Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 70: [69] Recruiting characters in the story

-Third-Person Perspective-

A few moments earlier, Arkan was working in his castle when one of the townspeople came rushing in with a report—they had witnessed a battle between Rainer and an unknown man.

"Alright, where are they?"

"They seem to be outside the fortress, near the old ruins!"

"I see. Prepare my horse!" Arkan ordered the servant standing nearby.

The evening sky above the ancient ruins bathed the battlefield in golden-red light, as if bearing silent witness to the fierce battle unfolding below. Dust and shattered stone filled the air, carried by the forceful clashes of Force, marking this fight as something far beyond an ordinary duel—a test of strength and fate.

Amid the destruction, Rainer and the mysterious warrior fought like two war gods. Every swing of Rainer’s spear carried his unwavering resolve, while every slash of his opponent’s blade held lethal intent.

But not far from them, someone else was facing an invisible struggle—the crushing pressure of Force, weighing down on his body, making it hard to move.

Arkan Lawrence stood at a distance, his breathing labored under the immense Force radiating from the battle. Unlike Force users, he couldn’t sense the energy itself, but his body instinctively recognized the danger. Every step forward felt like walking against a raging storm, unseen winds pushing against him.

"This is bad... If this keeps up, Rainer might die here!"

He couldn’t let that happen. Rainer wasn’t just a crucial part of the story he knew—he was the axis upon which the world’s balance would be determined. If he died now, the future that had already begun to change could spiral even further out of control.

Some might call what he was about to do reckless. But for Arkan, doing nothing was never an option.

Without hesitation, he straightened his posture, took a deep breath, and then clapped his hands—loudly.

PLAK!

The sharp sound echoed through the ruins, causing the two warriors locked in battle to pause momentarily. Their eyes immediately shifted toward Arkan, who stood firm despite the clear struggle it took for him to remain standing in the midst of the raging Force.

"Well," Arkan said in a casual tone, though his heart was still pounding. "This is all very entertaining, but we need to talk. I’m not letting a single corpse fall in my territory today."

Rainer narrowed his eyes, surprised that Arkan could stand there without collapsing. Meanwhile, his opponent simply observed him with an unreadable expression.

"Hoo...?" The man raised an eyebrow, flames still flickering around his body. "And who might you be, daring to interrupt my duel?"

Arkan wiped the sweat from his forehead. Damn, I need to make this look cool...

He stepped forward, kicking aside bits of rubble in his path, and flashed a faint smirk. "Arkan Lawrence, the lord of this land. And you’re fighting on my soil without permission."

For a moment, silence hung between them. The only sounds were the whispering wind and the crackling embers still burning on the mysterious man’s body.

Rainer remained on guard, his grip on his spear tight. Arkan, meanwhile, kept his gaze steady, though his mind was racing to find a way to prevent this encounter from spiraling into needless bloodshed.

Finally, the man gave a small smile, ignoring the fresh wound on his shoulder as if it were nothing more than a scratch.

"Fine... I suppose we’ll postpone our duel for now, young one. Fighting you was quite enjoyable."

Arkan narrowed his eyes. Something was off. This man was clearly an experienced fighter, and his sudden shift in attitude didn’t seem natural. It was as if he had only been testing Rainer from the beginning, never intending to kill him outright.

"So," Arkan crossed his arms, keeping his tone level yet cautious. "Who exactly are you?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The man tilted his head slightly, his expression laced with amusement. "I could ask you the same thing, young noble. You’re not just an ordinary aristocrat, are you? Not many nobles can stand under this kind of Force pressure without passing out."

Arkan merely shrugged. "I’m just tough, that’s all."

The man chuckled lightly before extinguishing his flames with a single wave of his hand. The fire that had once raged around him vanished in an instant, as if it had never existed. Now, without the blazing aura surrounding him, his true appearance became more visible.

He was a man in his late thirties or early forties, his body still sturdy like that of a seasoned soldier. His jet-black hair was streaked with silver at the temples, and a faint scar ran along the side of his face. His sharp eyes carried years of battle experience, the gaze of someone who had seen far too many wars.

Rainer kept his stance firm. "Who are you, really?"

The man smirked. "Names aren’t something to be given away lightly in this world. But... since you’ve piqued my interest, I’ll grant you mine." He placed a hand on his hip and regarded Arkan with a curious glint in his eyes.

"My name is Kael Darnath.

Formerly a captain of the Imperial Army.

Now? Just a wanderer searching for something."

Arkan inhaled sharply. That name... It was familiar.

His mind raced through the details of Destiny Warrior, the novel he had once read—until the memory surfaced.

Kael Darnath. A former captain of the Imperial Elite Forces, who had vanished years ago after a failed mission.

In the original story, he was supposed to emerge as one of the antagonists—a rogue warrior operating outside the law, yet bound by his own strict code of honor.

He wasn’t just some common outlaw. He was a man of principle, even if his methods were brutal.

And now... he was standing right in front of them.

"Interesting," Arkan thought. "In the novel, he wasn’t supposed to appear until much later... Did I mess up the timeline again?"

