An Extra’s POV

'I already knew this for a while, but, this guy... he's an absolute monster.'
[STATUS WINDOW] - Name: Adrien Chase
- Race: Human (Otherworlder)
- Class: Necromancer (A-Tier)
- Level: 90 (78.54% EXP) - Life Force: 30 (+3,000) {+4,000}
- Mana Level: 100 (+5,000) {4,000}
- Combat Ability: 50 (+4,500) {4,000}
- Stat Points: 445
- Skills (Exclusive): [Skill Creation]
- Skills (Non-Exclusive): [Inventory]. [Necromancy]. [Greater Darkness]. [Grand Defense]. [Grand Spatial Magic]. [Grand Item
Summon]. [Grand Healing]. [Greater Armament]. [Full Resistance]. [Full Boost]. [Equip Limit Break]. [Deep Insight]. [Absolute
Magic Utility]. [Mind Touch]. [Absolute Combat Application]. [Anticipation]. [Absolute Magic Interference]. [Divine Persona].
[Command Code]. [Greater Luck]. [Pinocchio]. [Link]. [Miasma]
{See More: [Status Interference]. [Where Evil Lurks]. [Banishment]. [Full Comprehension]. [Absolute Mental Fortitude]. [Idle
Gamble]. [Wish Fulfillment]. [See Through]. [Veil]. [Collapse]. [Last One Standing]. [Absolute Mana Recovery]. [Absolute Life
Force Recovery]. [It Is Written].}
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
[Additional Information]
A true mastermind. One who lurks in the shadows and causes others to do his bidding while laughing underneath his mask.
His goals remain a mystery too...
[End Of Information]

Rey wasn't surprised by Adrien's Status Window, since he had already seen it not too long ago. Still, no matter how many times
he saw it, he couldn't help but be impressed and slightly intimidated by the sheer volume and utility of the Skills at his disposal.
'He has even more Skills than I do at the moment.' Rey thought to himself.
Yes, his own Skills gotten through [Doppel] had an advantage of 'quality', therefore making Adrien's Skills inferior. Despite that,
Rey couldn't help but remain very careful with Adrien—at least, until he finally went through the details of each Skill.
They were all very useful, incredibly dangerous, and downright impeccable choices. However, none of them were of any real
threat to Rey.
Adrien's Level was lower than his, and while he had more Skills, Rey's were far more potent. Finally, when it came to Levels and
Stats, Rey had a big lead. In essence, while caution was still a good thing to take notice of, there was truly no need to feel
intimidated.
The moment Rey recognized this, he became a lot more comfortable.
'Hiding in the shadows was fun while it lasted, but he would have figured out my identity sooner or later. Revealing myself now
was the most optimal answer.'
Not only would he take Ater's advice by talking to Adrien, but he could also have the advantage of agency, making a lasting
impression of dominance on the boy.
'So far... so good.'
"I see. The fact that you're here means you know about Justin, as well as the situaton surrounding our relationship."
"Hm?" Rey cocked his head slightly.
"Don't feign ignorance. How else would you have been able to trick me for so long. You reckoned I wouldn't suspect you for all of
this if you made Justin tell me that you were still in the Capital. And, the only reason I would believe his words is because I have
such a strong assurance that he would never betray me... even if he wanted to."
Rey neither denied nor accepted these allegations, he just kept up his blank facade.
"If you know about Justin, it's very likely that you had someone pretend to be him, using them to communicate with me, while
Justin was probably communicating with you or them. There are other potential answers, but this seems most plausible."

'This guy...' Rey smiled internally. '... He's too sharp.'
There was only one mistake in his assessment, and that was attributing all of this to be Rey's grand design. In actuality, Ater was
the one who planned for this outcome, and the more it unfolded, the more Rey could see why he took certain steps.
'Still, I'm not about to correct his mistakes.' He let Adrien keep talking, exposing even more threads that Rey had supposedly set
up.
"If I'm to guess, the current state of the Capital has something to do with you, huh?"
"What current state?"
"Hm? Did I overthink things, then? I suppose not being able to contact Justin coinciding with you revealing yourself could be part
of a big reveal. If that's the case, then congratulations... you successfully startled me."
Rey didn't want to take credit for most of these—some of which he wasn't even aware of the details—but he simply smiled and
shrugged.
"Consider it a kind of revenge for the past."
"Haha! I deserve that, I guess. You're not a man to forget grudges, are you? Even after I made us even during the Dark
Gathering... you still have a vendetta against me."
"...." Rey said nothing and kept staring at Adrien.
"I mean, even going as far as recreating the whole accusation thing with the Dragons... just due to the ploy I made back when
we were all in the Royal Estate. I explained myself and called a truce, but you still refuse to budge."
"You haven't given me sufficient reason to."
"Rey... haa... look, I'm not your enemy. There's no reason for us to even be fighting. I've made it clear that I do not want to cross
you in any way, so it's a little frustrating when you step on my goodwill and do stuff like this."
"Your goodwill?"
"Okay, okay... maybe I phrased it a little wrong." Adrien sighed, slowly closing his eyes and inhaling deeply so he could calm
himself.

"What I mean is... I haven't really interfered in your business until now, right? I've intentionally stayed away from you, and I have
my own thing going. As for my actions in the past, I already gave you information and resources proportional to whatever I put
you through. So... we are even, Rey."
Perhaps Adrien was correct. After all, up until now, there really wasn't any objective reason for them to be on opposite sides.
But... "Things are different now." Rey said, straightening his posture on his seat.
"What do you mean by tha—?"
"You're on the side of the Dragons, Adrien. You've joined them in their Conquest and you're slaughtering Elves..." Shifting closer
now, Rey made sure his piercing gaze reached Adrien.
After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"I want to know why."