Reborn as an Extra with the SSS-Divine Debt System and my Past Skills

Merci crouched low on the jagged cliff overlooking the human settlement.

Her sharp eyes traced every movement inside the barrier, her claws flexing against the rock.

From here, she could see the young man—Verus—sweating in the training grounds. His stance was still rough, but the raw potential in him was unmistakable. He was her mission, her prey.

Her lips curled into a smile.

'Finally. He's right there, within reach.'

Her crow familiar circled above her head, eager and restless. Merci stroked its feathers once before sending it forward, ordering it to scout the barrier's weak points.

The bird obeyed, wings slicing through the air, but the moment it drew too close, the barrier shimmered.

A wave of energy snapped out like a whip. The crow let out a screech before its bones cracked and flesh folded in on itself. Its body crumbled to ash.

Merci froze, her smile vanishing.

'Tch… so it's stronger than it looks.'

She stepped back, her plan shifting. If she couldn't breach directly, she would stalk the outskirts, find a way in when the humans least expected.

But just as she straightened up to retreat, pain tore through her side. Something hot and fast punched into her ribs. A bullet—embedded deep.

Her eyes widened. The metal twisted inside her flesh and then burst, igniting with heat. She snarled, clutching her side as flames licked against her skin.

"Where do you think you're going?"

A voice called out.

Jamie stepped into view from behind a boulder, her rifle still smoking, eyes sharp with amusement.

Her long coat fluttered in the wind, the flames from her gun's barrel dancing in her gaze.

Merci bared her teeth.

"Bold of you, human. Do you really think you can stop me?"

Jamie tilted her head, smirking.

"Not stop you. Just ruin your day."

Merci hissed, her claws gleaming as she launched herself forward. Jamie fired again, flames erupting from her weapon.

Merci dodged, her speed blurring her form as she closed the distance.

But Jamie was ready—she twisted the barrel down, firing at the ground. The earth flared, erupting into sparks that forced Merci to veer sideways.

"You're quick. But you bleed just fine."

Jamie said, sliding another bullet into the chamber.

Merci's growl deepened.

She raised her hand, and from the shadows of the forest, more familiars poured out—crows, hounds, and shapes that twisted unnaturally as they took form. The air filled with wings and teeth.

Jamie adjusted her stance, grinning.

"Now that's more like it."

The familiars descended, claws slashing and wings beating hard enough to whip dust into Jamie's face.

She ducked low, flames coating her rifle as she swung it like a staff, scattering the first wave.

One hound snapped at her leg, but she slammed the stock of her weapon down onto its skull, the impact cracking bone before fire engulfed it.

Merci didn't give her room to breathe. She leapt in again, claws flashing for Jamie's throat. Jamie blocked with the rifle, sparks flying as metal met hardened bone.

Merci pressed hard, her strength far beyond human, and Jamie felt her knees buckle.

"You should've stayed behind your walls."

Merci sneered, her face inches from Jamie's.

Jamie gritted her teeth.

"And let you play with the boy? Not a chance."

With a sudden twist, Jamie forced her flames to burst from the barrel at point-blank.

The explosion hurled Merci backward, scorching her arm. She crashed into a boulder, stone cracking under the impact.

The demoness snarled, clutching her arm. Her familiars surged forward, angrier now, their cries deafening.

Jamie breathed hard, sweat dripping down her brow, but her grin never wavered. She fired in quick bursts, her bullets bursting into firestorms midair, tearing through wings and flesh.

Still, Merci refused to relent. She darted between her familiars, using them as cover, forcing Jamie to split her aim.

At last she broke through the barrage, raking her claws across Jamie's shoulder. Blood sprayed, and Jamie hissed, staggering back.

"Finally."

Merci whispered, her voice thick with satisfaction.

Jamie wiped the blood with the back of her hand and smirked despite the sting.

"Took you long enough."

Her weapon flared brighter, the flames growing hotter, white at the edges. Merci realized too late that Jamie had been buying time, channeling mana into her weapon.

The air vibrated as Jamie pulled the trigger.

A roaring torrent of fire surged forward, consuming everything in its path. Merci's familiars shrieked as they were incinerated, their bodies scattering into ash.

Merci threw up her arms, shielding herself with a barrier of shadow, but even that cracked under the onslaught. She dug her claws into the ground, every muscle straining.

When the flames finally died down, smoke choked the air. Merci emerged, her body scorched, clothes torn, but still standing. Her chest heaved, fury burning in her eyes.

Jamie raised her rifle again, aiming steady.

"Round two?"

Merci's claws twitched. She wanted nothing more than to tear the human apart, but she wasn't foolish.

Not here.

Not with her mission on the line. If she lingered, she risked more than just injury.

"You're lucky I don't have time to waste."

She spat, shadows already curling around her feet.

Jamie snorted.

"Run along then. Tell your masters you lost to a human with a bad attitude."

Merci's glare could have cut stone, but she didn't answer. In a swirl of black feathers and smoke, she vanished into the forest, her familiars gone with her.

The silence afterward was deafening. Jamie stood in the clearing, panting, her shoulder still bleeding. She stared at the place where Merci had disappeared, her expression sour.

"Damn it."

She muttered, lowering her rifle. The fight had been fierce, but she hadn't finished it. She hated letting enemies slip away.

Still, she wasn't about to keep it quiet. Spitting blood from her mouth, Jamie turned back toward the settlement. Lucius needed to hear this—and fast.

Jamie trudged toward the gates, her steps heavy but her grip on the rifle unshaken.

The guards rushed to open the barrier, their eyes widening at the sight of her bloodied shoulder. Jamie ignored their questions.

All that mattered now was getting to Lucius—and making sure he understood: war had already found them.