Reincarnation of the magicless!
"No magic?, No problem!"
Chapter 16: Blood, Smoke and Iron!
Rolien's voice was steady but heavy with exhaustion. The raw power of that punch had taken everything out of him. His right arm throbbed fiercely, veins glowing faintly beneath his skin, still crackling with residual energy.
Marcellus grunted, wiping sweat from his brow. The knight's eyes narrowed as he assessed the beast's condition. Dreadmaw lay sprawled against the shattered stone, its breathing ragged, body twitching but far from out.
With a low growl, the knight hefted his greatsword. The massive blade gleamed in the flickering torchlight, its edge still sharp from the brutal fight.
"This ends now," Marcellus growled.
Rolien nodded, rising slowly, every movement careful not to strain his arm more than necessary.
Marcellus charged forward, shield raised high to deflect any desperate swipe from the beast. With a mighty roar, the knight swung his greatsword in a wide arc, the blade singing through the air as it descended.
The sword struck true, slicing across Dreadmaw's neck with a wet, sickening sound.
The beast let out a final, guttural growl before collapsing into a motionless heap.
The knights around them exhaled collectively, tension breaking like a snapped bowstring.
Rolien sank to his knees again, chest heaving.
Marcellus clapped him on the shoulder with a grim smile.
"You did good, boy. That was one hell of a punch."
Rolien cracked a tired grin.
"Yeah… but next time, maybe I'll try to keep my arm intact."
The knight laughed, but his eyes stayed sharp.
"We're not done yet. Whatever sent this thing here won't be far behind."
Rolien looked up, determination hardening his features despite the pain.
"Then we finish this—together."
Rolien barely had time to catch his breath before a sharp, digital chime echoed in his mind—a clear signal that the system was registering the kill.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Target defeated: Class A Mana Beast – Dreadmaw
Rewards unlocked:
- Instant Level Up x3
Your body surges with newfound power. Three levels gained instantly. Stats and skills improved.
- Random Box: Class F
Contains a surprise item. Opening may yield useful equipment, materials, or consumables.
- Rare Achievement Unlocked: Beast Slayer
Description: Successfully defeating high-tier mana beasts grants you stacking bonuses to critical hit chance and damage against beasts. Each kill increases these bonuses by 2%, stacking up to 20 times. Additionally, the achievement slightly boosts your mana regeneration while in combat against beasts.
- Loot acquired:
Class A Weapon Material x4 — high-grade ore suitable for forging or enhancing legendary weapons
Broken Horn x2 — tough, resilient material ideal for crafting armor reinforcements
Molten Lava x1 Bucket — rare crafting ingredient used in weapon forging to imbue heat properties
Broken Tooth x1 — sharp and durable, can be used for crafting or enchanting minor gear
Dreadmaw Mana Core x1 (Class A) — a powerful core pulsating with residual mana; can be absorbed to boost mana reserves or used as a rare crafting catalyst
---
Rolien's vision blurred for a moment as the power settled into him. He could feel the surge—the level-ups enhancing his senses, his speed, his strength. The ache in his arm dulled to a manageable burn.
He opened the random box cautiously, the faint glow from within teasing possibilities.
Marcellus, watching, raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you're getting stronger every minute, kid."
Rolien smiled grimly, standing straighter despite the fatigue.
"Feels like I've just stepped up a whole new level."
His eyes flicked to the mana core pulsing gently in his palm.
"Let's see what this Dreadmaw's heart has to teach me."
Rolien barely had time to catch his breath before a sharp, digital chime echoed in his mind—a clear signal that the system was registering the kill.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Target defeated: Class A Mana Beast – Dreadmaw
Rewards unlocked:
- Instant Level Up x3 Your body surges with newfound power. Three levels gained instantly. Stats and skills improved.
- Random Box: Class F Contains a surprise item. Opening may yield useful equipment, materials, or consumables.
- Rare Achievement Unlocked: Beast Slayer Description: Successfully defeating high-tier mana beasts grants you stacking bonuses to critical hit chance and damage against beasts. Each kill increases these bonuses by 2%, stacking up to 20 times. Additionally, the achievement slightly boosts your mana regeneration while in combat against beasts.
