Reincarnated as a Genius Mage
Chapter 70: Fiery Discord

Chapter 70: Fiery Discord

"Run! Come on! That’s it! Run, kid! Run like your life depends on it!"

K’s yelling really loudly.. but, I can’t deny it— the driving force of his yell. It’s really effective.

I’m running around the courtyard. The hot afternoon sun’s attacking both my mind and my body.

But I’m happy, because I know that evening will soon come. And the sun rays will calm down.

–Huff Huff–

I straighten my waist, taking slow breaths as I run.

This is my fourth lap.

The weight braces; they do not weigh too heavily on me anymore.

It just feels like I’m carrying an extra bag or something.

"Don’t stop!!" He yells again.

I can’t even look at him. My eyes are soaked with sweat, and the blurry form of the sand on the ground is all I see. But still, my legs never stop, and my pace never slacks.

–Huff–

"Now, jump!" He yells again.

And I pause immediately, and jump as high as my legs can propel me.

Boom!

As I land, the ground beneath me trembles slightly, and dust soars around me.

"Yes. That’s what I’m talking about. Now, come. Attack me like you want to kill." He says in a low voice.

I’m on the ground, one knee down. My head low, and my right fist on the ground while my left hand rests on my raised knee.

–Huff... Huff–

I thought he’d never ask.

Immediately, I rise up from the ground.

I push air mana from my circle through my pathway, and channel it through my pathway to the sole of my feet.

Whoosh!

I leap softly, twirling in the air.

In the air, my ribs press against my heart. It’s as if broken particles of it are pricking my heart.

I raise my right leg, and I coat it with flames— aiming to kick K’s neck with it.

He’s standing— crossed arms. Face stretched with a wide, disturbing smirk. Arms are crossed like he knows nothing would happen to him.

As my leg colli–

He holds my ankle, just few inches above my brace the moment my leg is about to collide.

Huh.

How?

He throws me on the ground like I’m some weightless object.

My back crashes on the rough sandy ground, "nng" I groan softly, immediately raising my head up.

As I open my eyes, I see K leaning over me, his golden eyes peering directly into mine. "First death. Try again." He says, his smile never leaving his lips.

I frown, my forehead wrinkling.

It’s been four months since I began training with this man.

And ever since I started running with these braces, we’ve been doing these series of.. training.

First thing every morning, I run with these braces on me until he decides it’s enough; which might last for more than three hours. Then after that, he’ll tell me to attack him. And he doesn’t even attack or counter attack. He just defends.

And then after that, he’ll beat the shit out of me, calling it body building. Then I start doing push-ups until night time, with him on my back..

Hmmm, okay. Let’s try again.

I slap my cheeks. My eyes swirl with resolve as I stare into his eyes.

He smirks, then blurs— appearing at the area where he was standing a few seconds ago.

I’ve asked him what that move he always does is. He said it’s some kind of foot work, a technique— flash step.

I’ve tried to mimic it with one I formed by manipulating wind mana. I call mine; wind step.

I stand up again.

I crouch, entering a battle stance. My eyes reflect the golden rays of sunlight as I hold my two fists up.

I use the wind step again— leaping toward him with clenched fists— aiming at his right eye.

My fist moves— shattering the air with pure force.

But K grabs my fist tight just before it connects with his eye.

Not again.

He twists my right arm, and hits my chest softly with his palm.

It’s like something is moving through me.. no, something actually moves through my body as the impact sends me flying backward. But it happens softly, like the wind itself pushed me.

I skiddle, trying to catch my balance as I barely land on my feet.

As I finally land on both feet, I crouch, flicking the sweat on my forehead away with my fingers, and I flick my head up, glancing at K.

"Second death. Come again." He says, his tone blunt but stern.

If I used spells.. this fight won’t go this way.

"That technique of yours. The Fiery Discord. Why aren’t you using it? I want you to come at me like you want to kill!!" He yells again.

Why should I come at him like I want to kill when I don’t want to kill? What if I..

"Are you worried about me right now?" He asks with a high voice. "The one who’s been tormenting you for four months?"

I shake my head.

"Surely, you can’t be that stupid. This is your chance! Your chance to take revenge! For all the times I tortured you! Come at me like you want to kill!" He yells.

He’s right. He’s so fucking right. What have– God, I feel stupid.

I stand up again.

Wind step.

Fiery Discord; Level One. Normal Disfiguring.

I appear right in front of him, dragging my right fist back immediately, and I release it— targeting his ribs.

He sidesteps it, raising his own fist to hit my face.

I dodge, grabbing his lunged fist, and I climb it.

I coat my palm with fire, scratching his arm with my nails as I run toward his head. My nails dig into his flesh, and my flames burns him.

I jump down from his arm— landing behind him.

I stare at his waist for half a second. Then I form a thick layer of fire on my fist, and I hit his–

"Nice try." His voice fades as he blurs.

I feel a small tap on the back of my shoulder, and I turn back to see K crouching, smiling at me.

I shiver slightly, then I enter battle stance.

"That’s enough." He speaks boldly as he stands, staring down at me.

He then holds his waist, and bends backward— cracking it. "Now, that’s what I’ve been looking for; that spite of yours. I told you not to lose it. You’ve almost lost it completely, and it’s not entirely your fault as it’s an effect of staying around me for too long.

That Fiery Discord, it’s really good, almost as good as the technique my friend; Alexander Von Flameworth fights with. But yours lacks something that makes his deadly; Killing intent. And that’s what I’m trying to build in yours, so it can become at least half as good as Alexander’s. And spite breeds killing intent."

Hmm.

I carress my jaw slowly. I really need a goaty.

The Fiery Discord is a Martial Art of the Flameworths after all, but..

"I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while. But, how do you know the Famed duke of the west. The ruler of fire, Alexander?" I ask, a curious expression etched on my face as I tilt my head.

I’m still crouched in a combat stance though. I don’t trust this unpredictable brute.

"Oh! Hahaha! I can’t believe I haven’t told you that! You see, we met in Ludia.."

As soon as he says this, my eyes widen. And my heart fluctuates.

Did he come looking for me in Ludia?

"That was about four years ago." he says.

Oh. Whew.

My heartbeat stabilizes.

It’s been a fairly long time.

"Hmm, come to think of it. The first time I met him was almost like the day I first met you too. Except, I was the one who told him to get out and flipped the bird. Haha! That really hurt his pride." It feels like he’s forcing the words out of his mouth as he swallows down the boiling laughter.

"Ah yes. Then we fought for about two days. And after that, we discovered we were pretty.. similar." ... "So we became drinking buddies, and eventually friends from there!

He’s even the one who adviced me to become a Mercenary, and he connected me to Gislow; the Guildmaster of the Gislow mercenary guild."

Ah, so that’s what happened.

"Ah! Do you know Alexander loves cakes? Man, that guy even wa.."

I shouldn’t have asked. Now he won’t stop yapping. Shit.