Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"Has everyone returned?" General Theron Dreyfus asked, his voice low but commanding as he stood atop the city walls. His silver-white hair gleamed under the sunlight, a stark contrast to the pitch-black armor he wore. The heavy armor seemed to absorb the light around him, making him an imposing figure against the chaotic backdrop of the approaching battle.

A younger officer, standing just behind him, saluted sharply. "Yes, General. All forces have returned. Two teams from the academy played a significant role in ensuring their safe retreat."

Theron nodded, having seen the coordinated efforts himself as the last stragglers made it through the city gates. He was aware of the Academy's strength, particularly the young talents that had been nurtured there, but seeing them act with such decisiveness under pressure was still a relief. The situation was dire, but the resolve of those students had given them precious time.

His gaze drifted upward, scanning the skies. The winds were shifting, carrying the distant screeches of wyverns closer. As the scene zoomed in, his sharp eyes focused on a particular shape—a massive black wyvern, larger than any of its kin, almost big as a real dragon.

Its dark wings cut through the sky like a shadow, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence as it locked gazes with Theron from afar. The creature's jaws parted slightly, emitting a low, menacing growl, its eyes narrowing as if sizing up its opponent.

Theron's lips curled into a faint, amused smile. 'Interesting...' he thought. The black wyvern was no ordinary monster—it was a fully intelligent, higher-tier creature that led the wyvern flocks, and its presence alone signified the gravity of the threat they now faced.

Without breaking eye contact with the distant wyvern, Theron turned to his subordinate. "Prepare the defense. Everyone is to take their positions. We can't afford any mistakes now."

The officer nodded and immediately rushed off to relay the orders. Below the wall, the city's defenders scrambled to their positions, readying weapons, loading ballistae, and reinforcing the barricades. The tension in the air was thick, but the soldiers moved with practiced precision, knowing what was at stake.

Theron's gaze returned to the skies, the black wyvern still hovering on the edge of the battlefield, waiting for its moment to strike. His fingers flexed around the hilt of the sword strapped to his side, a massive blade that glowed faintly with solar energy—the mark of his rank, Solar Artisan, a stage just one step below the legendary rank of the Academy's principal, the Solar Archmage.

But even a stage lower, his power was far from ordinary.

The principal had left the city in his care, trusting him and a few of the other high-ranking defenders to hold the line in his absence. Theron understood that trust and the weight of the responsibility that came with it. He wasn't just the protector of the city—he was its sword and shield.

Turning sharply, Theron addressed the soldiers near him. "I will lead the flying unit. The aerial threat will be handled in the skies. You all—hold the line. Defend the city from the incoming werebeasts and other monster waves."

The soldiers saluted him, their expressions a mixture of awe and determination. They knew what General Theron was capable of. He wasn't just strong—he was a legend in his own right, feared and respected across the land for his unparalleled strength and strategy. His presence alone was a source of morale for the troops.

"Ready the aerial battalion," Theron ordered. "We move out in five."

As the soldiers prepared their flying ships and beasts, Theron's eyes once again flicked to the distant black wyvern. The battle between them was inevitable, and the outcome would determine the fate of the city.

With a final glance at the city below, where soldiers and defenders alike braced for the incoming storm, Theron smiled grimly.

The real fight was about to begin.

"Aerial units, ready?"

"Yes, General!"

"Then, to the skies!"

General Theron soared into the skies, leading the vanguard of the city's aerial units. The wind howled past him, whipping his silver-white hair as he shot forward, faster than any of the flying beasts or ships trailing behind. Below, the city's walls and battlements shrank into the distance as they raced to meet the incoming threat head-on.

Behind him, the aerial battalion followed with disciplined precision. Flying ships hovered in tight formations, their magical engines humming, while trained griffins and other winged beasts carried squads of soldiers. Each beast and ship bore enchanted weapons—arrows, spears, cannons, and Awakeners—ready to unleash upon the enemy.

