The Author Reincarnated As An Extra-Chapter 58: • A Deal

Their eyes remained locked as the other participants moved across the battlefield. The sound of water splashing, moving in waves and boats creaking filled the air as they regrouped.

Those whose original teams were still intact, found each other with sighs of relief. While others, having lost their companions, sought new allies.

Throughout, discussion was rampant. The conversation was mostly about what had just occurred.

Normally, one would have to kill a beast and if lucky, they could be granted an Echo — a spiritual manifestation of the beast made physical. But the silver haired boy had just corrupted one that was still alive, turning it to a loyal soldier without making it an Echo first.

It was fascinating.

Besides that, there was an unspoken understanding that the remaining few of them in this Corridor needed each other to survive. So the subtle tension was still there.

Amidst the shifting alliances, two figures stood apart from the rest, their gazes locked in an unwavering battle of wills.

Elora and Deremiah.

Ever since he’d locked eyes on her from the crowd, their gazes had not left each other. Elora ended up being the first to make a move.

She stepped down from her boat, her boots sinking slightly into the shallow water as ripples spread around her ankles. She did not break eye contact and slowly advanced toward him, her steps deliberate and measured.

Deremiah watched her, remaining still with an unreadable posture. Seeing that she had a fair distance to walk before reaching him, he issued the Sentinel, still kneeling behind him, a command, without looking away from Elora.

"Aldus, stay here."

Then, he lifted one leg above the edge, he descended from his boat, sinking one foot into the water before the other.

He began to walk towards her.

They mirrored each other, closing the distance like they were two predators circling before the strike.

Some of the participants curiously glanced at them, Varion and Sarah included, while for the two of them, the surroundings seemed to still until they were merely ten inches apart, the tension between them thick enough to suffocate.

Elora was the first to speak.

"You followed me," she whispered accusingly, realizing that everything he’d told her had been the truth. "and you were all but searching for the best time to kill me."

Deremiah’s expression did not waver. He nodded once. "I was."

Frustration built up within Elora. She did well not to show it, even as her face met his steady, unrepentant gaze.

In the halls of the Dawn Temple, she had mastered her emotions long ago. But somehow, now, she found them slipping through her grasp.

This Deremiah was truly vexing.

"If you make any attempt to kill me," she said, her voice edged with steel, "I will not hesitate to slaughter you with my sword."

Deremiah smiled. Not an amused one. But one of agreement and understanding. "I don’t expect you to." he said.

Then he leaned closer. "But maybe we can make a deal."

A deal...?

"A deal?" she echoed her thoughts externally, her wariness deepening.

"Yes." Deremiah appeared more serious. "Perhaps we can escape ruining this strange friendship we have if we work together rather than against each other."

She narrowed her eyes. "What are you proposing?"

His composure turned stoic, voice almost indifferent. "I don’t have to kill you and I don’t think you would particularly assist me in killing any other High Marked Participant, either."

He continued, "So, help me hunt and kill a Forsaken-Ranked Paragon, and I can eat its liver. That way, I can increase my Marks without having to kill you."

Elora almost scoffed. "You can try to kill me if you want, I do not fear you."

"That’s not true," Deremiah said in a matter-of-fact manner. He gazed into her crimson eyes for a moment, watching them flicker against his face with hesitation, worry and confusion.

He’d been using [Pale Reflection] to discern her true emotions all this while. She couldn’t lie to him.

Elora studied him for an even longer moment, deciding not to deny those words and only wondered if she could trust him.

"You’re a Voidmancer," she said at last, her voice low. "Corruption and deceit are usually your way, and you’ve already proven to be capable of both. I don’t know if I can trust you... Deremiah."

Deremiah squeezed his purple gaze at her. "I had your life in my hands once," he reminded her. "And I had every reason to end it then. But I didn’t. That should count for something. That is all the trust you need."

Elora exhaled slowly, remembering waking up in the boat, after thinking death had finally caught up to her.

Wondering how long he was going to use this against her, she nodded. "Alright. I will help you kill a Forsaken Paragon. However, I do need to be stronger before then. I can not battle a Forsaken Rank in this state. Hopefully before we see one, I would’ve gained more power."

