《The Game's Extra: Azhrael's Odyssey》


 When The Legends Dies-1

    The moonlight shone brightly in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the peaks of the vast, snow-laden mountain.


    It was an enchantingly beautiful scene, a stark contrast to the bloody spectacle unfolding at the foot of the mountain.


    Swish! Swish!


    Two shadows streaked past a massive, snow-covered tree with immense speed, shaking loose the snow from its branches.


    As they raced through the frozen landscape, a group of black-hooded men in full body armor emerged from the shadows, blocking their path.


    The gleam of their weapons was sharp, radiating intense killing intent as a myriad of elemental auras enveloped their blades. In a heartbeat, they launched their attack on the fleeing duo.


    Yet, the two figures didn''t halt, nor did they glance at their pursuers. One of them, a man, simply waved his hand, and the attackers'' magic and auras vanished in an instant.


    The elite assassins, hardened by rigorous training, faltered, shocked for just a millisecond. But that moment of hesitation sealed their fate.


    Frozen spikes erupted from the ground, piercing through their bodies, as a blue magic circle shimmered in the man''s hand, leaving no one standing.


    Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the man was moving despite grievous injuries.


    Severe cuts marred his body, a gaping hole marked his abdomen, and his chest bore the wound of a piercing blow. Blood flowed like a river, yet the man pressed on, undeterred by his mortal wounds.


    As they ran, multiple immensely powerful auras descended in front them, forcing the couple to a sudden halt.


    In front of them stood a lean man with blonde hair and piercing green eyes as he smirked maliciously, his gaze fixed on the bloodied pair.


    "Leaving without a proper farewell, Xavian? That''s hardly polite,you know " he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.


    The moonlight shifted, casting its silver glow on the faces of the man and woman. The man, tall and imposing, had pure white hair cascading to his shoulders, gleaming like freshly fallen snow.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    His sharp, chiseled features were striking, his grey eyes glowing with an icy intensity. He was a dangerously captivating figure.


    Beside him, the woman stood, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Despite her pallor and obvious struggle to stay upright, her beauty remained undeniable. She was without a doubt the most beautiful one here.


    Her golden locks cascaded like liquid sunlight, each strand shimmering softly in the moonlight. High cheekbones framed her delicate features, her small nose adding to her graceful visage.


    Her pink lips, even in her weakened state, were enough to quicken the pulse of any man who looked upon her. Her curvaceous figure and mesmerizing azure eyes held an enchanting allure that few could resist.


    Despite the precautions they had taken, the men before them couldn''t help but steal lingering glances at her unable to resist her charm.


    Xavian''s gaze, however, remained fixed on the blonde man, his eyes cold and brimming with anger and hatred.


    If looks could kill, the man would have perished a hundred times over. Yet, Xavian did not dignify him with a response.


    Instead, Xavian''s focus shifted to another figure among the group. This man, sharing the same snow-white hair as Xavian, stood silently, his crimson eyes gleaming with a mysterious intensity.


    Though his features were sharp and handsome, his presence paled in comparison to Xavian''s commanding aura.


    The blonde man, noticing the shift in attention, felt his jaw tighten as his anger simmered beneath the surface.


    His pride bristled at being ignored, but he chose to remain silent, a malicious smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. After all, victory was already within his grasp.


    Without a word, Xavian''s simmering rage was directed at the crimson-eyed man, his silent fury speaking volumes.


    "Why did you do it?" Xavian asked, his voice thick with grief and betrayal. The question hung in the air, laden with years of trust shattered in a single moment.


    His mind couldn''t fathom how his own flesh and blood, his brother, who had been with him since the beginning could have done something so vile.


    His chest tightened as he looked at his brother, the only family he had left. They were supposed to be a united front, facing the world together.


    To think that this man, who had been by his side all these years, could betray him like this¡ªit was a wound deeper than any physical pain and he couldn''t accept it. His mind was telling him he was betrayed however his heart.. it was telling him otherwise.


    But in his rage and sorrow, Xavian didn''t notice the subtle twitch of his brother''s body, nor the brief tremor in his crimson eyes. The briefest flicker of hesitation, as though something was amiss, but it was gone in an instant.


    Xavian asked again, more desperately this time, his words cutting through the tense silence, "Why?" His eyes searched his brother''s face, hoping for some shred of an explanation, some reason for the betrayal before he would be forced to make this final, inevitable strike.


    But in reality, the truth of the situation was already clear to him. He and his wife were trapped. Their strength had been drained to the very limits. They were already weakened, standing on the precipice of death. There was no way out of this.


