The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Chapter 180 : Treatment complications

Alex’s tears streamed endlessly as he clutched Lily’s frail hand.

Her once delicate skin was now darkening, corrupted veins crawling across her body like roots of death. Her beautiful face—once full of life and innocence—was barely recognizable, her features twisted by the abyssal corruption that spread faster with each passing second.

Alex’s chest tightened. He could hardly breathe. His vision shook as he whispered, almost choking on the words,

"Lily..."

Inside his head, the voice of the system echoed urgently.

[Host, her state has gone extremely bad.]

Alex’s grief snapped into rage.

"I have eyes too, damn it! Shut up and just tell me the solution already!"

[Don’t yell at me! Let me think for a moment—everything I predicted, all the outcomes, every calculation I’ve done, every scenario—it’s all crumbling. None of it matches this! Give me some time.]

Alex bit his lip until blood filled his mouth. His voice trembled but carried sharp desperation.

"Fine... just do it fast."

Lily’s eyelids fluttered weakly, her eyes opening and closing as if fighting to hold on. A single tear slid down her cheek, though her lips could not form his name.

Seeing that broke the dam inside him. His tears fell in violent streams.

Alex immediately clasped her hand tighter. Time itself warped. Around Lily, the world froze—the pulsing corruption halted, suspended in stillness.

I’ve stopped time around her using cosmic essence. But hurry, damn it. Before the essence depletes, give me something!

[I’m working on it, Host. Just wait a few moments. I’m as worried about her as you are.]

"How much time?!" Alex shouted in his mind, voice cracking with desperation.

Before the system could answer, another gentle voice came from the other bed in the room.

"She’s really lucky... to have a big brother like you."

Alex’s head jerked toward the sound. In his haze, he had forgotten—there were two high-tech medical beds in the chamber.

On the other bed lay a woman, clearly in her late forties, black hair strewn across the pillow.

The corruption had climbed to her chest, nearly reaching her neck, her body trembling under its weight.

Her cracked lips formed a faint smile.

"You know, she said you... you’re the best big brother she could’ve had.

And I can see why, as you’re still fighting for her even now... though I don’t know what you’re trying to do."

Alex blinked, momentarily stunned by her presence. He stepped closer, voice shaking.

"Who... who are you?"

The woman gave a broken smirk.

"No one important enough for you to remember. I won’t live long anyway."

Alex let out a heavy breath, steadying himself.

"Did Lily... did she say anything else?"

The woman’s eyes softened with faint amusement.

"She told me many things. About what you’ve done for her.

How, when you both were abandoned and thrown out of your home, you did everything you could to feed her.

Even begged in the streets. Stole when you had to. Came home bloodied and bruised... and still told her you slipped on stairs."

Her weak chuckle escaped as her shoulders trembled.

"What a terrible liar you are... She even told me about the three days straight you went without eating, making sure she had food in her stomach.

Honestly, it all sounded like something out of a tragic play. I cried just listening."

Alex’s throat closed up. He lowered his head, whispering hoarsely.

"She... she was just six at the time. How could she even remember all that?"

The lady closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, thoughtful.

"Maybe she’s special. Some children... some do have photographic memory. Maybe she’s one of them."

Alex’s chest tightened again, but this time with a bittersweet ache.

She’s right... Lily always picked things up fast. Learned so quickly... as if it was natural to her.

And remembered everything she saw. Just like me.

He gave a small smile as he looked at the woman.

"Thank you. For giving her company."

The woman shook her head faintly.

"No... don’t say that. She was the one who gave me company.

And happiness. If things were different... I would’ve adopted her as my own daughter in a heartbeat."

A small, fragile laugh escaped Alex’s lips.

"She wouldn’t leave me. I’m sure of that."

The woman’s gaze sharpened suddenly, a dangerous edge flickering in her eyes.

"Then I’d just have to make you disappear from this world."

Alex’s breath hitched as his instincts screamed.

But then she broke into laughter, though it was strained and weak.

"Relax. I’m only joking. Don’t take it so seriously."

Her face softened again, though her voice carried a grave weight.

"Still... please. If you can’t save her, let her leave and die peacefully. In her brother’s arms.

Don’t give her false hope with whatever you’re doing.

That’s the cruelest thing you could do. Sometimes... it’s just the will of the gods."

Alex gritted his teeth, his gaze sharp as steel.

"Listen, lady... that’s the kind of thing I hate the most.

"False hope—that’s the garbage the gods peddle. And believe it or not, you’re looking at a man who will even fuck the gods themselves if the need ever arises for me."

The woman blinked, startled, staring at him as if she couldn’t believe what she just heard.

Alex exhaled heavily, realizing how it came out, then corrected himself.

"That came out wrong. What I meant is—you’re looking at someone who’ll kill even a god if it comes to my sister."

The lady chuckled weakly, shaking her head.

"You’re quite funny, you know that? But childish dreams like that... you should let them go. No one can defeat the gods.

Not even the strongest beings on this entire continent."

Alex’s lips curled into a bitter smile.

"Well... it’s up to you whether you believe it or not."

Just then, the voice in his head resonated with determination.

[Host, everything’s ready.]

Alex’s expression lit with grim resolve. He glanced at the woman, a smirk forming.

"Maybe now... you’ll believe me."

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