The sound of gunfire echoed through the wasteland, muffled slightly by the whirling winds of the sandstorm. Lucius stood in the open, his dark cloak fluttering in the gusts, his handgun held steady as he fired at the grotesque creatures surrounding him.
The goblins, if one could even call them that, were a warped reflection of something once humanoid. Their skin was a sickly greenish-brown, cracked and blistered from the harsh environment they inhabited. Their wiry frames were bent and crooked, with spindly limbs and oversized heads. Beady, bloodshot eyes gleamed with malice, their jagged teeth bared in feral grins.
Most wore makeshift armor crafted from scraps of metal, bone, and leather, all held together by fraying ropes. Their weapons were primitive yet effective—rusty daggers, spears tipped with sharp stones, and even crude slingshots loaded with jagged shards of glass. Others carried nets made of fraying fabric, clearly intended for capturing prey.
Lucius, however, was unfazed.
With swift precision, he aimed and fired, each shot landing squarely between a goblin's eyes. As one fell, another lunged from the shadows of the sand, only to meet the same fate.
One goblin, more cunning than the others, burrowed beneath the sand. Its spindly hands clawed through the dirt as it crept toward Lucius, its dagger glinting faintly under the haze of the storm.
But Lucius was ready.
Without even turning, he slung his handgun over his shoulder, twisting his wrist just enough to fire. The bullet struck the goblin dead center in its forehead as it emerged from the sand, its body collapsing lifelessly back into the dirt.
A soft chime rang in his ears. The translucent screen of his Aetheris materialized before him, its blue glow illuminating the storm around him.
[System Update]
• Name: Lucius (Marcus)
• Level: 16
• Current Experience: 1,200 / 1,500 XP
• Strength: 34
• Dexterity: 42
• Endurance: 29
• Intelligence: 38
• Mana: 120
[Skills]
• Firearms Proficiency: Level 3 (Precise aim and reduced recoil for modern and primitive firearms)
• Dagger Proficiency: Level 3 (Basic techniques with medium efficiency)
• Stealth: Level 4 (Enhanced ability to remain undetected by sound or sight)
• Tactics & Strategy: Level 5 (Heightened ability to assess battlefield conditions and lead operations)
• Mana Manipulation: Level 3 (Control over internal mana flow for weapon enhancement and physical boosts)
• Serenity's Embrace (Passive): [Rare] In moments of intense stress or emotion, your mind will remain clear and focused. Resistance to mental and emotional manipulation increased.
Marcus, under the guise of Lucius, gave a satisfied nod. "Not bad," he murmured under his breath, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smile.
Inwardly, though, Marcus sighed. Playing as Lucius—the rude, cold, and dismissive antihero archetype—was wearing him down. Sure, it was easier than having to explain his every move in great detail, but maintaining the character's persona constantly was exhausting.
He scratched the back of his head as his gaze shifted to the entrance of the cave in the distance, where Chester and Clara were stationed temporarily. The system map glimmered faintly in his peripheral vision, showing a rough layout of the terrain.
His mind wandered to how he had stumbled upon this cave. During his trek through the sandy wasteland, he'd spotted the three military vehicles Chester and Clara were using, their design archaic compared to the mana-fueled tech of his own time. He'd been tempted to intercept them earlier but held back when he saw the monsters trailing behind them.
"This is… surreal," Marcus muttered, rubbing his temples. The realization that he was in a distant-past scenario—something only vaguely mentioned in the original novel—felt both exciting and nerve-wracking.
In the story, these events were supposed to be reserved for Ash, the protagonist. At this point in the novel, Ash wouldn't even be in the third phase of the tournament yet. These time-jumping scenarios were meant to serve as major plot points later in the story.
The irony wasn't lost on Marcus. Here he was, a extra character forced to deal with events meant for the protagonist. "Guess that's what I get for being a know-it-all," he thought bitterly.
Still, despite everything, Marcus felt oddly calm. The storm, the monsters, the pressure of keeping up his act as Lucius—none of it seemed to faze him. His eyes flicked to the glowing text beside him:
Serenity's Embrace (Passive): [Rare]
In moments of intense stress or emotion, your mind will remain clear and focused. Resistance to mental and emotional manipulation increased.
…..
He allowed himself a small, tired smile. "Guess this skill isn't so bad after all," he muttered. It wasn't flashy or particularly powerful, but it was a godsend for someone like him, who needed to think quickly and keep a level head.
Turning away from the scattered goblin corpses, Marcus steadied his breathing. The storm raged around him as he trudged back toward the cave.
The faint sound of Chester and Clara bickering reached his ears even before he stepped inside.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let's hope I can at least get a moment of peace in there," he thought.
As Marcus approached the cave's entrance, a faint glow caught his attention. His eyes narrowed as he noticed strange markings etched into the cave walls, faintly pulsating with an otherworldly light.
"Great," he muttered under his breath, his expression deadpan. "Just when I thought things couldn't get any more complicated."