Coin’s Edge: Reincarnated as a Extra

"Hahahahahahaha! I TOLD YOU I'M INVINCIBLE!"

Haley's maniacal laugh echoed across the training arena. His face was twisted to the extreme as he looked at Kevin, who was pinned against the wall.

Kevin's limbs were skewered by blades of light, blood dripping down in thick, crimson streams that stank of iron.

At this point, Kevin was barely conscious. His head drooped completely, not a single twitch left in him.

"That's hilarious." Haley wiped the tears from his eyes; the whole scene was just too damn funny.

Then, he looked up—toward the highest tier of the arena seating, where someone sat watching. Their eyes were filled with hope… or maybe something else. Maybe they were expecting something to happen—either to cheer for Haley or pity Kevin.

But nothing happened.

"Tsk. Guess they're still hoping he's got some hidden trick left?" Haley scoffed. "Well then, I'll crush it."

He cracked his neck with a loud pop and started walking toward Kevin. But something felt off.

Just as he noticed that strange sensation—

A cold voice rang out.

"What a lovely dream."

Suddenly, a luxurious room came into view.

The first thing Haley saw was the ceiling—then pain. A wave of it surged through his skull.

He slowly sat up on the bed, moving stiffly. His body, wrapped entirely in blood-stained bandages, leaned against the edge of a bamboo table for support.

"What the hell happened?" he muttered through gritted teeth, pressing a hand to his forehead.

Then—memories hit him. All at once. Crashing down like a wave.

Now he remembered everything.

And the emotion that washed over him wasn't rage. It was embarrassing and humiliating.

His hands clenched so tightly his knuckles bled. The metallic scent drifted up as he bit hard on his lower lip.

His body began to shake—along with the wild, chaotic mana now surging out of him.

"FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!"

Right after that, the sounds of destruction echoed loudly through the room.

It must've been going on for a while.

Three hours later.

"You think the young master's still holding on?"

A guard stood straight, glancing sideways at his partner.

"Only God knows."

The other guard just gave a light shrug, keeping his eyes on the door behind them.

They were the two stationed outside the young master's room.

And of course, they had witnessed everything—or at least, heard enough to imagine the horror happening inside.

Neither of them wanted to see what was left in that room.

"Sigh… We better keep our distance if we wanna stay alive."

The first guard nodded quietly in agreement.

"No comment, but… I really didn't expect it to end like that."

"The young master got taken out in one strike. Honestly, I kinda wish I'd seen that match."

"Tsk, give it up. That's not the kind of fight guys like us get to watch. And don't talk about it again—unless you want your head chopped off by the young master himself."

But even as he said that, his partner let out a deep sigh.

A moment later, he muttered:

"That guy's a freakin' genius. That condensed mana stuff… It's insane. Not even the young master could deal with it."

But just as those words left his lips—a strange, suffocating mana spread through the hall like a creeping fog.

Thud.

Two heads dropped to the ground, blood quickly soaking the floor with a foul stench.

Tap. Tap.

A figure stepped out from behind a large plant nearby and slowly walked toward Haley's door.

"You two should've kept your damn mouths shut."

An old, gravelly voice echoed through the dim hallway.

It was an old man, face covered in deep scars and wrinkles—clearly someone who'd seen a lifetime of battles.

He took off his wide-brimmed hat, revealing his silvery, trembling hair. Then he reached for the door handle and gently pushed it open.

Just as expected—

The room was completely wrecked. Everything: chairs, bed, bookshelves—destroyed.

But his eyes locked on the one thing still intact.

Haley.

Sitting hunched over on the shattered bed, head down, fists clenched tight.

"My young master, I'm here."

…

Haley still had his face buried toward the floor, fists trembling.

He tried to control the storm of emotions boiling inside him—then finally burst out:

"I wanna meet them!"

The old man—Ainsley—didn't ask any questions, but after a moment of silence, he gave a simple nod.

"As you wish, my young master."

***

In a dirty tavern near the border between the Wolfe Clan and the Dravengarde Empire—one of the Five Great Empires—

The sounds of shouting, cheering, and brawling filled the air.

Clearly, this wasn't a place governed by law or order.

Mana-powered lanterns flickered overhead, casting a dull glow across the grimy interior.

And in that light, a few figures stood out.

"Well, well… I didn't expect you to even entertain my offer."

A fat and tall man lounged in a chair that looked like it had been pieced together from scrap wood and iron—but still held strong.

He casually took a sip of ale with his overweight hand, grinning mockingly at the one sitting across from him.

He literally looked like a butcher, who just stepped out of the slaughterhouse.

His short dark hair glinted faintly under the lamplight, and when he smiled, he revealed yellowed, stained teeth.

"Where was I again?"

He leaned in as his partner whispered something into his ear.

"Ah, right—I almost forgot! Anyway, if you want what I've got, you play by my rules. No negotiation."

His sharp, snake-like eyes locked onto Haley, who sat calmly on the other side of the table.

That look alone could've killed a lesser man—

But not while the old man beside Haley was still breathing.

"What if I want it... for free?"

Haley replied, his tone like steel, unflinching.

Silence.

The tavern that moments ago rang with laughter and drunken joy suddenly fell dead quiet.

A frozen tension blanketed the entire space.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Did you hear him?"

"What the fuck was that? Hahaha! Please, he's just a kid!"

Laughter burst out around the room—cruel and mocking, every word aimed at Haley.

Then—

A crushing pressure swept through the tavern like a wave.

Haley dropped to one knee, his body shaking, breath shallow. But before it could get worse, another surge of mana burst forth and surrounded him in a protective barrier.

The tavern trembled for several long seconds before the energy finally settled.

"Alright, alright," the thin man sighed, pulling back his mana as Haley's side did the same.

He cast a sideways glance at the old man sitting beside Haley, then smirked.

"I think your foolish master just learned something."

"Coming here was the right move. After all…"

He leaned back and tapped his fingers on the mug.

"He's going to die in the second challenge, nothing but an ignorant, weakling, and illusion brat!''