Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 69: [68] A Warrior’s Instinct

-Rainer Astoria-

Two days of discussing military structure with Arkan should have given me a clear idea of what to do. However, reality was far from that simple. Today, I had interviewed more than ten mercenary candidates, and only two met the standards. Even then, I accepted them begrudgingly, as while they were skilled, their asking price was absurdly high.

Damn it, you people have no shame!

I walked through the city streets with heavy steps, trying to calm my frustration. Arkan’s territory was indeed developing, but that didn’t justify these mercenaries’ greed. Three people, including myself, wouldn’t be enough to establish a military foundation. We needed at least five to start, yet every candidate I met only added to my headache.

Should I just recruit anyone I could find? No way! If I did that and Arkan found out, he would surely be disappointed.

Lost in thought, I didn’t realize how far I had wandered from the city center until I found myself in a quieter area. Then, the scent hit me. The strong, metallic stench of blood. I stopped in my tracks, my body tensing instantly. The smell came from a man who had just passed by me.

I turned my head swiftly.

The man wore a tattered cloak stained with blood, as if he had just walked out of a battlefield. His steps were relaxed, yet there was a cautious precision to them, as if he knew someone might be watching.

Who is he? My instincts as a warrior immediately flared. A scent that thick with blood couldn’t come from an ordinary wound. This was the scent of death.

I decided to follow him from a safe distance, ensuring my steps were silent and unnoticeable. The man walked past the fortress walls, heading toward a narrow path rarely traveled. When he finally stopped in an area surrounded by tall trees, I knew it was time to confront him.

"Stop!" I called out, my voice firm but not too loud.

The man halted but didn’t turn around. Instead, he simply stood there, motionless like a statue. A light breeze swayed the edges of his cloak, revealing a glimpse of the attire beneath—an old, black military uniform.

"Who are you?" I asked again, my hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of my sword.

Finally, he turned slowly, revealing his face. His sharp eyes held an unsettling darkness, filled with an unspoken threat. A faint smirk played at the corner of his lips—more of a sneer than a smile.

"You followed me, and now you’re asking who I am? How amusing."

His tone put me on high alert. This man was no ordinary person. His gaze was like that of a predator—cold, piercing, and as if he could see right through me.

"I just want to know why someone drenched in the scent of blood is roaming the city," I responded, keeping my tone steady.

He let out a small chuckle but didn’t answer. Instead, he took a slow, deliberate step toward me.

"And I want to know," he said in a low, pressuring voice, "why a young noble like you is so interested in my business?"

I stiffened. How did he know I was a noble? Even though I wasn’t wearing a uniform or a family crest, this man had deduced my status with just a glance.

"I can smell the arrogance on you," he continued before I could reply. "It’s the distinct scent of someone used to giving orders."

I gritted my teeth, suppressing my irritation. "You still haven’t answered my question. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

He stopped a few steps away from me, his hand slowly reaching for the hilt of the long sword strapped to his back. I immediately drew my weapon, ready for anything.

"Me?" He smiled coldly. "I’m just a soldier discarded by this world. A shadow of the past, someone who no longer holds any significance."

My sword gleamed under the fading sunlight. "You sound like a criminal," I said sharply.

"A criminal?" He chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with cynicism. "Perhaps. But whether I’m truly a criminal or just a victim of a broken system depends on who’s telling the story."

I felt my blood simmer. "If you claim innocence, then prove it by answering my question. Why does the stench of blood cling to you so strongly?"

His eyes locked onto mine, the icy smirk never leaving his face. "Because I just cleaned up some trash. A bunch of foolish bandits who thought they could play with me."

I didn’t know if he was telling the truth or merely provoking me. But before I could respond, he slowly lifted his sword, pointing it directly at me.

"How about we settle this the warrior’s way?" he suggested. "Blade against blade. If you win, I’ll answer all your questions."

I tightened my grip on my sword, meeting his gaze filled with challenge. "Fine. But don’t regret it if this ends badly for you."

He merely smiled, as if he already knew the outcome. "I never regret anything."

With that, we prepared for battle. The wind howled through the trees, carrying a tension so thick it felt almost tangible. I knew this wouldn’t be an ordinary fight. My opponent wasn’t just strong—he was an enigma. I had to give it my all. Not just to win, but to uncover the truth behind this mysterious man.

I raised my spear. It was cumbersome to carry, but for some reason, it had always felt like an extension of myself.

"A spear? I didn’t notice before. Has your pride fallen so low that you wield a commoner’s weapon?"

"A weapon is still a weapon—it all depends on how I use it. Or... are you afraid?"

"Heh... Let’s see how you talk after I slit your throat!"

The wind between the trees grew stronger, as if warning us that this battle would be fierce. I tightened my grip on my spear, its tip aimed directly at the man before me. My eyes remained locked onto his, unwavering.

He smirked, his stance relaxed yet brimming with confidence.

With a swift motion, he unsheathed his long sword, the blade glinting under the sun. "You’ve got guts, kid," he taunted. "But guts alone won’t be enough to beat me."

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Don’t get provoked. Focus on his movements. Watch for openings.

I knew this man wasn’t ordinary. Even in the way he stood, I could see years of battle experience ingrained into his very being. He was like an old wolf—one that knew exactly when to strike and when to wait.

Without warning, he moved. His steps were light yet fast, almost like a shadow. Within seconds, his sword was already slicing toward my shoulder.

I spun swiftly, my spear twirling to intercept the strike. The clash of metal rang through the air with a sharp clang! The impact reverberated up my arm.

