Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave

Valdris Morgath moved through the Labyrinth’s depths with purpose that transcended normal navigation, his mystical perception following traces that existed beyond conventional reality.

Amara followed twenty meters behind, her exhaustion mounting with each step despite her enhanced physical capabilities. The environmental pressure at these depths exceeded anything she’d experienced during training, making even basic breathing require conscious effort.

The Devil stopped suddenly, his wings spreading slightly in a gesture that might have indicated alertness.

"Interesting," Valdris murmured, his multiple-toned voice carrying contemplation rather than alarm.

"What is it, Lord Valdris?" Amara asked, forcing her voice to remain steady despite fatigue.

"Recent passage," Valdris replied, gesturing toward a section of corridor that appeared identical to every other passage they’d traversed. "Multiple individuals moving in coordinated formation. The mystical residue suggests perhaps a dozen practitioners, all with significant capability."

He analyzed the traces with techniques that operated beyond Amara’s comprehension, his black sclera somehow making his concentration more intense despite their inability to convey normal expression.

"Nephilim," Valdris concluded. "The mystical signatures match the hybrid characteristics documented in historical records. They moved through this corridor some time ago, traveling towards the depths of the Labyrinth."

Amara’s heart raced.

A group of Nephilim, moving through uncharted territories?

That suggested an organized expedition from the hidden civilization rumored to exist within the Labyrinth’s depths.

Could Rey be among them?

"The Divine-grade artifact’s trace leads in a different direction," Valdris continued, studying the diverging paths. "The Nephilim group is traveling toward what I presume is the series of ancient vaults filled with remnant treasures. The artifact remains stationary to the southeast, still in the region, suggesting permanent habitation."

He considered the situation with visible calculation.

"Two possibilities: the artifact is stored in a location separate from where its wielder currently travels, or there are multiple groups operating independently within these depths."

Valdris made his decision quickly.

"I will investigate the artifact’s location personally. But these Nephilim represent an unexpected variable that requires attention."

He raised one hand, mystical energy gathering with intensity that made Amara’s enhanced perception ache from mere proximity. The power concentrating in his palm exceeded anything she’d witnessed during their descent—this was true Devil-tier mystical manipulation operating at scales that defied normal understanding.

"Soul Art, Dominion Technique, Sequence #0: Divine Beast Manifestation!"

Reality tore open before Valdris, a rift forming between material existence and something beyond. From that impossible wound in space emerged a creature that shouldn’t exist according to any natural law Amara understood.

The Divine Beast measured perhaps three meters in length, its form resembling a predatory cat but constructed from condensed Soul Energy that radiated power approaching Divine classification itself. Its body appeared simultaneously solid and ethereal, as though it existed partially in multiple realities at once.

Eyes that glowed with intelligent awareness fixed on Valdris, awaiting commands from its summoner.

"Hunt the Nephilim group," Valdris commanded, his voice carrying authority that transcended normal speech. "Determine their capabilities, origins, and objectives. Kill anyone who demonstrates hostility. Capture one or two for interrogation if possible. I maintain a connection to your consciousness—report findings through our bond."

The Divine Beast inclined its head in acknowledgment, then moved with speed that made it appear to simply vanish rather than traveling normally.

Amara stared at where the creature had been moments before, her mind struggling to process what she’d just witnessed.

"That was... a Sequence #0 Technique," she whispered, the implications staggering. "I didn’t know such things could be summoned."

"True Divine Beasts exist at the peak of Soul Art mastery," Valdris explained casually, as though he hadn’t just manifested something that could probably destroy entire cities single-handedly. "They require tremendous Ether expenditure and operate independently once summoned, but their capabilities exceed normal combat assets significantly."

He resumed walking toward the artifact’s location, his pace unchanged despite having just deployed what amounted to a strategic weapon.

"The Beast will handle the Nephilim investigation. We continue toward the artifact."

Amara followed, her thoughts racing despite exhaustion.

The Divine Beast was hunting the Nephilim group. If Rey was among them—if he’d somehow survived three years and integrated with the hidden civilization—he was now being pursued by a creature operating at near-Divine capability.

But there was nothing she could do about that.

She couldn’t help him, couldn’t warn him, couldn’t even confirm whether he was actually present in the group being hunted.

’Please,’ Amara thought despite herself, ’please be at the artifact’s location instead. Please be the one who triggered the ancient arrangement, who displaced the Divine-grade item, who established permanent habitation in the Labyrinth’s depths.’

Because if Rey was with the Nephilim group being hunted by Valdris’s summoned Beast, he was already dead.

And she would never get the answers she’d sacrificed everything to obtain.

Valdris continued navigating toward the artifact’s location, his mystical perception following traces that only Devil-tier capabilities could detect.

Amara followed, exhaustion and anticipation warring within her.

Soon, she would have answers.

One way or another.

***********

Meanwhile...

Rey moved through familiar passages leading back toward the Sanctuary, his team’s morale exceptionally high despite their fatigue and minor injuries.

The expedition had succeeded beyond anyone’s reasonable expectations.

Three treasure vaults discovered, valuable resources secured, extensive territory mapped, and several combat encounters survived with only manageable casualties. The Council would be ecstatic, and the Sanctuary’s residents would celebrate their prophesied champion’s triumphant return.

Exactly as Rey had planned.

Elara walked beside him, her earlier admiration having evolved into something approaching devotion over the course of their expedition.

She kept glancing his way with expressions that Rey recognized as attraction mixed with hero worship—predictable emotional responses that he’d cultivated deliberately.

"We’ll be heroes when we return," she said quietly, her purple eyes showing excitement. "The first team to successfully explore uncharted territories and return with such incredible treasures. The Sanctuary will talk about this expedition for generations."

"The first of many," Rey replied, maintaining his warm performance. "This is just the beginning of what we can achieve together."

Lyra, walking point ahead of them, signaled a halt.

The veteran warrior’s expression showed concentration rather than alarm, but her body language suggested heightened alertness.

"Something’s wrong," she stated flatly. "The ambient Chaos Energy patterns are shifting. That usually indicates—"

Rey felt it simultaneously—a presence entering the Labyrinth’s territories that didn’t belong.

Not a Chaos Dweller, not an environmental anomaly, but something deliberately manifested with purpose and intelligence.

His enhanced perception analyzed the mystical signature racing toward their position, and cold dread settled into his stomach.

’Divine-tier Soul Energy,’ Rey recognized with horror. ’Structured, controlled, operating with independent consciousness. Someone summoned a Divine Beast!’

"Defensive formation!" Rey commanded, his voice cutting through the team’s confusion. "Now! Maximum defensive posture! This is not a Chaos Dweller!"

The Nephilim warriors responded immediately, years of training overriding their questions. They formed the practiced defensive perimeter, but Rey could see the confusion in their expressions—they’d been in relatively safe explored territory, mere hours from the Sanctuary. Threats this close to home were supposed to be manageable.

This threat was anything but manageable.

The Divine Beast materialized from shadow itself, its form resolving from impossibility into terrifying reality. Three meters of condensed Soul Energy shaped into predatory perfection, eyes glowing with intelligence that transcended animal awareness.

Several team members gasped, their enhanced perception recognizing power that exceeded anything they’d encountered during the entire expedition.

This was the real deal!