Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"Wow... that's a lot of Thunderflies," Ardel whispered, his eyes wide with awe and fear.

Adrian nodded, his gaze fixed on the swirling mass of insects. "This must be the nest."

"But how are we going to get the artifact with all those Thunderflies guarding it?" Kairen asked, concern evident in his voice. "We don't even know where the treasure is or what is it."

"I know what the treasure is," Adrian said. " I accidentally heard a conversation of the group which discovered this place. They were talking about the treasure and the boss guarding it."

"B-Boss?" (Kairen)

"What is the treasure?" Lila asked impatiently.

"Well, it's better if you see it for yourselves," Adrian said then pointed his finger at the mass of the monsters.

As the group watched, the swirling mass of Thunderflies began to part, revealing a small clearing in the center of the nest. In the middle of this clearing stood a single plant, its leaves shimmering with an otherworldly glow.

"What is that?" Ardel asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"It's a Luminous Root," Adrian replied, his eyes fixed on the plant. "It's said to grow deep underground in places like this, where the energy is concentrated. Consuming it grants incredible vitality and strength."

"Luminous Root..." Kairen muttered, the name rolling off his tongue with a sense of reverence. "I've heard of it. There even a saying among elves it can heal even the most grievous wounds and grant longevity to those who partake of it."

"That's somewhat right," Adrian confirmed. "But getting to it won't be easy. We'll have to deal with all these Thunderflies first."

"Urgh..." Lila frowned, her mind racing with possibilities. "Do you think we can take them on? Even though my fire is effective against them, I can only manage to beat at most a hundred of them. Let's not forget they can make electrified swarms and burn us to death."

"You are right." Adrian nodded with a calm expression. "You also forgot to add the leader of the Thunderflies - The Thunderfly King."

"Huh? Thunderfly King?"

"!" Suddenly, three people's eyes widened. Ardel, Adrian, and Aria looked at each other simultaneously, their expressions solemn.

"Hey, why are you quiet-!" Before Lila could speak any further, a hand covered her mouth and pulled her back to the dark.

"Hmmm!?" Lila wanted to scream but she couldn't. She turned to Adrian and others seeking help, but then she noticed all three of them looking in one direction, their expression grim.

"Please, don't speak for now," She then heard a voice whispering into her ears.

Recognizing the owner of the voice, she instantly knew it was Kairen who just pulled her over.

Then, uncontrollably, her face turned into a deep shade of pink. 'I-I didn't know he was t-this bold!'

'S-Should I turn over and d-do it?'

'Uh...'

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. It was then she noticed a large monster flying toward the massive swarm of Thunderflies.

'!'

'I-Is that the T-Thunderfly King?'

The monster's wings were a deep shade of black, crackling with electricity as it soared through the air. Its body was much larger than the other Thunderflies, and its antennae were longer, giving it a more menacing appearance.

"Yes, that's the Thunderfly King," Kairen whispered once again, his voice barely audible over the buzzing of the insects. "We need to stay hidden until it passes."

Lila nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the monstrous creature draw closer to the Luminous Root.

The Thunderfly King descended upon the clearing, its massive form casting a shadow over the delicate plant below. It seemed to inspect the Luminous Root for a moment before emitting a deafening screech that sent shivers down the spines of them.

It seemed to be angry because there seemed to be something wrong with the plant, or it wasn't ripe yet.

They held their breath, watching in tense silence as the Thunderfly King hovered over the Luminous Root. Suddenly, it unleashed a powerful burst of electricity, causing the ground to shake and crackle with energy.

"What's it doing?" Ardel whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

"I think it's trying to rip the plant out of the ground," Adrian replied, his voice barely audible over the buzzing of the Thunderflies.

Sure enough, the Thunderfly King used its massive claws to dig into the earth, tearing at the roots of the Luminous Root. The plant resisted, glowing even brighter as it struggled against the monster's grasp.

"We have to stop it," Aria said, determination flashing in her eyes.

"How?" Kairen asked, his brow furrowed in concern. "We can't take on the Thunderfly King and all those Thunderflies."

"C-Can't we just r-retreat?" Ardel muttered, probably scared of the monster.

"Well, we don't have to fight it or all of them," Adrian said, causing all four to look at him confusion but anticipation. They knew if he said something, he would have something to back it up.

"Just wait and see." He glanced at them and said and turned his focus on the other side of the underground chamber.

About ten seconds later, sounds of footsteps started coming from three of the entrances on the other side. They grew louder with each passing moment until finally, several figures emerged from the darkness.

"Here they are," Adrian muttered as they saw groups of students entering one after another holding weapons and firewood. 'The distractions, that is.'

Ardel's eyes widened as he realized what Adrian was planning. "You're going to use them as bait?"

Adrian nodded. "Not exactly bait. They'll create a diversion, drawing the Thunderflies and the King away from the Luminous Root. And we will use that chance to take the treasure."

"But won't they be in danger?" Kairen asked concern etched on his face.

"They'll be fine," Adrian reassured him. "At most, they will have to use the Return Crystal. And we can help them fight the monster if you wish, only after securing the treasure that is."

"Remember, everyone is here for one purpose - getting the treasure. So, they might not thank you but ask you to share or even give the treasure after you help them." His voice grew cold as he spoke. "That's how the world is."