Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

The spear-wielding guardian lunged at Kyle's now visible form again with more attacks, but Kyle used [Air Steps] to easily evade. He maneuvered around the guardian, while slashing at its legs to destabilize it.

The dagger-wielding guardian joined the fray, forcing Kyle to defend against two opponents simultaneously.

After a series of precise strikes, Kyle destroyed the spear-wielding guardian.

[Vanquished Foes: 172/2000]

The remaining two guardians fought with more ferocity, but Kyle had easily gained the upper hand. He e executed [Blazing Impact], combining it with a speed burst from [Lightning Dash] to unleash a devastating charge that destroyed the axe-wielding guardian.

[Vanquished Foes: 173/2000]

The dagger-wielding guardian was the most agile and its rapid movements forcing Kyle to stay on his toes. He focused on predicting its patterns, using feints to lure it into overextending. When the opportunity came, he struck with enough force to shatter its icy form and turn it into smoke.

[Vanquished Foes: 174/2000]

With the guardians defeated, the plateau fell silent. Kyle turned his attention back to the glowing ice block. Its surface was unmarred despite the intense battle that had taken place around it.

He approached it cautiously, examining the runes embedded in the ice.

'Magic like this won't break with brute force... Or rather, I might not be able to break it,' he thought, before placing a hand on the ice.

As he channeled his mana, the runes responded and their glow intensified. The ice began to crack, but the process was slow. Kyle realized he needed more power to break the enchantment.

After the block was weakened even more, Kyle channeled [Frostfire Edge] and delivered a powerful fiery strike to the ice. The runes shattered, and the block crumbled, revealing a treasure chest within.

[Trial Complete. Floor 24 Cleared.]

[Rewards Acquired: Ascension Orb, 18,000 Gold Coins, Frostbane Amulet.]

[Frostbane Amulet: Reduces Ice Damage by 20% and increases resistance to freezing effects.]

Kyle inspected the strange amulet and wore it immediately, a faint smile on his face.

'Thank you it's not a robe.'

Kyle didn't waste any time after donning the Frostbane Amulet. He activated the Ascension Orb, and once again, the familiar sensation of his surroundings dissolving into swirling light engulfed him.

When the light subsided, he found himself standing on a narrow, rocky path suspended high in the air.

The sky above him had dark clouds and flashes of lightning. The path was treacherous with jagged rocks and strong gusts of wind that were strong enough to push him off balance. Worst of all, below, there was nothing but a vast, endless void.

[Twenty-Fifth Trial: Navigate the Path of Storms.]

'This doesn't seem too bad.'

He activated [Lightning Dash] to steady himself against the wind and took his first step onto the rocky path.

Immediately, the storm reacted, and a bolt of lightning struck the ground ahead of him, causing the rocks to shake.

'This trial is going to be fun,' Kyle thought, rolling his eyes as he darted forward.

The path twisted and turned unpredictably, with sections breaking apart as he ran. Lightning bolts struck relentlessly, forcing him to rely on his reflexes and [Air Steps] to avoid being hit.

At one point, a particularly strong gust of wind nearly threw him off the edge, but he managed to stabilize himself with a quick burst of strength.

As Kyle advanced, he noticed glowing orbs hovering along the path. Each orb emitted a faint hum and seemed to attract the lightning strikes.

'Lightning conductors,' Kyle realized. 'They're guiding the strikes, but they're also blocking the path.'

He quickly analyzed the situation and devised a plan. With a precise [Lightning Bolt], he struck one of the orbs, overloading it and causing it to shatter. The resulting energy discharge cleared the path ahead.

'That's one way to do it,' Kyle muttered, continuing his advance.

The trial grew increasingly challenging as the path narrowed and the storm intensified. At another point.

Halfway through the trial, the storm seemed to change tactics. The lightning strikes became less predictable, and the wind began to swirl around him, forming small tornadoes that threatened to pull him off the path.

They weren't easy to overcome, but Kyle did so with ease and only kept advancing. As he neared the end of the trial, he encountered a massive orb hovering in the center of the path.

