Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

The dense foliage of the forest enveloped Kyle and Nate as they ventured deeper into its heart. The air grew cooler and the sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above creating an ever-changing mosaic of light and shadow.

After walking several hundred meters, they spotted their first mana beast, a small creature with sharp claws and glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the dim light of the forest.

[Razor Lynx]

[Tier: 1]

[HP: 100]

Kyle's eyes glinted as he immediately activated [Lightning Dash], propelling himself forward in a flash of electricity. In a single fluid motion, he unsheathed the [Aurora Fang] , and brought it down in a powerful downward slash. The beast didn't even have a chance to react before the strike cleaved through it cleanly. Kyle sheathed the katana in the same instant, making it seem like he never pulled it out.

[Congratulations! You have slain Tier-1 mana beast: Razor Lynx!]

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

Nate, who had barely registered the presence of the beast before it was already dead, clicked his tongue in mild annoyance.

"Tsk, show-off. Harvest the core so we can get going. But seriously, stop wasting your energy on these Tier-1s. Save your spells for the stronger ones we'll find deeper in."

Kyle gave him a confident smile, ignoring the slight rebuke.

"Don't worry. I've got more than enough energy to spare," he said, before placing the beast into his inventory.

Nate rolled his eyes but conceded. "Fine, but let's pick up the pace."

With that, they continued their trek, increasing their speed as they ventured further into the forest. The mana beasts came more frequently now, but Kyle handled each encounter with the same effortless precision.

Before Nate could even draw his weapon, Kyle would dash at the beast and slay it with a single slash before storing it away.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Nate, while impressed but he said nothing, only observing Kyle's growing pile of kills. When they began encountering Tier-2 beasts, Nate decided to join in. Unlike Kyle, his battles were longer, requiring several strikes to bring the beasts down. Despite this, his skill with the sword was evident, and he handled the beasts with confidence.

Kyle, on the other hand, continued dispatching beasts with single slashes, his movements fluid and almost casual.

Eventually, they crossed a dense section of the forest, prompting Nate to stop and turn to Kyle with a serious expression.

"This is the border to a deeper part of the forest. From here on out, we'll only see Tier-3 beasts. There might even be a few Tier-4s lurking around," Nate explained before reminding, "Feel free to rest a little if you're tired because we might not get the opportunity to do so once we get through there."

"How can I be tired? We haven't even done anything yet." Kyle said with a light laugh.

Nate's lips twitched into a wry smile. He had counted Kyle kill almost 50 mana beasts and he was saying he isn't tired. He wanted a short break, but his pride wouldn't let him admit so.

"Suit yourself," he muttered as he pushed forward through the thick canopy of trees.

The moment they stepped through, the forest seemed to change. The air was colder and the shadows became deeper, with the sounds of beasts more menacing. It wasn't long before they encountered another creature.

Nate's eyes widened in alarm as the beast came into view. It was massive, its muscular body covered in jet-black fur that seemed to absorb the light. Its eyes glowed with a sinister crimson, and its long claws scraped the ground menacingly.

[Firefang Predator]

[Tier: 4]

[HP: 1500]

Kyle's lips curled into a grin as he took in the beast's stats.

"Nice," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of anticipation. "Let's see how I handle this one."

>ZIPPP!<

Kyle's body blurred as he activated [Lightning Dash], leaving behind a streak of crackling electricity. The Firefang Predator, however, was still a Tier-4 beast.

It snarled and its crimson eyes locked onto Kyle, in an instant, the air above them warped and shimmered with intense heat, and moments later, fiery meteors began raining down.

The ground shook violently as the meteors struck, each impact leaving behind a crater and sending shockwaves through the forest. Trees were incinerated instantly and Nate had to fall back a little to avoid their area of impact.

Kyle's eyes widened in surprise, though his smirk never faltered.

'So, you've got tricks, huh?' he thought, channeling mana into his legs. With practiced ease, he executed [Air Steps], weaving through the deadly barrage of meteors.

>WHOOSH!<

His movements were precise, intact, they were almost playful, as he danced through the falling inferno. Each step closed the distance between him and the beast and in no time, he reached the predator's proximity.

The [Aurora Fang] pulsed with energy as he activated its enchantment, making the blade to glow brilliantly and its edge crackling with frost fire, a mesmerizing mix of icy blue and searing red flames.

"Let's try something new," Kyle muttered with a smirk, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

The katana hummed in response, and Kyle directed all his mana into the blade, activating [Frostfire Edge]. The glowing frostfire danced along the katana, emitting a chilling heat that warped the air around it.

The ground beneath Kyle's feet froze and cracked, even as embers of light flickered around the blade, creating an awe-inspiring contrast.

With a burst of speed, Kyle propelled himself high into the air, using [Air Steps] to stabilize his ascent. The predator growled and leaped upward, its massive claws aiming for Kyle mid-flight, but he was faster.

Kyle's body spun midair as he initiated the [Blazing Impact] technique, channeling every ounce of momentum into his blade. His muscles tensed, and time seemed to slow as the katana arced downward. The air around him vibrated with power, and a faint whistling sound filled the air as the strike neared its target.

>BOOOOM!<

The katana connected with the predator's neck in a burst of light and frostfire. The impact was devastating and a shockwave rippled outward, freezing the flames on the ground while simultaneously burning the beast's fur with frostfire.

The sheer force of the strike sent cracks spreading across the ground below, and in an instant, the predator's head separated cleanly from its body.

Kyle landed gracefully amidst the chaos, his katana already sheathed. He cupped his hands and closed his eyes, exhaling softly as the notifications began to sound in his head.

[Congratulations! You have slain Tier-4 mana beast: Firefang Predator!] Experience new tales on empire

[You have obtained 1* Tier-4 mana cores!]

For a moment, the forest was silent, save for the crackling of dying flames.

Nate, who had been frozen in place, finally snapped out of his stupor. His sword, half-raised, fell to his side as he turned to Kyle with disbelief.

"The fuck! No way did you just one-shot a Tier-4 beast!" he screamed.

Kyle opened one eye with a serene smile. "What? You didn't think I could?"

Nate pointed at the headless corpse of the predator, his mouth opening and closing as if searching for words. "You... this... you're insane!"

Kyle chuckled, brushing off Nate's exasperation as he stored the beast's corpse in his inventory. "Come on, Nate. We've got more beasts to hunt."

"You have more beasts to hunt," Nate corrected, shaking his head as he walked towards Kyle. "I'm just here for the ride, apparently."