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

"What the hell happened here? This place is in even bigger chaos than the Vanara Tribe…" Maruti gasped, her wide eyes scanning the wreckage around them. Crumbled stone walls, scorched ground, and broken weapons littered the area. The silence was deafening, with only the faint rustling of the wind breaking through the eerie stillness. 

Behind her, Esdeath let out a low, amused chuckle. "Hehehe…" 

Maruti glanced at her, puzzled. Esdeath didn't seem surprised by the destruction. In fact, there was an unsettling confidence in her stride as she moved forward without hesitation. 

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Maruti hurried to catch up, her boots crunching against the debris. "Do you know what's going on here?" she asked. 

Esdeath tilted her head slightly but didn't stop walking. Her voice was calm, almost casual. "You know, even if we keep growing stronger, there will always be moments when death is just one misstep away. The challenges ahead won't care how powerful we've become. This is no longer a game, Maruti. Anything can happen now." 

Maruti furrowed her brows, feeling uneasy at the ominous tone in Esdeath's voice. "What's your point?" 

"We need insurance," Esdeath said, her pace quickening. 

"Insurance? What kind of insurance?" Maruti pressed, trying to keep up. 

Esdeath finally turned her head slightly, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "An insurance… in the form of a subordinate." 

Maruti blinked. "A subordinate? So that's why we're here?" 

"Exactly," Esdeath confirmed with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But that's not all. Look around. There's no one here—no demons, no monsters, no living beings besides us. Everything you see belongs to us now. The resources, the treasures—it's all ours. We've got two full days before the competition starts, and we can use this time however we like." 

Maruti's gaze swept over the desolate landscape again. The silence was unnerving. She felt a chill run down her spine. "But isn't this place supposed to be crawling with deadly creatures? This is Trynne Transylvania's land—home to demons and monsters. Where the hell did they all go?" 

Esdeath didn't reply. Her steps remained steady, her focus locked on the massive castle in the distance. Its tall spires reached into the darkened sky, surrounded by an oppressive air of foreboding. 

The two walked for what felt like an eternity, with Maruti's unease growing with every step. Finally, after ten long minutes of silence, she couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed Esdeath by the shoulder, forcing her to stop. 

"C'mon, just tell me already! What happened here?" Maruti demanded, her voice filled with both frustration and desperation. 

Esdeath turned her head slightly, a chuckle escaping her lips. Her expression was calm but carried a hint of mischief. "The answe is right in front of you."  she said, gesturing ahead with her hand, "

Maruti followed Esdeath's gaze, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. 

Just twenty meters ahead, a man knelt on the ground in silver-white armor. His entire body was encased in the armor except for his head, which was exposed. The helmet lay discarded beside him. 

Maruti raised an eyebrow in surprise. Despite being clearly dead, his presence was overwhelming. His face was gaunt and decayed, with hollow cheeks and patches of rotting flesh. It was obvious he had been dead for months, yet an incredible aura of mana surrounded him. 

The sheer amount of mana was staggering—hundreds of times more than what both Esdeath and Maruti could muster combined. Maruti's breath hitched. How strong must he have been when he was alive?