

INDIVIDUAL ELIMINATION

And beneath that...

FINAL EVENT

ACADEMY DOMINION

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

"The final event already?"

Eric shook his head.

"Not immediately. There’s still plenty before that."

Damien approached from behind.

"Several events have been moved because of the relic incident."

He pointed at the schedule.

"The organizers want to accelerate the tournament."

Laura frowned.

"Why?"

Damien looked toward the distant arena.

"Because they’re worried."

Noah folded the schedule.

"About the ruins?"

"About everything."

Across the city, the academy headmasters were holding another meeting.

The Hildgard representative stood before them.

"The tournament must continue."

The headmaster of Asgard folded his arms.

"After yesterday?"

"We cannot allow fear to dictate the tournament."

The Elementro headmaster looked toward the window.

"The moons are still behaving abnormally."

"They’ve returned to normal."

"For now."

Silence.

Then the Volstra headmaster spoke.

"What about the contestants?"

"They’re being monitored."

"And Joseph Yonder?"

The room became quiet.

The Asgard headmaster’s expression hardened.

"Joseph is under our supervision."

The Hildgard representative nodded.

"Good."

But nobody mentioned the strange reports.

Several contestants had claimed Joseph attacked them during the earlier events.

Others claimed he’d protected them.

His behavior was becoming impossible to predict.

Joseph sat alone in an empty training room.

His hands rested on his knees.

His eyes were closed.

The black-orange energy appeared around his fingers.

Then disappeared.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Joseph opened his eyes.

"Who are you?"

Nothing.

He clenched his fist.

"Who gave me those orders?"

Silence.

He stared at the floor.

He remembered the conversation.

The voice.

The instructions.

The person he thought he’d been speaking to.

But now...

The memory didn’t feel right.

Something was missing.

A face.

A name.

A presence.

As if someone had carefully cut the person out of his memory.

Joseph’s breathing became heavier.

Then a faint voice whispered:

"You don’t need to remember."

Joseph froze.

His eyes widened.

"Show yourself."

"You already know me."

"I don’t."

The black-orange energy erupted.

BOOM!

The room shook.

Joseph slammed his fist into the floor.

"I said show yourself!"

Nothing answered.

Then...

A faint image appeared in front of him.

A distorted figure.

Its face couldn’t be seen.

Joseph stared.

"Who are you?"

The figure smiled.

"Someone who wants the same thing you do."

Joseph’s expression hardened.

"What?"

"Victory."

The illusion vanished.

Joseph remained motionless.

He didn’t know it yet...

but the person manipulating him had never been far away.

Meanwhile, Noah walked through Hildgard with Laura.

The city had returned to its usual rhythm.

Restaurants were open.

Merchants filled the streets.

Students from different academies gathered together.

For a brief moment, the tournament felt normal again.

Then Noah noticed someone across the street.

Alcris.

He was standing alone.

Their eyes met.

Alcris smiled.

Noah didn’t.

Laura noticed.

"Again?"

"Yeah."

Alcris crossed the street.

He stopped several meters away.

"Enjoying your day off?"

Noah shrugged.

"Trying to."

Alcris smiled.

"Good."

His eyes briefly shifted toward Laura.

Then back to Noah.

"You know..."

He paused.

"The tournament has only just started."

Noah frowned.

"What are you getting at?"

Alcris’s smile widened.

"Nothing."

He stepped backward.

"Just don’t get eliminated before we get the chance to fight."

Then he walked away.

Laura watched him.

"He’s hiding something."

Noah nodded.

"I know."

She looked at him.

"And you’re going to investigate."

"No."

Laura smiled.

"Really?"

"No."

"Good."

Noah looked toward Alcris’s disappearing figure.

"I’m going to wait."

Laura nodded.

"Much better."

Neither of them noticed Alcris looking back from the end of the street.

His expression had lost its friendliness.

His eyes were cold.

And beneath his sleeve...

A faint energy moved through his hand.

He whispered:

"Enjoy your little break, Noah."

His smile returned.

"Because soon..."

He closed his fist.

"...I’ll start taking things from you."

The day of rest ended quickly.

By sunrise, the streets of Hildgard were crowded again.

Students poured toward the arena from every direction, academy uniforms filling the city with different colors and symbols.

The tournament had regained its noise.

But beneath that excitement was something different.

Caution.

Everyone remembered what had happened inside the relic chamber.

Nobody knew whether the ancient phenomenon was truly over.

The organizers clearly hoped it was.

The contestants weren’t so sure.

Noah stood inside the preparation hall with Laura, Luna, and Damien.

A massive projection displayed the rules for the next event.

EVENT NINE

TACTICAL RELAY

Rules:

Teams consist of four contestants.Each contestant must complete one section of the course.The course contains combat, movement, traps, and environmental obstacles.Contestants may interfere with opposing teams.The first teams to complete the course receive the highest points.Defeated contestants may be replaced only by a registered reserve.

Damien read everything carefully.

"So this isn’t just a race."

"No," Laura said.

She pointed toward the projected course.

"It’s four separate stages."

The first section showed a forest.

The second was a ruined city.

The third was a mountain path.

The fourth was an enormous tower.

Noah smiled.

"Sounds fun."

Laura looked at him.

"You say that every time something looks dangerous."

"It’s usually true."

Damien sighed.

"We need a strategy."

Luna quietly pointed at the first section.

"I’ll take the forest."

Everyone looked at her.

She continued.

"I’m better at moving without being noticed."

Damien nodded.

"Good."

Laura pointed toward the ruined city.

