The Extra Wants Control

Verona's question hung heavy in the air. "So, do you know about power systems?" she inquired, her crimson eyes glinting with something akin to amusement.

"Yes," the boy replied, his voice still hoarse from the previous day's exertion. He puffed out his chest, a flicker of pride in his ability to absorb the information from the books.

"Excellent," Verona purred, a predatory smile playing on her lips. "Then it's time for a test."

She leaned forward, her voice losing its playful edge. "Tell me, what differentiates the lower stars from a seven-star being? What momentous shift occurs at 7 star and 10 stars? And why do so few surpass the eight-star threshold?"

The boy blinked, confusion creeping into his expression. "Wait," he stammered, "Those details weren't in the books."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Verona's face, but it quickly vanished. "Ah," she drawled, "So you thought mastering the basics was all there is to know? How naive. You must always strive to find information."

She settled back in her chair, her posture imperious. "Listen carefully," she commanded. "As you've learned, individuals, regardless of their path – mage or knight – are ranked based on the complete stars they form. These stars, however, are not mere indicators of power. They represent the crystallization of one's personality, spirit, and very essence.

One can also give physical manifestation of this stars above their head."

Verona paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "At seven stars," she continued, her voice dropping to a low murmur, "a qualitative change occurs. A being sheds their mortal shell and transcends. Their bodies become prepared for the journey to divinity. Everything mortal is shed even the soul gets restructured for divinity."

"There's also another matter," Verona said, her voice sharp. "Most people, well those with fitting potential, reach a dead end at eight stars. It's here that the path branches. Your accumulated experience grants you power, yes, but true advancement demands self inspection.

You must know your self, what impact on existence you should carry, very core of your being – your soul's nature, your true name."

Verona continued, her amusement returning. "At ten stars, a being tries to ascend to demigod level. It is a transition stage to demigod realm from the transcended mortality state."

She leaned closer, her gaze locking his. "This is where the concept of a domain comes in. A ten-star being can forge their own reality, a pocket dimension governed by their own set of rules and principles. But to achieve this, they must delve deep into the very essence of their chosen path, uncovering its fundamental laws and principles.

Then, they must present these to the Akashic Record, the record of existence, for its approval."

" Well... atleast that's the normal procedure..."She said her words cryptic.

Still the boy couldn't shake the image of the fallen dragon. It lingered in his mind, a colossal creature brought down with what seemed like effortless ease by Verona. Curiosity gnawed at him. "That dragon you fought," he blurted out, "how strong was it?"

Verona's crimson eyes met his, an emotionless red pool reflecting no surprise at the question. "Ten star," she replied, her voice flat.

The boy's brow furrowed. Ten stars. According to her explanation, that placed the dragon on the transition to divinity. Yet, the way she'd handled it… "But if it was ten stars," he pressed, "where was its domain? It seemed… weak, considering how easily you dealt with it."

A faint amusement flickered in Verona's gaze. "Wrong," she countered, her voice gaining a hint of amusement. "That dragon was very strong. It could have easily leveled half a continent with its raw power."

The boy's confusion deepened. "Then why…" he stammered.

Verona leaned back, grace in her posture. "It was a newly ascended ten-star, I'd wager." she added with a touch of disdain. "And so arrogant believing in his own strength and not raising proficiency in wielding its power. He was probably lacking."

She sighed, a sound that seemed to echo through the room. "It appeared weak only because I was that much stronger. I controlled the fight, the very space I fought it and minimized the damage to the human lands. Don't be fooled. When he roared about the heat of a small star, he wasn't exaggerating. That could have caused a devastating catastrophe in the area."

The revelation sent a jolt through the boy. A ten-star being, powerful enough to reshape landscapes, yet vulnerable due to this monster infront of him. Thinking how powerful was his new mother.

*************

The first rays of dawn peeked through the window, the welcomed signal for sleep. I trudged through the familiar routine: another groaning session of shoveling an absurd amount of food into my stomach, followed by the blessed sensation of sleep.

As I drifted off, my mind snagged on the novel – the sole source of information in this bizarre new reality. Maybe it was the measly two hundred chapters, barely a prologue in most novels. But the glaring holes in the narrative gnawed at me. This knowledge, I thought I had, felt increasingly shaky.

The biggest variable: the Vampire Queen. A character completely absent from the novel now loomed over me, an enigmatic ruler of a secluded race. And the demons, the looming threat the story revolved around, remained shrouded in secrecy. Their power – a complete mystery.

I felt frustrated . My memories, fragmented and hazy, offered no clues as to who'd yanked me into this strange world. All I craved was strength – enough to escape being a pawn in someone else's game, a fate that had haunted me in my previous life.

The revelation about the power system had been a blow. Ancient monsters, old masters, roamed this world, their powers measured in stars, while I stood at the very beginning of the journey. A long, arduous path stretched before me, a path that could stretch on for years before the actual plot of the novel even started.

The main character, I remembered, had entered the academy as a six-star prodigy, far surpassing his peers. That, I decided, would be my initial goal. Six stars seemed a distant horizon, but at least it was a tangible one. A small ember of determination flickered to life within me. This wouldn't be a walk in the park, but I wouldn't crumble either.

I'd train, push myself to the limit, and carve my own path in this strange, unpredictable world. Six stars for now, and then… well, then we'd see.

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