Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 18: Falling Head First

Merlin and Elara shot toward each other like two bolts of lightning.

'How the hell am I supposed to use space affinity properly?'

His mind raced while Elara summoned earth spears from the ground, launching them at him like a damn machine gun.

[Trickster's Reflex]

With a flicker of movement, Merlin dodged every single spear, weaving through them with unnatural grace. He closed in on Elara, who instinctively began backing away.

'Oh no, you don't.'

Merlin applied pressure with his space affinity, making her body feel momentarily sluggish. Elara trembled slightly before summoning a massive boulder, preparing to launch it.

'Oh, for fu—'

Merlin nearly froze as the gigantic rock rumbled toward him like a runaway train.

'Nope, this won't do.'

Pouring mana into his hand, he wrapped his fist in spatial energy and punched the boulder.

BOOM!

The rock shattered into countless fragments, flying in all directions—until Vivienne calmly flicked her hand, stopping them from turning the other sparring students into collateral damage.

'Yeah... this isn't going great.'

Vivienne sighed, shaking her head as she watched Merlin flail against Elara.

'This is the worst possible matchup for him.'

Merlin barely avoided another wave of spears. Desperate, he attempted to lighten his body using his space affinity, hoping to increase his speed.

It worked... a little too well.

Merlin lost control of his footing and slipped.

"..."

Vivienne, Elara, and the entire audience watched in stunned silence.

'Kill me.'

Lying on the ground with his eyes shut, Merlin resigned himself to his fate.

Elara calmly conjured another spear beside her and began walking toward him.

'Just a little closer...'

Merlin waited. For divine intervention, a miracle, something.

Elara now stood over him, earth spear next to hear.

"I win."

She launched the spear toward his chest.

[Trickster's Reflex]

Merlin lightened his body again, accelerating his movements, and barely dodged.

"Again?!"

Elara's frustrated shout echoed as she instinctively retreated—but Merlin was already in front of her.

He aimed a kick at her torso, and at the last second, increased the weight of his leg.

However...

A gigantic boulder hovered over his head.

"...Oh, shit."

Merlin's voice died in his throat. Elara flew backward from his attack, while the boulder—now unsupported—crashed down on Merlin.

CRACK.

The rock shattered on impact.

"..."

Vivienne's lips twitched as she struggled to process what she just witnessed.

With a sigh, she shook her head and announced,

"Elara Vaelith and Merlin Everhart... draw."

Without another word, she turned back to the other students and resumed the matches.

In their previous duels Merlin had won due to the fact that he was able to use a weapon, and because he was able to outsmart Elara. But now, he had lost due to dumb luck basically...

Merlin and Elara both lay sprawled on the ground, looking as if they were peacefully napping.

—

Meanwhile... Nathan

Nathan was locked in combat with Dorian.

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With his darkness affinity, Nathan conjured spears of shadow, launching them at Dorian, who swiftly raised an ice wall for defense.

'He's good!'

Nathan grinned as their fight raged on, neither willing to back down.

Attack after attack, counter after counter—until, unfortunately for Dorian, the outcome was obvious.

Nathan appeared behind him in an instant.

Using his darkness, he pressed Dorian into the ground as if placing an unbearable weight on him.

Who would have guessed... that the protagonist would win?

Vivienne, watching from the sidelines, simply nodded in acknowledgment.

"Nathaniel Varen vs. Dorian Graves... Nathaniel wins."

Nathan extended a hand, helping Dorian up.

"Good match."

Dorian shook his head but smiled. "Yeah. You use your affinity well."

—

Back to Merlin...

Merlin slowly regained consciousness, staring at the ceiling.

Or at least, he would have—if not for the grinning face hovering over him.

Short black hair fell over the stranger's face, and ocean-blue eyes twinkled with amusement.

'Nathan.'

Merlin sighed. Nathan extended a hand to help him up.

Merlin ignored it, pushing himself up instead.

"I can handle it."

His voice was cold as he turned away—only to see Vivienne writing something down.

"...What are you doing?"

