I AM EXTRA IN A SHONEN MANGA

Chapter 284 - 278 – Eclipse Vanguard (4)

Ash drifted through the air like dying embers, settling over a land that had already burned once and then burned again.A lone figure stepped through the ruin.

Flame-colored robes, once vibrant, were now faded by distance, travel, and age. They clung loosely to a body hardened by centuries of battle. Wild gray hair flared outward like a candle wick caught in a constant updraft, and the smirk carved into his face showed no respect for rank, age, or consequence.

Genzu.

Former Lunar Sage of the Ignisoul Nation.

Now known simply as

The Fire-Worn Monk.

He stopped.

Slowly, deliberately, Genzu looked around.

Charred stone. Melted metal. Craters where buildings once stood. The ground itself was scorched black, not by ordinary flame, but by something far worse something that had eaten the heat rather than released it.

"…Tch."

He crouched and pressed two fingers to the earth.

The moment his skin touched the ground, his Shinrei stirred, responding instinctively. Flame-colored energy rippled faintly but then recoiled, as if repelled.

Genzu's expression hardened.

He murmured under his breath,

"Black flame…"

A flame that burned emotion itself.

Genzu exhaled slowly.

"…Looks like I was too late."

He rose and began walking, his steps silent despite the debris. His eyes scanned every ruin, every collapsed wall, every scorched shadow burned into stone. He was searching—not for survivors.

For proof.

Minutes passed.

Then

His steps stopped.

"…Hm?"

Ahead, half-buried in shattered earth and frozen crystal, stood a figure entombed in ice. The frost was unnatural dense, layered with Shinrei seals that screamed desperation rather than control.

Genzu's eyes widened slightly.

"…Motorazu?"

He moved instantly.

Placing his palm against the ice, Genzu released a controlled pulse of Ignisoul Shinrei—not violent, not explosive, but gentle. The fire flowed like warm breath instead of flame.

The ice cracked.

Then melted.

The body collapsed forward.

Genzu caught him.

Motorazu; former Eclipse Vanguard, long since retired was barely holding together. His armor was shattered. His chest was caved in. Frostbite scars mingled with burns that should not have been able to coexist.

Too many wounds.

Far too many.

Motorazu's eyes fluttered open.

They focused slowly until they found Genzu.

"…g…genzu…" he rasped.

A faint, broken smile appeared.

"My old friend…"

Genzu clenched his jaw

.

"Don't speak," he said sharply. "You're still alive. I'll—"

Motorazu shook his head weakly.

"No… I don't… have time left…"

He coughed violently.

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, dark against the ash-covered ground.

"I used… my forbidden Eclipse Art…" Motorazu continued, breath shaking. "I sealed myself… just enough… so I could tell someone… what I saw…"

Genzu's grip tightened.

"…What did you see?" he demanded.

Motorazu's eyes trembled.

"…A man… with pink hair…" he whispered. "And strange eyes…"

His pupils shrank as memory overtook him.

"He… he's too strong…" Motorazu gasped. "Not like the others… not like any Vanguard… he…."

Blood burst from his mouth.

"Motorazu!" Genzu shouted.

Motorazu forced himself to continue.

"I'm… going to die anyway…" he said faintly. "Please… avenge them…"

His hand twitched, fingers curling weakly.

"The people… who died here… that man…" His voice cracked. "He killed everyone who didn't escape…"

Genzu's eyes burned.

"…Your family?" he asked quietly.

Motorazu nodded faintly.

"They escaped…" he breathed. "Find them… Genzu…"

A weak chuckle escaped him, turning into a painful cough.

"And that bastard… almost stole the shard…"

Genzu's head snapped up.

"…The shard?"

Motorazu smiled faintly.

"Luckily…" he whispered. "I secured it… and gave it… to my daughter…"

Genzu clicked his tongue harshly.

"Tsk… you bastard…" he muttered. "Don't talk so much…"

His flames flared briefly then faded.

For once, Genzu held back.

Motorazu looked at him, eyes softening.

"…I'm happy…" he said quietly. "That it was you… old friend…"

He smiled.

Then

His Shinrei dispersed.

His body went still.

The wind carried the ash away.

Genzu remained kneeling there, head bowed, hand clenched tight enough for blood to drip between his fingers.

The smirk was gone.

When he finally stood, the air around him boiled.

"…Pink-haired man," Genzu said softly.

Flames ignited around his feet not wild, not explosive, but furious.

"…You just made this personal."

Meanwhile on the sides of Eclipse Vanguard

Ashless wind howled through the ancient ravine.

