Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

[The golden vial represents the power to heal and protect, to preserve life in its most vulnerable moments.

The dagger symbolizes strength, decisiveness, and the power to shape destiny, no matter the cost]

Kyle studied the two items intently. One thing he had learned from these kinds of trials was that they didn't have a fixed answer. The answer all depended on oneself.

He could just grab anyone and walk away, but Kyle wanted to understand their meaning more deeply.

"Power to protect... or power to act," he said quietly. "I can't save everyone, but I can't sit back and wait either."

After a long moment, he reached for the dagger.

The instant his fingers closed around the hilt, the vial vanished in a burst of golden light, and the coolness of the dagger could be felt in his grip.

[You have chosen the path of strength. Strength is no gift; it must be earned. Prove your worth.]

The room darkened, and Kyle found himself standing in an endless void.

"That wasn't the end," Kyle muttered before paying attention to his new surroundings.

A shadowed figure that held the same dagger Kyle held and had glowing crimson eyes emerged before him.

The figure lunged without warning and sent the dagger at Kyle's side. He barely had time to parry but his superior speed allowed him to easily duck and avoid the stab.

'I can't win if I fight with a dagger,' Kyle thought and without wasting a second, he threw the dagger on the floor.

In the next instant, he materialized the [Aurora Fang] from his inventory, feeling a sense of calm envelope him the moment he gripped his trusty katana.

>SWOOSH!<

The shadow didn't give Kyle any chance and lunged at him once again, its dagger aiming for his chest.

Kyle's instincts were awakened as he leaped into the air using [Air Steps], resulting in the shadow's strike missing him by a hair's breadth and its dagger slicing harmlessly through space.

Hovering midair, Kyle took the opportunity to reach for his face and swiftly donned the [Veil of Silence] he had retrieved from his inventory.

'Can't let a kill go to waste.'

Kyle thought before landing lightly and narrowing his eyes at the figure.

[Unknown Entity]

[Tier: ??]

[HP: ??]

'That's new,' Kyle said within him. The lack of information didn't make him feel comfortable, but he forced himself to focus. Judging by the speed the creature had been using to attack him, it didn't seem to be too powerful.... Hopefully.

Without wasting a moment, he executed [Blazing Impact], then activated [Frostfire Edge] on his blade and combined it with [Lightning Dash] to propel himself toward the shadow at neck-breaking speed.

>ZIPPPP!<

Kyle swung down the blade with all his might the moment he met the stationary shadow, expecting to end it all in one strike.

... But instead of resistance, his katana passed cleanly through the creature, as though it was nothing but mist.

Kyle's eyes widened in shock after he came to terms with what had happened. 'What the fuck?'

The moment of hesitation was all the shadow needed for It to lash out with its dagger, striking Kyle squarely in the stomach.

>BOOM!<

Kyle coughed out blood as the impact sent him tumbling backward and pain exploded through his abdomen.

[HP: 425/1100]

It seemed like he had been hit with a blunt weapon but with tremendous force. But even with the bluntness of the dagger's blade, it had managed to cut Kyle deep.

The wound had begun to heal as quickly as it appeared though, as Kyle's [Undying] trait began to work its magic.

'How the hell am I supposed to defeat that thing?' Kyle thought as he tried to get to his feet while clutching his side in pain.

The creature, however, didn't press its attack even after watching Kyle stand. It remained motionless with its crimson eyes fixed on Kyle.

"What is strength to you?"

The creature finally asked with a deep voice.

"Is it domination? Control? Or perhaps the will to destroy?"

Kyle didn't reply and only stared back at the demon, but within him, the question kept repeating itself.

'What is strength to me?'.

He couldn't speak aloud due to the [Veil of Silence], but the words began to form in his mind. Strength wasn't just about overpowering enemies or breaking through obstacles. It wasn't about domination or destruction.

Memories began to surface in his mind: the thief he'd spared, the people he had fought with in Yurigur, the villagers he had saved, and those in Yurigur that he couldn't save.

... All that needed strength.

'Strength isn't just power for the sake of power... It's about knowing why you're fighting in the first place.'

The faces of those who had depended on him flashed before his eyes. The regret of his failures stung, but the pride in the moments he had succeeded won over.

'Strength is responsibility,' Kyle realized. 'It's not about being invincible. It's about standing back up when you fall. It's about protecting those who can't protect themselves.'

The resolve solidified within him and a quiet fire burned inside his chest.

Kyle raised his katana and dashed at full speed toward the shadow one more time this time with more purpose.

With a final leap into the air, he whispered to himself before bringing the blade down:

'Power comes with responsibility.'

Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

The katana erupted with blinding white light, brighter than Kyle had ever seen before. Unlike his previous uses of Sword Intent, the energy didn't leave the blade — it became one with it!

The light that was radiated was so intense that it would have blinded anyone watching.

As Kyle brought down the katana on the shadow, the void itself seemed to distort.

>BOOOOOOOM!<

The explosion of energy engulfed the shadow, tearing it apart with a deafening roar. The black mist disappeared, leaving nothing behind.

Kyle stumbled as exhaustion hit him like a wave. He let go of the katana and its clatter was the only sound that could be heard before he let himself fall too, collapsing on the ground and panting heavily.

[Sword Intent Mastery: 100%]

[Congratulations! You have mastered Sword Intent!]