"Impressive performance," the Council leader stated.
His smile broadened as he continued.
"You could have defeated them all in seconds if you’d committed fully."
"Probably," Rey admitted. "But overwhelming them completely would have served no purpose except demonstrating superiority they already acknowledge. Better to win decisively while making it appear they had chances, maintaining their confidence while establishing my capabilities."
Kael smiled slightly. "You understand politics as well as combat. That combination makes you valuable beyond re fighting prowess."
He gestured toward the Council chambers.
"We should discuss your next expedition into the uncharted regions. The treasures you brought back have generated significant interest in exploring those territories more systematically."
’Hehehe... I knew it!’
Rey had been looking forward to this developnt for so ti now.
There was no way he would refuse.
*********
The Council chamber was less crowded this evening, only the twelve Council mbers and a few senior advisors present for what was clearly intended as strategic planning rather than public announcent.
Rey sat across from Kael and Sera, the two Council mbers who’d worked most closely with him over three years of residence.
"Your demonstration this morning reinforced what we already knew," Kael began. "You possess capabilities that exceed our elite warriors significantly. Combined with your successful navigation of uncharted territories and the treasures you recovered, this suggests possibilities we should discuss formally."
Sera continued the thought. "The Sanctuary has survived for a thousand years through conservative strategy—defending what we have, exploring only when necessary, avoiding risks that could compromise our collective security. But your success challenges that paradigm."
She withdrew the Ancient MajiK fragnts Rey had shared, docunts covered in inscriptions that the Sanctuary’s scholars had been studying intensively.
"These fragnts alone represent knowledge that could advance our mystical understanding by decades. And you found them in a single expedition into uncharted territory. Which raises an obvious question—how much more knowledge, how many more resources, exist in regions we’ve never explored?"
Rey had anticipated this conversation.
The treasures he’d shared were bait, carefully chosen to demonstrate value without revealing the true scope of what remained unclaid in the Labyrinth’s depths.
"The uncharted regions are extrely dangerous," Rey stated, balancing honesty with strategic encouragent. "The environntal hazards exceed anything in explored territories. The Chaos Dwellers demonstrate intelligence and Technique mastery. Reality itself becos unreliable in deeper sections."
He paused, letting those warnings sink in.
"But the ancient civilization that built this place was extraordinarily advanced. Their vaults contain treasures that dwarf anything available on the surface. Their knowledge encompasses mystical principles that contemporary practitioners barely understand. And most importantly—those resources are simply sitting there, preserved by Chaos Energy, waiting for soone capable of retrieving them."
Marcus leaned forward.
"You’re proposing systematic exploration. Creating an organized effort to map uncharted territories and extract valuable resources."
"Under specific conditions," Rey confird. "Expeditions led by , accompanied by elite warriors who’ve demonstrated capability and discretion. Small teams—no more than a dozen mbers—to minimize detection by hostile entities while maintaining sufficient strength to handle unexpected threats."
"And the resources recovered?" another Council mber asked. "How would they be distributed?"
"Sa principle as before," Rey replied. "Priority to enhancing Sanctuary’s collective security and research capabilities. Personal shares for expedition mbers based on contribution and risk. Everything transparent, everything approved by Council oversight."
It was exactly the proposal they wanted to hear—organized expansion led by their prophesied champion, with systems ensuring benefits flowed to the community rather than being hoarded individually.
Kael exchanged glances with the other Council mbers, so silent communication passing between them.
"We’ve discussed this possibility since you returned," he admitted. "The potential benefits are significant, but so are the risks. Losing you to so Labyrinth hazard would devastate the Sanctuary’s morale and eliminate our greatest defensive asset."
"Which is why I’m proposing careful, asured exploration," Rey countered. "Not reckless advancent into the deepest territories, but systematic mapping of regions adjacent to what we’ve already charted. Gradual expansion that builds on success rather than courting catastrophic failure."
’This way, I’ll be able to slowly gain the support of the whole Sanctuary in helping advance and eventually defeat the Prince of Darkness!’
Sera spoke up. "What would you need? In terms of support, resources, authority?"
Rey had prepared this answer carefully.
"Formal authorization to recruit expedition mbers from the elite guard. Access to the Sanctuary’s best equipnt for team use. And autonomy to make tactical decisions during expeditions without requiring Council approval for every choice."
"You’re asking for significant authority," Marcus observed.
"I’m asking for the authority necessary to succeed," Rey replied. "Expeditions into hostile territory can’t function if every decision requires committee debate. I need freedom to adapt to circumstances while maintaining accountability for results."
