Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

He knew he was the only one in the entire world with the Chaos element. There were no resources, no mentors, no history books—nothing to guide him.

''That's partly why I haven't concluded my mana core formation,' Kyle admitted to himself. He was almost done with the condensing of the core and there wasn't much left before he finalized it.

But... What was the pint of rushing to form a Chaos core if he had no spells to use? That didn't mean he had ruled it out. No. Kyle had previously planned to use this outing as a chance to do so.

But even if he succeeded, he knew that without spells, he won't see any improvement in his prowess and as such might just remain like before.

Now, though, everything had changed. This quest, this reward—this spellbook—was the missing piece. It wasn't just one spell; it was a collection, a gateway to unlocking the true power of Chaos.

Void's tail flicked and his voice carried an amused tone. He really wanted Kyle to pick the quest as Kyle's spells were his too thanks to [Clean Slate]. "You've already decided to take the quest, haven't you?"

"I… I really don't know. I was planning to run. You saw what's out there. Those beasts—there are too many. And if there's a source causing all this…" He trailed off, glancing back at the quest details. "It won't be easy."

Void snorted and a puff of lightning crackled around his nostrils. "Easy? No. Worth it? Absolutely. You can't just run from every challenge, Kyle. You're better than that."

Kyle bit his lip and his gaze flicked between Void and the glowing interface. The reward wasn't just tempting—it was essential.

Void interrupted his thoughts. "What's stopping you? Think of what this could mean for you—for us."

Kyle sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's not just about me, Void. If I mess this up, I might not get another chance. This isn't the arena where I can just spam spells until I win. If I fail here…" He didn't finish the sentence.

"But that Mana Origin Source, Kule—it's powerful enough to drive beasts into a frenzy and force evolution. Imagine what it could do for our cultivation."

Kyle's eyes widened. He hadn't exactly considered that possibility. "You're right... If we could get close to that Mana Origin Source and absorb its energy, our cultivation would greatly improve."

His mouth watered at the thought, and he couldn't stop himself from grinning. "Alright," Kyle decided, he had considered enough. "Let's go for it."

Void's grin widened. "That's the spirit. Just try not to die, alright? I like having you around."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

He turned his attention back to the system interface, dismissing the notification with a swipe. The forest around him seemed quieter now, as if the world itself was waiting for him to make his move.

"So, what's the plan, Kyle?" Void asked eagerly. "Are we just charging in and smashing everything? Please say yes!"

"Not really," Kyle shook his head in disapproval immediately. "There are too many beasts near the pool, and if we just charge in, we'll be swarmed and dead in no time."

"So? What's the plan then?"

"The goal is to isolate the weaker Tier-1 beasts first and take them out in smaller groups. We'll avoid drawing attention from the stronger ones—Tier-2s and that Tier-3 monstrosity near the pool."

He tapped the soundless whistle clipped to his belt. "This is the key. If we stay far enough from the main horde, we can lure the Tier-1s without disturbing the others. I'll use it when we're at a safe distance."

"And if it doesn't work? Or worse, if the big ones come running too?" Void asked the obvious.

"Welp..." Kyle said with a wry smile. "But the whistle should work. The Tier-2s and Tier-3 might be fixated on the pool—that Mana Origin Source could be influencing their focus."

Void considered this, then grinned. "Sounds like a gamble, but it's better than charging in blind. What about after we lure them?"

"That's when we fight," Kyle said. "But not like before. We're sticking together at first, using the terrain to our advantage. I'll lay down some runes as fallback traps in case we need to retreat. We will keep moving, keep them spread out, and take them down in waves. No unnecessary risks."

"Got it. Let's see how well this whistle of yours works."

"I trust Orion," Kyle said confidently. "It'll work."

After discussing their plan, the two of them moved cautiously through the dense bush. On reaching the other side, Kyle got to witness what Void had experienced first hand.

'Damn, that's scary,' Kyle couldn't help but think as he witnessed the large number of beasts that surrounded the pool. He felt like dropping the plan and running away but had to resolve himself to proceed.

'Focus, Kyle,' he told himself. 'Stick to the plan.'

They continued left, moving further from the pool while staying on high alert. Kyle's grip on the whistle tightened as they walked, and he found himself glancing at Void for reassurance.

Void, as usual, seemed unbothered, maybe because he had come here before. His sharp eyes scanned the area, and his body moved with a predator's grace. "You're scared, aren't you?" he asked, not looking back.

"Who wouldn't be? Look at them—there are dozens, maybe hundreds. If this plan fails—"

"You made it, remember?"

Kyle didn't argue. He was the one that came up with the plan and if he couldn't have trust in it then what was the point. He nodded and pressed on, his nerves slowly giving way to focus.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a spot roughly two kilometers from the pool. It was far enough to be outside the main horde's immediate reach but close enough to observe their movements. Kyle crouched behind a thick bush and signaled for Void to stay low.

"This is it," Kyle whispered, pulling out the soundless whistle. "Let's hope this works."

Void smirked. "You mean when this works."

Kyle took a deep breath and raised the whistle to his lips. Though it emitted a barely audible sound, Kyle felt a subtle vibration in the air as he blew into it. He gripped the hilt of his katana tightly and his eyes fixed on the distant horde.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, he saw movement.

Several of the Tier-1 beasts closest to their position stopped and lifted their heads and their ears twitched. They turned and scanned the area with glowing eyes, before letting out low growls. One by one, they began moving toward Kyle and Void's position.

Kyle let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "It's working…"

But then his fear almost returned as he continued to observe. Fortunately, the Tier-2 beasts nearby remained still and their attention was unwaveringly fixed on the pool. The massive Tier-3 beast didn't budge either, its hulking form practically melding into the shadowy surroundings.

'It's like they're entranced,' Kyle thought. 'Could it really be their mental strength, or is the Mana Origin Source doing something to them?'

Void watched the approaching Tier-1 beasts with a predatory gleam in his eye.

"Looks like you were right... Only the small fries are coming. For now."

Kyle nodded but didn't loosen his grip on Frozen Claw. His stance was firm and his sharp eyes were fixed on the advancing figures.

"Yeah, but don't let your guard down. If we make too much noise or drag this out, the big ones might get curious. And we're not ready for that kind of attention."

"Relax. Small fries or not, this is still going to be fun."

Kyle shot him a warning glance. "Focus, Void. We're not here for fun. We stick to the plan: take down as many as we can quickly and quietly. No showing off. No unnecessary risks. If anything feels off, fall back to me immediately."

"Understood. But let's be real—if anything, they should be scared of us."

Kyle smirked despite feeling nervous. Void's unwavering confidence was contagious, even in a moment like this. "Let's make this quick then."

The first wave of Tier-1 beasts broke through the trees, snarling and snapping. Kyle's grip on Frozen Claw tightened, and Void's claws gleamed with an electric glow.

"Here we go," Kyle muttered, the tension in his chest hardening into resolve.

"Time to show them who really owns this forest."