Kael noticed Arkan’s intense gaze and smirked. "I don’t know how you know about me, but it seems I’m more famous than I thought."

Arkan ignored the implied question and stayed focused. "And... what are you looking for here?"

Kael leaned against the ruins, appearing relaxed. "I’m searching for information. Something that... was lost in the past. But that’s my business. Now, what about you, Lord Noble?"

Arkan let out a quiet sigh. "I’m building up this territory. And you and Rainer just destroyed a small part of it with your duel."

Kael laughed. "Do you think I’d feel guilty?"

"Honestly, no." Arkan gave him a sharp look. "But I also don’t like letting talented people wander around without a clear purpose. You were a former captain of the Imperial Elite Forces, weren’t you? You must understand how valuable strength is in this world."

Kael’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Are you trying to recruit me?"

"More like... offering a deal." Arkan smirked. "You need information. I need someone strong to train my military. We could help each other."

Kael remained silent for a moment before narrowing his eyes. "And how can I trust you?"

Arkan shrugged. "If I wanted to trap you, I wouldn’t have come here alone, would I?"

Kael considered his words, then gave a small, knowing smile. "Alright, I’m interested. But don’t get the wrong idea, noble brat. I’m not someone who follows orders easily. I’ll only work with you if I see something worthwhile for myself."

Arkan extended his hand. "Then let’s start with that."

Kael stared at the offered hand for a few seconds before clasping it firmly.

Rainer, who had been silent all this time, finally let out a sigh. "I can’t believe we’re actually doing this..."

Arkan patted his shoulder. "Don’t worry. If he causes trouble, I’ll make sure we have a way to deal with him."

Kael chuckled. "You’re an interesting one, Arkan Lawrence. Alright, let’s see where this little game takes us."

And with that, a new alliance was formed—one that could change the course of fate even further than Arkan had anticipated.

That night, inside the castle’s meeting chamber, the atmosphere was heavier than a simple evening gathering. Though food and drinks were laid out on the long wooden table, the conversation was far from casual.

Kael, now wearing clean clothes after Arkan had his servants provide a spare set, leaned back in his chair as he listened to the young lord’s explanation. Beside him, Rainer sat with his arms crossed, listening intently.

Arkan stood before a large table covered with maps, sketches, and diagrams that he had drawn himself. His territory map was spread out before them, marked with small indicators denoting strategic points. He tapped one of the diagrams with his finger, his expression full of confidence.

"This is the military plan I’m building," Arkan stated firmly.

Kael narrowed his eyes as he examined the sketches. "This structure... it’s different from what I’ve seen in the Imperial Army," he muttered.

Arkan smirked. "Of course, it’s different. The Empire still uses a traditional feudal military model—simple, hierarchical, and only effective in large-scale wars involving thousands of troops. The problem is, in modern warfare..."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Modern warfare?"

Arkan nodded. "Yes. Warfare that no longer relies on sheer numbers but on strategy, mobility, and efficiency."

He gestured toward the diagrams he had drawn, showing the new military structure he was developing:

1. Mobile Infantry UnitsSmall squads of 10-15 soldiers, each assigned specific roles.Designed to operate independently without waiting for central commands.

2. Fast Cavalry UnitsNot just heavy-armored knights, but also light scouts and raiders capable of breaking enemy formations before the main battle begins.

3. Engineering & Logistics DivisionResponsible for fortifications, supply chains, and battlefield survival tactics.

4. Archery & Artillery UnitsFocused on hit-and-run tactics with high-accuracy ranged attacks.

5. Special Operations & Shadow UnitsInfiltration and sabotage teams to weaken enemy defenses from within before a battle even starts.

Kael studied the plans with growing interest. "So, you’re trying to create a more flexible and organized army?"

Arkan nodded. "Not just flexible—self-sufficient. The Empire still relies on an outdated system where troops only move based on orders from a single supreme commander. That slows their response time in battle, especially against faster, more cunning enemies."

Rainer examined the map closely before asking, "What about the command structure?"

Arkan smiled. "A more efficient hierarchy. I’m eliminating the stark division between noble warriors and commoner soldiers. Every unit will have field leaders responsible for their groups, without constantly waiting for orders from the top. That way, battlefield decisions will be made faster and more effectively."

Kael let out a small chuckle. "So, you’re trying to replace the feudal model with something... modern?"

"Exactly," Arkan said seriously. "If this system is implemented, then the so-called ’greatest army on the continent’—the Imperial Army—will become nothing more than a joke."

Silence filled the room.

Kael looked over the maps and diagrams once more before leaning back in his chair with a soft laugh.

"Hah... I have to admit. You have big ambitions."

Arkan’s expression remained firm. "I’m not just trying to survive, Kael. I want to win."

Kael turned to Rainer. "Are you really going to follow him on this?"

Rainer’s gaze didn’t waver. "He knows what he’s doing. I trust him."

Kael sighed, then finally stood up. He stared at Arkan for a long moment before extending his hand.

"Well then... consider me interested in seeing how you pull this off."

Arkan gripped his hand confidently. "Then we have a lot of work ahead of us."

And with that, the night marked the beginning of something monumental—a military revolution that would shake the world to its core.