The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

After blinking to the ninth checkpoint, the effects of the rune mechanisms weighed heavily on Klaus's body. Each breath felt labored, and every step was more challenging than the last. He knew that once he reached the twelfth checkpoint, he wouldn't be able to use Blink anymore. The twelfth checkpoint was the final one, and after activating it, he'd have to find a way to walk back to the Coliseum. Using magic in front of such a large crowd was out of the question—he couldn't afford to expose himself—yet.

Thanks to the Four Eyes of the Ten Eyes Mantra, Klaus had already mapped out the terrain beyond the twelfth checkpoint. There was a stretch of nearly one kilometer between the checkpoint and the coliseum. Originally, his plan was simple: Blink as close to the coliseum as possible and then gather the willpower to walk the rest of the way. But the captains, stationed near the forest exit, had a clear view of the path. Klaus couldn't risk blinking directly into their sightline.

Instead, he decided he would Blink halfway to the exit after activating the twelfth checkpoint. However, what worried him most was the unknown toll the twelfth checkpoint would take on his already battered body.

Standing next to the ninth checkpoint, Klaus braced himself. He placed a trembling hand on the cold, rune-covered obelisk. The moment he made contact, the obelisk began to glow, resonating with the bracelets on his wrists. A surge of energy coursed through his body, sapping what little strength he had left. Klaus felt as though his remaining stamina was cut into a fraction—split by nine.

His knees buckled under the immense weight that suddenly bore down on him. It was as though he was trying to carry a mountain.

"Move!" Klaus growled through gritted teeth, refusing to collapse entirely. Without wasting any more time, he activated Blink.

In a flash, he reappeared at the tenth checkpoint. His body staggered upon landing, barely able to keep upright. As his vision blurred, Klaus forced himself forward, ignoring the fiery pain in his legs and the dizziness that clouded his mind. His hand slapped against the obelisk of the tenth checkpoint, activating it immediately. The runes flared to life, the energy tearing through him again. He could feel the weight crushing his body, but he didn't stop to process it.

Clenching his fists, Klaus activated Blink once more, vanishing and landing at the eleventh checkpoint. This time, his landing was rough, and he fell to his knees. His hands dug into the dirt as he gasped for air, his chest heaving under the strain. The world around him felt distant, his senses dulled by the overwhelming fatigue.

"Almost there," Klaus muttered, dragging himself upright. The eleventh obelisk stood before him, glowing faintly. Each step toward it felt like an eternity. He forced his hand onto its surface, activating the runes. The familiar surge of energy tore through him, and Klaus's body screamed in protest. His vision swam as he staggered back.

With the last of his strength, Klaus closed his eyes and focused. The final checkpoint—the twelfth—was already mapped out in his mind. Gritting his teeth, he activated Blink one last time.

When Klaus reappeared at the twelfth checkpoint, his body collapsed to the ground. Dirt and leaves clung to his sweat-drenched form as he struggled to rise. He knew he couldn't rest—not yet. Forcing himself onto shaky legs, he stumbled toward the final obelisk.

"Just... one more," Klaus whispered hoarsely. His hand slapped against the obelisk's cold surface, and the runes activated immediately. The final surge of energy hit him like a lightning strike, sending shockwaves of pain through his body. Without hesitation, Klaus closed his eyes and activated Blink again, transporting himself 500 meters away—just shy of the forest exit. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Landing roughly, Klaus fell face-first into the dirt. The combined effects of the rune mechanisms hit him like a hammer. The crushing weight on his body was unbearable, pinning him to the ground as though gravity itself had intensified tenfold.

"Those... bastards," Klaus growled through clenched teeth, his voice trembling with rage. Blood trickled from his lips where he had bitten them, and his body trembled under the immense pressure. Every muscle screamed in agony as if his bones were moments away from breaking under the strain.

Even though the Featherweight spell was still active, it did little to ease the burden. Klaus felt as though his body weighed as much as a mountain. Despite the pain, he forced his mind to focus. Closing his eyes, he used the Four Eyes of the Ten Eyes Mantra to map the area.

Through his magical sight, Klaus could see Nicholas moving quickly, having just passed the sixth checkpoint and heading toward the seventh. Behind him, Alex followed at an even faster pace. The captains, meanwhile, stood on the platform near the coliseum's edge, chatting among themselves. They didn't bother to check the forest exit.

"Fools," Klaus muttered under his breath. The captains clearly believed it was impossible for anyone to pass all twelve checkpoints so quickly, especially Klaus. The rune mechanisms on his, Alex's, and Nicholas's bracelets had been custom-modified to make their success nearly impossible. According to their calculations, Klaus might have been able to reach the sixth checkpoint at best, while Nicholas and Alex were expected to falter around the fifth. Yet here he was, defying their expectations.

"I have to stand," Klaus thought, his voice firm in his mind. He tried to push himself up, but his arms refused to move. His body felt like it was made of lead.

Desperation surged through him as he racked his brain for a solution. Recasting the Featherweight spell did nothing—it only made him lighter relative to the crushing weight, but he still lacked the strength to move.

Then, a realization hit him. The problem wasn't just the weight—it was his drained strength. The rune mechanisms had sapped his energy to the point where his body couldn't support itself anymore.

"What a fool I am," Klaus muttered bitterly. He quickly cast a spell.

Fourth Circle Magic: Super Strength x4

The spell Super Strength, in its basic form, is a Second Circle spell that doubles the caster's base physical strength. The spell evolves with the mage's circle level, offering greater amplification. As a Fourth Circle mage, Klaus could enhance his strength fourfold using this spell.

Super Strength is normally a spell that most mages avoid, as it consumes a significant amount of mana and is not practical for individuals with naturally weak physical abilities like mages. Even for an Archmage at the Fifth Circle, the spell would barely bridge the physical gap between them and a warrior-class combatant.

However, Klaus was different. As a skilled swordsman as well as a mage, he could fully utilize the spell's potential, turning it into an invaluable asset in critical moments.

***

The spell took effect immediately, amplifying his physical strength fourfold. Klaus felt a surge of energy flow through his body, enough to lift him off the ground. His legs still felt shaky, and his back strained under the weight, but it was manageable.

"Again," Klaus muttered, casting the spell a second time.

Fourth Circle Magic: Super Strength x4

With his strength quadrupled once more, Klaus pushed himself upright. His body still felt as though he carried a mountain, but his determination kept him moving. Step by step, he forced his legs to move.

Each step sent waves of pain through his body, but Klaus pressed on. He recast the spell repeatedly, knowing his unique way of using magic allowed him to do so without relying on his mana reserves. Slowly but surely, he began to pick up speed.

From a slow walk, he moved into a jog. Sweat poured down his face as the forest exit came into view, just fifty meters ahead. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to stop, but Klaus refused to yield.

Finally, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.

**DING!**

[An extreme effort—Surpassing action was performed.]

[All stats increased by 2.]