"I am Gaia," she says, her voice like the whisper of time, ancient and heavy with power. "The Celestial Paragon of Sylvestria."

Paragon? What the hell is a Paragon? That’s not a term I’ve ever read in the web novel. Not once. And why is she introducing herself to me—a nobody, an Extra in a story where I’m not supposed to matter?

A surge of frustration, confusion, and fear crashes over me like a tidal wave. First, Umbrascourge—the most dangerous organization in the world—came after me for reasons I can’t even begin to understand, and now this? A Celestial Paragon? I don’t even know what that means!

I’m not supposed to be here. None of this is supposed to be happening. I’m just Dominic Eñeforte, the Extra, who was never mentioned in the story. How did I get caught in the middle of something so... impossible? My heart pounds in my chest, my thoughts spiraling. Why me? What is so important about someone like me that all this chaos is unraveling around me?

A part of me screams that this is all a mistake, that I’m not supposed to be involved in any of this. But another part, deeper, whispers a truth I don’t want to acknowledge—there’s no going back to the life of a simple extra. I’ve been thrust into a story I never wanted to be a part of, with no idea how or why.

"I can tell you're overwhelmed," Gaia says softly, her voice cutting through the chaotic storm in my mind.

Her tone is gentle, but there’s something about it—something ancient and weighty as if she can see every messy thought, every ounce of fear and confusion swirling inside me.

I try to steady my breath, but it feels suffocating. Everything around me, everything inside me, is too much. Too fast. I’m not supposed to be here. This isn’t supposed to be my life, my fight. I’m not the hero. I’m just... me. An extra.

"You and Célestin have regressed so far that you’ve forgotten the essence of who you truly are," Gaia continues, her tone calm as if she’s stating a simple fact.

Her words slice through the air like a cold blade. What? My mind races, and panic surges through me. Me and Célestin... regressed? What is she talking about? I’ve only met Célestin twice! My head spins, and it feels like my entire reality is unraveling. This wasn’t in the web novel. Nothing about this makes sense.

"W-What are you talking about?" I stammer, my voice barely holding together as my heart pounds.

The world around me feels like it’s closing in, like every truth I thought I knew is crumbling beneath me.

"Poor thing..." Gaia’s voice is soft, almost like a mother’s, and before I can pull back, she reaches out, cupping my face with both hands. Her touch is warm, but her eyes glow with an otherworldly light that makes me feel utterly exposed, like she’s peering straight into my soul, peeling back every layer.

"Let me help you," she whispers, her voice filled with an overwhelming power that makes my breath catch.

I can’t move. I can’t speak. All I can do is stare into her glowing eyes as everything around me begins to blur.

════⋆★⋆════

"Ahh!"

I jolt awake to the sound of a scream, my heart racing. My eyes snap open, and I’m back in the town, chaos erupting all around me. The air is thick with the sounds of battle—screams, clashes, and the distant roar of monsters.

"I’m back?" I mutter, my voice trembling in disbelief. How? Just moments ago, I was in a tranquil field talking to a woman named Gaia, the Celestial Paragon of Sylvestria. But now… now I’m here, thrown back into the madness.

"Rahh!"

A skeletal creature catches my eye, advancing toward me with terrifying speed, its staff raised, ready to strike. Instinctively, I reach for my Galahad’s Judgement pistols, the familiar weight I always rely on in battle.

But my hands come up empty.

"Where are they!?" I gasp, frantically patting down my pockets, panic flooding my mind. The pistols—they should be here. I never go anywhere without them! Where did they go!?

"Rah!"

The creature lunges, its staff slicing through the air, aimed directly at my chest. I roll to the side, barely avoiding the strike, my heart hammering in my chest. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I scramble to my feet, my mind spinning.

If the pistols are gone, maybe my Chrono Pendant will work.

"Activate!" I shout, my voice thick with desperation.

...

I wait. I wait for that familiar ‘tick-tock’ sound—the one that always comes when time shifts in my favor. But there’s nothing. The world around me remains normal, untouched by the pendant's magic. My stomach drops.

