Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave-Chapter 163: Preparations (Part 1)

The morning sun filtered through the Sanctuary’s protective dome, casting warm light across the training grounds where Rey had agreed to demonstrate advanced combat techniques for the settlement’s elite warriors.

Word of his return from the uncharted depths had spread quickly, and the treasures he’d shared only enhanced his already considerable reputation. Now, dozens of Nephilim gathered to watch their prophesied champion spar against the Sanctuary’s best fighters.

Rey stood in the center of the training arena, wearing simple practice clothes rather than his usual equipment. The Divine-grade armor remained secured in his quarters—revealing its existence would raise questions he preferred not to answer.

Across from him, five elite guards took positions in coordinated formation.

These were the Sanctuary’s finest warriors, veterans who’d survived decades of combat against Chaos Dwellers and environmental hazards that would kill ordinary practitioners.

Kael observed from the arena’s edge, his expression showing professional interest mixed with curiosity about how Rey would handle multiple skilled opponents simultaneously.

"Standard sparring rules," Kael announced to the gathered crowd. "No lethal techniques, no permanent damage, match concludes when Rey yields, or the guards achieve decisive advantage."

He looked at Rey.

"Are you certain about facing all five simultaneously? Even for you, that’s ambitious."

Rey smiled slightly. "I need to test my capabilities against coordinated opposition. Five skilled fighters provide an appropriate challenge."

The lead guard—a woman named Lyra with decades of combat experience—stepped forward.

"We won’t hold back just because you’re the prophesied champion. Respect means treating you as an equal threat."

"I’d expect nothing less," Rey replied.

Kael raised his hand. "Begin!"

The five guards moved immediately, their formation demonstrating practiced coordination. Lyra took point, two guards flanked to cut off Rey’s lateral movement, and the remaining two positioned for rear assault—classic encirclement tactics designed to overwhelm a single opponent through superior numbers and positioning.

Rey remained stationary, his enhanced perception tracking all five simultaneously while calculating optimal response patterns.

Lyra attacked first, her Spirit Art technique creating a barrage of compressed air blades that converged on Rey’s position from multiple angles.

"Spirit Art, Tempest Technique, Sequence #7: Wind Scythe!" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The guards attacking from the flanks followed immediately, one using Construction Technique to manipulate the arena floor into grasping stone hands, the other deploying Inferno Technique to create a wall of flames that limited Rey’s escape routes.

The rear assault came last—coordinated strikes using Soul Art to attack Rey’s consciousness directly while he was presumably distracted by physical threats.

It was a sophisticated combination assault that would overwhelm most practitioners through sheer multifaceted pressure.

Rey responded with minimal movement and maximum efficiency.

"Spirit Art, Construction Technique, Sequence #8: Earthbind!"

The stone floor that one guard had manipulated suddenly reversed control, the grasping hands targeting their creator instead of Rey. The guard stumbled, forced to dismiss her own technique to avoid being restrained.

Simultaneously, Rey activated a Mid-Sequence counter.

"Spirit Art, Convergence Technique, Sequence #6: Element Lattice!"

Fire, wind, and earth wove together into a structured formation that intercepted Lyra’s wind scythes, absorbed the flame wall’s energy, and created a defensive perimeter that the Soul Art attacks couldn’t penetrate.

The entire combination assault was neutralized within seconds, and Rey had barely moved from his initial position.

The guards regrouped immediately, their formation adapting to account for Rey’s defensive capabilities. This time, they attacked with greater caution, probing for weaknesses rather than committing to a full assault.

Rey decided to shift from pure defense to controlled offense.

He moved.

Not a full-speed assault that would overwhelm them instantly, but measured advancement that tested their coordination while demonstrating superior capability.

"Spirit Art, Tempest Technique, Sequence #7: Gale Arc!"

Wind blades launched toward the left flank guard, forcing him to commit to defensive techniques. While he was occupied, Rey closed the distance with Lyra, his enhanced physical capabilities allowing movement that appeared almost like teleportation to observers less skilled than the arena’s elite.

Lyra responded with impressive reflexes, her decades of combat experience translating into instinctive defense even against threats moving faster than she could consciously track.

"Spirit Art, Pulse Technique, Sequence #8: Repulsion Burst!"

Force erupted from her position, creating a spherical zone that should have pushed Rey back and bought her time to reposition.

But Rey had already adapted to her combat patterns. He activated a Chaos Art counter that the watching Nephilim wouldn’t recognize as anything except impressive mystical manipulation.

"Chaos Art, Reversal Technique, Sequence #7: Effect Betrayal!"

The Repulsion Burst inverted, pulling Lyra toward Rey instead of pushing him away. She stumbled forward, directly into range for what would have been a decisive strike if this were actual combat.

Rey pulled the blow, his fist stopping mere centimeters from her torso.

"Tagged," he stated calmly, then immediately pivoted to address threats from the other guards who were attempting to capitalize on his apparent commitment to attacking Lyra.

The rear assault guards had coordinated another Soul Art strike, this time using higher-sequence techniques that required more preparation but carried devastating effect.

"Soul Art, Dominion Technique, Sequence #7: Mind Fracture!"

The attack targeted Rey’s consciousness directly, attempting to disrupt his mental processes and create openings for physical assault.

Rey countered with a technique that made several watching Nephilim gasp in recognition.

"Soul Art, Fortress Technique, Sequence #6: Impenetrable Will!"

His consciousness became absolutely defended, the Mind Fracture technique shattering against mental barriers that operated at sequences the guards couldn’t match.

Rey possessed triple Arts like Amara—Chaos, Spirit, and Soul—though he rarely demonstrated the latter two in combination. But this spar required showing enough capability to justify the role he intended to claim without revealing his true strength.

The match continued for another five minutes, Rey systematically demonstrating superiority over each guard individually while preventing them from achieving the coordination necessary to threaten him collectively.

He was faster, stronger, more precise, and possessed mastery over Techniques at sequences that exceeded their capabilities. But most impressively, he managed the engagement with calculated restraint—winning decisively while making it appear he was only slightly superior rather than absolutely overwhelming.

Finally, Kael called a halt.

"Sufficient demonstration. Rey wins decisively."

The five guards bowed respectfully, their expressions showing admiration rather than shame.

Being defeated by their prophesied champion while he demonstrated techniques they could learn from was an honor rather than humiliation.

Lyra approached Rey as the crowd began dispersing. "That Reversal Technique—Effect Betrayal. I’ve never seen anyone execute it that cleanly. The timing required to invert my Repulsion Burst mid-activation must be incredibly precise."

"Practice," Rey replied simply. "I’ve had extensive opportunity to refine my capabilities in the Labyrinth’s hostile environment."

"Would you be willing to provide instruction?" another guard asked. "Even learning the theory behind those higher-sequence Techniques would benefit our defensive capabilities significantly."

Rey considered the request.

Teaching them would build additional goodwill while subtly demonstrating his value to the Sanctuary’s collective security.

"I can arrange training sessions," he agreed. "Focus on warriors with the aptitude and Ether capacity for Mid-Sequence techniques. No point teaching theory to those who can’t execute the actual Techniques."

The guards departed to spread word of the demonstration, and Kael approached with an expression that suggested he’d been waiting for a private conversation.

’So it’s finally time, huh?’ Rey smiled.

He had been waiting for this.