    Xavian had spent twenty-two days in relentless battle against demons and dark mages. Though he had emerged victorious every time, barely tiring from the onslaught, the mental stress was still there.


    Due to his mental stress and being off guard at his home. He was now facing the cold reality of his situation as the poisoned wound on his chest burned giving him an intense agony.


    He had returned to his pregnant wife, expecting to find her safe, protected by his brother and his wife. But instead, he found betrayal waiting for him at the doorstep of his sanctuary.


    The weight of it crushed him. His once unshakable trust in his brother had been nothing but a lie. And now, standing here in the moonlit night, it seemed their fate was sealed.


    They were at their last ropes.


    Breaking through his turbulent thoughts, Xavian felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. Turning his head slightly, his gaze landed on his wife.


    Her face was as pale as freshly fallen snow, her strength visibly waning as if every ounce of vitality had been drained from her.


    Yet, despite her fragile state, her eyes still held a spark of determination that refused to be extinguished.


    "Don''t lose yourself so much, my dear," she said softly, her voice a whisper yet firm. "That you fail to notice the signs of manipulation around him."

 When The Legends Dies-2

    Her words struck like lightning, jolting Xavian out of his swirling despair and rage. His eyes widened as clarity pierced through his mind like a blade, the haze of emotion lifting enough for him to see what he had missed.


    He looked closer, and the subtle signs became clear¡ªhis brother''s trembling pupils, the barely noticeable twitch of his fingers, and the unnatural stiffness in his posture. Arian was not himself.


    "Arian..." Xavian''s voice softened, tinged with both guilt and fury, but before he could say more, another voice cut through the heavy air like a dagger.


    It came from the woman standing beside his brother, her presence exuding dark energy. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back like a shadow, blending seamlessly with the gloom around her. Her piercing black eyes gleamed with malice, locking onto Xavian and his wife.


    "Oh, so even in this pitiful state, the great Celestial Witch manages to see the truth," the dark-haired woman sneered, her voice laced with venomous mockery.


    ''Our Lord was right, it seems'' she mused, her black eyes glinting with malicious satisfaction. ''If we allow even a single one of them to ascend to divinity, they will become untouchable. Even now, at their weakest, they are dangerous''.


    Her gaze drifted to Xavian, and a cruel smile tugged at her lips. "How amusing. Tell me, Xavian, what good does knowing the truth bring you now, when you''ve already lost everything?"


    Her mocking laughter rang out, a sinister melody that seemed to taunt the very air around them. "It''s too late for you. Surely, you see that by now."


    "Enough of this," the other man growled, his patience wearing thin. "We can''t give the witch any more time. Who knows what tricks she might still have up her sleeve? Let''s end this now¡ªher, the child, all of them."


    Xavian''s jaw clenched as frustration and rage bubbled within him. He clicked his tongue, realizing their enemies had uncovered their final gambit. His mind raced for options, but the noose around them tightened with every passing second.


    Haa!


    From beside him came a soft, steady sigh, a sound so gentle it momentarily cut through the chaos in his mind.


    He turned to look at his wife, his heart aching at the sight of her. Despite having endured the ordeal of childbirth mere hours ago, despite the pallor of her skin and the fragility of her body, she stood tall and unwavering.


    Her azure eyes shone with an inner strength that defied her weakened state, and when she spoke.


    It wasn''t the voice of someone cowering in fear in the face of death. No, her voice was calm and gentle, unwavering in its serenity.


    She stepped closer to him, her movements slow but deliberate, her pale hand reaching up to caress his cheek. Her touch was tender, yet it carried the weight of a lifetime of love and trust.


    Her azure eyes locked onto his, glimmering with unspoken emotions. There was no fear, no regret¡ªonly an infinite well of love and pride as she spoke, her voice soft but steady, each word carrying her heart.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Well, it seems this is the end, huh? Though I''m glad it''s with you¡ªthe most beautiful thing that ever happened in my lonely life. There''s no one else I''d rather face the end with," she said with a gentle smile, a smile so radiant that it seemed to dispel even the suffocating darkness surrounding them.


    At her side, a cluster of starlight shimmered into existence, swirling with vibrant colors that danced like the cosmos itself. It served as a camouflaging veil, concealing a cradle within.


    Inside lay a small child¡ªa boy with snow-white hair as pure as his father''s and oceanic azure eyes that mirrored the depth of his mother''s gaze and shone with intelligence.


    Xavian and his wife turned their eyes to the boy, their hearts heavy with an overwhelming mix of emotions.