"Rah!"

The creature lunges again; this time, I have nothing—no weapons, no magic. I raise my arms in a pitiful attempt to block the attack, fully expecting the staff to pierce through me.

But it doesn’t.

Instead, the staff passes through me like I’m some kind of ghost.

"What the—!" I gasp, staring at my chest in shock.

I touch myself, feeling the solidness of my body beneath my fingertips. I’m here, physically. I’m solid. So… why did that creature’s weapon pass through me as if I weren’t?

Before I can understand it, another scream rips through the air.

"AHH! HELP!"

A woman’s voice. My eyes shoot toward the sound, and I see her—a woman just a few feet away, helpless, as the skeletal creature plunges its staff into her. My stomach twists with a sickening sense of helplessness.

I can’t just stand here.

"Hey, stop it!" I shout, charging at the creature with all my anger and frustration.

I swing my fist, aiming for its head. But once again, my fist passes straight through its form, like I’m not even there.

"Tch!"

Frustration boils inside me as I watch, powerless, the woman’s screams still ringing in my ears. I can't stop it. I can't touch it. I can't protect anyone.

"Avalon’s Blast!"

Arthur’s voice rings out clear and strong through the chaos, a lifeline amid everything falling apart.

—Bling!

Three beams of brilliant light shoot from his hands, each finding its mark with unerring precision. The skeletal creature disintegrates into nothing, leaving behind only the echoes of its existence. The woman it had been attacking collapses to the ground, gasping for air, her body shaking from fear and shock.

“Mademoiselle!” Arthur dashes toward her, his face full of concern as he kneels beside her. His presence is calm and steady in the face of the madness surrounding them.

Seeing Arthur like that, doing what he always does—helping and protecting—I feel relief. It’s like a tiny beacon of hope in the storm. At least someone can still make a difference, I think, bitterly acknowledging my helplessness.

"Arthur!" I call out, my heart lightening just a little at the sight of him. I run toward him, eager for some sense of normalcy, desperate to feel like I’m part of this world again.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

But it passes through him when I reach him and try to place my hand on his shoulder.

"No…" The word slips out of my mouth, barely audible, as disbelief settles over me like a cold, suffocating weight.

I can’t touch him. I can’t interact with him.

What… am I now?

Am I dead? A ghost? Wandering through Sylvestria unseen, untouchable, disconnected from everyone? The thought sends a chill through me, and a dark, creeping fear settles into my bones. To be here, watching, and existing alongside those I care about but unable to reach them, feels like some kind of cruel punishment.

"So… am I now dead?" I whisper, the words hanging heavy in the air as if voicing them makes the possibility more real.

My thoughts spiral. What has happened to me? Is this it? The end of everything I knew?

"Doms!"

Arthur’s voice cuts through the fog in my mind, sharp and clear, jolting me back to the present. He’s calling for me—me.

For a second, hope flares in my chest. Could he see me? Am I not as disconnected as I thought?

“I-I’m coming!”

But when I heard a familiar voice, my heart lurches. It isn’t me Arthur is talking to.

It’s the original Dominic.

I turn around and there he is, but this Dominic looks… different. His body is frail and gaunt as if the world’s weight has fallen on him. He clutches a bundle of potions, rushing toward Arthur with purpose.

I stand frozen, watching as this other me moves with a strange familiarity, yet feels so foreign. It’s as if I’m seeing a ghost of myself, a reflection of something I had once been. This version of Dominic—the one standing there, interacting, making a difference—isn’t me.

This is someone else’s story.

"Arthur, here are the healing potions!" the other Dominic says, his voice firm but filled with worry. He kneels beside Arthur and hands him the vials.

Arthur doesn’t hesitate. He takes one of the potions, uncorks it, and carefully brings it to the woman’s lips.

"Drink this," he says softly, his tone gentle yet firm.

The woman takes a cautious sip, and I watch in amazement as the potion works its magic. Her pale skin regains color, the lines of pain on her face smooth out, and her breathing steadies. Life returns to her in a way I can no longer grasp.

