The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

The ground still trembled.

The faint vibrations beneath their feet were like a predator's growl echoing from the depths, a constant reminder that the battle wasn't over. The shadow of the first wave lingered in the eyes of the fifteen remaining trainees—ghosts of fear etched into their expressions.

Nicholas Davoss stood near the center of the arena, his sword resting against his thigh. His crimson eyes tracked every movement of the others: the trembling hands, the shallow breaths, the glazed stares directed toward the sealed gates.

They didn't need more time to rest.

They needed direction.

They don't know it yet, he thought, but we need every single one of them for what's coming.

Nicholas's hands clenched around his sword hilt. He knew what the future held—or, at least, what used to happen in every life he'd relived. In each of those timelines, the Lionhart family endured brutal battles in the years to come.

War was inevitable. And if the trainees here didn't gain real combat experience now, they'd die later when it truly mattered.

He turned toward the others, his mind calculating possibilities.

***

Nicholas approached Klaus first.

The silver-haired boy stood alone, arms crossed, eyes locked on the still-shaking ground beneath the gate. Blood still stained his uniform, but his breathing was calm, steady—like someone waiting for an inevitable confrontation rather than dreading it.

Nicholas stopped beside him.

"We don't have enough people," Nicholas said without preamble.

Klaus glanced sideways, his expression impassive. "We knew that already."

"Yeah." Nicholas rubbed his temple with his free hand. "But we need to make the most of the ones we have."

Klaus remained silent, waiting for more.

"We're five strong," Nicholas continued. "You, me, Alex, Sarah, and Kurt. Everyone else is significantly weaker."

Klaus gave a slight nod. "So?"

Nicholas drew a rough formation in the sand with his sword tip.

"We split into five teams. Each of us takes two weaker trainees. That gives us five squads of three." He carved an arrow pointing toward the center of the arena. "We'll form a staggered line with us five at the front and the others positioned behind us."

"Backup?" Klaus asked.@@novelbin@@

"More like decoys," Nicholas replied. "We know the wolves target weaker prey first. If we can control where the beasts attack, we can funnel them into kill zones."

He paused, gauging Klaus's reaction.

Klaus stared at the rough formation in the sand. His eyes narrowed slightly, then he gave a small shrug.

"Works for me," Klaus said. "We'll get more of them through the fight."

Nicholas exhaled, relief washing over him. He hadn't been sure how Klaus would respond to the idea of mentoring others—even temporarily.

Klaus only cares about efficiency, Nicholas thought. He agreed because it makes sense, not because he cares about the others.

Next, Nicholas sought out Sarah Margot.

The petite, auburn-haired girl was helping one of the injured trainees bind a wound when Nicholas approached. She noticed him immediately and stood straight, wiping her hands on her torn tunic.

"What's the plan?" she asked without hesitation.

Nicholas gave her a quick rundown of the formation. She listened without interruption, her eyes darting toward the gates periodically.

"I'm in," she said when he finished.

"No questions?" Nicholas asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Questions don't stop monsters," she replied.

Nicholas almost smiled. Sarah was steady. Reliable. Exactly the kind of person they needed leading one of the teams.

He found Kurt near the edge of the arena. The demi-human's wolf-like ears twitched as he sensed Nicholas approaching. Kurt turned, his yellow eyes wary but determined.

"You want me to take a team," Kurt said. It wasn't a question.

"Yes," Nicholas confirmed. "You'll handle the left flank."

Kurt's eyes flicked toward the sealed gate. "More wolves?"

"I'd bet my life on it."

Kurt's jaw tightened. "I'll handle it."

The only one left was Alex.

Nicholas found him sharpening his sword against a rock. The blade screeched with each pass. Alex's posture was tense, shoulders hunched forward, jaw tight.

Nicholas approached carefully. "We're organizing into teams."

Alex didn't stop sharpening the sword. "Why?"

"Because if we don't, we'll get overwhelmed," Nicholas said evenly.

Alex's grip tightened on the sword. "I work better alone."

Nicholas suppressed a sigh. "If we work alone, we'll die alone." He stepped into Alex's line of sight. "Take two trainees. Put them in your shadow. Let them bait the monsters, and you get more kills."

Alex's eyes flickered with interest at the word kills.

Nicholas held his breath.

Finally, Alex exhaled through his nose and stood. "Fine. But if they slow me down, I'll leave them behind."

Nicholas didn't bother responding. That was as much of a concession as he'd get.

With the leaders in place, Nicholas turned to the remaining ten trainees.

They were young—most barely twelve. Their eyes darted toward the trembling ground as though expecting claws to burst through at any moment.

Nicholas stepped in front of them and raised his voice.

"We're forming teams," he announced. "Each of you will join one of us. You'll stay close to your team leader, follow their commands, and do exactly as you're told. Understood?"

No one answered.

Nicholas's jaw tightened. "You survived the first wave. That means you're capable. But if you try to go off on your own, you'll die. Stay with your group, and you'll have a chance."

That got their attention.

He began assigning names.

Lydia Corven—sent to Sarah's team.Gerald Price—a stocky boy with quick reflexes—went to Kurt.Finn and Nora were paired with Klaus.Rachel and Damien were given to Alex.The remaining four went to Nicholas himself.

Nicholas crouched and used his sword to draw the formation again, this time for the entire group.

"We'll set up like this," he said, pointing to the front line. "The five of us"—he motioned toward Klaus, Alex, Sarah, Kurt, and himself—"will form the spearhead."

"Our goal is to hold the monsters' attention and kill as many as possible."

He drew another line just behind the first. "The rest of you will stay in this second line. You'll attack when you see an opportunity and, more importantly, move when we tell you."

Nicholas paused, then added, "If we say run, you run. If we say fight, you fight. No hesitation."

The younger trainees exchanged nervous glances but nodded.

As the trainees dispersed to join their respective team leaders, Nicholas stood alone for a moment.

He wiped sweat from his brow and turned his gaze toward the massive, sealed gate.

The vibrations were growing stronger.

His pulse quickened.

He needed these kids to survive.

It wasn't about the trial anymore. It was about the future.

The memories of his past lives haunted him—the devastation he'd witnessed in battles that hadn't yet occurred in this timeline. He'd relived countless failures, watched comrades die and kingdoms fall.

War was coming.

And when it did, these trainees would be needed.

Klaus appeared beside him without a sound.

"They're scared," Nicholas said softly.

"They should be."

Nicholas exhaled. "I know what's coming. Maybe not exactly when, but I know. And when it hits, we won't have enough people to hold the line."

Klaus tilted his head slightly. "So you want to get them ready now."

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"Exactly."

Klaus said nothing more, but Nicholas saw the faintest nod of acknowledgment.

The tremors beneath their feet intensified.

Nicholas's pulse quickened.

"They're coming," Klaus murmured.

***

The enormous metal gate groaned as gears hidden beneath the arena engaged.

The trainees formed their ranks hastily, falling into position behind their assigned leaders.

The gate rose inch by inch, revealing darkness beyond.

Then came the growls.

Low. Rumbling. Primal.

Shadows shifted within the corridor. Pairs of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness—first a dozen, then more.

Nicholas's grip tightened on his sword.

He glanced at Klaus. "Ready?"

"Always."

The gate clanked into place with a final metallic shudder.

The second wave poured through.