The Extra System: Summoner of Shadows

Once he read the notification, Cedric felt the strange energy dissipate. Whatever this assassin was about to do changed, and what remained was the confusion that Caroline felt over his actions. But he had no time to keep eavesdropping.

Cedric ran away from the barn, dragging his tired feet behind him. His mana had bottomed out, and it would need ten more seconds to regenerate just enough to keep himself safe.

But he was not safe anymore after what he overheard. Although the cloaked shadow had forgotten about him, three minutes later he would remember. There was also the possibility of the skill failing if Caroline reminded him of Cedric.

Cedric ran back into the bushes, toward the iron fences of the garden. It might have been a minute since he began running, but he didn't feel anyone giving chase to him. Guards swarmed around, but they barely looked at the garden's gate. Most of them had already gone out of the estate believing that Cedric did the same.

Cedric had no energy left in him. His legs felt heavy and his lungs burned with ancient fire, demanding oxygen. Although he wasn't overweight, he didn't have the stamina of an athlete either. Thus, in the end, he collapsed outside the garden before reaching it.

[Observe (X)]

The skill activated for a few seconds, exhausting the last of his mana. Cedric knew that mana was essential to recover, but he had to make sure that no one was close. Once he realized that he was too exposed, he began crawling into nearby bushes, hiding behind them.

Cedric wanted to live, but he could no longer move. The repeated exhaustion of mana took its toll on his mind, and his body reached its limits. Thus, he decided to rest.

[…]

Cedric was confused once he saw the panel appear in front of him while he was resting, loading something.

[Generating a summary report.]

[Cedric Everhart has fought and escaped an assassination attempt. 5 SPs have been rewarded for personal achievements.]

[The user has uncovered a plot to scheme against the Aeloria Kingdom and its prince. 10 SPs have been awarded for impact on the story.]

[Character Caroline Astrid Ravenswood has been registered in the system.]

[The user has unlocked the Extra Menu after generating SPs.]

Cedric read the notifications with a heaving chest, his brows furrowing as he read through them. Although he was glad the assassin would provide him with SPs, he didn't think it would actually work.

The first thing he needed to do was to recover. Although his mana was regenerating, it was far from enough to survive if he ran into someone. Even now, he remembered the strange energy that appeared outside the barn.

It was sinister.

Although strange, Cedric recognized it from his memories. The prince felt the same energy from the vines that wrapped around him, wounding his leg before he fell over Caroline. That sinister energy must be what killed the previous prince.

Cedric decided to calm down before opening the last menu. But just as he was about to order the system, he heard a rustling sound from the direction he came from, making him turn to the side.

"Eavesdropping is unbefitting of a prince," said the voice which Cedric recognized immediately. He activated his Observe Skill and found the cloaked man from earlier walking toward him, his face still hidden by a mask. "I have to admit my surprise that you survived the assassination."

The man was already talking as if he could see Cedric, who was already hidden. Instead of answering, Cedric had to use what little mana he regenerated in his few minutes of rest to use the narrator.

[…and Aric the Mask succeeded in finding the prince using his detection skill he obtained in the last ritual. His surprise that the prince turned capable could not be hidden, but it would…]

And Cedric turned off his skill before the mana exhaustion happened again, as he was sure it would make him faint. However, the situation was turning sour every second. In order to survive, he had to use a secret art he used in his past life: bullshitting.

[Character Aric the Mask has been registered.]

Cedric smiled as the system gave him the tools necessary to deceive this man. Then, without further ado, Cedric rose to face him, trying to appear dignified and confident.

"Cultists have always had a simple mindset," said Cedric while feigning a smirk as he placed his hands in his pockets. "I knew that you would make your move once I left the kingdom."

Of course, Cedric knew jack shit about their plan. He was just reading the Character Sheet from the system which told him that this man was a cultist. Although he had no idea why the cult was after him, he needed to buy himself some time.

"…have you been hiding your true self all these years?" muttered Aric the Mask after some pause. Although Cedric could not see his face, he knew that the man was shaken to the core. "How did you know about the cult?"

"Do I really have to repeat myself?" asked Cedric with a sigh. "Your work has been anything but discreet. I have known about your existence for a long time. I was merely waiting for you to reveal yourselves."

"And what would you gain from that?" asked Aric with some hesitation, feeling that the man before him was not just for show. After all, he uncovered his identity in mere seconds.

"The same thing that you desire," lied Cedric again, as he had no idea what they were after. Of course, they had some agenda, which made his statement objectively true. "But I like to take my time."

"You already knew about the trial," muttered Aric with his strange energy leaking again. "That makes things more straightforward. You must die!"

Cedric almost cursed inwardly as he felt the nauseating feeling leak from the man's body again. He had no idea what it was, but he knew that it could kill him again with nothing but a touch. And then, confirming his suspicions, vines began to appear around the man, twisting in the air beside him.

"Your vines already failed to kill me once, so what makes it different this time?" Cedric heard himself threaten the man as his eyes looked at the hologram in front of him. Rows of texts appeared, but he was too occupied to read through them.

"If the poison does not work, a less subtle approach is necessary," said the man as he tilted his head and raised a hand. The vines rose as if they were snakes, each lined with poisonous barbs. "I just have to ensure that no one finds your corpse."

"Cultists are so scary," said Cedric with a grin as he placed both of his hands in his pockets. "You have one chance to kill me. If you fail, death is the consequence."

Aric the Mask seemed threatened by his strong words, and countless vines pierced toward Cedric like spears. As he faced tens of attacks, Cedric watched the notifications from the system.

[You have spent 1 SP to unlock the Character Sheet of Ember Twilight.]

[You have selected the skill Mana Shield from Ember Twilight to Mimic.]

The moment that the vines were within one foot of Cedric, a barrier pulsed from within him that stopped them in their track. The formless shield absorbed the mana in the vines, making them lose their luster. At the same time, Cedric watched his mana.

[Mana: 11/31]

…

[Mana: 24/31]

…

[Mana: 31/31]

Cedric grinned the moment his mana was restored. This skill, which was an A-rank Legacy Skill, allowed him to create a shield that would restore the mana of the user according to the damage received. Although for just an instant, it was enough to save Cedric and restore his mana. 

"How can an unranked bastard have this kind of skill?!" roared Aric as he lost his composure. Cedric, on the other hand, was busy using his precious SPs on surviving this battle.

[You have spent 10 SPs to unlock the Character Sheet of Aric the Mask.]

The price was expensive, and Cedric considered the relationship of the character to him being a factor. Ember would have disclosed anything to him, even without using the system, which made the price of her sheet 1 SP.

The Mimic Skill had one limit: the inability to be stacked on the same target. Therefore, Cedric could no longer use Ember's skill because he summoned the shield. Although a big downside, the skill had a major advantage, and that was that it had no cooldown.

[You have selected the skill Venomous Thornbind from Aric the Mask to Mimic.]

"I have more than just a shield, Aric the Mask," said Cedric to the cultist, making him lose his composure because his name was revealed. "I promised you death, and I don't go back on my promises."