The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

"Why do you look so shocked to see me?" Klaus asked again, locking eyes with Captain Marcus. Despite his tall stature and commanding presence, Captain Marcus felt insignificant under Klaus's cold, piercing blue eyes.

*How can a kid exude such pressure?* Marcus thought, his mind racing. He knew Klaus was a Swordmaster, but even so, this level of intimidation felt unnatural. Marcus had personally inspected Klaus's bracelets, ensuring there was no tampering, yet here Klaus stood—unshaken, seemingly unaffected by the runes' pressure.

From Captain Marcus's perspective, Klaus appeared composed. Sure, his hair was disheveled, and sweat glistened on his face, but there was no trembling, no faltering. He stood straight, proud, and unwavering.

What no one—neither Marcus nor the other captains—could see was the silent battle Klaus waged within himself. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, his nerves were alight with pain, and the suffocating pressure of the runes weighed on him like an iron yoke. Yet, Klaus refused to falter. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing him struggle.

"Hahaha… I'm not surprised," Captain Marcus finally replied, forcing a laugh to mask his unease. "We all expected this much."

"Is that so?" Klaus asked, smirking faintly.

"Is that why the test was so easy?" His voice was cold, his blue eyes glinting with faint but unmistakable killing intent. The subtle pressure in his gaze made Marcus shift uncomfortably.

Marcus cleared his throat, forcing a smile. "Well, of course, the test was easy for you. You're a Swordmaster, after all."

"Easy? Did he just call it easy?" Captain Victor, who had been silently observing the exchange, furrowed his brow.

"Yes Easy" Klaus echoed, chuckling darkly. "You'll soon see for yourselves."

"What do you mean by that?" Marcus asked, his voice betraying a hint of unease.

"Be patient," Klaus replied cryptically, his tone nonchalant. He raised his wrists. "Oh, by the way, do I still need to keep these on?"

Marcus hesitated, glancing up at the platform where the other captains stood. After a brief pause, he nodded. "I suppose not."

Klaus wasted no time. Channeling arcane energy into his palm, he activated his flames. The spectators gasped as dark, almost ethereal fire enveloped his hands, consuming the bracelets. In seconds, they disintegrated into ash, scattering in the wind.

As the bracelets dissolved, Klaus felt an immediate rush of relief. His strength surged back, and the crushing weight he had been enduring lifted like a shroud.

"Interesting," he muttered under his breath before turning and walking toward the waiting area, leaving Marcus rooted in place, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.

***

**45 Minutes Later**

The captains, now fully focused on the forest's edge, waited with bated breath. Klaus's cryptic words had unsettled them. What did he mean? What were they about to witness?

Suddenly, movement stirred in the forest. All eyes turned to the shadowy outline emerging from the trees.

Nicholas Davoss burst out of the forest at full speed, his face contorted with determination. Hot on his heels was Alex Lionhart, his expression wild, almost feral, as he chased Nicholas like a predator hunting prey.

"Is… is he trying to outrun Alex?" one of the spectators muttered in disbelief.

The scene left everyone speechless. Nicholas was no ordinary trainee, but Alex's beast-like aggression and unrelenting pursuit painted a vivid picture of raw competition.

Nicholas reached the coliseum first, skidding to a halt just beyond the finish line. Alex followed mere seconds later, collapsing to his knees and pounding the ground in frustration.

"F*ck! I lost!" Alex growled, his fist cracking the stone beneath him.

Nicholas turned to him, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Lost? Hmph."

But something else caught Nicholas's attention. His gaze locked onto Alex's forehead, where a faint but intricate rune was etched, glowing faintly. His heart skipped a beat.

*What is that rune?* Nicholas's thoughts raced as he analyzed the symbol. His invisible rune-etched eyes allowed him to perceive even hidden runes, but this one… this one was beyond him. Its complexity, its power—it was unlike anything he'd ever encountered.

*Who created this?* Nicholas's mind was a whirlwind. The rune wasn't there when they had started the trial. How had Alex acquired such a thing?

What Nicholas didn't know was that Arkdieu Pride himself had drawn the rune on Alex, empowering him beyond measure. Nicholas had vast knowledge of Rune Arts and Apostles, but Alex's ability to summon Arkdieu Pride was something he had never anticipated.

***

The coliseum erupted into applause as the two competitors finished.

"Those two are monsters in their own right!"

"If we could recruit all three of them into the Royal Eagle Group, we'd surpass Eclair in no time!"

"Don't be ridiculous! Letting them all join one group would be unfair!"

"No way! The Lionhart kid alone could dominate any group! We need him with us!"

The spectators broke into heated arguments, their voices filling the arena.

Amid the commotion, the captains remained silent, their eyes fixed on Nicholas and Alex.

The weight of what they had witnessed sank in. Klaus's cryptic words now made sense. Not only had he completed the test in record time, but even Nicholas and Alex—trainees the captains had intended to fail—had passed.

*This isn't possible…* Captain Victor clenched his fists. The test had been designed to crush them, to humble them. Yet all three had defied expectations. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire

***

"SILENCE!"

Captain Victor's voice thundered across the coliseum, cutting through the noise like a blade. He leaped from the platform, landing with a resounding thud next to Nicholas and Alex. His towering frame cast an imposing shadow over the two young men.

Victor's face was twisted with anger, his eyes burning with indignation. "How the f*ck did you do it?" His voice dripped with venom as he released a wave of pressure, suffocating the air around them.

Alex, empowered by the rune Arkdieu Pride had bestowed, stood firm. His gaze was unwavering as he stared down the seething captain, his body radiating quiet defiance.

Nicholas, on the other hand, smirked. He had no intention of hiding his abilities any longer.

"How the f*ck did we do what, exactly?" Nicholas asked, his voice loud enough for the spectators to hear.

Victor's jaw tightened, his killing intent spiking. "Don't think you can mouth off to me just because you finished second, Davoss! If you don't lower your gaze, I'll carve those arrogant eyes out of your skull!"

But Nicholas didn't flinch. Instead, his smirk widened. "Second? What are you talking about? I arrived before him," he said, his tone laced with annoyance as he gestured toward Alex.

Victor's anger only deepened. *How is this brat not affected by my killing intent?*

Alex, equally confused, interjected. "I came after him. I don't need special treatment just because I'm a Lionhart."

Victor let out a frustrated growl. "Are you two idiots blind? Look over there!" He pointed toward the waiting area.

Both Nicholas and Alex turned their heads, their gazes following Victor's finger.

There, sitting casually on a bench, was Klaus. He leaned back, arms stretched out, looking entirely at ease.

Nicholas's eyes widened. "No way…"

Alex's jaw dropped. "Klaus?!"

The two stood frozen, their minds struggling to comprehend how Klaus—who had been behind them—was now here, relaxed and unbothered.

Klaus, noticing their shocked expressions, raised a hand in a lazy wave. "Took you long enough."

The sheer absurdity of it all left Nicholas and Alex speechless.

Victor, his anger now mixed with disbelief, snarled. "Now… explain."