Nathan simply smiled and dusted off Merlin's back.

Merlin's eye twitched.

'What the hell is he doing...?'

Shaking his head, he shuffled over to where the other students were lining up in front of Vivienne—like obedient ducklings.

Elara suddenly appeared beside him.

Merlin raised an eyebrow.

'What's with everyone today? Am I the only sane person left?'

He sighed and focused on Vivienne, who cleared her throat before addressing them.

"Some of you are learning to use your affinities well. And others... not so much."

At the last part, she looked directly at Merlin.

'Ouch. That hurt.'

"You still have a long way to go," she continued. "But that's normal. You have time."

Vivienne let out a short sigh before continuing.

"That's all for today's lesson. You're dismissed."

The students wasted no time rushing toward the exit, some chatting excitedly, others simply eager to escape.

But just as Merlin took his first step to leave—

"Merlin Everhart, stay behind."

Merlin froze mid-step.

Several students glanced back, whispering amongst themselves.

"Loser."

"What did he screw up this time?"

Merlin ignored them. Completely. As if their words had never existed in the first place.

Once the last of the students had left, he whistled to himself and turned around—only to be met with Vivienne's twitching smile.

"Why are you holding yourself back?" she asked. "You have more than one affinity, but you refuse to use them."

'She wasn't this dumb in the novel.'

Merlin shook his head. His voice was cold, unwavering.

"Why would I waste all my cards on something so trivial?"

Vivienne's lips twitched. She stepped closer, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

"To win."

Merlin answered without hesitation.

"I'd rather lose now than lose when it actually matters."

"..."

For the first time in years, Vivienne was at a loss for words.

Because she knew—he was right.

"Fair point..." she finally muttered.

Merlin smirked. "Sorry, what was that? I didn't hear you."

Vivienne's eyes burned like molten fire.

"...I was kidding!"

Merlin laughed awkwardly and took a step back—just in case.

"Go to your next class. I'll see you this afternoon."

She shook her head and shooed him away.

'What a strange woman.'

—

Merlin stood outside the training facility, glancing at his schedule.

His next class was in Training Facility One.

[Mana Control & Efficiency]

'Not bad.'

He started walking at a leisurely pace, enjoying the rare moment of peace.

But then—

He spotted familiar figures waiting near the entrance.

Elara. Nathan. Dorian. Ethan.

All of them. Just standing there.

Merlin stopped dead in his tracks.

'...This is going to be absolute hell.'

With a long sigh, he trudged forward.

Slowly.

Painfully slowly.

Luckily for Merlin, the instructor arrived just as he did, allowing him to slip past any unnecessary conversations.

Her short brown hair danced in the wind, her amber eyes gleaming with an almost otherworldly radiance. And her smile—that damn smile—was so captivating, so effortlessly divine, that it could charm just about anyone.

Even rocks.

Even the gods.

She was Sophia Ashford.

Again.

'She really is a goddess...'

Merlin wasn't the only one staring.

Every single boy in the class—and even some of the girls—were helplessly mesmerized as they followed her inside the facility.

—

"Alright, kids. Ready for today's lesson?"

Sophia's powerful voice echoed through the training hall like an explosion.

Yet despite its strength, there was something warm about it. Comforting. Like a mother's embrace.

Merlin quickly shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

The students all nodded, signaling their readiness.

"Good," Sophia said with a bright smile.

Then—she clapped her hands.

"Let's begin."

The moment Sophia's hands met, a wave of mana burst through the air, like an invisible shock wave washing over the students.

Merlin felt a slight pressure on his skin—nothing major—but some of the less experienced students stumbled back, gripping their chests as if their souls had just been slapped.

'She did that casually?'

He didn't even want to imagine what would happen if she actually tried.

Sophia clasped her hands behind her back, her gaze sweeping across the class with that same gentle yet commanding aura.

"Before we begin actual training, let's go over the basics. Mana Control and Efficiency—two of the most fundamental aspects of fighting, yet the most frequently neglected."

She started pacing, slow and deliberate, her presence filling the entire hall.