Deremiah didn’t reply to that. He reached into his pocket and produced a diamond-shaped oval object, dark and glistening with malevolent energy. "Take this."

Elora looked at it first then accepted it, turning it over in her palm. "A Corrupted-Rank Soul Core," she murmured, noting its size and shape. "MoltenShark, by the looks of it. You’re giving it to me?"

Deremiah shrugged. "You said you need to get stronger. I also need you to get stronger so you don’t die on me."

She arched a brow. "Do you not want to get stronger yourself?"

"I do," he replied with a heave of breath. "But until I eat the Forsaken Paragon’s liver, that’s not very possible. In the meantime, there’s another Soul Core I can claim."

He turned his head toward the colossal corpse of the Goliath Mammoth. Elora looked as well. Other participants had already begun to scale its massive frame, attempting to reach the core buried deep in its chest. Others stood at the edge of the chasm, contemplating ways to retrieve it.

Without turning back, Deremiah called on his corrupted soldier. "Aldus?"

At his command, the Stone Sentinel rose, its monstrous form moving with robotic preciseness.

It stomped toward the mammoth’s body, its moving presence sending the scavengers into retreat. They scrambled away, abandoning their efforts, and jumping into their boats in fear.

Then, the towering figure began to carve open the beast’s chest to retrieve the Soul Core.

Watching as it happened, Elora still couldn’t believe her eyes.

A voice, soft and hesitant, broke the moment. "Hey."

Deremiah turned. Beside Elora stood Cestrel, her hands twisting nervously. Elora turned as well, relief crossing her features once she recognized the noble girl. "You are unharmed? I saw you fall into the river."

Cestrel nodded. "Yes. These two saved me." She gestured behind her, and two figures stepped forward.

Varion and Sarah.

Deremiah felt his breath catch for the briefest moment.

He knew this was going to happen, but it was finally here. He was face to face with yet — another pair of main characters.

The siblings. Both red-haired, standing side by side, though Varion’s skin was darker than Sarah’s.

As he’d described in the novel, their attire was distinct from others because they came from a family of leather makers and tailors.

Varion was in a reinforced leather coat with segmented armor along his arms, Sarah in a sleek, layered ensemble designed for both speed and protection.

Both of their weapons — the twin bows — were not visible, but their quivers were carefully secured behind them, magical arrows ready to be drawn at a moment’s notice.

Varion’s eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto Deremiah with quiet scrutiny.

Before the silence could stretch, Aldus returned, holding the extracted Soul Core. With a silent nod, Deremiah took it and sunk it into his pocket.

Then, he gave Aldus a different order. "Aldus, depart."

The Stone Sentinel instantly erupted into a mass of dark purple goo, which surged into Deremiah’s body like a living thing. His eyes briefly flashed with an eerie glow before he exhaled, steadying himself.

They all watched this, completely lost for words for a while.

Varion finally spoke. "I’m Varion. This is my sister, Sarah."

Sarah waved at him slightly and smiled.

Deremiah gave two of them a cool nod before saying, "My name is Deremiah"

"Deremiah," Varion said with a grin. "That’s a familiar name."

Eyes narrowed.

Before more could be said, the air around them shimmered and multiple portals appeared, signaling the participants to leave the Corridor.

[This Corridor has been cleared and will self-destruct in 60 seconds.]

[Enter the Portal to continue to your next Trial.]

Deremiah turned to Elora. "Let’s go." Then he turned around and headed towards a portal, one he saw no one had walked through yet.

Elora and Cestrel began to follow, but Varion took a step forward, halting Deremiah with his voice. "Wait. Can we come with you?"

"Mhm?" He stopped, silent for a long moment. Then, he turned around and to everyone’s surprise, he said, "No."

Varion blinked. "What?"

Deremiah’s maintained an unreadable expression.

"It’s important that you and your sister stay together. Always. I’m not sure that being with me would be a good idea." He paused, glancing at his feet. "Besides, there’s someone else inside the Gates that you’ll form a great team with. I won’t stand in the way of that."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked into the portal. Elora gave Varion and Sarah a final glance, and Cestrel waved before following.

Varion stood still, watching their figures disappear. Then he exhaled sharply. "Seriously, who the hell is that guy?"

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at f(r)eew𝒆bnov𝒆l.com Only