The Extra Can't be A Hero

Alrock Solaris.

Officially known as the Solaris Lord.

Reigning as the Patriarch of the mighty Solaris House for decades, he was widely considered the most powerful Knight of his generation. Among every power ranking created, Alrock would easily fall under the top five, if not the top two individuals. Even among all of the historical greats, Alrock would stand apart.

With eight Suns condensed, Alrock was the closest existence to the two greatest Knights in history—the Solaris Founder and Solaris Saint. He's mastered every Solaris Mystic Art, slain thousands of Demonic Beasts, and possessed the power to decimate an entire battlefield.

Alock Solaris. The Solaris Lord, or as he was more colloquially known…

The Zenith.

"Malachi, I'd never expected our reunion would be so flashy."

Like a sovereign of the skies, Alrock descended upon the flattened mountain, arms crossed in silent command. His golden eyes radiated authority, while his massive, battle-scarred muscles pulsed with a crimson glow. Thunder rumbled overhead, and beams of sunlight bathed his form in a divine radiance. Flames erupted beneath the Solaris Lord's feet, and as he touched the earth, the ground quaked in reverence as if bowing to his arrival.

Malachi narrowed his eyes before sighing: "It's been a long time, Alrock."

"Long indeed," Alrock scoffed. "And in all those years, you've turned your back on humanity. What happened to the noble soul who once fought alongside Kassadin and me to slay demons?"

"Time changes a man."

The two Knights who stood at the pinnacle of humanity exchanged words with a hidden dagger in their tones. They were once comrades who had entrusted each other with their backs, but now, they stood on divergent paths.

"Of all things, you chose to join the Demon Cult."

"... how did you learn of us?"

"Does it matter?"

The pair shot snide remarks at each other. Malachi was confused about how the Demon Cult's existence got leaked and couldn't help but frown as he heard Alrock say their organisation's name. Meanwhile, Alrock was genuinely disappointed in Malachi's betrayal. For a warrior of his calibre to fall to the dark side, he could never condone it, and he was ready to right the wrong.

Even if it meant killing his former friend.

"You've even thrown away your honour and laid a hand on the younger generation. How Demon-like indeed."

"Alrock, we don't have to do this…"

"We don't? After you injured one of my Knight Commanders and tried to kill my disciple? Besides, the Solaris House must eradicate any threats to humanity, and given your status… don't you think it's my job to kill you?"

"... how unfortunate. You're just as obstinate as I remember you."

Malachi waved his bone-white sword in the air and closed his eyes. Pure demonic energy morphed into a mist vortex that seemed to abort all joy and love. It forcibly raised the Apostle's mana tenfold, effectively giving the demonic swordsman an endless supply of mana. The sinister howling of the spiralling winds made Alrock's eyebrow twitch.

He'd expected Malachi to have grown throughout the years, both in skill and power. But for his mana to increase to levels that matched his own… that was utterly unexpected.

"I see… Demonic power suits you well."

"You can see through me, can't you?"

"Your obsession disgusts me."

Once more, the two traded cryptic words, their meanings known only to them. Amon remained silent as Alrock stood firm, barring Malachi's path. Then, the master spoke:

"There are a million questions I would like to ask you, Amon. But, for now… good job on surviving."

"Grandpa Alrock…"

"You've done good, surviving against a person of Malachi's calibre. Now, let the adults do the fighting."

Alrock grabbed his immense greatsword, which was easily larger than himself. The Solaris House's Sword Heaven possesses many precious artefacts, including the Heroic-grade sword Ascalon—the highest quality weapon.

But Ascalon wasn't the only prized possession in Sword Heaven. It housed plenty of Mytic-grade weapons, the next highest quality, such as Mageweaver, the sword that Lydia summoned. Another such mythic-grade weapon is the black greatsword, which Alrock easily lifted with one arm.

Zenith, a colossal greatsword standing three meters tall, is a monolith of darkness forged from an obsidian-like metal that seems to drink in the light around it. Its blade is broad and jagged, etched with ancient runes that pulse faintly like embers in dying fire. The hilt, wrapped in worn, abyssal leather, is long enough for a giant's grip, and the pommel bears a blackened, uncut gemstone that radiates a faint, majestic glow.

It was a weapon worthy to be wielded by the Solaris Lord and a monument to how dominant the Solaris House could be, and… it was the only weapon that could withstand Alrock's overbearing power.

"Watch, Amon… Since we don't get many chances to do this, I will show you the pinnacle of the Solaris Mystic Arts."

Alrock could finally go all-out against an opponent for the first time in many years. With eight Suns condensed, he was a man who stood at the zenith of the world, a Pinnacle Knight. If he were to get serious, the geography of the land would change, and most would be cut down within the first three strikes.

But Malachi… was someone Alrock could never underestimate.

Eight Suns exploded into life as they levitated the old, robust man into the sky. Pure Solar mana filled the sky, creating an illusion of divinity. The dark clouds evaporated instantly, leaving behind the distinct divine light of Alrock's majesty.

The air shimmered as heat waves rippled outward from his body. His flesh was no longer flesh—no longer bound by the limits of mortality. Golden and furious, flames surged where skin should be, swirling and crackling with a hunger that mirrored the very heart of the sun. His eyes, once human, now burned like molten stars, gazing upon the battlefield with an otherworldly glow.