    Great love and unyielding care filled their gazes as they looked at their precious diamond, their miracle in the midst of chaos.


    But intertwined with that love was a profound sadness, a silent sorrow knowing this would be the last time they would see him.


    Regret lingered in their expressions¡ªthe regret of not being able to raise him, to guide him, to be there for his first steps or hear his first words.


    And above all, there was worry, a gnawing fear for the cruel and unforgiving world that awaited their son, who would soon be left to face it alone.


    Yet, even in that moment of despair, they silently vowed that no matter what, they would do everything in their final moments to ensure their child had a chance to survive, to live, to thrive.


    The eyes of the assailants widened in shock and trepidation as they caught sight of the child. Even in his cradle, the aura surrounding him was extraordinary¡ªan unshakable presence that seemed to ripple through the very fabric of existence.


    This was no ordinary child. His mere existence had already shaken the balance of the world. Born with the potential to surpass the limits of god''s.


    His presence was a threat to the world''s powerhouses, the beings revered as gods in their own right. The raw, untapped energy emanating from the newborn sent a chill through even the most confident of the enemies standing before Xavian and his wife.


    One of the assailants, a tall, dark-robed figure, muttered under his breath, his voice trembling despite his efforts to appear composed. "This child¡­ his mere existence could tip the balance of the world. No wonder the higher-ups want him eliminated before he matures."


    The black-haired woman sneered, masking the unease that flickered in her own heart. "Such potential¡­ yet he''s but a fragile newborn. It won''t take much to snuff out this spark before it becomes a wildfire."


    Xavian''s grip on his sword tightened, his eyes burning with unrelenting determination. His wife''s hand, still resting on his cheek, offered a comforting warmth that seemed to reignite his resolve.


    Together, they stood as an unbreakable shield for their son¡ªa beacon of defiance in the face of insurmountable odds.


    "If you think we''ll let you lay a single hand on him," Xavian growled, his voice a low, threatening rumble, "then you''ve gravely underestimated what we''re willing to do for our son."


    In the midst of the chaotic battlefield, Cassandra stood tall, her frail form a stark contrast to the overwhelming aura of magic she was summoning.


    Her lips moved in a steady chant, her voice carrying an otherworldly resonance that echoed through the frozen wasteland.


    Her azure eyes glowed faintly, before closing in unwavering concentration as if communing with the very fabric of existence.


    As her spell grew in power, clusters of multicolored light began to coalesce around her, swirling in intricate patterns that seemed almost alive.Above her, explosions of starlight erupted, bathing the battlefield in ethereal hues.


    A massive magical circle, adorned with swirling, celestial patterns, materialized beneath her feet and another hovered in the air behind her, spinning in perfect synchronization.


    The space around her rippled unnaturally, like water disturbed by a falling stone. Then, the ripples began to crack.


    A single fracture spread outward like lightning across the battlefield, shattering the air itself as if it were glass. More cracks followed, hundreds of them, forming a web of fractured reality.


    "No¡ª!" Lia''s voice broke into a panicked shout, her black eyes wide with fear.


    "Shit!" Nathan cursed, his fiery aura flaring as he lunged forward.


    Both moved with desperation, their focus entirely on stopping Cassandra. They don''t know what the spell was however they had a feeling of it succeeded all of it will be for nothing.


    Yet, before they could close the distance, Xavian stepped into their path, his frosty aura surging like a blizzard. His expression was a mix of wrath and determination, his grip on his sword unyielding.


    "Not a chance," Xavian growled, his voice echoing with icy authority. "Glacial Reqium! "


    With those words, an overwhelming wave of mana erupted from him. The temperature plummeted as snow and frost rained heavily from the heavens.


    The ground beneath them froze solid, turning the battlefield into an arctic wasteland. Ice surged forward in massive waves, encasing everything in its path.


    Lia, Nathan and others barely had time to react as the frost consumed their lower bodies, rapidly creeping upward.


    The agony was immediate and excruciating as the frostbite spread through their limbs, immobilizing them. Their faces contorted in pain as their bodies betrayed them, unable to move under the relentless grip of the freezing spell.


    Lia and Nathan struggled against their frozen prisons, their eyes filled with rage and helplessness as Cassandra''s spell reached its peak.


    The cracks in space widened further, weaving an intricate web of chaos, and the power radiating from Cassandra became suffocating.


    Above, the moon shifted, its pale light dimming into an ominous crimson glow as if the world itself sought to resist her actions.


    Yet, in this battle between the will of the world and the love of a mother, it was the mother who emerged victorious.