Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

>ZIP!<

Kyle's form blurred as he sped through the forest, each stride he made carrying him deeper into the vast expanse of towering trees and sprawling undergrowth.

The air was thick with the earthy aroma of damp soil, mingled with the faint sweetness of wildflowers. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced through the dense canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

Despite his tranquil surroundings, Kyle's focus remained razor-sharp.

The scenery shifted rapidly as he zipped past the seemingly endless forest, and as minutes stretched into an hour, Kyle began to feel the enormity of his goal.

'Damn, I underestimated the size of this forest,' he thought. He hadn't encountered any Tier-5 beasts yet, and he was beginning to get frustrated.

Along the way though, Kyle had encountered groups of Tier-4 beasts. They were lesser threats compared to what he sought, but dangerous enough to warrant his attention. Each encounter had slowed his progress a bit, as they forced him to unleash devastating spells and martial techniques to clear his path.

After dispatching another pack of Tier-4s, Kyle took a moment to catch his breath.

'Damn, it's almost getting late. Where the hell are the Tier-5 beasts?'

Summoning his resolve, Kyle pushed forward, dashing hundreds of meters in a blur. The forest began to change as the air seemed to become heavier.

Suddenly, he skidded to a stop. His eyes widened as he stumbled upon a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.

It looked like a lion, but its size was monstrous... It was almost as large as a house! Its muscular body was covered in sleek, fiery-red fur, and its golden eyes glowed like molten lava.

Most striking of all was its mane. It looked more like a raging inferno of flames that danced wildly, casting flickering light across the surrounding area!

The ground beneath the beast was scorched and steam was rising from the patches of smoldered earth.

[Infernal Flame Lion]

[Tier: 5]

[HP: 6000]

Kyle's heart raced as he observed the beast. The creature radiated a pressure so intense that it made the Tier-4 beasts he'd faced earlier seem like mere nuisance!

Kyle's instincts screamed at him to retreat.

'Is this really the strength of a Tier-6 Intermediate mage!' Kyle thought, tightening his grip on the [Aurora Fang].

The gap between Beginner and Intermediate mages was massive, and he knew this fight would push him to his limits. But before he could make a decision, the lion locked eyes with him.

The Infernal Flame Lion let out a deafening roar, and the air around them became suffocatingly hot. The trees nearby ignited in an instant, flames licking upward and smoke curling into the sky. There was no time to think.

Kyle's muscles tensed as the Infernal Flame Lion roared, the sound rippling through the forest like a shockwave. The temperature spiked immediately and the air became thick and oppressive.

The trees around them burst into flames, creating a circle of fire that trapped them both. Kyle's hand tightened around the [Aurora Fang]. He knew there was no running now.

The lion moved with terrifying speed for something so massive, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.

It immediately swung its flaming claw at Kyle in a wide arc, prompting him to activate [Lightning Dash], his body blurring out of the way just as the ground where he stood erupted in a spray of molten rock.

>BOOM!<

Kyle reappeared to the lion's side and unleashed [Lightning Bolts], streaks of crackling energy lancing toward the beast. The attacks struck its fiery mane, momentarily dimming the flames, but the lion retaliated instantly.

A massive fireball erupted from its maw. The heat was so intense that Kyle felt his skin blistering even from a distance.

'Damn it!' he thought, summoning [Chaos Whirlpool] to absorb and redirect the fireball. The vortex flung fragments of fiery energy back at the lion, but they splashed harmlessly against its molten hide.

The lion roared again, its mane surging brighter as if fueled by its rage. It charged, its flaming body a streak of destruction. Kyle barely managed to evade, using [Air Steps] to leap into the air.

Now near to the lion's upper body, he activated [Gale Rend], sending a flurry of air-pressure slashes toward the lion's torso.

>WHOOSH!<

The strikes hit their mark, cutting through the flames and drawing blood from the beast's side. But the lion merely snarled and its golden eyes locked on Kyle. It turned towards him with terrifying agility, swiping its massive claws mid-air.

Kyle twisted his body to avoid the attack and landed roughly on the ground as the lion crashed down in front of him, the impact sending out a shockwave that toppled nearby trees.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as the two clashed. Kyle dashed around the battlefield, dodging relentless swipes and retaliating with [Blazing Impact] whenever he could find an opening.

Each swing of his blade sent shockwaves rippling across the lion's body, but its fiery aura regenerated faster than Kyle could deal damage.

'This thing's endurance is insane!' Kyle thought with labored breathing. The beast showed no signs of tiring and its attacks only grew fiercer as the fight dragged on.

The Infernal Flame Lion roared once again, the sound reverberating through the blazing forest. Kyle could barely keep up with the beast's relentless assault. His surroundings had turned into an Inferno, with the intense heat searing his skin. It was only thanks to his [Undying] trait that instantly repaired the damage that he was still in the fight.

The beast pounced at him again, its claws wreathed in flames. Kyle dashed sideways with [Lightning Dash], narrowly avoiding the strike, but the claws managed to graze his skin and draw lots blood.

The system's notification flashed in his mind:

[HP: 150/460]n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He didn't have time to dwell on the massive chunk of his health that had gone as had leaped into the air using [Air Steps] once again. From above, he unleashed a barrage of [Lightning Bolts] on the lion, spamming the spell from there until he couldn't stay up anymore.

'Fuck! This thing's not giving me a chance to breathe,' Kyle thought the moment he saw pillars of fire erupting through the battlefield.

Kyle dashed between the flames, activating [Gale Rend] to send compressed air-pressure slashes at the lion. The strikes landed, cutting into its molten hide and drawing blood, but the lion's flames regenerated almost as quickly as Kyle's own wounds.

But after some more moves with the beast, Kyle could feel it coming. He didn't need to feel threatened to know he could do it now.

'Finally,' Kyle said internally and his face curved into a wicked grin:

'Time to end this!'

The lion charged at him for the umpteenth time, its fiery mane burning hotter than ever. Kyle activated [Chaotic Pulse], the invisible shockwave disrupting the beast's mana flow and causing its flames to flicker before it could make an attack.

He channeled everything he had into the [Aurora Fang] and for the first time in the battle, the weapon resonated with his intent and he allowed it to happen.

He dashed forward with [Air Steps] to close the distance, pouring all his strength into one final [Blazing Impact].

Find your next adventure on empire

'Die.'

He simply said within him, and a white line attack flew from his katana that easily cut the lion in two halves, resulting in a massive explosion.

>BOOOOOOM!<

[Congratulations! You have slain Tier-5 mana beast: Infernal Flame Lion!]

[You have obtained 1* Tier-5 mana core!]

[Vanquished Foes: 781/1000]