- Loot acquired:
Class A Weapon Material x4 — high-grade ore suitable for forging or enhancing legendary weapons
Broken Horn x2 — tough, resilient material ideal for crafting armor reinforcements
Molten Lava x1 Bucket — rare crafting ingredient used in weapon forging to imbue heat properties
Broken Tooth x1 — sharp and durable, can be used for crafting or enchanting minor gear
Dreadmaw Mana Core x1 (Class A) — a powerful core pulsating with residual mana; can be absorbed to boost mana reserves or used as a rare crafting catalyst
Rolien's vision blurred for a moment as the power settled into him. He could feel the surge—the level-ups enhancing his senses, his speed, his strength. The ache in his arm dulled to a manageable burn.
He opened the random box cautiously, the faint glow from within teasing possibilities.
Marcellus, watching, raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you're getting stronger every minute, kid."
Rolien smiled grimly, standing straighter despite the fatigue.
"Feels like I've just stepped up a whole new level."
His eyes flicked to the mana core pulsing gently in his palm.
"Let's see what this Dreadmaw's heart has to teach me."
Rolien closed his fingers tightly around the Dreadmaw Mana Core. A faint pulse of raw, chaotic energy thrummed against his palm, as if the beast's dying heartbeat still echoed within it. The core was warm, almost alive, and the mana within was dense, thick with that dark, primal power.
He inhaled deeply, centering himself. Carefully, he focused his own mana, opening the channel within him to absorb the core's energy. At first, it was like trying to swallow fire—painful and overwhelming. The energy crackled, twisting and writhing in his veins like liquid lightning. But Rolien didn't flinch. Instead, he let the surge flow through him, shaping it with the control he'd honed over endless training.
The burn in his arm flared again but this time, it was different—like a forge igniting inside, sharpening his focus and hardening his resolve.
As Rolien felt the last of the Dreadmaw's energy course through him, a sharp chime cut through the silence—different from before. Not the triumphant tone of a successful absorption. This one was harsher, jarring.
[SYSTEM ALERT – ERROR DETECTED]
Absorption Failed.
Reason: User has no compatible Mana Core.
Body classification: Non-standard. Mana flow pathways incomplete. Kigen Formation Circuit not found.
Initiating contingency protocol...
Rolien staggered back a step, blinking through the system's words now burned into his mind.
"What the hell?" he muttered under his breath. He'd felt the energy enter him—why had it rejected him now?
Marcellus paused, sensing the shift in Rolien's demeanor. "Something wrong?"
Rolien didn't answer right away. His focus was pinned to the next line that appeared.
[ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY ANALYSIS: COMPLETE]
Solution Found.
Initiating: Proto-Spiritual Resonance Circuit.
Requirement: Absorb five (5) high-grade mana cores to forge an alternate core structure.
Progress: 1/5 Cores Absorbed.
Rolien let out a slow, tense breath. His body wasn't built like the others. No Kigen Circuit. No natural mana core. Whatever the Grand Duke's bloodline had given him, it didn't come with the usual mage framework.
And yet... the system was adapting.
He didn't know what this Proto-Spiritual Resonance Circuit meant, not yet. The system wasn't giving him any more details beyond the requirements. Five high-grade mana cores. That meant more monsters like the Dreadmaw. More battles. More risk.
But also... a new path. A power designed not for those born with it, but for someone who had to carve it out of the world with his own hands.
He clenched his fists slowly, feeling that faint echo still pulsing within him. It wasn't a core yet—but it was a start.
"No," he finally said to Marcellus, voice low but steady. "Not wrong. Just... different."
Marcellus raised a brow but didn't press. "As long as you're still moving forward."
Rolien nodded. "I will be. This is just step one."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the notification lingered quietly in Rolien's mind—
A countdown.
A promise.
[1/5 High-Grade Cores Absorbed]
The road ahead was dangerous, but Rolien wasn't afraid.
He didn't need what others were born with.
He would build his own core—
Piece by piece.
