I Refused To Be Reincarnated

The simian knight crouched low, like a predator ready to pounce. Its fists tightened, and its muscles doubled in volume as its jaws opened.

ROAR

A visceral fear gripped the spectator's guts as the darkness parted before the creature's mighty voice.

Arun trembled in his seat as he remembered Thomas, the knight who had ambushed and almost killed them during their first expedition. Seeing him again, even as a card, caused his heart to pound against his chest and icy sweat to cover his forehead.

Despite his immense progress and the teacher's recognition, he knew. He knew that the knight would shred him in a duel!

Fortunately, Asha's comforting hand met his shoulder as her gentle whisper filled his ears.

"Don't worry. You'll soon surpass that old creature."

He offered her a nod of gratitude, placing his hand over hers as his shaking body straightened. Next, he focused on Adam, noticing he was about to act.

Almost jumping in excitement, Adam's roar echoed his creature's.

"Destroy that skeleton soldier!"

However, Thom cut him off despite his disbelief.

"I activate my field's eff..."

Before he could end his sentence, He roared again.

"Any effect implicating the simian knight while he engages in battle is negated! You won't run away!"

The teenager paled as the words echoed, and the crowd cheered excitedly.

But Adam noticed how his pupils constricted.

'You don't know what follows.'

He held his laughter in despite the itch tickling his throat as he watched the knight blur like a shadow.

In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind the clueless skeleton. His right first moved, propelled by the terrifying muscles hidden beneath the red fur. Like a hammer, it collided with the bones, shattering them into dust particles before it could even react.

As everyone thought Thom would have a chance to defend his first castle, Adam's commanding voice resounded with joyful violence.

"Destroy the castle to even the field!"

"What?!"

Surprised yelps covered the arena as an unsettling silence descended.

ROAR Experience tales with empire

The knight roared again. His iron greaves left deep gouges in the ground as the wind whistled in his passage.

With a forceful punch using life force and mana, it delivered a strike of blood-chilling proportions.

RUMBLE

The air exploded, pushed forward in a blast that pierced the thick stones like a spear. Cracks spread like spiderwebs on the furthest walls as dust billowed in a wild dance.

Everyone's trembling eyes locked on the collision point as their mouths opened and closed.

Because before them lay an eviscerated castle. They could see the scenery behind it through the gaping hole left by the blow.

Unable to support the damages, it collapsed under its own weight the next second, leaving a feeling of awe and terror pulse with their heartbeats.

Amidst the tense silence, a smug laughter reverberated from the opposite duel desk.

"Kekeke. The simian knight can attack twice each turn."

Thom recovered from his shock as his voice lingered. Instantly, he yelled.

"You are a cheater!"

He noticed how blood rushed to the teenager's eyes, and his fists trembled.

"There is no way a student can kill this creature. Someone gave it to you to rig the tournament!"

Faced with the accusation and the crowd's hushed whispers, he shrugged.

"I blew the bastard up myself. Almost died in the process, though."

His dismissive voice resounded, making the crowd's whispers intensify.

As doubt wormed its way into everyone's heart, Shepard's authoritative voice drew their attention.

"We have witnesses who can testify. Every card in his deck comes from a magical beast he defeated alone or with his party's help."

Silence engulfed the spectator's seats and arena. Even the other duelists eyed Adam, a hint of fear dancing in their eyes. None of them dare to boast about surviving an encounter with a tier four creature, much less defeat it. A party? To do what when they could rip their limbs before they could react?

Meanwhile, Adam's lips rose into a disappointed smile. The sudden accusation ruined his fun.

"I end my turn."

He sighed. The duel was as good as over, anyway.

Without surprise, Thom summoned a skeleton monster on the next turn, only to see its crushed bones explode into light particles the next second and his second castle crumble.

On the last turn, the simian knight bolted to his third castle like a humanoid war machine and shattered it.

On his side of the field, mana weaved itself into golden symbols, meaning Victory, while the opposite happened for Thom.

"Tsk."

Aurora snorted, throwing the tier-five material at Shepard with a wronged grimace.

"Not only did he make me lose, but he also shamed my academy with his stupid accusation. Cheating? Ah!"

She slammed her hand against her armrest, brows twitching.

"It's only an unspoken rule he shouldn't have brought up in public," Shepard said, nodding as he caught the dark bone.

After all, why would they bet on the matches if they gave tier-five or even six cards to their disciples? It would also go against the game's values in promoting exploration and self-development. Therefore, he didn't believe any deans would stoop low enough to do it.

But if someone did...

Despite their outward dislike, they respected each other. Yet, that respect would vanish into smoke, replaced by scorn.

He shook his head, casting those thoughts aside. He had something much more important to do.

With a snap of his finger, a wall of smoke appeared before the cheering Zenobia.

Intrigued by her mentor's message, she squinted.

"Teach that fool a field and boosting spell before he loses! You said his deck was good enough to get first place, but he doesn't even know the rules!"

Her cheeks puffed as she pouted. Only Adam was bizarre enough to scream he would win the championship on every roof without reading the rules... or his own cards.

Without wasting a second, she rushed to him before he could join his friends.

"Come with me. Shepard's instructions."

With a blunt statement, she grabbed his hand, startling him with the sudden contact, and dragged him out of the arena.