Transmigrated as an Extra: Awakening of The Ex‐Class'-Chapter 60: Minotaur Labyrinth part 2

I quickly entered the place, it was if I’m not mistaken the place where the boss resides, its interior was vast, a circular chamber illuminated by the torches embedded in the walls. In the center of the room, standing on its powerful legs, was the minotaur. It was an incredible, imposing creature, a grotesque fusion of man and beast. Its head was that of a bull, with red eyes like embers that shone with malice. Its head was decorated with two enormous horns, curved and sharp as blades, protruding from its skull. Its body was humanoid but massive, muscular, covered in thick, tanned skin that seemed to resist any blow. Its hands ended in retractable claws, and its feet, cloven hooves, hit the ground with a dull sound that echoed in the chamber. It was at least three meters tall, and its presence was so oppressive that the air seemed to be scarce around it.

Its hooves hit the ground with a powerful thunderclap that shook the room and in an instant, it was upon me. I had no time for anything, I didn’t stop to think, I just had to act. My ability, Shadow Step, activated instinctively. I felt my body dematerialize, turning into a shadow that dodged the beast’s attack by a hair’s breadth. I appeared a few meters away, panting, my heart pounding in my chest.

The beast stopped dead, disoriented for a moment, it didn’t expect me to dodge its attack, yet such agility is surprising for someone of its size. Its red eyes found me immediately, and I was stunned, I saw something in them: frustration. It didn’t seem like I had escaped. I, for my part, had no intention of staying to be its food. With a quick movement, I slid the bracelet off my wrist and held it in front of me. I tapped it twice in the center and the bracelet transformed, extending and solidifying into the long, gleaming sword my mind had imagined. The blade was golden, with runes etched along the edge that glowed with a faint light. The weight of the sword in my hand was comforting, familiar.

The minotaur didn’t wait. With a loud growl he charged forward again, this time with more force. His horns pointed straight at my neck, ready to impale me. But before he could prepare, I leapt to the side, missing his horns by inches. I spun on my axis and swung my sword out, aiming for his side. The golden blade sliced ​​through the air with a hiss, but the minotaur was faster than I expected. He stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blow. Still, the edge of my sword grazed his skin, leaving a shallow mark that glowed briefly before dark blood began to flow.

The beast roared, this time more furious, its eyes bloodshot. It didn’t underestimate me again, its piercing gaze telling me it would go all out this time. In the blink of an eye it moved for the third time, but this time it wasn’t a simple lunge. Its claws extended, sharp as daggers, and it swung them at me in a swift, deadly move. I barely managed to dodge it, feeling it tear above my head. I quickly got up and counterattacked, this time aiming for its leg. The sword struck hard, cutting deep into its thigh. The minotaur roared in pain, but it didn’t fall. Instead, its fury seemed to increase.

The fight intensified. I dodged, rolled, and counterattacked, while the minotaur lunged, struck, and scratched with a ferocity that made me question whether I could hold out much longer. Each blow I managed to land left a mark on its body, but the beast didn’t seem to care, as if it didn’t feel the pain. Or, if it did, it only made it angrier. The marks piled up, but they weren’t enough to take it down.

Finally, moving around, looking at its sides, I noticed an opportunity. The minotaur, in its blind fury, made a mistake. It charged at me with such force that it couldn’t stop when I dodged its charge. It crashed into the wall of the chamber, leaving itself vulnerable for a moment. I didn’t think twice. I ran towards it, jumped, and landed a powerful blow on its back. The sword bathed in mana sank deep, and this time, the beast let out a heart-rending scream that shook the walls of the place. Immediately, he fell to his knees, his body shaking as blood poured from the wound.

I approached cautiously, the hilt of my sword still warm from the sweat of my hands, the blade stained with the dark blood of the minotaur. The air was heavy in my lungs, heavy with the smell of iron from the blood mixed in the place. The beast, now prostrate before me, slowly raised its head, its red eyes meeting mine. No longer in the irrational rage it had had a moment ago, they now shone with a flash of lucidity. Something else could even be seen: respect for the strong. The minotaur, ancient creature, beast of legends, guardian of the labyrinth, recognized its defeat. With a final gasp, its body collapsed to the ground, and the labyrinth itself seemed to shudder, as if the stone walls were mourning the fall of its protector.

I stood there, panting, the sword still in my hand. The silence that followed was almost as terrifying as the echo of our combat that faded away leaving only the sound of my labored breathing. I knew there was no time to rest. The treasure, the reason I had risked my life, was close at hand.

I advanced with extreme caution, each step meticulous to avoid any traps that might appear in the surroundings. The walls of the labyrinth, carved with ancient runic inscriptions, seemed to watch me, as if the spirit of the place still watched from the shadows. Deep within the chamber, a white marble door materialized in front of me. Its carvings were intricate, depicting scenes of battles between man and beast. As I approached, I felt a chill run down my spine, as if the air itself warned me of what lay beyond.

With a gentle touch of my hand, the door gave way, revealing a room lit by a dim, golden light that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. In the center, a small altar of black stone dominated the room. On either side, ceramic vases held grains of rice and medicinal herbs, their aromas mingling in the air. But what caught my attention was the object resting on the altar: a ring. It was not ostentatious, but its design was exquisite, with runes engraved on its surface that shone with a faint, pulsating light, as if it had a life of its own.

I approached slowly, with bated breath. I extended my hand toward the ring, and the moment my fingertips touched the cold, polished surface, a wave of indescribable energy burst through my arm. It wasn’t just power that I felt, but a deep calm, as if the entire universe stopped to grant me a moment. My body felt a sense of unrecognizable power and calm. The runes engraved on the ring, barely visible before, began to glow with blinding intensity, pulsing to the rhythm of an ancient, primordial heartbeat.

Suddenly, the world around me began to fade, and I was thrown into a vision that transcended time and space. Before me, a majestic kingdom rose like a titan, and almost immediately a thought came to me. The Heavenly Kingdom, suspended in a golden, eternal sky. The clouds shone as if they were woven from threads of light, and among them, beings of indescribable beauty floated with infinite grace. They were angels, their white wings spread like cloaks of purity, radiating a serenity that made my soul tremble. Their finely carved faces were perfect, but not cold; in their eyes reflected an incredible wisdom that can only be achieved by the passage of time.

In the center of that kingdom, a throne translucent as crystal and golden platforms rose surrounded by columns that seemed carved from light itself. Above him, a seated figure, enveloped in a somber and majestic aura that was impossible to hide, stared directly at me. His face was blurry, as if my mind could not process or comprehend his true form, but I felt his gaze pierce through me, as if he were searching every corner of my being, as if he were looking into the deepest recesses of my soul. He was an overwhelming presence, full of authority and benevolence, but also a power that could reduce worlds to ashes with just a thought.

"Gadiel," I whispered, his name. The ring on my hand seemed to vibrate in response, as if it recognized its own origin.

Crash!

The vision faded suddenly, and I came back to reality with a stifled gasp. Cold sweat trickled down my back, and my palms were numb, as if they had held something for too long. The ring, now firmly held in my hand, emitted a faint but constant glow, as if I was still connected to that realm.

Then remembering those white-winged beings, angels, here in this world, were not creatures of legends; they were real.