"I’ll take this."

Noah looked at the mountain section.

"I’ll take the third."

Damien smiled.

"Then I’ll handle the tower."

Noah nodded.

"Perfect."

A voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Already decided?"

They turned.

Eric stood there.

Noah smiled.

"You aren’t competing."

"I know."

Eric crossed his arms.

"I’m just here to remind you that if you lose, I’m going to laugh."

Laura smiled.

"Very supportive."

"I try."

The announcement sounded.

"Contestants, report to your starting positions."

Noah looked at his team.

"Let’s win."

Laura nodded.

Luna gave a small smile.

Damien tightened his gloves.

The four entered the arena.

The sight stunned Noah.

The entire battlefield had been transformed into an enormous interconnected course.

Thousands of spectators filled the stands.

Flags from all fifteen academies hung above the arena.

The headmasters watched from their platforms.

At the center stood the Hildgard representative.

"Today, strength alone will not determine victory!"

The crowd cheered.

"Speed!"

Another roar.

"Adaptability!"

The cheering grew louder.

"And most importantly..."

He raised his hand.

"TEAMWORK!"

The arena exploded with noise.

Noah looked toward the other teams.

Elementro had Reinham, Flora, John, and another prospect.

Asgard had Jordan, Christina, Adrian, and Hastral.

Volstra had Alcris and three other contestants.

Milgard had its own group.

So did Niflheim, Freya, Jotun, Skadi, Veynholm, Kingsguard, and the remaining academies.

Fifteen academies.

Sixty contestants.

One course.

And no room for hesitation.

The starting horn sounded.

BOOOOOONG!

Luna immediately vanished into the forest.

She moved between the trees without making a sound.

Three opposing contestants entered behind her.

One spotted her.

"There!"

Luna disappeared.

The contestant swung.

Nothing.

Then Luna appeared behind him.

A precise strike.

He collapsed.

She continued.

Another contestant tried to intercept her.

She changed direction.

A trap activated beneath him.

BOOM!

Luna glanced backward.

"...Convenient."

She continued deeper into the forest.

Her marker flashed.

SECTION ONE: 42% COMPLETE

At the same time, Laura entered the ruined city.

The buildings were artificial, but incredibly detailed.

Broken streets.

Collapsed towers.

Narrow alleys.

Several contestants were already fighting.

Laura didn’t slow down.

A fighter from Freya Academy landed in front of her.

"You’re Laura Esteria."

Laura stopped.

"Yes."

"I’ve heard about you."

He smiled.

"Let’s see if you’re actually—"

Laura disappeared.

He barely saw her move.

WHAM!

She struck his chest.

He flew backward through a broken doorway.

Laura didn’t even look back.

"Sorry."

Her marker updated.

SECTION TWO: 18% COMPLETE

Then another contestant landed ahead of her.

A tall girl from Elementro.

Silver-blue hair.

Sharp eyes.

She raised her weapon.

"Laura Esteria."

Laura stopped.

"You know me too?"

"Everyone knows you."

The girl smiled.

"But I wanted to see for myself."

Laura raised her weapon.

"Then come."

Their weapons collided.

CLANG!

The impact shattered several nearby windows.

The crowd roared.

Meanwhile, Noah reached the mountain section.

He looked upward.

The path stretched almost vertically.

At least twenty contestants were already climbing.

Noah sighed.

"Of course."

A massive stone beast suddenly emerged from the cliff.

Its eyes glowed.

The creature roared.

Noah grinned.

"Okay."

His fist ignited.

"Now this is more like it."

He launched himself upward.

BOOM!

His fist struck the creature’s jaw.

The beast staggered.

Noah landed on its shoulder.

It tried to shake him off.

Noah grabbed one of its horns.

"You’re making this harder than it needs to be."

The creature roared.

Noah’s flames intensified.

Then...

A tiny maroon spark appeared.

Noah froze.

His smile disappeared.

"No."

The spark vanished.

The creature attacked.

Noah dodged.

He struck again.

This time, only orange fire.

The beast crashed down the mountain.

Noah continued climbing.

His marker flashed.

SECTION THREE: 51% COMPLETE

Far above the arena, Alcris watched the screens.

His perception activated.

He wasn’t interested in the overall rankings.

He was watching Noah’s energy.

Every punch.

Every movement.

Every flame.

Then he saw it.

The maroon spark.

Alcris’s eyes widened.

"There."

He smiled.

"So you’re still there."

A voice came from beside him.

"You seem interested."

Alcris turned.

Daniela.

She watched him carefully.

"What are you looking at?"

Alcris smiled innocently.

"The match."

Daniela didn’t believe him.

"You’ve been watching Noah for almost the entire event."

"He’s entertaining."

"That’s not why."

Alcris’s smile remained.

"Maybe you’re overthinking things."

Daniela stepped closer.

"Maybe."

She looked toward the battlefield.

"But I’m starting to think you’re hiding something from me."

For the first time, Alcris’s expression became completely still.

Then he smiled again.

"You always were perceptive."

Daniela’s eyes narrowed.

"What does that mean?"

Alcris turned toward the arena.

"Nothing."

Below them, Noah reached the top of the mountain.

His eyes met the giant tower ahead.

The final section.

But before he could move...

A figure landed beside him.

Jordan.

Lightning crackled around his body.

He smiled.

"Race you."

Noah laughed.

"You’re on."

The two sprinted toward the tower.

And behind them...

A faint maroon flame flickered once in Noah’s shadow.

Alcris saw it.

His smile returned.