"I—thank you!" she exclaims, her voice full of gratitude.

Arthur smiles, that reassuring smile of his. "No problem, Mademoiselle. Now, please get to the evacuation center," he instructs, his protective nature shining through even in the chaos.

The woman nods, gathering her strength before running toward safety, her steps steadier with each passing second.

Meanwhile, the other Dominic—the real Dominic?—shivers, his voice trembling as he speaks. "Arthur, can we survive this... Stargate?"

Arthur wraps his arms around him, pulling him into a comforting hug. "Don’t worry, Doms. We’ll survive this together," he whispers, his voice filled with the warmth and certainty I have always known him for.

Watching them, something clicks inside me. The pieces of a story I hadn’t fully understood begin to fall into place.

Is this the original Arthur and Dominic?

The ones never mentioned in the web novel? Could I be witnessing something from their past—some part of their story that had never made it into the pages I’d read? A backstory I’ve somehow stumbled into but don’t belong to? The thought makes my head spin, and I can only watch, feeling more like a bystander in someone else’s life.

I stand there, helpless and lost, wondering what part I’m meant to play in a world that seems to have no place for me anymore.

"Rah!"

The bone-chilling cry of the creatures tears me from my spiraling thoughts. Three skeletal beings, their staffs glowing with ominous light, charge directly at Arthur and the other Dominic.

Arthur releases his protective hug immediately, his instincts sharp and focused.

"Stay behind me, Doms," he orders, his voice steady, his gaze unyielding as he steps between the threat and the other Dominic. His eyes blaze with determination, the air around him crackling with the last remnants of his mana reserves.

I watch from the sidelines, helpless, my heart pounding in my chest. There’s something surreal, almost haunting, about witnessing this—a battle that feels more like a window into another life, another history I’m not truly part of.

"Avalon’s Blast!"

Three brilliant beams of light shoot from Arthur’s hands, slicing through the air with precision. Two of the creatures dodge at the last second, but the third is obliterated, disintegrating into nothingness as the beam hits it dead-on.

"Rahh!"

The remaining two creatures press on, their glowing staffs spinning as they charge forward, undeterred by the loss of their comrade. The air around them shimmers with dark energy, a pulse of malevolent power that sends shivers down my spine.

"Luminous Gauntlets!"

Arthur’s fists ignite with radiant, shimmering light, illuminating the chaotic battlefield with their brilliance. He steps forward to meet the creatures head-on, his movements fluid and precise despite his fatigue.

"Rah!"

One of the creatures lunges at Arthur, its staff raised high. But Arthur is faster. His hand shoots out, catching the staff mid-swing, stopping it in its tracks. With a swift motion, he yanks the creature toward him and delivers a devastating punch right to its skull, sending it flying through the air.

—Boom!

The creature slams against a nearby wall, its wings twitching feebly as it struggles to regain its footing, dazed by the sheer force of Arthur’s strike.

"Rahh!"

The second creature, seeing an opening, bypasses Arthur and lunges directly at the other Dominic.

"Ah!"

Dominic dodges just in time, rolling to the side with impressive agility. His movements are quick and instinctive, a stark contrast to his earlier uncertainty. But even so, the danger is too close.

Arthur spins around, eyes wide with alarm.

"Doms!" he shouts, panic lacing his voice.

Without hesitation, Arthur charges toward the second creature. He grabs its wings in mid-flight, pulling it down with sheer force before throwing it into the wall with a mighty heave.

—Boom!

The creature screeches in agony, its body crumpling under the impact. Not wasting a second, Arthur dashes forward, his Luminous Gauntlets still glowing, and delivers a crushing blow to its skull.

—Boom!

The impact sends a shockwave through the surroundings, and the creature lies motionless on the ground, defeated.

Arthur rushes over to the other Dominic, his concern evident as he grabs him by the shoulders. "Doms! Are you okay?!"

Dominic nods, trying to catch his breath, a faint smile on his lips. "I’m fine, Arthur."

Relief washes over Arthur’s face, but his eyes remain alert, scanning for any more threats.