"Nice!" As he said that Fe felt something as he turn around all the buildings are shaking all of the sudden. " The fuck happening here?!"
Sure! Here's the continuation with Rolien cracking that joke in his usual sharp tone, giving a quick moment of levity in an otherwise intense scene:
---
And with that, the two vanished into the forest, shadows chasing shadows, as the sky behind them still burned violet.
They ran—branches whipping past, the underbrush crackling beneath their boots. Mana in the air was thick, choking, like the very land had been wounded. Every step toward the explosion made the pressure worse.
Then, as they crested a ridge and the distant column of violet fire pulsed again, Rolien huffed out a breath between strides.
"Man," he muttered, half to himself, "who the hell are they fighting over there? The actual Godzilla?"
Marcellus blinked, caught off guard.
Rolien didn't stop. "Swear to the system, if we turn that corner and see a skyscraper-sized lizard chucking mana beams, Legendary Pictures is gonna sue somebody."
Marcellus barked a laugh despite himself. "Only you would joke while running toward a death beam."
Rolien shrugged, eyes sharp ahead. "Gallows humor. It's either that or start screaming."
The laughter faded as the beam surged again, painting the horizon in deeper violet. They pushed on, blades ready, hearts pounding.
The storm wasn't over.
It was just getting started.
"Mom,dad, Elian pls be safe!"
---
They moved like ghosts through the trees—no wasted movement, no hesitation. Just purpose.
The sky behind them still pulsed with violet fire, distant but constant, like the heartbeat of something monstrous. The scent of scorched earth carried faintly on the wind. Whatever had caused that blast hadn't just fired and left—it was lingering.
Then they heard it.
A scream.
Not far. Human.
High-pitched, panicked—and cut off too quickly.
Both of them stopped instantly. Rolien's eyes snapped toward the sound, breath caught in his throat. The forest was eerily silent afterward, like it had swallowed the noise.
Marcellus shifted. "That was close."
Another cry rang out—closer this time, laced with terror.
Marcellus cursed under his breath and drew his weapon. "I'm going. Someone's in trouble."
Rolien's jaw tightened. He didn't argue.
"You sure?" he asked, already half-turning toward the direction of the beam.
"I'll be faster alone. You need to keep going."
Rolien hesitated for a beat.
Then nodded.
Marcellus met his gaze firmly. "Get to Greybrook. If anyone's left standing, they'll be there."
Rolien gave a sharp nod. "Don't die."
Marcellus flashed a grim smile. "Only if you save me the cool kills."
And then he vanished into the undergrowth, footsteps already fading.
Rolien took off again, the wind slicing past him as he pushed his legs harder. Every step felt heavier now—less from fatigue, more from dread.
After minutes of sprinting, the towering outer wall of Greybrook Dukedom came into view through the gaps in the trees—partially obscured by smoke, the front gate twisted and half-collapsed from some distant blast.
Rolien skidded to a halt just outside the perimeter, breathing hard.
Then his system pinged sharply.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Durability Alert: Gear Integrity – 60% Remaining
Projected Time to Failure: 16 Minutes (High-Intensity Movement)
He stared at the warning, chest heaving. The edges of his gauntlets were already glowing faintly, subtle cracks spider-webbing across the plating.
"Fuck…" he spat, already picking up speed again. "I need to hurry."
The gear keeping him alive—amplifying his movement, shielding his unenhanced body—was burning out. It was now a ticking time bomb.
Sixteen minutes. One mistake away from being defenseless.
He shot forward again, racing through the shattered gate into Greybrook.
Not knowing what waited inside—only knowing who should have been there.
And praying something was still left to save.
Rolien's boots scraped the stone as he sprinted up the twisted outer rampart. With a grunt, he launched himself upward—body arcing into the air like a spear. The wind screamed past his ears as he soared high, then landed hard atop the towering Greybrook wall, knees bent to absorb the force.
The moment he looked over—
His heart stopped.
"Bloody hell…"
The entire cityscape beyond was a war zone. Craters dotted the marble streets. Fire licked through the shattered trees. Soldiers scattered like ants as a shadow blotted out the sun.
