I AM EXTRA IN A SHONEN MANGA

Chapter 280 - 274 – The protagonist powerup

The morning sun bled orange across the wide stone courtyard of Veyl Academy's training grounds. Dust drifted lazily in the air, illuminated by the light like floating embers. Students were already preparing for their festival booths, but at the far edge where the academy allowed open-range combat two silhouettes were locked in a violent storm of Shinrei.Kaen Suro stood in the center of the ring, shirt off, fists clenched, surrounded by a roaring aura of blue fire and shadow. His Shinrei pulsed like a heartbeat—wild, volcanic, unrestrained.

He slammed his foot into the ground.

ECLIPSE INFERNO FIST!

The Shockwave exploded outward blue flames spiraled with black Shade streaks, rippling the air like a heat mirage.

The training dummies around him ignited and burst apart one by one.

Standing at a distance, arms crossed, was Khael Corzedar, his crimson insignia glinting on his uniform sleeve. His dragon blood sensed Kaen's rising power even before his eyes recognized it.

Khael smirked slightly.

"So," he called out, voice calm, "it looks like that one month mission made you stronger than before, huh?"

Kaen lowered his smoking fist, sweat dripping down his jaw. But his grin was wide—feral, proud, and exhausted.

"You think so? I only opened level up my Vein Gates." He exhaled sharply. "Third… and Fourth."

Khael's eyes widened despite himself.

(Level up the two, Gate of Stabilization… and Gate of Transcendence. In one month?)

For a Blue Veinwalker, that was insane.

Kaen stretched his neck and shoulders, veins glowing faintly with molten blue fire.

"Almost died twice," he added casually, like talking about a minor inconvenience.

Khael shook his head.

"That sounds like you."

Kaen snorted.

"That mission wasn't normal, Khael. The Hollow Nine left traps everywhere. And there was a Shade Beast with a corrupted Flair Core… stronger than anything I've felt at my level."

Khael narrowed his eyes.

Dark Shinrei residue. Corrupted beasts. Hollow Nine's fingerprints all over it.

Of course Lucere was moving pieces.

Kaen flopped onto the ground, lying flat on the warm stone.

"You know what the worst part is?" he asked, staring up at the sky.

"What?"

Kaen raised one finger.

"I loved every minute of that fight."

Khael chuckled.

"Of course you did, Crimson Blaze."

Kaen smirked at the nickname.

"Better than 'Dragon Chick.' "

Khael's eyebrow twitched.

"Who even called me that?"

"Everyone."

Kaen grinned. "Even Lira."

Khael groaned.

When Kaen finally stood, his Shinrei flared again stronger, hotter, more controlled.

Khael watched, analyzing quietly like a seasoned veteran.

His flames were brighter.

His Shade affinity no longer flickered uncontrollably.

His emotional core felt… stable.

Khael stepped closer.

"Open your hand," he said.

Kaen obeyed.

Wind swirled around Khael's palm dragonic, sharp, alive and Kaen's flame responded immediately, rising as if drawn by instinct.

Khael felt the shock run through him.

His Shinrei is syncing with mine? Already?

Kaen blinked.

"…We resonate now?"

"Your emotional core stabilized," Khael replied. "After the Gate of Transcendence, your sealed affinity aligns naturally. Your affinities no longer fight each other."

Kaen stared at his hand, awe in his eyes.

"So I'm finally… balanced?"

Khael nodded.

"Getting there."

Kaen exhaled in relief.

He had fought his whole life with a fractured core—burning and breaking at the same time. To survive the Eclipse Rite of his clan was already a miracle.

Now he was beginning to control it.

Khael extended two fingers.

"Show me your new form."

Kaen grinned.

"Thought you'd never ask."

He inhaled.

Shadow and flame rose like twin serpents around him.

CRIMSON SHADE IGNITION RELEASE!

Kaen's body burst into a pillar of blue fire streaked with black lightning. The air trembled. The stone beneath him cracked. His pupils slit like a beast's, his skin glowing faintly.

Khael's wind aura instinctively responded dragon instincts rattling his bloodline.

This wasn't the usual Kaen.

This was something… awakened.

Khael stepped forward, eyes sharpening.

"You opened your fourth gate completely."

Kaen nodded, panting slightly.

"…Yeah."

Khael felt his chest tighten equal parts pride and concern.

"Then your body must be hurting like hell."

Kaen collapsed to his knees immediately.

"YES.BUT..IT WAS WORTH…IT…AAAAAGH…"

Khael sighed and helped him sit properly.

"You really are a reckless idiot."

Kaen laughed through the pain.

"You'd be bored without me."

He wasn't wrong.

Kaen suddenly looked up.

"Khael."

"What?"

"Fight me."

Khael blinked.

"…Here? Now?"

Kaen cracked his knuckles, eyes blazing.

"My new form. Your shinrei feels different too. You holding back something after that mission?"

Khael didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

Kaen stood, wiping sweat from his face.

"You need the practice. And I need to see if I can keep up with the Crimson Veinwalker."

Khael smirked.

"You want me to go easy?"

Kaen snarled.

"Go all out."

Wind gathered around Khael's feet sharp, fierce, cutting grooves in the stone.

Spectral dragon wings flickered behind him.

ECLIPSE FORM: DRAGONNITE!

Kaen roared in response.

CRIMSON SHADE IGNITION!

The shockwaves met in the air two teenagers, two rising prodigies, shaking the training grounds with enough power to frighten senior Veinwalkers.

They clashed.

Kaen's fist, blazing like a star.

Khael's strike, wrapped in spiraling dragon wind.

BOOOM!

The ground cratered.

Birds fled the trees.

Students screamed and ran for cover.

Kaen grinned wildly.

"THAT'S IT, KHAEL! SHOW ME MORE!"

Khael smirked back.

"Don't cry when you lose."

Their Shinrei intertwined again flame and wind spiraling like a tornado of battle.

Khael felt it clearly.

Kaen truly grew stronger.

Stronger than the manga version he remembered.

Stronger than fate intended him to be.

And that… gave Khael hope.

Hope for the future battle.

Hope for Kaom.

Hope for stopping Lucere.

After ten powerful exchanges, both dropped to the ground gasping, bruised, and grinning.

Kaen wiped blood from his mouth.

"You're stronger too. Your still holding back."

Khael looked away.

"…You could say that."

Kaen narrowed his eyes.

"You're hiding something. Again."

Khael remained silent.

Kaen sighed but smiled.

"I don't know what your secret is… but whatever it is, I trust you."

Khael looked at him.

That simple sentence hit harder than any punch.

"…Thank you, Kaen."

Kaen stood up shakily.

"Now let's go. If we're this strong already…"

He smirked, fire flickering behind him.

"…imagine what we could do together."

Khael nodded.

And for the first time in days, his tension eased.

Because Kaen Suro

the Crimson Blaze

was now strong enough to stand beside him…

…in the coming war against Hollow Nine.

…against Kaom's awakening.

…and against Lucere's plan to revive Yuna.

To be continue