"The situation is getting worse. Let’s get you to the evacuation area.”

"No! I—I can do this! I want to help you!"

The other Dominic’s voice is filled with determination, his eyes burning with a fierce resolve that catches even me by surprise.

Arthur looks torn, shaking his head. "Doms, this is too dangerous. You could get hurt!"

Dominic’s expression tightens, his voice rising with emotion. "I could say the same thing to you! Why would you risk your life to help everyone else when you’re just a kid like me?!"

Arthur’s face softens for a moment. "I’m training to be a Stargate Raider, Doms. I have to help. It’s my responsibility, and it’s what my father would want."

"But you’re only 15! This doesn’t make any sense!" Dominic’s voice cracks with frustration, the weight of their conversation pressing down on him.

Arthur’s expression grows serious. "Doms, this conversation isn’t going anywhere. I’m taking you to the evacuation center."

Dominic’s face falls, and he whispers, "But I want to hel-"

"You’re being a burden!"

The words hang in the air like a heavy weight. Arthur’s eyes widen in shock, realizing what he has just said.

Dominic’s face falls, his eyes glistening with pain. "I know… all my life, I’ve always been a burden… to my family, and to you…"

Arthur’s face twists with regret. "Doms… I didn’t mean—"

But Dominic isn’t listening. He’s too deep in his thoughts, too wrapped up in the harsh reality he’s admitting aloud. "I want to help because… because I need to feel like I’m doing something right. I need to feel like I matter… like I can make a difference… even if I’m Manaless."

Hearing him say that, my heart clenches. I’ve felt it—the discrimination that comes with being Manaless in this world. I’ve shrugged it off before, but hearing the original Dominic’s confession again hits me harder than I expect.

He isn’t just talking about wanting to help; he’s talking about his place in the world, his value as a person. The struggle to prove that he isn’t worthless, that he can still contribute, despite being born without Mana. I can see how much he’s hurting, how much he yearns for validation.

It makes me think—was his decision to move to Japan, to escape Sylvestria, really just about running away? Or was it his way of trying to find a place where he could finally belong?

…

…

Wait… Something clicks in my mind. The real Dominic… why haven’t I questioned this before? He’s in Japan now, in his body, while I’m here, in Sylvestria, trapped in his body, not my original one.

If our souls have really switched, why is he in his own body while I’m stuck in his? Something about this doesn’t add up.

The real Dominic is hiding something from me.

"Rahh!"

The ominous cries of the skeletal creatures echo through the crumbling streets, their chilling presence closing in fast. It’s like a relentless tide of darkness, and the air grows thick with the weight of impending danger.

"Doms, let’s go!" Arthur shouts, his voice urgent, filled with the weight of responsibility.

Without hesitation, he grabs Dominic by the arm and starts running, pulling him through the chaos.

The town that had once been bustling with life is now a battlefield. Buildings that had stood proudly are reduced to broken shells, windows shattered, and walls crumbling. The streets are littered with debris—broken carts, scattered belongings, fallen masonry—and the sounds of distant fighting mix with the cries of those still struggling to survive.

"Agh!" Dominic trips over a broken piece of stone, but Arthur yanks him back up, never letting him fall, the determination in his eyes unwavering.

The creatures are getting closer, their eerie cries growing louder and more desperate. The fear is palpable now, the sense of being hunted driving them forward past their limits and exhaustion. Every step feels like a race against death.

I follow them, running in the shadows of their escape, unseen, untouched by the madness around me. The fear that grips them can’t reach me. The debris, the creatures, the very world itself—it all passes through me as if I’m not even here. I’m a ghost, watching, powerless to help.

As I watch Arthur pull Dominic along in their desperate attempts to stay alive, I feel something stir inside me—not just helplessness or confusion, but something deeper.

Watching them, I feel like I’m seeing a part of the story that was meant to be hidden—a glimpse into their lives and struggles that I was never supposed to witness.

And yet, here I am. Trapped in this form, stuck in this place, unable to do anything but watch as the world crumbles around them.