Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 57: Crisis In The Night [1]

After secretly slipping out of the camp area, I took out the item - an invisibility cloak I purchased yesterday and donned it. I climbed into a nearby tree and sat in the branches, hidden from sight by the cloak. From this vantage point, I could observe the camp and its surroundings without being detected.

I kept my senses sharp, listening for any signs of movement or activity around the campsite.

Minutes turned into hours as I remained hidden in the tree, keeping a vigilant watch over the area. Occasionally, I heard the rustle of leaves or the distant call of a nocturnal creature, but otherwise, the night remained quiet.

After a while, I noticed a faint light flickering in the distance. Squinting my eyes, I could make out the outline of a figure approaching one of the camps. It was Ren, probably on his way to wake up Aurelius and switch watch duty.

As Ren approached the camp, I could see him exchanging a few words with Aurelius before the two groups swapped positions. Ren and his two group members settled down to rest while Aurelius took up his post near the campfire with two male group members.

Guess, it's time for me to be ready huh...

I will decide whether to interfere or just watch after 'it' starts.

____ ___ _

As Adrian watched from his hidden vantage point, a sudden chill filled the air, causing him to shiver involuntarily. He knew what was coming next. It was as if the very atmosphere around the campsite had shifted, signaling the arrival of something sinister.

Aurelius, unaware of the impending danger, continued his watch near the campfire, his senses on high alert but still unable to detect the invisible creatures lurking nearby. He told his watch partners they could sleep and he could keep the watch by himself.

Suddenly, the tranquility of the night was shattered as Aurelius's keen instincts kicked in. He felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him, his eyelids growing heavy as he struggled to keep his focus.

"Hmm? Why am I so sleepy?" He muttered to himself and tried to focus. However,

despite his efforts, the drowsiness only intensified, weighing down on him like a heavy blanket. He felt as if invisible hands were pulling at his consciousness, dragging him into the depths of sleep against his will.

In a panic, Aurelius fought against the overwhelming urge to succumb, but his efforts were futile. He couldn't shake off the sensation and eventually, his eyes started to close, succumbing to the desires...

However, just as he was about to succumb to sleep, a brilliant light suddenly enveloped his whole body, causing his eyes to open abruptly, emanating a deep blue light. His silver hair glowed with an ethereal radiance as his innate ability, Primordial Arcane Nexus, his affinity with all seven elements, surged to life.

Aurelius gasped as his vision cleared, revealing the true nature of the threat. Though still invisible to the naked eye, he could now see the shadowy forms of the creatures that were hovering over and above the camp. They slithered and twisted, their malevolent presence palpable in the air.

"By the elements..." Aurelius breathed his voice barely a whisper as he beheld the eerie sight.

With his senses drastically improved and his Aether and health fully recovered, Aurelius could now see the reason behind his drowsiness. Spirit-type strange creatures, invisible to the naked eye, were circling around the camp, emitting a hypnotic aura that induced sleepiness in their prey.

Realizing the danger, Aurelius knew he had to act fast. With newfound clarity and strength, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Wake up! We're under attack!"

His voice echoed through the forest, jolting others awake. Startled and disoriented, they quickly scrambled to their feet, ready to defend themselves.

However, they only saw Aurelius who seemed quite different, glowing in the darkness.

"What's going on?" Ren asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he looked around the camp.

Aurelius, still illuminated by his inner light, pointed urgently towards the unseen threat. "There are invisible creatures attacking us! They induce sleepiness and are surrounding the camp!"

Ren and the others exchanged bewildered glances, unable to see anything out of the ordinary.

"Hah, if you were this fearful, why did you have to wake us up?!" Emeric said his voice filled with sarcasm and irritation.

"Right, there is nothing around us. So why-?"

"Thud-!"

But before they could question further, one of their companions collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"H-Hey, what happened?!"

"S-She collapsed all of a sudden." The one beside the fallen student replied.

"T-Then, there are really..."

Panic rippled through the group as they realized Aurelius was not mistaken. They armed themselves with whatever they could find, ready to face the unseen assailants.

Many covered themselves in fear, as the unknown threat loomed over them. Aurelia, sensing the tension in the air, stepped forward, her determination shining through.

"Stand back, everyone," she commanded, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. "We shouldn't be panicking."

"R-Right."

"O-Ok."

As Aurelia stepped forward, her light affinity emanated a soft, calming glow around her, comforting those around her. However, despite her efforts to reassure the group, she couldn't shake off the unease that had been gnawing at her since the attack began.

Her discomfort only grew as the minutes passed, the invisible creatures still lurking in the shadows, their presence like a weight on her chest. She could feel their malevolence, their intent to harm, and it sent shivers down her spine.

"We need to figure out how to fight these things," Aurelius said, his voice determined as he surveyed their surroundings. "I know you guys can't see them, but I can see them and tell you where they're."

Ren nodded, his expression grim. "We need a plan. If we can't see them, we'll have to rely on our other senses."

Emeric scoffed. "And how do you propose we do that? We can't even see what we're up against."

"..." Ren and Aurelius went silent, pondering why this dumbass have to dampen other's spirits again.

"May I?" Just then Aurelia hesitantly raised her hand and spoke. "I-I also can sense them. There are many of them, dark, malevolent spirit-type creatures, hovering around us..."