Reborn As An Extra : I'm gonna mess up everything

"How?" The only word Violet managed to whisper, her voice trembling with shock. 

Maruti smirked,"Too bad, but this foundation always reaches twice."  

Violet's body tensed as she watched Maruti's fist speeding toward her face. The sheer force of the wind from Maruti's punch brushed against her skin, sending chills down her spine. But just before the impact— 

"I accept defeat!" Violet shut her eyes and spoke firmly. 

For a moment, there was silence. Then—Swish!—the air trembled from the leftover pressure of Maruti's halted punch. Her fist hovered just inches away from Violet's face. 

Maruti sighed, lowering her hand. She had wanted Violet to fight until the very end, but it seemed she knew when to back down. 

"The winner of this match—Maruti from Class A!" the referee announced. 

The arena erupted in cheers. The audience, who had been holding their breath, now roared with excitement. Even though Violet lost, her performance was nothing short of impressive. 

Up in the stands, Esdeath watched the match unfold with an amused smirk. She leaned back, arms crossed. 

"Young ones are full of energy and make reckless choices," she murmured to herself. "But she knows when to surrender. Quite knowledgeable for her age." 

But suddenly—**Slap!** 

She smacked her own face, her expression twisting in frustration. 

Why? 

Because although her eyes were supposed to be on the arena, her right eye kept trying to steal glances at the VIP seats. Specifically—where Lortell Mariette was sitting. 

"Stop looking at her!" Esdeath scolded herself inwardly, gripping the armrest of her seat. She forced herself to focus on the competition, but the weight of her emotions, influenced by the real Esdeath's lingering presence in her mind, made it increasingly difficult.

Meanwhile, Maruti walked over and sat down beside her, still grinning. 

"This 'Turn Phantom Essence Stone' is amazing," Maruti said, stretching her arms. "For three whole breaths, my body turned into a phantom, making all physical attacks useless." 

Esdeath smiled faintly but didn't seem too interested. "Forget about that," she said. "What I really want to see is the second match. Let's see who's fighting next. The best outcome would be Ethan versus Kaelith. If that happens, we'll gain the most benefit from this."

But The moment the referee announced the next match, both Esdeath and Maruti felt their excitement drain away, replaced by deep disappointment. 

"The next match is between Maruti from Class A and Kaelith Maranthia from Class A!" the referee declared. 

A collective sigh spread through the audience. Some students even leaned back in their seats, shaking their heads. Everyone already knew the outcome. 

Maruti let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of her head. "Seriously? Just my luck." 

Esdeath crossed her arms, exhaling. "It seems your luck is even worse than mine. Now, it's all up to me whether we win this competition or not." 

Maruti turned to her with a hopeful look. "Is there any chance I can win?" 

Esdeath didn't hesitate. She shook her head firmly. "Nope. Right now, it's impossible. Just stick to the plan. If I were the one fighting, I could make it work—but your chances are still high if you do it right."