The eight Suns congregated into Alrock's flaming body and completed the transformation—Alrock was no longer human but fire itself.

No, he was the Sun.

The ground beneath him blackened, molten veins spreading from his feet as the earth failed to withstand his presence. His breath was embers. His veins pulsed with solar energy, surging through him in waves of incandescent power. The air recoiled from him, the oxygen igniting instantly as the heat distorted the space around him.

[Solaris Mystic Arts: Embodiment of the Sun.]

The final and most complete Solaris Mystic Art.

It elevated the user's power to another plane of existence, effectively making Alrock a Demigod that reigned amongst humans. Solar mana exploded into life, succinctly declaring the arrival of a sovereign. The world now revolved around Alrock's body as the black Zenith blade in his arms was swallowed in golden fire.

At that moment, Alrock was the Sun… and the Sun yearned to wreak havoc upon the earth.

"Malachi… Last chance… Surrender now, give up your collaborators, and your life will be spared."

"Alrock… Spare the pretence. After using your ultimate ability, do you still think we can resolve things with words?"

"I know… It's just a formality."

The blazing sovereign raised Zenith overhead and charged up a vortex of inextinguishable flames. Alrock's solar mana showed its destructive capability at that moment, as the world now bent to his will. His visage became blurry as the heat and pressure from his mana peaked at the highest point. He raised his arm, flames coiling around it like a living entity, pulsing with raw, unrestrained power. The air crackled, trees bending away instinctively as if nature feared what would come.

Then, he swung.

A single arc of fire tore through the forest, a blazing crescent that howled like a dying sun. In an instant, the trees ignited, their ancient trunks reduced to pillars of ash before they could even fall. The earth split, molten veins searing through the soil as a tidal wave of destruction spread outward.

Smoke and embers choked the sky, and the once-thriving forest was now a sea of fire. He stood at its centre, flames reflected in his molten eyes, watching as his single strike turned nature to ruin.

The force of the Solaris Lord's blow dropped everyone's jaw, and they held their breath, praying that the next strike wouldn't land on them. Not because they were worried about Alrock directing their wrath at them but rather because just facing the collateral damage was enough to burn them to cinders.

Alrock's display of strength far exceeded what humans were capable of, yet he felt no amusement. His flaming eyes were entirely focused on the prize at hand.

"As always, such ludicrous strength…"

Malachi spat out a mouthful of blood while he staggered on the ashen ground. Half of his body was covered in black burns, and if it weren't for the demonic energy healing him, the Apostle would have fallen to a burnt crisp long ago. But it didn't take long for all his injuries to recover fully, putting him in pristine condition.

"You've learnt some new tricks as a Demon."

"I can say the same for you," Malachi snorted. "Embodiment of the Sun? I didn't think I would get to see it in my lifetime. That's why the existence of your Solaris bloodline is such a cheat."

"Should I be flattered?"

"It wasn't a compliment!"

Without warning, Malachi disappeared from Alrock's sight and narrowed the distance between them in milliseconds. His signature white sword glowed ashen-grey as a dense but sharp Aura formed on his blade. Time seemed to halt at that moment, forcing Alrock to be locked in space. With nowhere to run, all Alrock could do was watch as Malachi swung his signature blade across his torso, and a new arc was formed.

Pure grey energy that possessed unrelenting anguish exploded into the atmosphere, and the skies were split in half. Those on the ground weren't spared either as that one swing caused mountains to be sliced apart while howling winds finished the job.

Two strikes.

That's all it took to change the topography of Alverton's countryside completely.

The otherworldly duel stunned the audience into a suspended silence—and Amon wasn't immune to that. This was a battle between two of the world's powerful, and it wasn't a fight that Amon could interfere. And yet, his blood boiled with excitement.

'One day… I must surpass them, one day…'

Amon had been on a fast trajectory ever since transmigrating, but as of late, he'd reached a bottleneck. While he continued to grow, he had little clue on which direction he should go on to reach the apex.

But now… he could see a path.

Alrock's body recovered from the bifurcation in record time. After unleashing [Embodiment of the Sun], Alrock was now made of fire. No mere physical attack could do damage to his body, even if a thousand slashes landed on him.

However, Malachi acted as if he was well aware of that. Smiling, he backed off and said:

"What a monstrous ability. Aren't you effectively immortal?"

"Why don't we test that theory? We have plenty of time."

"Unfortunately… I must disagree with you there, Solaris Lord."

A third voice answered Alrock's statement, stunning the Pinnacle Knight in place. He looked around, only to see a suave gentleman emerging from the mist and taking his rightful place before Malachi. The gentleman had a ghostly presence and dressed impeccably. A three-piece pearl suit with smoky accents. His eyes were hollowed out, showing no signs of human life, and his face was as pale as the mist that enshrouded him.

The sudden appearance of a third party stunned the audience, but no one more so than Amon himself.

It was a face that he could never forget. A man that he'd become sworn enemies with, even without him knowing.

It was the man who had led the Demon Cult for centuries and who would ultimately cause humanity's downfall.

The Prophet… has made his first appearance.