At its center stood the Seal of Kaom, a colossal monolith of layered stone and glowing sigils, half-buried into the earth like a chained god forced to kneel. Veins of light pulsed through the runes, each throb echoing like a distant heartbeat.

Standing guard before it were three figures.

Gorou Kanzaki stood closest to the seal, hands folded inside his sleeves, eyes closed as if meditating. His presence alone felt like a mountain immovable, eternal.

Zeke Kurosawa leaned forward slightly, magma-like Shinrei simmering beneath his skin, eyes sharp and hostile.

Kaito Yagami stood a step back, calm as still water, barriers faintly rippling around his form like unseen tides.

The air changed.

A pressure crept in slick, malignant, amused.

Zeke's eyes narrowed.

"Something's here."

The wind stopped.

Then

A ripple tore through space itself.

Four figures emerged as if reality had peeled open to let them through.

First came Meduza, emerald eyes glinting beneath long green hair, serpent tattoo sliding across her neck as she tilted her head with a teasing smile.

Beside her, towering and grinning, was Bakuza, the Crimson Hollow, charred skin glowing with crimson veins, heat and shadow rolling off him in violent waves.

A step ahead, skipping lightly atop cracked stone, was the Clown Mask; Miraku, head tilted unnaturally, void-black Shinrei seeping from beneath the porcelain grin.

And lastly

The wind split.

A pale figure appeared without sound.

Kero; The Pale Wind of Dusk.

Long black hair veiled most of his face, bangs hiding his eyes. His presence was calm… yet deeply wrong. Every breath around him felt sharpened, as if the air itself had learned how to cut.

Silence followed.

Then

Bakuza laughed.

"Heh."

His burning eyes locked onto Gorou.

"So this is him," Bakuza said, rolling his shoulders as flames hissed.

"The strongest Eclipse Vanguard… Gorou Kanzaki."

Gorou opened his eyes.

They were calm. Gentle.

He inclined his head slightly.

"Amitābha," Gorou said peacefully.

"It seems… you know me."

Zeke stepped forward, magma Shinrei flaring up his arms.

"You bastards, who the hell are you?!" he barked.

Miraku clapped his hands together, mask tilting side to side.

"Hello, hello~! How delightful!" Miraku sang.

"Such serious faces. Such important people."

He spread his arms theatrically.

"We are the Hollow Nine."

The name fell like poison into the air.

Kaito's eyes sharpened.

Gorou did not move.

Miraku and Bakuza both shifted subtly, instinctively, their attention narrowing onto Gorou alone.

They knew.

All of them did.

Gorou Kanzaki could not be defeated in a one-on-one.

Not by brute force.

Not by strategy.

Not by monsters or gods.

Meduza's lips curled knowingly.

Kero remained silent but the wind around him began to spiral.

Miraku leaned toward Bakuza, voice dripping with glee.

"Same plan?"

Bakuza cracked his neck.

"Obviously."

Bakuza took one step forward.

Miraku skipped alongside him.

The ground buckled.

Crimson fire and void-shadow erupted as both released their Shinrei simultaneously—two overwhelming pressures crashing together like colliding disasters.

They were going straight for Gorou.

Zeke's eyes widened.

"Tch—!"

Kaito raised a hand instantly.

But Gorou lifted one finger.

"Hold."

His voice was calm.

Absolute.

Zeke froze mid-step.

Kaito halted.

Gorou stepped forward alone.

Stone Shinrei surged, not violently, but inevitably. The earth answered him, layers of ancient rock rising like a cathedral wall behind his back.

Bakuza grinned wider.

"That's it!" he roared.

"Show me why they call you a mountain!"

Miraku giggled.

"Try not to die too fast~ I want to study you."

The moment they clashed

The air detonated.

A shockwave ripped outward, shattering distant cliffs.

At the same instant

Meduza slid sideways, emerald eyes locking onto Zeke.

Kero vanished—reappearing behind Kaito without sound.

The battlefield split.

Two against one.

One against one.

One against one.

Exactly as planned.

Meduza licked her lips.

"Careful, magma boy," she purred at Zeke.

"Fear burns hotter than fire."

Kero's blade whispered free of its sheath.

The wind screamed.

Kaito's barriers flared.

And at the center

Gorou Kanzaki stood unmoving, stone Shinrei roaring like an unbreakable vow as he faced two Hollow Nine at once.

Behind him

The seal of Kaom pulsed.

Waiting.

Watching.

Breathing.

To be continue