I Refused To Be Reincarnated

As the confrontation climaxed on the first floor, Elysia regained consciousness gradually in her granduncle's arms. Instinctively, she moved to protect herself from the pressure.

"Don't worry, little one," the old elf said with a kind smile. "We'll get you to safety soon. Just focus on recovering," he added, his caring voice soothing her tense nerves.

Confused, she scanned her surroundings, searching for her brother and trying to understand why the five elders were carrying her. However, the only thing she saw was the blurring wooden walls of the corridor. Despite the chaos, the vigorous roars of her uncles and aunts reached her ears, causing warm tears to roll down her cheeks.

"What happened?" She asked, her weak voice cracking as the worst scenarios played in her mind.

The grand uncle's face froze upon hearing the question. Guilt flashed in his eyes, causing them to slip away. "We realised too late how dangerous Eldarion is. I know we are unworthy and as guilty as he is, but if you find the strength to forgive us, we want to serve under your rule," he said, closing his eyes in apprehension.

The screams behind her, the echoes of her beloved family's rebellion reverberated in the house, prompting her face to distort into a grimace. "N-no..." She muttered, her pounding heart aching. She only wanted to retrieve Selene's grimoire and free everyone from their ancestral duty. So, how did the situation spiral out of control?

"It's not your fault, Duchess Sunfire. With how unrestrained Eldarion's actions became, we would have revolted anyway," said her father's sister, calling her by her new title to show there was no going back.

The three other elders nodded, showing their support before adding, "It pains me to say it. But I hope this sadist takes his time, or we won't reach the Gate."

"B-Bring me to the underground," Elysia stuttered, unwilling to leave without the duo. With all the chaos, their death would be assured. Her uncles' sacrifice already weighed on her heart enough. She couldn't bring herself to see more people perish because of her, even the impertinent ghost.

"Your safety is our priority," replied the elder, shaking his head firmly. "I know you are attached to Selene's legacy. But we all tried to retrieve it and failed," he added, answering her demands with reason.

"Please, elder. Trust me," she pleaded, her green eyes shining confidently despite her tears. Explaining the situation now would only cause more misunderstandings, making the situation troublesome. Thus, she beseeched their trust instead, hoping they would agree.

After a brief silence and a wordless concertation, the elders nodded. "Fine. I doubt Eldarion will let us reach the Gate anyway," said the grand uncle, swiftly racing to the hidden passage. Meanwhile, the others hid their tracks using mana. With a bit of luck, they believed the menace would miss them. After all, they wouldn't expect the fugitives not to leave, hiding inside the house.

'I hope you almost found the grimoire,' Elysia thought, praying for the duo's safety while ignoring the rest, including the noble name she had been called. Despite her curiosity, the time for questions would come later.

Simultaneously, Adam and Julius found the second challenge chamber after wasting valuable time in other rooms. Fortunately, they were empty, causing them to sigh in relief before resuming their search for forty minutes.

This time, a large boulder weighing several tons blocked the entrance, hiding it exceptionally well.

"Humph. I'm the best digger. I even eviscerated a mountain," Adam snickered, weaving mana into solid drills attacking the sturdy rock. Amidst rumbling noises, rubbles collided with the ground as he skilfully opened a passage, revealing the chamber's empty interior.

Not wasting time, they frowned at the materialising symbols after entering.

"Participant: one. Welcome to the challenge of strength," Adam read, palling.

'Did we run out of luck so soon?' he thought, envisioning the worst. Elysia warned them about tier four guardians. Would they have to face one to prove their strength?

Anxiously, he continued to read, "Defeat twenty adversaries of your level in two minutes."

Deep sighs of relief escaped the duo's lips. Then, they laughed in glee. The time limit and multiple enemies may prove challenging for conventional mages. But they were nothing like them.

"How about a little game?" Adam said, smirking as illusionary figures gradually materialised before them.

"I was about to propose one myself," replied Julius, drawing his gladius and circulating his Qi in his meridians.

"Alright. Let's see who'll defeat the most enemies," the ghost added, smiling at the werewolves howling and vampires baring their glistening fangs.

Dust rose under the twenty creatures. Yet, Julius charged in fearlessly, determined to win the challenge. Boosted by his uncommon boots, his figure blurred as his blade flashed with silver lights.

Red blood spurted from his adversaries' necks after he swiftly ended four of them in a flash under Adam's impressed whistle.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, nine spinning mana arrows appeared behind the ghost, their sleek design and stabilising fins promising incomparable penetration.

Upon seeing the threatening projectiles, the werewolves tensed their muscles, their tough grey fur bristling to shield their bodies as their golden eyes warily fixed on the spinning dangers to decipher their trajectories.

Simultaneously, the vampires' red eyes glowed under the operation of their unique control over blood.

Scarlet red barriers rose before them while blood-red projectiles condensed to intercept the hostile arrows.

"Humph. Small fries," snicked Adam, amused by their reactions before encasing his constructs with threatening vibrating mana. Buzzing sounds echoed in the room briefly before he launched his attack.

Cleaving the air in their wake with appalling speed, the arrowheads collided with the shields, breaking them like glasses before accurately piercing the pale creatures' heads.

Meanwhile, pitiful whimpers reverberated as the werewolves used their agility to dodge. Alas, Adam was more than an arrogant mana conjurer. Predicting their reactions, he aimed for the heart, causing round holes to puncture their torsos. Heavily bleeding despite the missed targets, they soon perished, reluctance feeling their eyes.

Your next journey awaits at empire

Done on his side, he turned to the boy, noticing his victorious smile.

"I got eleven! I won!" Julius exclaimed, his fist raised in excitement. Even if it was just a game, he finally beat his big brother!

"What?! Are you sure you counted well?" Adam questioned, frowning in displeasure but smiling inwardly. "Urgh. I won't lose next time. Wait for me," he added, stomping his foot on the ground, fake anger contorting his features.

He knew how competitive Julius could be. By rigging the match, he wanted to thank the boy for helping. Thus, he decided to cast his pride aside, offering him what he wanted the most and hoping to make him happy.

"Hehehe. Seems like I'm the strongest in room 207 now!" Julius said, his lips curled into a taunting smile.

'Don't exaggerate!' Adam thought in response, his brows twitching before turning to read the shifting symbols.