The Extra's Rise-Chapter 558: Six Superpowers (3)

This world had never been kind to heroes. That wasn’t new information, but the way it went about proving it—time and time again—still had a way of tightening something in my chest. The fall of the Kagu family was just the latest reminder. Not a fall into ruin, no—more like a forced kneeling, the kind that cracked bone and left lasting scars.

Stripped of their place among the Seven Superpowers. Their royal standing unofficially revoked. The moment Selene Kagu had slipped into that coma, it all started crumbling like a house of cards in a hurricane. And until she woke—and that word "until" was doing a lot of heavy lifting—they were no longer rulers, just remnants clinging to past glory.

’Lucifer’s burden,’ I thought, ’was heavier than anyone gave him credit for.’

When I first read the story—back when this world was still a fictional construct, back when I was nothing more than an outside observer—I had envied him. Everyone loved the prodigy. They cheered him on with genuine enthusiasm. His genius was a crown, not a curse, something to be celebrated rather than feared. While I had to navigate shadows and careful calculations, Lucifer was the chosen one. He got to shine without reservation.

In this world, being normal was dangerous. Being extraordinary? That gave you a fighting chance at survival. But it also came with strings attached—golden chains that looked beautiful until you tried to move. People praised anomalies, but only until those anomalies disappointed them. And they always did, eventually. No one could live up to the impossible image the world painted of them.

Lucifer tried. He was trying, every single day. And in many ways, he’d already succeeded. If anyone was worthy of the title Second Hero, it was him.

Just too young for the weight of it.

The death of the Vampire Monarch had bought us time. Not peace—never peace. Not safety—that was a luxury we couldn’t afford. Just breathing room. A chance to regroup and strategize before the next horror clawed its way out of whatever abyss it had been festering in.

I stared at the holographic calendar hovering over my desk display. Rose’s eighteenth birthday was in a few days. There’d be a celebration, of course. A quiet one, if she had anything to say about it—she’d always preferred intimate gatherings to grand spectacles. But it marked something else too: the slow, inexorable march back toward what passed for normalcy at Mythos Academy.

Our fourth year would begin soon. And it would be my last.

After this, I wouldn’t have the luxury of time for classroom politics and academic exercises. Ouroboros was expanding its operations exponentially, and I’d be at the strategic center of it all. Research coordination. Resource management. High-level interventions that required my personal attention. Mythos Academy couldn’t keep pace with what I needed anymore, and frankly, it didn’t have to.

Lucifer could handle everything the Academy still had to offer. Every arc, every hidden danger, every trial the original narrative had meticulously planned. He’d grown into the kind of person who could carry that enormous weight without breaking.

And me?

I wasn’t stepping back from the fight. I was just stepping into a different arena.

There was still a war going on, after all. Multiple wars, if you counted the political maneuvering and resource conflicts that bubbled beneath the surface of every major decision.

And someone had to plan for what came after the next hero inevitably fell. Because this world didn’t forgive greatness. Not for long.

I was currently in the North, standing within the impressive grounds of the Creighton estate, to negotiate what could be one of the most significant partnerships in recent magical history.

"Hey Rach," I greeted Rachel with a warm smile as she approached across the manicured garden. She returned the expression with radiant happiness, her head tilting slightly in that endearing way that had become so familiar.

She looked absolutely stunning. The white sundress she wore complemented her figure perfectly, flowing with each graceful step. Her shimmering golden hair caught the afternoon sunlight like precious metal, and her deep blue eyes sparkled with the clarity of perfect sapphires. Even after all this time, her beauty still had the power to momentarily steal my breath.

She hugged me tightly, her embrace warm and welcoming as she pressed against me and wrapped her arms around my neck with comfortable familiarity.

"Arthur," she whispered, her voice carrying that delicate quality like moonlight made audible, yet with the subtle sensual undertone that never failed to send pleasant shivers down my spine.

"I missed you," she said softly, holding me close in a way that made it clear just how much she’d been anticipating my arrival.

’Golden retreiver,’ I thought. And it made sense, she was enthusiastic, affectionate, and utterly endearing in her straightforward expressions of affection.

But then she began to deepen the embrace, her intentions becoming unmistakably clear.

"R-Rach, I’m here to talk business with your father," I said gently, though not without some regret.

She stopped immediately and pouted, her lower lip pushing out in an expression that was simultaneously adorable and slightly dangerous. "I can’t wait until after Rose’s birthday," she said, her face flushing with a becoming pink. "After that, I won’t have to hold back anymore."

She was absolutely right. The only reason I had to maintain such careful boundaries was because of the promise the four girls had made among themselves. It was their decision, their way of ensuring fairness and solidarity among themselves, and I respected it even when it made moments like this particularly challenging.

"Soon," I promised, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face. "Very soon."

Her expression brightened considerably. "Father’s waiting for us in his study. He’s been looking forward to this discussion almost as much as I’ve been looking forward to seeing you."

We made our way through the estate’s corridors, past tapestries and artifacts that spoke of centuries of Creighton family achievement. The architecture seamlessly blended traditional craftsmanship with modern conveniences—climate control systems, security monitoring, and communication networks all integrated so smoothly they were nearly invisible.

Alastor Creighton was waiting for us in his private study, a room that managed to be both imposing and comfortable. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, filled with texts on magical theory, political strategy, and family histories. A massive desk dominated the center of the space, its surface covered with documents, holographic displays, and what appeared to be preliminary research notes.

