I Refused To Be Reincarnated

"Destroy the Doppelgänger and Vengeful Spirit."

Esi's hand rose, and her finger outstretched to point at him in a clear show of provocation and dismissive arrogance.

Yet, his face remained unmoved as the banshee queen's screech reverberated and upturned the plain, sending a wave of despair crashing into his vengeful spirit.

Even when the evil ghost wailed in pain, he didn't react. When her negative energy collapsed on herself and Draco cleaved the Doppelgänger in two, he still didn't move. Yet, a stilly glint sparkled in his eyes.

Echoing his resolve, his instinct awakened, whispering in his ears to draw.

His right hand blurred, snatching the deck's top card. Without gazing at it, he removed the Poltergeist from his slot and slammed it in its place.

"Come on out, Swiftshadow Simian Knight."

His voice rumbled after the card registered in his eyes in a deep, icy tone, befitting a judge more than a student. And a judgement he would deliver on Esi.

"Behead them both."

Lightning sparks danced around his arms as he crossed them over his chest, towering above the battlefield like its overlord. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

A shadow slithered from the castle's gate before a red blur registered in the spectator's eyes, and the noise of whooshing winds echoed.

Eyes glued on the creature's unnatural muscles and red fur, they exploded into excited cheers, impatient to see the battle's outcome.

The banshee queen's and Draco's attack values manifested above their heads while the knight blurred into motion.

ATK 2400

ATK 2200

Simultaneously, Esi's cackles echoed through the arena, cutting through the crowd's fiery excitement like a block of ice.

"Fool! The banshee queen's effect applies to any monster. See how she'll destroy your pathetic monkey and ravage your castle. Kakaka."

The banshee screeched again, making Nova's lips twist in distress from her spectator's seat. She used to screech like that in the past. She also knew how powerless her targets became. Like puppets losing their strings, they slumped to the ground, thinking about taking their own life.

As Esi's laughter echoed, the mana representing the knight's attack pulsed and shifted.

ATK 2500->2300

A wave of worry crashed over her as her pupils constricted and she clasped her hands over her forehead.

Yet, her eyes brightened the next second despite Adam's calm, icy voice.

"The Simian knight is unaffected by any effect or spell while engaging in battle."

The lightning wafting from his eyes crackled, giving him a fierce appearance emphasised by his dreadful calm... like a volcano awaiting the right moment to burst and burn everything in its wake to a crisp.

The knight's attack value returned to normal. His figure, a red blur, shattered the wind and reappeared behind the banshee queen.

His fur glistened under the dust particles risen by his charge as fingers cracked, clenching into a fist of brutal might. Like pumps, his veins throbbed, and his muscles groaned, doubling in volume.

ROAR

Mirroring his rage, the knight's sharp teeth glistened, as a soul-chilling roar imbued with raw physical might reverberated, blasting the air in a dome.

Then, his fist zoomed in, appearing like a giant red meteor in the stunned spectator's eyes.

BAM

A deafening collision noise engulfed the arena, forcing everyone to cover their ears as a colossal cloud of dust reached for the bright chandelier.

Yet, the arcanists witnessed everything from the balcony. Zeph, in particular, narrowed his eyes, an unusual calculative glint piercing the dust flashing in his eyes.

The knight's fist piercing through the banshee's body as if she were made of paper didn't interest him. The deep chasm his fist left in the ground below didn't either.

Instead, like a dragon, he observed Adam's every move, his eyes twitching at the brightening lightning.

Then, he turned to Shepard, a tremor coursing through his arms, forcing him to clench his fist to hide their trembling.

"Where did you find him?"

He demanded, steam billowing from his ragged breathing.

But Shepard's dismissive answer sent a wave of shock spreading through him.

"Nowhere. He showed up last year and enrolled like any student."

A disdainful smirk split Shepard's lips next.

"Why? Did he catch your eye? Didn't you say that he would have enrolled in your academy if he had the slightest trace of talent?"

Zeph shook his head, teeth gritted and pupils constricting.

"Don't joke now! He has the potential to become a second sky guardian!"

After mastering all sorts of elemental theories, he would be a fool not to notice the similitude.

"He can use Vivian's thunder spells. Tell me the truth! Why didn't you send him to my academy? He would have progressed so much faster under me than an alchemist."

Despite the harsh words, Zeph believed everything he said, making his tone forceful as his fingers pinch the bridge of his nose in regret.

Lips raised in an arrogant grimace and eyes burning, Shepard's voice cut through the air, as sharp as a scalpel.

"Who says so?"

A tense silence followed as they locked eyes.

Then, he continued, his left eye twitching in annoyance.

"I'm an alchemist. I can store the elements and death in a flask. Do not underestimate my prowess because of the tournament ranking."

He had to admit it, though. Zeph's powers were incredible. He had no certainty in emerging victorious in a full-blown confrontation with him. But losing? His lips curled into a dangerous smile that did not reach his eyes.

"Ayaya. Calm down!"

Maya interjected, jumping on Zeph's back and breaking the building tension.

"We know you aren't weak, Shepy. If memory serves me right, you were considered the most dangerous adept back in the day. You don't have to prove anything."

"Engrave it into your memories. None of you can kill me, but I can drown your territories in poisonous mists for years."

With these last words, he begrudgingly sat back, refocusing on the duel.

Meanwhile, behind his duel desk, Adam summoned an ant chimaera, pressing his advantage as the Simian knight mercilessly dismantled Esi's feeble defenses.

With the ability to attack twice per turn and her empty field, she could only watch her castles crumble one after another in horror while hearing her pride and arrogance shatter like ugly pottery.

In a brief three turns, he folded the duel, leaving her gasping in disbelief.

Then, without a word, he walked to her, causing her eyes to tremble.

With a swift movement, he snatched the banshee queen from her graveyard and turned to leave. He didn't glance at her a single time, making her heart sink. It was as if he deemed her unworthy as a human being.

No, even worse than that.

She could see it in his glacial eyes. She didn't even qualify as a beast to him.

And she was correct.

As he left the arena, he returned to the library, casting the girl's memory into a dark corner of his mind. She wasn't worth his anger or time.

Meeting her opened his eyes to something important, at least.

'I can't waste my energy reasoning with fools. It's better to ignore them.'

The thought almost forced a chuckle out of his lips.

'I won't follow this world's system. Only my values.'