The beast at the center of it all—no, the monster—was massive.
Thirty meters tall, hunched and pulsating with twisted violet energy. Its hide was a patchwork of broken scales, exposed muscle, and bony protrusions that jutted out like blades. Two jagged horns curved forward like sickles, framing a crooked, lipless mouth full of glowing teeth.
It turned its head, releasing a guttural snarl that echoed like an earthquake.
"Are you kidding me?" Rolien muttered. "It's literally Godzilla… just way uglier. Toho's gonna sue someone."
Then his eyes locked onto the chaos below—
"Elian—!"
His older brother, Elian Grey, was barely holding on. Armor scorched, blade shattered in one hand, a bloody wound across his side. He was standing firm… but even Rolien could see it:
He wasn't going to last another ten seconds.
The beast's chest swelled. Mana surged.
The mouth opened wide—core glowing—a violet beam forming at point-blank.
"Shit—!"
Rolien didn't think. He moved.
---
POV SHIFT: Elian Grey
His legs screamed. His vision blurred.
Elian raised his broken sword in a final, defiant stance as the beast reared back. The pressure from its charging breath crushed down on him like a falling tower.
This is it.
Then—
A shadow streaked in from the sky.
A voice, familiar, cocky, unmistakable, roared through the air:
"KAIROS! KILL SHOT!"
CRRRAAACKKK!
A seismic bang exploded through the air like the world had been punched by a meteor.
The monster's head snapped upward with a sickening crunch. The beam—now unstable—fired into its own throat.
The explosion detonated inside its mouth.
BOOM!
Violet flames burst from its nose, eyes, even cracks in its chest. The beast reeled back, stunned.
Elian's mouth dropped open.
"Ro—Rolien?!"
A familiar figure stood in front of him, smoke rising from his glove, hair wind-swept and wild, wearing a grin like he just punched the gods.
"Yo, big bro," Rolien said casually, "Long time no see."
---
POV SHIFT: Rolien
Before he could finish catching his breath, the beast roared again, locking eyes with him this time.
A new charge built in its throat—smaller, faster, but no less deadly.
"Aw, come on—!" Rolien darted sideways as three miniature beams locked onto him like heat-seeking mana bullets.
He skidded into cover, barely missing the blasts scorching the earth behind him.
"Hey! Little help here! I can't line up a shot at its core while dodging this crap!"
"Rolien!" his mother's voice rang out like a song through chaos.
Lady Lirien Grey stepped forward, cloak torn, silver hair damp with blood and sweat. Her hands flowed in elegant, fluid circles. Water surged around her like a living tide.
With a roar of magic, she unleashed a spell:
"Tideform: Leviathan Spiral!"
A massive serpent of shimmering blue water erupted from the ground—its translucent body twisting through the air before slamming into the incoming mana blasts. Steam hissed as energy collided with magic, neutralizing the incoming barrage.
Before the smoke even cleared, a second figure flashed in from the side—
"Dragon Fang Style: Scale Sever—"
Grand Duke Edric's blade, wreathed in deep crimson light, came down in a vertical arc.
"—Fourth Fang!"
His slash cleaved through the beast's left foot, slicing tendons and hide like butter. The monster staggered, screeching in agony.
Rolien stood between them all now—his family, bloodied but fighting.
He looked at the stunned beast, its glowing eyes focused entirely on him now.
He spat to the side, then cracked his neck.
"Alright, ugly," he muttered, "Let's finish what you started."
The monster's bellow rattled the very foundations of the Greybrook wall, its glare now locked onto Rolien like he was prey—and it was starving.
But the battle wasn't just one-on-one.
Beyond the main beast's towering bulk, the fields outside the city were crawling with movement.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of lesser mana beasts surged from the forest and broken hills. Some bore wolf-like forms wreathed in shadow, others lumbered like twisted bears with molten crystal growths along their backs. One even had wings, flapping erratically as it dive-bombed into the outer gate, screeching.
"Rolien!" his father barked over the noise, not missing a beat. "This thing isn't alone!"
"No kidding!" Rolien shouted, barely ducking under a swipe from the monster's claws. "You get the big one! I'll clear the pests!"
