Reborn as an Extra Chapter 581: One more Final Gamble, Both or None! Part-6.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
A flash of fury and annoyance crossed Ellie's expression when she spotted the unknown figure positioned close to Liam's soul.
She had first observed that the torch stand positioned by the massive seal served perfectly for anchoring and safeguarding souls, which prompted her to secure Liam's soul in that spot.
Without any alternative relic or power to preserve a soul steadily and protected over an extended duration.
Rio had required almost a full year to reach the location at last; had Ellie not anchored Liam's soul to that torch, it would have fragmented and faded into oblivion ages ago, rendering any rescue utterly impossible.
Furthermore, since nobody had ever breached this enclosure previously, she held no fears regarding the security of Liam's soul or the risk of it being snatched away.
Not even Demon Prince Alverto, possessing a fabled technique, had managed to penetrate this unyielding barrier resembling a fortress; Rio stood as the only exception.
Therefore, Ellie had never once imagined, not even in her wildest fantasies, that anybody could slip past the enclosure and approach Liam's soul so nearly!
Ellie raged inwardly at her own negligence, yet Rio displayed little astonishment upon encountering the intruder.
"Raika... the self-proclaimed humble bard... you're here once more... I'm not even shocked that you've managed to enter this area as well..."
"Your skill at popping up and vanishing unpredictably is truly odd..."
The individual positioned beside Liam's soul proved to be none other than Raika, the wandering bard!
Raika's lips curved into a grin as he ran his fingers over his lyre, then remarked,
"Thanks for the compliment... I could share this power of mine with you if you just agree to become my friend, hehe~"
Though Raika chuckled and beamed, Ellie and Rio felt no urge to return the cheer.
"What do you want? Why are you after Liam?"
Rio skipped all courtesies and dove right into the matter.
Yet Raika appeared utterly unwilling to offer a direct response.
"Hehe... haven't I explained this countless times already? Become my friend, Rio... I need you to turn into a hero! I need you to rescue countless souls..."
"Grasp my hand, Rio... together we could achieve so many grand feats... all in exchange for your companion's life... I simply request your friendship..."
"Doesn't that sound like a fantastic bargain? Hehe..."
Ellie scowled at his statements, yet she managed to suppress her wrath since Liam's survival dangled in peril; she turned to Rio and questioned,
"Who is this guy, Rio? Did you lead him here?"
Rio denied it with a shake of his head.
"No... I have no clue about this oddball either... but I'm certain I didn't escort him... he's equipped with a strange power that allows him to show up and vanish at whim..."
"Maybe he's wielding some formidable legendary technique or similar..."
Upon catching Rio's explanation, Ellie froze in shock; she fixed a fierce stare on Raika and gazed anxiously at Liam's soul, yet no words came to her.
Noticing her sudden silence, Rio met Raika's gaze directly and stated,
"Having failed to earn my consent... you've now devised a scheme to compel me into selecting between my companion's survival or my personal destiny..."
"You truly are sly, I have to admit..."
In response, Raika offered a faint smile and elevated his lyre slightly higher, causing Liam's soul to vanish from its position in a flash.
"Indeed, the decision rests with you, Rio Flash... it's either your companion's life... or you join me as a friend and allow me to guide you toward heroism..."
"I merely wish to assist you, Rio, hehe~"
The sudden vanishing of Liam's soul nearly pushed Ellie over the edge into a rampage, though Rio intervened to halt her.
Through mental telepathy, Rio conveyed thoughts to Ellie's mind while simultaneously advancing a step, locking eyes with Raika, and declaring,
"I couldn't care less about your friendship... hand back Liam's soul immediately; consider this your last chance..."
Rio might have welcomed friendship with just about anyone else, but inexplicably, he found himself unable to embrace Raika's proposition.
His sword intent, his very spirit, and his entire being recoiled against Raika; there was absolutely no possibility that Rio would forge such a bond and endanger his own existence.
"And if I decline to give him back?"
Raika's grin and retort at last shattered the final barriers holding Rio in check.
"Should you refuse to release him, I'll make you release him..."
With those words spoken aloud, Rio shifted his flute into sword configuration once more, while his garments transformed from traveler's wear back to the 'Hunter' outfit he donned for pursuing wrongdoers.
While the attire alteration and flute conversion granted no actual enhancements or boosts, they signaled that Rio had entered complete battle readiness.
"Clearly, I won't engage in a contest rigged squarely against me... I refuse to pick one path over the other... I'll claim them both..."
Rio's features settled into their typical impassive calm as he proclaimed his resolve.
Rio intended to defy Raika's dictated terms entirely; he'd either claim none of the choices or seize them all!
It was a daring bet!