"Not bad," he murmured, his grin widening. "But you’ll have to do better than that."

He increased the pressure, forcing me to step back. I dug my foot into the ground, using the tip of my spear to push back against him. But he didn’t give me time to think. With a swift movement, he twisted his sword to the other side, aiming for my waist.

I jumped back, swinging my spear forward to maintain distance. "You talk a lot, but none of your attacks have put me on the defensive yet," I taunted.

His eyes narrowed, and his smirk slowly faded. "You want me to be serious? Fine. I’ll be serious."

In an instant, his movements changed. He became faster, more aggressive. His sword spun like a storm, attacking from multiple angles. I barely had time to breathe, deflecting each strike with the tip of my spear. Every impact sent numbing vibrations up my arm.

Too fast... He was overwhelming me, but... I glanced at his feet. Despite his speed, there was a pattern to his movements. A pattern I could read.

When his sword came down from above, I raised my spear, blocking the attack while stepping to the side. With a swift motion, I spun my spear and swung it toward his legs. He leaped back, but that gave me the space I needed.

"I’m starting to understand," I said, a small smile forming despite the heaviness in my body. "You rely on speed, but you don’t pay attention to the rhythm of your movements. That’s your weakness."

His face hardened. "Big words for someone who’s running out of breath."

He attacked again, this time even more fiercely. But I was ready. I waited for the right moment, carefully reading his movements. When his sword slashed from the right, I twisted my spear to parry, then spun my body quickly. The tip of my spear shot forward like a serpent, aimed at his shoulder.

He was caught off guard, trying to dodge—but too late. My spear grazed his shoulder, drawing fresh blood.

He leaped back, his eyes now filled with irritation. "You... are truly annoying."

I lifted my spear, its tip gleaming with his blood. "I told you, any weapon can be deadly in the right hands."

But I knew this wasn’t over. He still had energy left, and I needed to brace myself for what came next.

A surge of Force pulsed through my body, wrapping around my muscles and bones with an intensity that made my blood boil. The blue aura around me flickered wildly, sending a heavy pressure through the air.

The man before me—his wound still dripping with blood—let out a crazed laugh, his eyes narrowing as if he had just found an exciting new toy.

"Hah! What’s this? A Force battle in a place like this?!" he shouted with excitement. "Do you serve the lord of this land?"

I tightened my grip on my spear, adjusting my balance on the crumbling battlefield. My breathing was heavy, but I couldn’t afford to show weakness. "I serve no one," I said in a low voice. "I fight for myself."

"Good! That’s how a true warrior should be!" He raised his sword high, and suddenly, a deep crimson Force ignited around him, blending with the sparks crackling in the air.

Damn. So he wasn’t just an ordinary Force user—he could also manipulate elements.

Flames hissed along the length of his sword, scorching the air around him. Even from this distance, I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

I had to think fast.

I scanned the surroundings. We were fighting in the ruins of an old fortress just outside the city. Cracked stone pillars stood around us, some barely holding together. Pools of water from recent rain had turned the ground into a muddy mess.

I could use this.

He swung his sword, and a wave of fire rushed toward me. I jumped to the side, barely dodging the scorching heat that melted the stone behind me.

"Tsk... That’s dangerous," I muttered, keeping my eyes locked onto him.

"Too slow!"

He appeared right in front of me—his speed was insane! I barely had time to raise my spear before his sword came crashing down. The moment our weapons met, sparks exploded, and a numbing force shot through my arms.

I was being pushed back.

No—don’t panic!

I remembered Arkan’s words—use the environment, use your head.

I deliberately stepped into the muddy ground, making it look like I had lost my balance. My opponent saw an opening and lunged forward with a quick thrust.

Now!

I swung my spear low, sending a spray of mud straight into his face. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Ugh—!"

He flinched, momentarily blinded. Without hesitation, I twisted my body and swept his legs with my spear.

"What—!?"

He crashed to the ground hard, and I wasted no time. I thrust my spear toward his chest—

But a burst of fire erupted from his body, forcing me to jump back.

Damn it! Even in this position, he could still control his flames?!

He rose to his feet, his face now smeared with mud, but his eyes burned even hotter.

"You’ve got some good tricks..." he grinned, the flames around him surging. "But that won’t be enough to defeat me!"

I gritted my teeth. My stamina was running low, but I couldn’t afford to stop here.

If I failed, I wouldn’t just die—I would lose someone important.

I glanced up. A cracked stone pillar loomed directly behind him.

That was my only chance.

I tightened my grip on my spear, channeling my Force through my entire body. This would be my final strike.

I faked an all-out attack. He swung his sword toward me, flames roaring with its momentum. But at the last second, I sidestepped, using Force to accelerate my movement.

Instead of attacking him directly, I drove the tip of my spear into the cracks of the pillar.

The fractures spread instantly.

His eyes widened as realization struck. "Damn—!"

I leaped back just as the pillar collapsed, crashing down onto him with an earth-shaking impact.

Dust and rubble exploded outward, shrouding the battlefield in chaos.

I stood there, panting heavily, staring at the wreckage. No movement. No sound.

Was it... over?

But then—

Flames erupted from beneath the rubble, setting the fallen stones ablaze.

I stepped back, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. "Still alive, huh?" I muttered.

From within the dust and fire, his silhouette rose once more. His body was covered in burns, his clothes tattered, but his eyes gleamed with an unsettling excitement.

"Hahaha... Interesting."

Damn it. This wasn’t over.

But I wasn’t about to give up either.

I gripped my spear tightly once more. No matter how strong he was—

I would defeat him.

I had to.