Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 48: [47] The final battle for survival

-Arkan Lawrence-

Flashback

It was midnight, the chill of the night biting into my skin as I stood in the dense forest near the cavern. The hardened ground surrounding the area reflected the pale moonlight, casting eerie shadows across the rocky terrain. With only a faint glow to guide me, I needed to devise a plan—a trap strong enough to incapacitate the colossal centipede.

I strained my memory, recalling the details from the novel.

In the original story, Rainer faced off against the centipede and lost due to his lack of motivation and focus. The creature used the opportunity to land a devastating strike, leaving Rainer unconscious. At that moment, the cave ceiling collapsed, allowing the centipede to escape to the surface and wreak havoc on the nearby village.

This time, I had to ensure that everything played out differently.

Crouching down, I ran my hands over the terrain.

"If I remember correctly, this area has weak ground underneath. Natural caverns or hollow pockets, which is probably why the centipede can navigate underground so easily," I muttered to myself.

I scratched my head, trying to recall the rudimentary geology lessons from my previous life. My knowledge was limited and distant, but I was certain this terrain could be destabilized if subjected to sufficient pressure.

I rummaged through my bag, laying out my supplies: makeshift explosives I had crafted earlier, ropes, and sturdy wooden stakes I had collected along the way.

"Alright, here’s the plan," I said, organizing my thoughts aloud.

Step 1: Create a Controlled Collapse

I would exploit the natural weaknesses in the terrain. By planting explosives at key structural points, I could cause a controlled collapse. If the centipede stood atop the area during the collapse, its massive weight would force it deeper into the newly formed sinkhole, rendering it immobilized.

Step 2: Leverage the Environment

I scanned the surroundings, noting the large boulders and fallen trees scattered nearby. These could serve as barriers to direct the centipede’s movements toward the trap. The tree trunks, in particular, could be rigged as makeshift levers to give me additional force if needed.

Step 3: Timing and Impact

"If the explosion is too big, I’ll destroy the entire area—and probably myself along with it. But if it’s too small, the centipede won’t even notice," I muttered, a frown creasing my face.

Working quickly, I dug shallow holes at strategic points, using my knife as a makeshift shovel. Into each hole, I buried the explosives, carefully concealing them beneath the dirt.

Next, I rigged tripwires around the trap zone, creating a simple mechanism to trigger the collapse when the centipede passed through.

"This had better work," I muttered as I secured the final explosive.

For added insurance, I planned to lure the centipede to this exact spot and use the natural terrain to amplify the trap’s impact. At least when it emerged aboveground, the weakened surface would seal its fate.

Satisfied with the preparations, I leaned back on my heels, wiping sweat from my brow despite the cold. "Let’s hope I calculated this correctly," I whispered, looking up at the pale moon as if seeking reassurance.

Today

"This is a one-shot deal," I muttered, sweat dripping down my face despite the cavern’s freezing air.

The colossal centipede screeched, its deafening cry reverberating throughout the chamber as its massive, writhing body thrashed violently. The cavern walls quaked, sending small rocks tumbling from above.

The weight of the bomb in my hand felt overwhelming—a tiny device that held the potential to determine life or death for not just me but the entire village above.

"I can’t mess this up," I whispered, steadying my breathing.

The centipede reared its massive front end, its jaws gaping wide as it prepared to lunge. Its glowing red eyes locked onto me like a predator eying its prey.

In that moment, I dashed forward, adrenaline surging through my veins. Leaping with every ounce of strength I had, I landed on its massive, scaly head.

"Hold on!" I yelled at myself, gripping the jagged ridges of its armor-like exoskeleton.

The beast thrashed violently, shaking its entire body in an attempt to dislodge me. My hands clawed for purchase, finding uneven ridges to cling to despite the creature’s relentless movements.

The bomb remained clutched in my other hand, the fuse already prepped. My only goal was to throw it at the weakest point of the cavern ceiling.

"Now!"

I heaved the bomb upward with all my might. It soared through the air, striking the precise spot where I had planted my explosives earlier.

BOOM!

The initial blast shook the entire chamber, triggering a series of smaller explosions that reverberated in a chain reaction. Cracks spread like lightning bolts across the ceiling, releasing debris that rained down onto the centipede.

The creature let out a guttural roar, its balance faltering as massive chunks of rock crashed onto its body.

With the creature momentarily stunned, I released my grip and leaped off its back. The fall sent a sharp pain shooting through my ankle, but I had no time to assess the damage.