Unlike the smaller orbs, this one radiated an overwhelming energy and pulsed with the rhythm of the storm.

[Storm Core Detected.]

The moment Kyle stepped within range, the Storm Core unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts. They came from all directions, forcing Kyle to dodge and weave with incredible speed.

'Looks like that's the boss of this trial,' he thought, wondering whether the orb would summon something.

Kyle activated [Lightning Dash] to close the distance, but the Storm Core retaliated with a powerful shockwave that sent him flying back. He barely managed to recover with [Air Steps], landing gracefully on a stable section of the path.

'Alright, let's try this again,' he thought, unsheathing his katana.

This time, Kyle combined [Blazing Impact] with [Frostfire Edge], creating a devastatingly powerful strike. He launched himself toward the Storm Core, slashing at it with all his strength.

>BOOM!<

The katana's enchanted blade cut through the energy barrier surrounding the core, causing it to crackle and sputter.

The Storm Core retaliated with another shockwave, but Kyle was ready. He activated [Chaotic Whirlpool], using the vortex to absorb and redirect the energy back at the core. The feedback loop caused the core to destabilize further.

'Time to finish this,' Kyle thought.

With one final, powerful strike, he shattered the Storm Core. The resulting explosion sent a surge of energy through the storm, calming it instantly.

'Damn, how strong can such a small orb be.'

[Trial Complete. Floor 25 Cleared.]

[Rewards Acquired: Ascension Orb, 20,000 Gold Coins, Stormbreaker Cloak.]

[Stormbreaker Cloak: Grants 20% resistance to lightning attacks]

Kyle inspected the cloak and chose not to were it either, instead he placed it in his inventory along with the gold coins.

With his rewards secured; Kyle activated the Ascension Orb once more, ready for the next challenge.

When the light faded, he found himself in a dense, overgrown jungle. The air was thick with humidity, and the sound of rustling leaves and distant animal calls filled the area.

[Twenty-Sixth Trial: Survive the Predator's Domain.]

Kyle's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the jungle. The trial's name left little to the imagination, and he had no doubt that he was being hunted.

'I should've known it wouldn't be a simple walk in the park,' he thought, unsheathing his katana.

As he ventured deeper into the jungle, the atmosphere grew tense. The foliage around him rustled unnaturally, and he caught glimpses of shadowy figures moving through the trees.

Then, without warning, a massive beast lunged at him from the underbrush. It was a sleek, feline creature with jet-black fur and glowing red eyes.

[Shadow Panther]

[Tier: 6]

[HP: 5,800]

Kyle barely dodged the initial attack, rolling to the side and slashing at the panther with his katana. The blade left a shallow cut, but the panther was fast, disappearing into the shadows before he could follow up.

'Oh... I see. That's its ability... Well, two can play that game.'

He activated [Silent Steps], but when he tried to go invisible, it didn't work out. He was feeling too excited maybe.

'Freaking emotions.'

Kyle inhaled and exhaled to calm himself but his form remained visible, he sighed in frustration and just stayed silent.

'I can only wait for it to come again.'

He just had to keep his guard up to catch the beast, as it was definitely planning a next move.

Time passed and as expected, the panther struck again but Kyle was ready. He countered with [Blazing Impact] and the shockwave threw the beast off balance.

He pressed the advantage, activating [Lightning Dash] to close the distance and striking with a combination of firefrost slashes and lightning bolts.

After a short battle, the panther finally collapsed and its body dissolved into black mist.

[Vanquished Foes: 175/2000]

[Trial Complete. Floor 26 Cleared.]

[Rewards Acquired: Ascension Orb, 25,000 Gold Coins]

'No extras this time,' Kyle thought before channeling his mana through the orb. The surroundings solidified as the Ascension Orb's energy dissipated, revealing a vast, circular chamber carved from smooth, reflective obsidian.
Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

A series of ethereal white runes spiraled across the walls, glowing faintly in the dim light and the air felt heavy.

[Twenty-Seventh Trial: The Hall of Reflections]