The Extra's Supremacy

The group arrived near a small cave nestled at the base of one of the towering black spires.

Alvin’s gaze swept across the area—and then surprised when he spotted someone.

The Scout.

’He’s here...?’

His jaw tensed.

’Did he abandon those two?’

The image of Sword and Dagger’s lifeless bodies flashed through his mind.

Robert approached the Scout calmly. "Where is the young lady?"

The Scout silently pointed toward the cave entrance.

Robert gave a brief nod, then turned to lead the group inside.

Within the cave, lit by faint crimson light from outside, a girl sat upon a smooth rock.

She had long black hair and striking blue eyes.

The moment Alvin saw her, he felt it—not just her presence, but her aura.

It wasn’t something loud or overwhelming.

But it demanded respect.

She stood, smooth and deliberate, and took a few steps toward them.

Every movement was graceful. Controlled. Regal.

Her gaze swept across the group—not with curiosity, but with judgment. As if measuring them.

Her poise. Her power. Her pride.

There was no doubt.

’So, this is my twin sister... Alvida.’

Bob stepped forward hesitantly. "P-Princess Alvida, I am Boban Thronevale, grandson of—"

But Alvida raised a hand, cutting him off.

"I already know who you are."

Her gaze shifted to Robert. "As everything we planned before, take them to that place and begin the preparations."

The group began to follow Robert out of the cave. But just as they reached the entrance, Alvida’s voice rang out again.

"We finally meet... and you’re leaving without even a greeting?"

Alvin’s heart sank.

He stopped.

Then slowly turned around—only to meet Alvida’s piercing gaze, locked onto him.

’She found me.’

The others were confused, glancing at each other.

’Who is she talking to?’

Alvin took a breath and said, "You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up shortly."

Bob and Lily’s eyes widened in surprise. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Even Robert paused, his gaze narrowing as he studied Alvin.

’Who is this young man...?’

Still, they obeyed.

The group continued forward, the Scout joining them a short distance away.

Bob’s thoughts were spinning.

’They know each other?’

’I hope he’ll be alright... getting involved with the Great Families is like asking a snake to bite you.’

The Scout glanced at Robert. "I’ll take over from here, old man."

Robert gave a simple nod and turned away.

***

Inside the cave...

Alvin and Alvida stood in silence, facing each other.

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

Until finally, Alvida broke the stillness.

"So... it’s really you."

Her voice was calm. Cold.

"You’re the one who’s been targeting me. You almost succeeded, didn’t you?"

Alvin blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes.

It was true he had been targeting her.

’But almost succeeded?’

"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice low.

Alvida studied him for a moment longer, then nodded slowly. "Right. You don’t know anything about me, do you?"

Alvin’s mind whirled.

’W-wait... how does she know I was after her?’

Before he could speak again, Alvida turned her back and walked out of the cave.

"Follow me. Looks like we’re going to have a long conversation."

Without a word, Alvin followed.

’Why is she acting like I’m a stranger?’

Alvin kept his thoughts to himself as they walked. Then, after a minute of silence, Alvida stopped and turned to face him.

"So, where were we? Ah, yes. We were talking about how you almost succeeded in killing me, weren’t we?"

Before Alvin could respond, she added sharply, "But before that... let me ask you something. How did you already enter Half-Step?"

Alvin’s eyes widened. His heart thudded in his chest.

’How does she know that?’

’Wait—what does she mean by ’already’?’

Before he could speak, Alvida suddenly disappeared from his sight.

"What—?"

He flinched as something grabbed his wrist.

She was beside him.

Her fingers pressed lightly against his pulse as if checking his condition.

Her face was close—too close—and her eyes studied him with sharp intensity.

"You’ve even formed Cursed Veins?" she muttered. "Interesting."

Alvin jerked his arm back, stepping away. "What do you mean I ’almost killed’ you? And what’s this about me entering Half-Step already?"

Alvida didn’t answer right away.

She simply looked at him and smiled, a knowing, unsettling smile.

"I understand now... why he chose you as his puppet."

Alvin inhaled slowly, eyes narrowing. "Your words aren’t making any sense."

But then, something clicked in his mind.

’He chose me as a puppet...?’

His thoughts raced.

’My transmigration?’

His eyes widened in realization.

Alvida saw it.

"Looks like you finally understand," she said.

Alvin summoned Rhizome, the sword with a brown blade, black hilt, and golden runes etched along its razor-sharp edge.

Its familiar weight grounded him.

"You’re going to tell me everything," he said, voice low.

Alvida smirked. "And what if I don’t? What exactly do you think you can do to me?"

Alvin’s grip tightened around the hilt. "You let a stranger like me possess your own twin brother? Are you really that cold-hearted, Alvida?"

She shook her head with a scoff. "My brother? No. For your information... neither he nor you were ever my brothers."

She stepped forward, her eyes dull and distant. "In fact... ’Alvida’ was never real to begin with. Just another puppet. Another mask in his grand design."

Alvin froze.

’Alvida... didn’t exist?’

He stared at her, mind spinning. "Then... who are you?"

Alvida smiled—but it wasn’t kind. "If you want answers, earn them."

Then she raised her arm.

A small, compressed crystal shimmered into existence in her palm. With a light flick, she crushed it between two fingers.

The world shifted.

The air stopped.

Alvin stumbled a step back as a ripple surged through the space around them.

Everything looked the same—the crimson sun still bleeding over the sky, the black spires still looming in the distance—but it all felt... wrong.

There was no scent of blood. No weight in the air. No presence. No life.

It was like standing in an illusion that mimicked reality perfectly—yet had no soul.

’What is this?’ Alvin thought, unsettled.

Alvida’s voice cut through the void.

"This is a power you gain once you enter into the First Primordial step."

She gestured around them.

"A virtual dimension layered over the real world. What happens here doesn’t affect reality... unless I want it to."

Her eyes gleamed.

"This ability is called Space Point."