Reborn as an Extra Chapter 550: It won’t go your way.

Rio's remarks didn't bother Raika in the slightest; he appeared to possess boundless tolerance, with a perpetual smile adorning his handsome features.

He rose to his feet and approached the dilapidated structures, positioning himself several meters from Rio.

At this moment, the pair stood back-to-back; Rio gazed upon the sword of promised destinies, whereas Raika observed the crumbling temple, inquiring in a playful manner,

"Observe these ruins, observe the condition of the creatures here... observe the decay and ruin expanding all around..."

"Such chaos stems from hubris and self-interest, yet an individual like you, capable of mastering miasma, could set things right..."

"You possess the strength for this, right, Rio? Why hesitate to rescue them when you hold such ability? Do you truly intend to leave them in this plight?"

Rio's face remained impassive amid these inquiries, responding in his typical flat voice,

"I'm no 'hero,' nor do I have any duty to rescue anyone; it's simply not my concern..."

"Their pain does strike me as unfortunate, yet I'm under no obligation to sacrifice my own 'path' for their benefit..."

"You're pretty powerful yourself; why don't you step in and save them rather than preaching to me?"

A light chuckle escaped Raika at Rio's retort.

"You're speaking like I haven't attempted it already... you're so innocent... I've exhausted every option; success eluded me since I lack the control over 'miasma'..."

"Only you can wield it; you're the prime candidate to tread the 'path' of a 'hero' across the whole 'universe,' you realize..."

"Am I mistaken, Rio Flash?"

Rio's gaze sharpened upon hearing that, and he pivoted toward Raika, who mirrored the action.

"How did you learn my name? I've never shared my complete name with you..."

Dealing with this unfamiliar figure left Rio deeply unsettled; the man acted as though he held extensive knowledge concerning Rio.

He came across as deeply informed about Rio's history and all aspects of it, delivering his assertion about Rio's potential as a world's 'hero' with unmistakable assurance.

It felt nearly as though Raika recognized Rio's vast capabilities.

"I possess knowledge of countless elements within the universe... believe me, my understanding of this universe surpasses what anyone else could grasp... aside from the 'creator' of this universe, perhaps..."

Raika offered a rather elusive response to Rio's query, leaving Rio profoundly puzzled regarding this enigmatic person's true nature.

'First came Alverto, and now this fellow... what's happening! The whole storyline of the novel has veered completely off course...'

Alverto had been another figure absent from the original novel, just like this individual claiming to be Raika.

Rio had no prior recollection of the name Raika, yet this person inexplicably held substantial details about him.

Had it been an S-ranker, Rio would have eliminated them already; against an SS-ranker, he would have fled immediately.

However, the core issue lay in Rio's ignorance of this mysterious individual's strength and true essence.

"Anyway, opportunities for us to meet will abound while you're within the spirit realm!"

"I'll pose that same query once more; hopefully, your reply evolves by that time..."

Having uttered those words, Raika vanished right before Rio's eyes.

It resembled his complete nonexistence from the outset, as though he'd never been present; in a flash, he was utterly gone!

'What!?'

For the first time in ages, a profound shock gripped Rio entirely.

'What technique did he employ!? That wasn't manipulation of light elementals or teleportation! What sort of ability was that!?'

Whenever Rio employs light elementals to conceal himself, noticeable mana ripples occur upon activating the power and directing the surrounding light elementals.

Teleportation likewise demands altering the space-time continuum, bending space and time elementals to one's command, and precisely computing the destination's timing and position.

Undoubtedly, such a technique would produce mana disturbances that Rio's sword intent could readily detect.

Even Ashtel, at the pinnacle of SS-rank, generated intense mana surges during both brief and extended teleportations!

Without Raika surpassing Ashtel in power while excelling in concealment, concealing those mana waves from Rio's acute sword intent detection amid this miasma-saturated environment would prove impossible!

Should he have attempted it, Rio would have swiftly sensed the shifts in miasma currents, yet no such alterations took place.

'It felt like he abruptly stopped existing! What in the world!? How could that even occur!?'

'Did he wipe himself out of reality!? No, impossible; wouldn't that just lead to his death...'

The bizarre and baffling circumstances prompted Rio to probe his body repeatedly with sword intent, verifying no illusion or delusion afflicted him.

'Yet if it were an illusion... true immunity should have activated already... since it hasn't, he was genuine, but then how did he fade away like that?'

Rio had long been the source of astonishment for others through his elusive skill of materializing and vanishing without trace, yet now, for the initial occasion, he experienced the same surprise from another.

'Is this what's known as tasting your own remedy?...'

Reflecting on it, Rio merely shook his head in resignation and let out a sigh.

'From here on, I must exercise greater vigilance during my journeys in the spirit realm...'

The agreement between Rio and Raika fell through since Rio rejected all terms, so naturally, the latter withheld information on the shadow dragons' whereabouts.

Fortunately, the moment Raika departed, the cube shifted course and indicated a fresh path!

'Ah, so you've uncovered another option? You're a diligent relic, aren't you...'

'Provided you remain compliant and avoid mischief, plenty would grow fond of you...'

Rio released his built-up stress and strain onto the cube, easing the strain from his clash with Raika.

Though no physical battle ensued between them, their minds had clashed fiercely.

They probed one another's aspirations and objectives, with Raika even urging Rio to alter his 'path'—an act akin to the gravest insult toward a advanced awakener devoted to their 'path'.

An individual's 'path' encompasses far more than mere ambition, goal, or vision; it defines their whole existence! It shapes their destiny!

Suggesting a change is nearly equivalent to declaring, 'Your aspirations are worthless! Forsake them!' directly to their face!

"You'll confront me again, huh?... such presumption to assume all unfolds according to your desires..."

Rio shook his head once more and glanced upward at the sky.

Denser miasmic clouds had gathered overhead unnoticed, soon unleashing rainfall.

This wasn't typical precipitation; it consisted of pure miasmic taint descending from above in solidified droplets!

Even SS-rankers would struggle against such an onslaught; luckily, miasma held no sway over Rio whatsoever.

Guided by the cube's indication, he proceeded toward his subsequent goal, his eyes free of any doubt.

As he advanced beneath the torrent of miasma and decay, Rio enveloped himself in a protective miasma barrier.

Numerous ideas churned within his thoughts while he pressed on.

'He mentioned that 'while I'm in the spirit realm, he'll seek me out'... could that imply he's an SS-ranker bound to the spirit realm?'

'A formidable shadow dragon SS-ranker, prevented from departing the spirit realm due to their collective imprisonment here?'

Rio recalled that shadow dragons had been exiled to this domain, and barring demonic origins, Raika bore strong resemblance to an ancient, mighty shadow dragon.

Furthermore, his admission of knowing the shadow dragons' positions in the spirit realm heightened the suspicion.

'No way... is he scheming to sway me into releasing him somehow?'

'If exile came via a seal, prolonged exposure to miasma might have weakened it... and aware of my miasma control, he could be aiming for me to shatter it and liberate every shadow dragon from the spirit realm?'

Though uncertain, Rio excelled at speculation and foresight, thus steeling his mind in preparation.

'Should that hold true... aiding Liam could prove far tougher than anticipated... I might face a full force of shadow dragons compelling my abilities...'

Raika's grinning visage surfaced in Rio's thoughts as he mused inwardly,

'Things won't proceed as you wish... I refuse to allow you to disrupt my schemes that way...'