I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Shepard approached the duo, his presence exuding an overbearing aura. The soft sound of his steps echoed thunderously in their ears like a grim countdown to their inevitable demise.

With every step he took, the air crackled with suppressed energy, a silent warning of the power he wielded.

Fear gripped the rapidly beating hearts of Adam and Julius, and cold sweat drenched their backs. As Shepard drew closer, his presence seemed to magnify, until he appeared as a towering giant in their fearful eyes.

As Shepard finally stood before them, his aura engulfed them like a hungry beast pouncing on a slab of meat.

Under the oppressive presence, they gasped for breath. Shepard's piercing gaze landed on them, seemingly able to see through everything.

Despite the terrible situation they were in, Julius racked his brain, searching for a solution. He was unwilling to see his years of efforts be wasted right when he could finally enjoy the benefits.

But what could he do or say to save them?

Unable to find an answer under such pressure, he turned his head with difficulty, almost hearing his bones crack.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw his big brother's shivering body. Then he saw his eyes. If he had to, he would have described them as the fearful eyes of a cornered beast waiting for its predator to pounce on it.

Upon seeing the state he was in and understanding that he would be of no help, Julius thought in depression and unwillingness, 'Is it really going to end like this? After everything I have done to reach the college and be admitted inside?'

A silent tear rolled down his cheek as he thought about his missing mother and their impending end.

However, his descent into despair was abruptly interrupted by a subtle but worrying detail catching his attention.

He noticed the floating ghostly silhouette suddenly cease its trembling. Then, he widened his eyes as he witnessed the fear subside from his brother's eyes, only to be replaced by madness.

"Let's see if you can crush me like a bug, you fucker!" Adam suddenly growled, his face contorting in unbridled fury.

He mobilised every single drop of mana coursing through his body, planning to launch the most devastating attack he was capable of.

He was still as scared as before. But would he truly allow fear to dictate the outcome? 'NO! Even if I die, I'll make you regret killing me,' he vowed, steeling his resolve and clenching his ethereal teeth.

He floated in front of Julius and said in a low but determined voice while gazing at the amused smile of Shepard. "Prepare yourself, Julius. I'll give everything I have to create an opportunity for you. Strike if you're resolved, or flee if you want to live. The decision is yours."

Without awaiting Julius' response, Adam clenched his right fist, making it glow with the light blue color of mana. Then, the mana slowly coalesced, solidifying into a floating hand-like form.

Unfortunately, the mana technique derived from the Mage's Hands spell wasn't completely developed yet, as Adam could only conjure one mana hand with three fingers.

However, after a month of analysis and modifications, he had totally freed himself from the need to cast the spell while keeping most of its features intact.

With the Mage's Hand formed, he summoned his crystalline Ethereal Radiance directly in its grasp, giving it both physical and spiritual reach. Adam's preparations took a second, showcasing his unnatural efficiency in mana control.

Subsequently, he used all of his remaining mana to enhance his next attack as much as he could while glaring at the patiently waiting Shepard in annoyance.

The college's director appeared entirely unpreoccupied by the incoming attack. Worse, he had been smiling the entire time as if silently encouraging Adam to make it stronger.

'No matter how strong you are, let's see if you'll smile after taking this,' He thought angrily while launching his strike.

BOOOOOM

BOOOOOM

Before anyone could react, two terrifying explosions resounded almost simultaneously in the room.

Julius, still standing behind his big brother, watched in shock as a cloud of dust rose from the rubbles of the wall opposite them.

"What... What happened?" He asked his big brother, confused yet relieved as he noticed Shepard's aura wasn't weighing him down anymore.

"Idiot! I told you to attack or run!" Adam screamed weakly. His voice strained as he fought against the splitting headache brought on by the swift depletion of his mana pool.

Echoing his words, a nova of wind exploded from the middle of the dust cloud, revealing the unscathed Shepard. However, his smile and playful expression were gone, replaced by astonishment and seriousness.

"Not bad, whoever you are." He started, his voice filled with seriousness but also a hint of unconcealed enthusiasm.

"I have been monitoring you the whole day and spoke with Vikram before coming." He revealed while bending to pick up Adam's trusted spear. His eyes sparked with interest as he examined its crystalline appearance under Adam's tired gaze.

Adam quickly dismissed his spear and glared at Shepard in defiance. He knew he was done for. But at least he wouldn't regret not trying his best to survive.

In fact, his last attack was unnaturally strong and bypassed the conventional limitations of spell tiers. After all, not only did he use his Atom Burst mana technique to boost the Mage's Hand speed to an unprecedented degree, but he also shaped the mana to streamline the spear's trajectory, reducing air resistance and allowing it to reach the target even faster.

Unfortunately, Shepard's barrier protected him from the attack despite the second explosion triggered at point-blank range by the spear's Radiant Flare enhancement.

"What should I do with the two of you?" Shepard asked, tapping his finger on his arm while pondering.

As the tension reached its peak, Adam's heart sank. He cast a frantic glance at Julius, silently urging him to flee for the second time. But Julius stood frozen, paralysed by fear or indecision.

Amidst the chaos, regret raced through Adam's mind. 'Why didn't Julius run? Why the hesitation?' The impending doom weighed on him like a crushing boulder.