Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra-Chapter 488: Final Phase

The scythe boy stepped through the grand gates of the colosseum, his demeanor calm yet calculating. The circular arena was alive with tension, more than 150 examinees scattered around in loose groups, the sheer scale of the space making them look in

significant. He moved without a sound, his sharp eyes sweeping across the crowd.

Unbeknownst to them, more than half bore the invisible mark of his scythe. They neither felt it nor saw it, but to him, it was as clear as a constellation in the night sky.

The mark wasn’t physical—it was a claim, a signature that bound them in ways they couldn’t comprehend. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. They were his prey now, whether they realized it or not.

He melted into the crowd with effortless ease, keeping his head low and his aura subdued. A few who had witnessed his earlier displays of strength instinctively stepped back, their eyes betraying their fear, but the rest paid him little mind. That was fine by him.

Blending in was part of the plan.

At the center of the arena floor stood three figures who commanded attention without trying. Even from this distance, it was clear they weren’t like the rest of the examinees. They wore the academy’s uniform and a badge that identified them as the sophomores - the second years.

They were obviously Aurelia, Ren, and Lyra.

The boy’s attention lingered on Lyra more than the others. It wasn’t that she stood out more than the others—the young man and the other girl clearly had their own presence—but something about her struck him.

Perhaps it was the weapon. She carried her scythe not different than him, with a quiet ease that spoke of familiarity and skill. It wasn’t arrogance; it was confidence born of experience.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing them up. None of them could beat him, he was certain of that. He didn’t need to fight them to know; the instincts honed by years of survival told him all he needed. Yet, his gaze lingered on Lyra a moment longer. There was something there he couldn’t quite place.

Fifteen minutes ticked by, the tension in the colosseum rising as the last few examinees trickled in. Then, with a sudden, thunderous

boom,

the gates slammed shut. The sound reverberated through the colosseum, silencing every murmur, every hushed conversation.

Aurelia stepped forward, her presence commanding as she addressed the crowd. Her voice, amplified by magic, rang out clear and strong.

"Attention, examinees!" she began, her tone firm. "The gates are now closed. If you haven’t made it here by now, consider yourself eliminated."

The crowd shifted, a wave of unease rippling through them. Some exchanged nervous glances, while others clenched their fists in relief.

Ren stepped forward next, his voice calmer but no less authoritative. "The final phase of the special exam begins now. This is your last chance to prove yourself worthy of entry into the Celestial Arcane Academy."

Lyra leaned slightly on her scythe, her sharp pink eyes scanning the crowd. When she spoke, her voice was softer than the others’, but it carried a weight that demanded attention. "For those who pass, you will earn your place among the academy’s students. For those who fail…" She paused, her gaze hardening. "You’ll still have one final chance. Your tokens will grant you access to an individual challenge. Succeed, and you’ll secure your place. Fail, and your journey ends here."

The words sent a chill through the crowd, the weight of the exam settling on them fully. The boy remained still, his sharp eyes fixed on the three at the center. He could feel the uncertainty, the fear, and even joy emanating from those around him.

Ren stepped forward again, his voice cutting through the silence. "Prepare yourselves. The final phase will test your strength, strategy, and willpower. There’s no turning back now."

"..."

"Then, let me explain the final phase of the special exam." Ren’s voice carried across the colosseum, silencing the murmurs of the examinees.

"The final phase of the special exam is deceptively simple," he began. "As stated at the beginning of the special exam, those of you who have collected the required number of tokens from at least

four elements

have passed this exam. Congratulations."

A wave of relief washed over some of the examinees. Tokens were clutched tighter, and a few quiet cheers escaped. The boy, standing in the crowd, observed the reactions with mild interest, though his own expression didn’t change.

"But," Aurelia’s voice cut in, sharp and clear, "for those who do not yet have the required tokens, there’s still a chance for you to pass. Trading tokens between examinees is now allowed. Which means you can trade tokens with each other to make up for your low tokens."

Her words caused a ripple of murmurs to spread across the crowd. Examinees began eyeing each other with varying degrees of suspicion, calculation, and hope. Some seemed eager to trade, others hesitant, and a few visibly guarded their tokens as if daring anyone to approach.

Lyra continued the explanation, her scythe glinting faintly as she leaned on it. Her gaze was unrelenting as she addressed them. "This is your opportunity. Use it wisely. However, a warning: once trading is over, if you still lack the required tokens, you will have only one option left."

The atmosphere grew tense as her words sank in. The boy raised a brow, intrigued.

Ren picked up where Lyra left off, his voice calm but serious. "If you cannot collect the tokens through trading, you may

challenge

a passed examinee in a one-on-one duel. The winner will secure a place in the academy. The loser will lose the qualifications. And if the loser is the one who has passed already, and if they have any tokens left, they can use this rule as well. However, the rule won’t apply to those with no tokens left. and if the loser was the examinee who challenged - they will immediately disqualify as they already used their tokens."

Some examinees perked up at this, their desperation giving way to a glimmer of hope. While those with enough or more tokens immediately changed their mind at her words. After all, they realized they wouldn’t be still safe.

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"There is a final and important catch, to make up for the passed examinees," he said, his lips curling into a faint smile. "If you choose to challenge someone who has already passed, you

cannot use your elemental powers

during the duel. The examinee you challenge, however, will be allowed to use theirs—by paying the required tokens for each element."

A series of gasps and shocked whispers spread like wildfire through the arena. The boy’s smirk widened slightly as he absorbed the information. He could see the panic in some of their faces, the sudden doubt creeping into the minds of those who had hoped to rely on their elemental advantage.

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Lyra’s voice rose above the chatter, firm and unyielding. "This rule is not meant to be cruel but to test your resolve. You are being given a choice. If you believe you cannot win without elemental powers, consider carefully whether to trade or conserve your tokens for the duel."

Ren glanced at the crowd, his gaze sharp. "You have fifteen minutes to decide. Trade, calculate, or prepare yourselves for the final test. The choice is yours."

With that, a screen appeared above them which turned into a timer, counting down from fifteen minutes. The colosseum erupted into a cacophony of voices as examinees scrambled to trade tokens, form alliances, or simply weigh their options.

Meanwhile, the scythe boy with no more than 7 Water and 23 Lighning tokens grinned as his mind already thought of a great plan.