"Arthur," he said with genuine warmth, rising from his chair to greet me. Despite being one of the most powerful men on the continent, he’d always treated me with the kind of paternal affection that made calling him by his first name feel wrong.

"Uncle Alastor," I replied, using the informal address that had become natural between us. His expression showed clear approval at the familiarity, though I noticed the way his eyes briefly tracked the lingering closeness between Rachel and me.

"I trust your journey north was comfortable?" he asked, gesturing for us to take seats in the arrangement of chairs he’d prepared for our discussion.

"Very smooth, thank you."

"Excellent. Rachel’s told me you have a proposal that could revolutionize magical technology development." His tone shifted subtly, becoming more businesslike while retaining its underlying warmth. "Something about a partnership with the Tower of Magic?"

I nodded, settling into what I knew would be a complex negotiation. "Before we begin, I should mention that Charlotte Alaric has already agreed to sponsor Ouroboros. The Tower is committed to this partnership, but I wanted to discuss how the Creighton family might benefit from the arrangement."

Alastor’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Charlotte agreed to sponsorship? That’s... unexpected. She’s not known for making such commitments lightly."

"The resource we’re discussing is that significant," I replied. "Uncle Alastor, what I’m about to share with you is confidential information that could reshape the entire magical technology landscape."

Rachel leaned forward with obvious interest, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. "What kind of resource?"

"Aetherite," I said simply, watching both their reactions carefully. "A crystalline formation capable of conducting mana with perfect efficiency—no energy loss, no degradation over time."

The silence that followed was profound. Alastor’s expression shifted from polite interest to sharp focus, his mind clearly racing through the implications.

"Perfect conductivity," he repeated slowly. "That would make current mana enhancement systems obsolete overnight."

"Completely obsolete," I confirmed.

Rachel’s voice carried a note of awe. "Where does this aetherite exist?"

"The moon," I replied. "They’ve had a small outpost there for astronomical observations and magical field studies. The unique magical environment of the moon creates aetherite formations that don’t occur naturally on Earth."

Alastor leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "And you want the Creighton family involved in this partnership because...?"

"Because developing aetherite technology will require more than just access to the raw material," I explained. "It will need advanced alchemical processing, sophisticated manufacturing techniques, and practical applications engineering. The Creighton family has the most advanced magical research and development capabilities outside of the Tower itself."

"Plus," Rachel added with a sly smile, "you want our support to prevent Charlotte from maintaining complete control over the discovery."

I chuckled at her perceptiveness. "That’s certainly part of it. A monopoly on aetherite would give the Tower unprecedented power. Shared development ensures balanced benefits and prevents any single institution from dominating magical technology advancement."

Alastor nodded approvingly. "Smart thinking. What exactly are you proposing?"

"A three-way partnership," I said. "The Tower provides access to aetherite sources and theoretical research. The Creighton family handles practical development and manufacturing. Ouroboros manages field testing, security, and coordination between the parties."

"And profit sharing?" Alastor asked with the directness of an experienced businessman.

"Equal three-way split on core applications. Specialized developments could have different arrangements depending on who contributes the most resources to specific projects."

Rachel looked between her father and me with obvious excitement. "This could establish magical technology standards for the next century."

"Easily," I agreed. "The first institutions to master aetherite applications will define how the technology develops across every field."

Alastor was quiet for several moments, his fingers drumming against his desk as he considered the proposal’s ramifications. "The political implications are significant," he said finally. "Joint development would require unprecedented cooperation between the Tower and our family."

"That’s true," I acknowledged. "But it also presents an opportunity to establish a new model for magical research collaboration. Success here could influence how future discoveries are developed and shared."

"And if the partnership fails?" he asked.

"Then we all lose the opportunity to shape how aetherite technology develops," I replied honestly. "Other institutions will eventually discover it independently, but they’ll be years behind our potential progress."

Rachel turned to her father with an expression that mixed business acumen with personal investment. "Father, this isn’t just about magical technology. It’s about positioning our family for the future Arthur is building."

Alastor’s gaze sharpened as he looked at his daughter, then at me. "The future Arthur is building," he repeated. "That’s an interesting way to phrase it."

"Arthur’s plans extend far beyond this single partnership," Rachel continued confidently. "Aetherite development is just one component of a much larger strategy. Supporting him now means being part of that larger vision."

I felt a flush of gratitude for her support, even as I recognized the weight of responsibility her words implied.

"Very well," Alastor said finally, his decision clearly made. "The Creighton family will join this partnership. But I have conditions."

"Of course," I replied. "What are your requirements?"

"Full transparency about aetherite properties and potential applications. Equal access to all research data. And a guarantee that our family’s contributions will be properly credited in any public presentations of the technology."

"Agreed on all points," I said without hesitation.

"And one more thing," he added, his tone becoming more paternal as he looked between Rachel and me. "I expect this business partnership to be conducted with the same integrity and respect you show in your personal relationship with my daughter."

"You have my word, Uncle Alastor," I replied solemnly.

Rachel beamed at both of us, clearly pleased with how the negotiation had concluded. "So we’re really doing this? The three most advanced magical institutions on the continent, working together?"

"We’re really doing this," I confirmed. "Welcome to the future of magical technology."

As we shook hands to formalize the agreement, I couldn’t help but think that this partnership represented more than just business cooperation. It was the foundation for the kind of world I was trying to build—one where collaboration triumphed over competition, where shared progress benefited everyone.

The age of aetherite was about to begin.ƒrēenovelkiss.com