Rey could feel his skin burning.
The incoming flames were hot—terrifyingly so. His instincts told him, screamed at him, to get out of the way.
But how could he?
Ice barriers blocked him at every corner?
Even if he wanted to reach them, there were multiple wind-lightning blades flying in all kinds of directions around him, limiting his movements at an absurd rate.
'The best choice I have is to use Sequence 6 of the Inverse Technique to collapse the flames, but that requires concentration and immobility, since I haven't fully mastered it.' Rey sighed deeply.
The problem with doing that was the wind blades that he had to constantly evade and deflect.
There were too many variables to consider, and the stream of fire was about to collide with him.
But did that mean Rey would give up?
No way!
'It's risky, but…' His eyes shone as a flash of inspiration surged through his mind.
He hadn't done this before.
But it could work in theory.
—Combining the effects of Sequences!
'Inverse Technique #9 and #8…' His body shuddered as he released as much Ether as he could while the flames kept getting closer.
One second more, and his defeat was certain.
But—
'... Minor Flipped Axis!'
At that moment, Rey vanished and a blade arc took his place.
He had successfully switched positions with one of the several blades that Amara had shot into the vicinity.
Thankfully, he chose the one furthest away from the flames, allowing him to narrowly avoid being smoked alive.
He was now right next to the ice wall.
"Inverse Technique #6: Internal Collapse!"
He touched the glacier, injecting his Ether into it for a quicker effect and to reduce his energy expenditure.
Using that method, he was able to open up a path from the inside and escape the enclosure.
That was how he survived!
'It's a good thing I thought quickly…' Rey gasped for air once he made it to the other side, feeling weary from the stress.
Sequence 9 of the Inverse Technique—Minor Flip—allowed him to shift his body in unnatural ways, making it act in the opposite way that it would normally be.
It only worked as a simple inversion, but it remained very effective.
Sequence 8—Flipped Axis—let him invert directional logic, alternating the positions and movements of two different things.
But these different things existed beyond him.
Hence—
'Using the two principles, I made myself one of the targets of Flipped Axis by activating Minor Flip on myself first and connecting my movements to the flying wind blade.
Once Flipped Axis took effect, our positions switched, and it took my place as the scapegoat.
It was a genius move, one borne from desperation.
In a way, he had Amara to thank.
If he hadn't been put in such a stressful situation, with no way out but to innovate, how would he have come up with a brilliant move?
He wouldn't have.
At least, not anytime soon.
'Now I understand…' He cast his gaze on the faraway Amara, now seeing her in a different light. 'This is how she intends to train me. By pushing me to the extreme, I'll be able to grow more rapidly and figure out solutions that exist outside the box.'
He smiled.
Not only was he learning how to implement his abilities in creative ways, but his body was learning to move more fluidly after watching his opponent's movements and desperately trying to dodge her attacks.
Finally, he was also actively finding ways to reduce his Ether expenditure.
'Physical contact with the target is a surefire way to reduce expended energy, but I still haven't figured out how she's able to control her usage to such limits.'
Rey didn't have the time to dwell on his thoughts, though.
Amara had begun to move again.
"Spirit Art… Frost Technique #9: Chill Touch."
She placed her palm on the ground, and everything around her began to freeze.
Then, she controlled the direction of the frost and it rapidly extended towards Rey's position.
The speed was frightening.
Its range was also devastating. Rey had to leap from the ground to avoid being frozen, but wouldn't he have to descend eventually?
Besides, taking to the air would only leave him vulnerable to attacks.
"Tch!"
He couldn't jump!
He had to be firm and maintain his advantage.
Rey charged forward despite the incoming icy trail. He showed no hesitation on his face, even to the point where Amara found it shocking.
"Oh? What are you up to this time?" She whispered.
"You'll see!"
As slid on the ground, feeling the frost about to consume his immediate surroundings, he lowered his body and planted his palm on the cold earth's surface.
Then he spoke.
"Inverse Technique #7: Inside Out."
The frosty ground was replaced with the earth beneath it, giving Rey a continuous platform to run on despite Amara's technique still being in effect.
"Oh? I wasn't expecting that!" She beamed with delight at Rey's choice.
He merely snorted.
'I know!' His gaze turned even more eerie as he advanced without stopping. 'You wanted me to use Sequence 6 to stop the ice, but that would only stall me in my position and would leave no room for me to advance. It would forever trap me in the defensive, leaving no room for me to take the initiative.'
Not to mention that using such a Mid Sequence move would cost Rey more Ether.
Fighting such a defensive battle when one's energy pool was lesser than the opponent would be considered downright suicide.
Rey could not rely on a battle of attrition.
If he wanted a chance at victory, he had to advance.
No more running away!
"Hehe… so you've chosen to come to me, huh?" Amara chuckled, lifting her hand from the ground as she clenched her fist in excitement.
"Finally!"
This was what she was after from the start.
She only used Ancient MajiK because Rey kept running away. Now, she had forced him to realize that he would have to be more confrontational if he sought a chance at victory.
Even now, Rey hadn't escaped her sphere of influence.
He was dancing at the palm of her hand.