Death.
In that split-mont, death appeared right in front of Rey.
Alistair Cheshire’s invincible presence boldly stood right in front of him, his overwhelming advantage evident for all to witness.
One leg was raised, ready to squash Rey like an ant, his entrails sure to scatter like countless debris.
He was also clearly at his limits, barely able to react to any further attacks from the enemy.
This was surely the end.
Or was it?
’Inverse Technique #7: Inside Out.’
Rey’s hands and legs were touching the ground, so he activated all the energy he had poured into the designated location at once.
The result was astounding!
RUMBLE!
"W-wha—?!"
The ground suddenly grew unstable, turning into slly moist earth that sucked in Alistair’s leg.
Since one foot was already raised, the sudden change on the ground he stepped on caused him to lose his balance.
That, alongside the foul odor that suddenly manifested, disoriented him for a mont.
It created a mont of distraction.
A brief instant.
But... that was more than enough for Rey!
’Go!’
Rey leaped forward, raising both hands to attack Alistair at the sa ti. One hand pushed Alistair’s raised foot away, causing him to fall into even greater imbalance.
The second went after Alistair’s face directly.
"Tch! You—!"
Despite his imnse speed, due to his imbalance, the Young Lord couldn’t even use even a third of his natural abilities.
Adding to that fact, he was currently confused.
Everything happened too quickly.
He had thought Rey was defenseless, so he didn’t have his guard up when he approached.
This assumption was predicated on sound logic, but it ended up costing him instead. He had been caught off guard, and Rey’s fist was nearing him at a threatening pace.
It was only at this point that Alistair realized the truth.
He had been played!
Rey hadn’t hit his limits at all.
He was simply pretending, using the act to buy himself ti so he could draw Alistair towards the designated position.
While kneeling, Rey had used this opportunity to pour in a great amount of Ether into the soil, allowing him to quickly use Inside Out on such short notice.
This single decision saved his life yet again.
But that wasn’t all it did!
It also gave Rey the window of opportunity to launch a counterattack!
A fistful of pure, unbridled strength.
"Why you—!"
Although Alistair found it difficult to move exactly the way he wanted in the filth that was now the ground, a problem practically nonexistent for Rey, he was still able to twist his body in ti to evade the strike.
But that was his mistake.
After all, Rey already expected this outco, and had already prepared a backup plan.
’Inverse Technique #9: Minor Flip.’
’Reversal Technique #8: Outco Flip.’
In that split-second, Rey combined the two different techniques and reached a new pinnacle of ability.
Sothing very few were capable of.
An elite move.
’Joint Technique: Minor Outco Flip!’
BOOOOM!!!
His body beca like a mirror, the movents flipping in an instant.
As it turned out, the other hand which he had used to raise Alistair’s feet was now the one aid at the Young Lord’s face.
Alistair had only twisted his body to evade Rey’s initial assault.
He didn’t account for this situation.
Perhaps if he wasn’t so discombobulated, he would have made preparations for such a move, but it was already too late.
The distance was dangerously close.
Plus—
’Adding Outco Flip from the Reversal Technique improves the probability of hitting him to the maximum, especially since the proximity is so close. I also have my Artifact, which increases my strength to the maximum.’
Rey didn’t spare any expense.
He used as much Ether as he possibly could in that short period.
It was a brief burst, but he knew that failure here would an an inability to advance. With his life already forfeit, such a struggle was his only alternative.
So he pushed forward.
Ahead!
Just a little more!
And then—
BAM!
Rey felt his fist hit flesh!
It was all a blur, but his blow had definitely made an impact on sothing.
He succeeded!
"You filthy thing..." Alistair’s voice echoed ominously amidst this realization.
It was only after he spoke that Rey realized that he didn’t succeed, after all. He had indeed made an impact against flesh, but the blow didn’t touch the Young Lord’s face.
Instead, the punch was expertly blocked by his right hand.
"A cursed thing such as yourself... actually touched ?!" Alistair’s fury was rising by the minute, his crimson glare shining with cruel light.
It showed both malevolence and surprise.
After all, even though he had heard about this slave, he never expected him to be so cunning and skilled.
He thought those words were re exaggerations from degenerates whose lives revolved around the Coliseum.
Now he understood.
’I even considered using an Art to protect myself for a mont, but... It ended up like this in the end.’
It turns out going that far was unnecessary.
His body was enough to stop the blow.
Still...!!!
"How dare you?!"
Alistair’s pride was beyond wounded.
He felt humiliated beyond words, mortified by the sole action of this powerless slave that didn’t even hold a candle to him.
If it were a fellow Noble of the sa status that hit him, he would certainly feel annoyed—perhaps even offended.
If it were soone of Augustus’ status, that feeling would advance towards disrespect and he would be severely enraged.
What if it were a servant?
That would be even worse!
Such severe wrath would nearly be beyond description.
What of a slave?
Ahh... It would slowly leave the realm of wrath and enter the territory of sha.
Now... What if were a slave who was also a Cursed Child? Soone with a filthy bloodline who was cursed from birth. A lowly thing that was an abomination in the world?
What would happen if such a creature even touched him?
"Forget about killing you..." Alistair kicked Rey with such terrifying speed that the latter could not even think of a solution.
His body flew away, helplessly tumbling on the ground before landing several ters away.
"I’ll make you wish you were dead!"
Steam proceeded from his lips as he watched Rey with absolute hate!
No matter what happened, he wanted this person to die! He wouldn’t stop until he t his end, but not until he tortured him first.
That was Alistair’s resolution.
"Hehe..." He chuckled, appearing right next to Rey before kicking him again.
"Gahh!"
"Heheheheehehe..."
Again!
BAM!
"Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe!!!"
And again!
BOOOOOOOM!!!
Within seconds, Rey’s body resembled a used rag. His flesh was mangled, torn into many pieces.
He was only barely clinging to life at this point.
One more blow, and he would die.
"Young Lord... P-please... show rcy!"
At this point, even Augustus had no choice but to speak out and plead. At first he didn’t have the courage, and he condemned Rey to his fate.
But after seeing Rey use a Joint Technique, sothing even he could only achieve after years of practice, he was once again reminded of the slave’s talent.
Rey had too much potential.
Where would Augustus find soone else like this? If Rey died, his lifeline was gone.
He had to save him!
But he could not defy a Cheshire, especially the Young Lord of the family. All he could do was plead on Rey’s behalf.
"Please, Alistair, spare him and I’ll—"
"Hey..." Alistair turned to Augustus with a murderous gleam in his eyes.
"Say another word, and I’ll kill you too!"
In that mont, mories of his past experiences with Alistair resurfaced and he swallowed everything he was about to say.
’What was I thinking?’ Augustus scread at himself. ’Why did I think I could defy him?’
As soone who was Alistair’s ’friend’ he knew the Young Lord’s personality well. Why did he think he could convince him to back down now, especially after Rey went that far?
Augustus knew...
’It’s over. The slave is dead. My future... all the prospects I thought I had...’ All of them were about to vanish with Alistair’s last blow.
And so, without any warning...
... It ca!
[A/N: For those confused, combining the effects of multiple sequences is not the sa as a Joint Technique, which uses separate Sequences of two or more different Techniques. Joint Technique is essentially more complex and highly revered.]
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