Reborn as an Extra Chapter 559: Rio the ’Hell-Walker’.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Rio activated absolute stealth to widen the gap enormously from the battlefield, ensuring he would be tough to follow if any creature from the fight attempted to chase after him.
Even though Rio had slain the majority and crippled almost every one of them, a few fortunate survivors could have evaded his efforts and sought to trail him.
Once he had covered a substantial stretch in absolute stealth, Rio resumed flying to accelerate and dove back into his trials with the miasmic crystal.
As an formidable S-rank powerhouse with mana and miasma fueling him, Rio faced no concerns regarding meals, rest, or respiration whatsoever.
He soared at high velocity without a single pause, traversing hundreds of thousands of kilometers in this manner.
Rio deftly dodged beasts and landscapes while pressing onward through the air for a full half-month!
Post-conflict, over the ensuing fifteen days, Rio devoted himself solely to hurtling directly toward his goal, all while tinkering with the miasmic crystal.
His relentless flight elevated his flying ability to its peak level, rendering it potent enough for Rio to engage autopilot functionality.
He delegated flight management to his sword intent, which instinctively handled the navigation akin to an aircraft's autopilot system.
Rio's autopilot proved remarkably effective, autonomously spotting and evading creatures and obstacles, freeing him from any concerns.
Entrusting navigation, timing, bodily safeguards, and mental defenses to his sword intent, Rio poured his full attention into the miasmic crystal.
Day by day, Rio's mastery over miasma manipulation and comprehension advanced steadily; he scrutinized and dissected the miasmic crystal from the river of miasma repeatedly.
Each day brought deeper insights into miasma, propelling all his miasma-linked abilities upward by multiple tiers.
Perched atop the enormous skull of a fallen beast, Rio assumed a lotus stance, soothing his thoughts and channeling his complete focus onto a single objective.
He deactivated miasma sensing and the miasma barrier, directing every ounce of his strength and focus toward that solitary pursuit.
Through his sword intent as the conduit, miasma converged from every angle between his hands, compressing far more fluidly and compactly than during his efforts at the monster battlefield.
The accumulation of miasma extended roughly ten minutes!
Rio drew in such vast quantities of miasma from nearby that its concentration dropped noticeably within a 100-kilometer circle around him.
All that miasma got squeezed and solidified into one spot; Rio harnessed his sword intent to suppress any spatial ripples or elemental chaos.
His elevated expertise in miasma handling now allowed him to transmit intentions, enabling the miasma to grasp that Rio aimed to densify it into a miasmic crystal.
Following days of trials, Rio realized miasma often resisted his commands, requiring cunning to enforce true compliance.
Miasma gravitates toward the wicked, the insane, and the profoundly treacherous, compelling Rio to employ similar tactics; via miasma control and sword intent, he signaled plans to weaponize the miasmic crystal as an explosive.
He intended to wield it against foes, sparking a response that made the miasmic strands far more compliant and eager to heed his directives.
After over half a month's intense labor and dedication, Rio succeeded in forging his inaugural synthetic miasmic crystal.
...
A barrage of alerts caught Rio off guard, etching a stunned expression across his features.
As he rose and stowed the miasmic crystal, Rio observed the ambient miasma deliberately pulling away from his vicinity.
The miasma's currents grew disordered at his mere glance, withdrawing instinctively from his aura as though intimidated by him.
’Err... what?’
Prior to grasping the full picture, Rio sensed his flute quiver and morphed it into sword shape for closer inspection.
The blade transformed, bearing the inscription ’Hell-Walker’ in gleaming golden etchings, enhancing its already imposing presence.
’Is it marking my achievement with my title on itself?... how thoughtful....’
Merely a few years back, at the SSA event in his academy sophomore year, Rio struggled to harness this sword's complete might, leading to its rebellion and his defeat.
Yet now, the sword exhibited utter compliance, embracing its role as Rio’s steadfast companion.
’I could soon reveal more of its sealed abilities in the days ahead...’
The blade of utter ruin, ’Vinash,’ transcends a mere ’soul-splitting’ tool; it harbors potential for far graver devastation.
Rio need only continue his growth to access it.
’Reflecting on it, ’Vinash’ grew warmer when I mastered miasma and began employing it...’
’Does that imply it urges me toward malevolent acts to fully yield its power... how intriguing...’
Musing on this, Rio abruptly altered his attire's style; it retained the wandering bard's garb, but his cape now bore an extra emblem.
’Hell-walker’ gleamed in golden lettering on the cape, encircled by motifs of a blade and orbiting miasmic crystals.
’I truly appreciate how effortlessly I can revamp my outfit's appearance... wait... I'm constantly crafting new designs...’
’Am I a hobbyist fashion creator as well?... uh... I'll test my styling talents upon returning; I'll craft something for Lia....’
Envisioning outfits Lia might adore, Rio ascended into the heavens and rocketed toward his target anew!