The Extra's Odyssey

-(Past || While Nathan was inside the Dungeon of Trials; Location: Inside a random house on Bermuda Island)-

"Mom, Dad, here's your morning tea!"

"Thank you, dear."

A young woman, seemingly in her mid-20s, passed tea to her parents. Looking at their tired and scrawny appearance, her heart ached.

But she hid that aching and smiled. "I'll prepare the breakfast"

"Dear, you rarely come home, you should take a rest. Let me cook something good for you."

Pinching her brows, the young woman acted like she was thinking before speaking ultimately. "No offense, but your cooking… sucks!"

She hurriedly ran away and locked the kitchen from the inside. "I'll cook myself!"

Those who knew the woman's identity would've received a heart attack if they saw her now, but to the woman who knew of the hardships her parents carried until a few years ago, she didn't mind them seeing this side of her.

The old man and woman shook their head. For them, their daughter would always be a child no matter how old she grew, but it was still unfortunate. "You won't get a boyfriend, let alone a husband if you don't stop acting childishly."

"Mom!"

With the sore spots poked, Gwen pouted in anger.

A mouth-watering aroma wafted in the area as Gwen was finished with the dished. Preparing the table, everyone sat together to eat.

"Dear, why do you keep checking your smart device? Is a boy going to message you?"

Gwen looked at her mom with blank eyes but, before she could complain, her father intervened.

"Don't be mean to her." He spoke with his characteristic expressionless face. "There is no way she has the courage to ask a man for his contact or to give hers."

"Hmph!"

She started stuffing the food at a swift pace to leave as fast as possible. Maybe she should've eaten alone in her room.

Her father spoke again, albeit seriously.

"So, what's the matter?"

"I was thinking about Eth."

Immediately, a heavy silence descended. The parents looked 10 years older at the mention of Eth, their eyes unable to hide the sorrow in them.

It took a moment for Gwen to realize that she had spoken her true thoughts. But the damage was already done.

She awkwardly switched on the TV and put up a random channel.

Matters regarding Eth, her brother, were… sensitive.

His lack of zeal to interact with everyone, sole desire of growing stronger, and above all, the parents' guilt of not being there when he needed them the most created a large gulf between 'Nathan' and his family.

-Phhzzzzzt…. Greetings, fellow humans

Suddenly, the TV lagged, and a different channel started playing. It depicted someone Gwen was familiar with.

"Techno…?"

-The time for your salvation has come.

Gwen's bracelet buzzed, signaling the oncoming horde of messages. Skimming through them, she realized that Techno, one of the members of Goliaths, had hacked Gia's main server.

The scene was being shown to the entire world.

-As one of the three messengers of God, I had the opportunity to read the Gospel, and he has allowed me to present an chance to all of you!

A chill ran across Huntress', aka Gwen, back. Something big was going to happen.

Techno was floating above an ocean. He spread his hand and…

-Let the game begin!

….a massive tree grew out of the ocean.

*

"I need reports of his every activity, down to the seconds he slept, now!"

Gwen barked orders at her subordinates. She had left her parents' home and rushed back to the headquarters.

A few hours ago, a behemoth tree appeared over the Indian Ocean. As if it wasn't bad, the tree never stopped growing and was already 10 kilometers big.

"H-Huntress, we have a problem"

A subordinate rushed back with a frightful expression.

In normal cases, the members of Goliaths would never intervene in Aegis' matters, but due to the 2nd wave of the Dungeon break that occurred weeks ago in the northern hemisphere, they were short on personnel.

"What is it?"

"The Mana density over the Indian Ocean is rising rapidly a..and so is the Aether level of the planet."

"Dammit!"

She skimmed through the report about the tree.

------

Code Name: Yggdrasil

Origin: Unknown

Cause: Techno, a secret agent belonging to Aegis' undisclosed unit 'Goliath'

Size: Unable to determine. The tree is growing every second.

Danger level: Code-Black

The tree is causing the mana levels of Earth to rise rapidly. Due to the natural laws, the other constituents of Aether are also increasing to keep up with the mana density.

If nothing is done, the formation of Gates and Dungeons will rise in the number and so will Earth's transformation to the next Stage.

------

"What are you waiting for?! Go, complete your reports!"

The subordinate ran back. Watching their fading back, Gwen's brows creased.

"Transformation to next stage… dammit! We can barely protect Earth while it is Stage-2, but if the stage increases again so suddenly…"

Taking a deep breath, Huntress exhaled loudly.

She replayed the recordings of Techno's broadcast.

"Why did he suddenly turn traitor?" Lost in her thoughts, she couldn't help but question. "And what did he mean by three messengers of gods and Gospel?"

She bit her nails.

"If it wasn't enough that Eth is being doubted of being Mr. Pepe."

Knowing that Shadow, Knuckle, and Tempo were inside Ward to keep an eye on her brother, she was deeply frustrated. But she held back, there was no way Eth would become a criminal.

If she wanted to keep him safe, she would have to let the investigation run its course, and let him prove himself innocent.

Her brother's goal was to become strong, but she was among the few who knew that his real goal was to protect those he held dear. Strength was a means he pursued to achieve that goal.

Tring– Tring–

A hologram materialized in the air.

-The Councilmen are asking for your presence.

The man who spoke those words was the spokesperson of Gia, the central government.

Huntress could only give a heavy nod in reply.

"What on Earth is happening?"