[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-path-of-the-extra":3,"chapter-path-of-the-extra-path-of-the-extra-chapter-23":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Path of the Extra",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},420361,684,"Chapter 23: System","path-of-the-extra-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>'Dammit, it stings a lot.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wound on his neck wasn't deep or anything really serious, but still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did his best to look unbothered by everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he could do now was keep caressing her hair as Jasmine sobbed on his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her arms were tightly embracing him as if afraid that Azriel would run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'At least I have outgrown her, huh...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his memories, he recalled being the same height as her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel had already frozen the wound on his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't show her that something like this hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was sure that he could handle most physical pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In everyone's eyes now, he was someone who survived the void realm for two whole years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Showing weakness wasn't something he could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he had to act like the prince who clawed his way out of hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something Azriel was sure he could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even better than lying, perhaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Leo, he used to be in the theater club back in high school for an entire year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was quite good at it as well, playing various roles, including the male lead several times in many plays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the basketball club and the music club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what he tried, Leo could never find anything to fill the emptiness in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone around him was busy chasing their dreams, working hard, yet it was like he was the only one who had none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just temporary excitement was all he could get when he tried something new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whenever he started to get good at something...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The excitement would be gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...I simply have to play the role of a survivor this time.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A treacherous one at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'You were the same, weren't you... Azriel?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who was also empty, just like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having no ambitions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Both of us trained to make at least our parents proud, yet... we failed miserably at that, huh?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could recall the memories of the previous Azriel who trained almost every night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no real reason for him to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a real goal he was chasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply tried to make his parents proud in his own way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never really got the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them ever did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How... how are you here? You were supposed to be dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snapping him out of his thoughts was the hoarse voice of Jasmine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see her glancing up at him with tears still in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a long story... but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Azriel told her the same story he had told Solomon and Ragnar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just that, but also about how he became a wanderer in Europe, though he did omit the part about his encounter with the Crying Fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...I'll get my revenge on that bastard one day,'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was sure of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, he just had a nagging feeling that he was going to meet that abomination again one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finished talking, he glanced at Jasmine's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was extremely pale as she looked at him wide-eyed in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel was sure if he said more she might actually collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-two years... you really spent two years in the void realm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her question, Azriel nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah... I did,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'In an alternative timeline... perhaps.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And just for you to end up in Europe after leaving the void realm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel didn't really know what to say anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'At least the Europe part wasn't a lie.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, by the way, dear sister of mine...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-yes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see her looking up at him nervously for suddenly calling her out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long are you planning to not... let me go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-what? What do you mean by that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears started forming again in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel suppressed a sigh and merely smiled bitterly at the misunderstanding that had just formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I meant your arms... are you going to keep hugging me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-huh? Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if finally realizing, she hurriedly jumped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel tried his best to suppress a chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see her face becoming red from embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine hurriedly turned around and picked up Silver Shine making it disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Mother's soul weapon, huh.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like how Azriel got Void Eater from their father, Jasmine got hers from their mother, Aeliana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah! Your neck, Azriel!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the wound she had inflicted, she hurriedly threw a health potion that she pulled out of her storage ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, Azriel managed to catch it easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Dammit! What is it with rich people and them throwing expensive stuff all the time!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it really that hard to just hand it over normally?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drinking the health potion calmly, he eventually threw the empty vial on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not like it had any value left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel was about to part his lips until he suddenly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[• System: Unlocked!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>: [Processing information...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notifications were suddenly flashing in front of his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Azriel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[ • Main Event Completed: Home Sweet Home.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[ • Main Quest Completed: Survive Europe and return to EASC.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[ • Performance evaluation: Excellent!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-> [Not even dying in both worlds could break you]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-> [Unlocking the first form Death's Blossom was as easy as breathing for the son of death]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-> [Not even a Titan could break your mind and prevent you from returning home]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-> [Deceitful against friends and foes. Dying twice was not enough for someone like you to stop being two-faced. Magnificent.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[ • Event Experience: 11% gained]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-> [Mana core level 2: [0%——[14%]————————————100%]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel felt a warm, blissful energy suddenly invade his body. Controlling the mana in his body became even easier as it became thicker and flowed smoother. Sadly, the euphoric energy disappeared shortly after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[ • Quest Reward: Skill gained!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-> [Core Reaper]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>: [Status will be updated]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[ • The plot has been altered: Your survival is changing the timeline!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel's mind blanked as he kept trying to keep up with the messages popping up in his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messages were in beautiful obsidian black and white panels, the same colors as his status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was frozen with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Just what... what is all of this?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>System.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought he didn't get one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the system he has isn't the same as the protagonist's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He honestly couldn't even call it a system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face cracked into a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was honestly never planning to sit by the sidelines and watch everything unfold before him anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Now I get rewarded as well for messing with the plot! Great!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Azriel, are you okay...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Jasmine's voice, he turned towards her. She had been watching him this entire time, looking at him weirdly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Dammit, she must think I've gone crazy...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, sorry, sis. I was just lost in thought about something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a pathetic excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his mind was currently too focused on the system in front of his vision to come up with something decent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see pity in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Yep, she totally thinks I've lost it... Ah, at least it supports my story of being in the void realm for two years if she thinks I've gone a little crazy.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'll deal with this system stuff later.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking his head, he spoke to Jasmine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about we go and meet Uncle Ragnar? He must still be waiting with Grandmaster Thomas.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine nodded at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sounds good to me. Let's go; we shouldn't keep them waiting any longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of them started walking side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence between them wasn't awkward; instead, it was quite comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making his lips curve upwards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I guess those weird habits after spending two years in the void realm didn't change, though...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel almost stumbled on his own feet hearing her quiet words reach his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>",1317,"2026-05-30T08:07:17.414Z","2026-06-01T04:30:42.950Z",1,"novelbin.me","79a8c947b8eb3d09a68632e5b7829ffdf9ee433c381c04153390915b3db152b5","path-of-the-extra-chapter-24","path-of-the-extra-chapter-22",424,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fpath-of-the-extra-cover.jpg"]