But their greatest weapon flew ahead, cutting through the skies with unyielding purpose: General Theron himself.

They approached the edge of the battlefield where the enemy swarmed, an endless wave of wyverns darkening the horizon. The sky churned with their massive wings, each beat sending gusts of wind toward the city.

The creatures screeched and growled, their razor-sharp claws and venomous fangs glinting in the sunlight. The number was overwhelming, but Theron didn't falter. He couldn't afford to.

"Stay focused," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as the first wave of wyverns came into view. "None of them will get past us."

With a single motion, he unsheathed his sword. The blade gleamed, its faint solar energy now flaring brighter, casting a golden hue that cut through the dark clouds of beasts.

The first wyverns crashed into their ranks.

Theron slashed through the air with brutal efficiency, his sword cleaving through flesh and bone like a hot knife through butter. His strikes were precise, controlled, each movement calculated to bring maximum destruction.

Behind him, the flying ships fired their magical cannons, and soldiers launched volleys of enchanted arrows and spells, tearing into the enemy ranks. The sky became a chaotic battlefield of smoke, fire, and steel as the defenders fought back with all they had.

Wyverns screeched as they were cut down, their bodies plummeting toward the earth below. Trained flying beasts collided mid-air with their wild counterparts, claws and teeth tearing into each other. The soldiers, too, fought with relentless fury, every blow pushing the enemy back, trying to keep them as far from the city as possible.

But even amidst the chaos, Theron's eyes were fixed on one figure.

The Black Wyvern.

It soared above the battle, its massive form casting a shadow over the battlefield. Larger than the rest of its kin, the creature exuded a raw, dark power that marked it as a higher-tier being, far more dangerous than the lesser wyverns around it. Its wings beat slowly, almost lazily, as if mocking the struggle below.

Then, it locked eyes with him.

With a single, powerful flap of its wings, the Black Wyvern dove toward Theron, its immense bulk moving with terrifying speed. The distance between them closed in an instant, and as it approached, its deep, rumbling voice echoed in the air.

"You will die today, human, all of you," the Black Wyvern snarled, its voice dripping with malice and arrogance. Its crimson eyes glinted with malevolent intelligence, far beyond the bestial instincts of the others.

"Heh," Theron chuckled, unphased by the threat. His grip tightened on his sword, the blade glowing brighter as he met the creature's challenge head-on. "You've just awakened, yet you speak with such arrogance, you half-bird, half-lizard?"

"You are brave for mocking me, human, but also a fool." The Black Wyvern laughed menacingly.

"Fool?" Theron smirked, his tone mocking. "Then, let me show you who's truly the fool between us."

"Come!"

The two charged at each other, the Black Wyvern unleashing a roar that shook the skies, while Theron's blade flared with searing light, leaving a trail of golden energy in its wake.

The clash was immediate and violent.

The Black Wyvern's claws raked through the air, aiming to tear Theron apart. He dodged with lightning-fast reflexes, retaliating with a slash that sent a beam of solar flames straight toward the creature's chest. The wyvern twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the attack, its wings whipping around in a flurry of motion.

With a powerful snap of its tail, the wyvern sent a shockwave through the air, attempting to unbalance Theron. But he was ready. He spun through the air, using the force of the attack to propel himself closer, his sword raised high as he aimed for the creature's throat.

The Black Wyvern roared in fury, opening its jaws to unleash a blast of dark energy straight at the General.

Theron's sword blazed with light as he swung downward, cutting through the darkness with a brilliant slash.

The two forces collided.

A massive shockwave rippled through the sky, the sheer force of the clash sending ripples of energy that scattered the surrounding wyverns and shook the skies.

And in the center of it all, Theron and the Black Wyvern clashed once more, their powers crackling in the air as the battle for the city's fate hung in the balance.

The world stood still for a moment, the tension building to its breaking point, as the fight between two titans reached its peak...