The Council mbers debated among themselves for several minutes, discussing implications and potential safeguards. Rey remained silent, allowing them to convince each other that his proposal served the Sanctuary’s interests.
Finally, Kael called for order.
"The Council votes on formal authorization for Rey to lead exploration expeditions into uncharted Labyrinth territories, with authority to recruit team mbers from elite guard, access to premium equipnt, and tactical autonomy during operations. All in favor?"
Twelve hands rose simultaneously.
"Motion passes unanimously," Kael announced. "Rey, you’re officially authorized to form an exploration unit. We’ll formalize the details tomorrow, but in principle—you have the Sanctuary’s support for systematic expansion into uncharted regions."
Rey inclined his head respectfully. "I won’t waste this trust. The first expedition departs in three days. That provides ti to select team mbers, prepare equipnt, and conduct final training for those who’ll accompany ."
"Three days," Sera confird. "We’ll have docuntation ready and supplies allocated by then."
The eting concluded with additional discussion about logistical details and safety protocols.
Rey participated enough to demonstrate cooperation while internally calculating how this developnt served his actual objectives.
The Sanctuary now officially supported his expeditions into uncharted territory.
He had the authority to recruit assistance, access to their resources, and freedom to operate without constant oversight. Which ant he could continue his descent toward the Prince of Darkness while maintaining the appearance of serving the Sanctuary’s collective interests.
’Perfect!’
*********
[Three Days Later]
The Labyrinth of Darkness, Surface Entrance
Valdris Morgath stood at the Labyrinth’s entrance, his imposing presence making the surrounding darkness seem sohow less absolute by comparison.
Amara, Kira, and Theron approached from Outpost Seventeen, their equipnt carefully selected for hostile environnt operations. Each wore Grade 8 defensive artifacts, carried Grade 9 weapons, and possessed spatial storage containing supplies sufficient for extended deploynt.
But even fully equipped, they appeared insignificant next to the Devil, whose casual mystical pressure exceeded their combined capabilities several tis over.
"You ca prepared," Valdris observed, his black sclera making his evaluation impossible to read. "Good. Competence in equipnt selection suggests you might survive longer than I anticipated."
"We studied historical accounts of Labyrinth expeditions," Kira replied. "Learned from others’ mistakes."
"Historical accounts docunt failures," Valdris corrected. "Everyone who descended deep enough to reach uncharted territories either died or retreated before achieving aningful discoveries. You’re not learning from success—you’re learning from people who failed to accomplish what we’re attempting."
The statent hung in the air, a reminder of exactly how unprecedented this mission was.
Theron checked his equipnt one final ti. "What’s our formation? How do you want us positioned relative to your location?"
"Behind ," Valdris stated flatly. "I lead, you follow at a minimum of twenty-ter distance. If I signal retreat, you run imdiately without question or hesitation. If I engage threats directly, you provide support only when explicitly commanded. If I’m sohow incapacitated—which would require threats beyond your capability to handle—you flee to the surface and report to Archduke Marbas personally."
He looked at each of them directly.
"Understand this clearly: I’m not here to protect you. You’re here to investigate regions where my direct presence might destabilize environntal conditions or alert entities I prefer to observe before engaging. Your survival is your own responsibility."
"Understood, Lord Valdris," Amara replied, her voice steady despite the terror his words should have inspired.
Inside, she felt only anticipation.
Three years of waiting.
Soon, she would have answers.
Valdris withdrew a Divine-grade artifact—a crystalline orb that pulsed with detection capabilities far beyond anything the Category S Guards possessed.
"The triggered arrangent is dozens of kiloters deep, in regions where environntal distortions make normal navigation impossible. I’ll be examining the mystical residue while you investigate any physical evidence of what caused the activation."
He turned toward the Labyrinth’s entrance, darkness yawning before them like a hungry maw.
"Final opportunity to withdraw. Once we descend beyond the upper levels, retreat becos significantly more difficult. Anyone who wishes to reconsider should speak now."
Silence.
Valdris’s expression might have shown approval, or might have shown nothing—his alien features made certainty impossible.
"Then we descend."
He stepped forward into the darkness, his mystical pressure causing the ambient Chaos Energy to recoil from his presence.
Amara, Kira, and Theron followed at the prescribed distance, their enhanced perceptions struggling to adjust to the oppressive environnt.
The Labyrinth of Darkness welcod them with ancient malevolence.
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