The ceiling groaned ominously, heralding the impending collapse. I scrambled to safety, wincing at every step. Behind me, the centipede continued thrashing, desperate to free itself from the cascading rubble.

But it was too late.

The trap worked exactly as planned. Rocks piled atop the creature’s enormous frame, pinning it to the ground. Viscous green blood oozed from its wounds as its deafening roars weakened into faint whimpers.

I collapsed to the floor, my chest heaving as I struggled to breathe through the suffocating dust.

"It’s over..." I whispered hoarsely, staring at the motionless monstrosity. My body ached, my mind spun, but one thought kept me conscious: I did it.

Third-Person Perspective

The village’s stillness shattered into chaos as screams echoed through its once-quiet streets. From children to elders, everyone felt an unbearable pain coursing through their bodies, as if something essential was being siphoned away. Energy—the very essence of their lives—was being drawn toward an unseen point of convergence.

In front of the church, Reverend Howard collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest, his face contorted in agony. "What... what is this? The necklaces... these accursed tools... how could this happen?!" he gasped, his voice tinged with both disbelief and guilt.

Fragments of memories clouded his mind, and a dreadful realization dawned on him.

Clara.

It had been her all along. The one he trusted, the one he treated like a younger sister, had orchestrated the village’s suffering from within. But amidst his anger, one thought consumed him.

"Why, Clara...? Why?"

-Arkan Lawrence-

Dragging my bruised and battered body out of the cavern, every breath felt like a struggle. My legs felt like they carried lead, and my lungs burned, but the overwhelming reality was clear.

I was alive.

The centipede—the monstrous creature that had nearly destroyed everything—was finally dead. I glanced back at the massive heap of rubble burying its body.

"It’s... over," I muttered under my breath, trying to believe the words.

But the moment of relief was fleeting. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

A faint tremor rippled through the ground beneath my feet, subtle at first, but rapidly intensifying. The air itself began to feel heavy, tinged with a suffocating pressure.

"What now...?" I whispered, my voice shaking.

Turning around, my heart sank.

The rubble behind me began to glow with an ominous crimson light, piercing through cracks and gaps in the stones. The glow was alive—pulsating, expanding, as if whatever lay beneath the debris was fighting to emerge.

"No... this isn’t possible."

A deafening roar shattered the air, a monstrous sound far louder than anything I had heard before. The rocks exploded outward, scattering like deadly projectiles as the ground beneath me trembled violently.

And then I saw it.

The centipede’s body rose from the ruins, its form larger and more menacing than before. The jagged carapace that had once been dull was now glowing with a fiery crimson hue, pulsating with raw energy. Its wounds, which I thought had been fatal, were gone.

The creature wasn’t just alive—it was reborn.

"No... no way. I killed you!" I shouted, terror gripping my chest.

The centipede screeched, the sound reverberating through the cavern and sending waves of pain through my ears. Each of its movements sent shockwaves that nearly knocked me off my feet.

Then it hit me. The energy. The glowing necklaces. The villagers’ pain.

All of it had been feeding this creature. The monster had used the very life force of the villagers to revive itself.

"No... it can’t be..."

Frustration, fear, and anger swirled within me like a raging storm.

"Why? Why is this happening?!"

I clenched my fists, every muscle in my body trembling. I had taken every risk, played every card. And still... this thing came back stronger than ever.

"It’s not fair," I whispered, but I knew self-pity wouldn’t get me anywhere.

In the corner of my vision, I caught sight of the tunnel leading back to where I had left Rainer.

Rainer.

He was still there, unconscious, oblivious to the chaos unfolding outside.

If I didn’t act now, not only would Rainer perish, but the villagers, the entire area—everything—would fall to this creature.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself. Fear would not serve me now.

"Alright, Arkan," I muttered under my breath. "There’s no time to quit."

Reaching down, I drew my dagger, the blade trembling in my grip. I knew full well this weapon was laughable against a monster of this size, but I didn’t care.

"If you want to destroy everything, you’ll have to go through me first, you bastard!" I yelled, locking eyes with the centipede’s glowing red orbs.

The monster responded with a thunderous roar, rearing back, its massive jaws snapping open to reveal rows of jagged, bloodstained teeth.

My grip tightened on the dagger, my heart pounding like a war drum. The ground quaked as the centipede lunged forward, its massive frame blotting out the faint light that filtered through the cavern.

This is it.

The final battle for survival.