The main beast reared back in pain, still reeling from Edric's foot-cleaving slash—but the moment of weakness wouldn't last.
Rolien sprinted toward the outer ledge of the battlefield, scanning fast. The outer gate—still open from the evacuation—was under siege. Soldiers fought hard to hold it, but they were being overwhelmed.
He bolted forward again, dodging wreckage, mana blasts, and flaming debris.
Rolien ducked beneath a claw swipe, rolled through the legs of a charging beast, then popped back up and fired a shot mid-spin.
PFFT!
The shot blasted through the skull of a mid-class wolf-beast, dropping it cold.
He didn't pause—flicked the chamber open and slammed in another round with a smooth, practiced motion. The cylinder on his rifle hissed faintly, air magic discharging from the stone inside. Steam curled from the barrel like breath in winter.
He checked his counter.
Kairos Kill Shot: 1 use remaining
"Tch... can't waste it," he muttered, exhaling through clenched teeth. "That last one's for the big bastard. Everything else? Back to basics."
The rifle on his back wasn't made in this world.
It was a hybrid—built from memories of Earth tech and adapted with this world's resources. A compressed air system built around a hollow cylinder lined with magic-absorbing stone—not to power it like a mage's staff, but to react with ambient air spells and propel his shots like a railgun on steroids.
Each bullet was a spike of carved obsidian—refined fire magic-absorbing stone, so when it hit mana-rich targets, it didn't just pierce—it ignited.
He heard a growl to his left.
Rolien twisted and fired—PFFT!—right through the eye of a mid-air leaper.
Its head erupted in a burst of red mist. The corpse thudded to the ground like a sack of meat.
He pivoted again, dropped into a crouch as a crystalline claw missed his cheek by a hair, then blasted a wolf in the throat.
"Three shots left…"
More were coming.
A trio this time—beasts moved smarter now. One charged head-on, the others flanking wide.
Rolien dove backward, boots sliding on ash-slick stone. He landed on his shoulder, rolled, popped up, and snapped a round into the gut of the rightmost beast.
PFFT!
It exploded outward, its belly caving in like wet paper.
The one to his left lunged.
Rolien dropped low, pivoted, and drove his heel into its lower jaw—a full-body kick. Bone shattered. The monster flipped and landed limp.
"Two."
His breath came sharp and fast. Not from fear—just from sheer, focused exertion. Every second felt like a countdown.
He slid behind a shattered wagon for cover, snapped open his rifle's chamber, and reloaded another round.
Gear Durability: 47% → 39%
A warning blinked on the custom overlay lens clipped to his right ear.
SEVERE STRESS DAMAGE DETECTED
"Shit…"
That last dive dragged him across a shard of corrupted crystal. His armor—stitched and reinforced with scavenged alloys and leathers—wasn't meant for long-haul skirmishes like this.
Ten minutes left, maybe less.
He grit his teeth. "Still more time than I need."
A shriek tore overhead.
Rolien looked up. Another of those flying beasts—wings jagged like glass, veins glowing with foul mana—was diving straight for him.
He adjusted his stance. Took a slow breath.
"Whiplash chamber... air pressure, full burst…"
CHK-KTCH.
His rifle hissed again as the inner ring aligned—prepping for anti-air mode.
He pulled the trigger.
BOOOMF!
The projectile screamed upward. The moment it touched the corrupted mana saturating the flying beast's core, it ignited like a bomb—black ichor and molten chunks rained from the sky.
A young soldier nearby stumbled back in awe. "H-How the hell are you still standing?!"
Rolien smirked through the smoke. "Protein powder and disappointment."
The soldier blinked. Then laughed—just before another alarm went off.
From the tree line, more beasts surged. Bigger. Meaner. Endless.
He tapped the side of his neck, activating his comm crystal.
"Marcellus? I'm halfway to the center path. I need that eastern flank cleared now."
"I'm pinned!" the captain's voice cracked through, ragged and breathless. "We've got a corrupted ogre! Big one—with a mana battery grafted to its spine. It's throwing mana spikes like spears!"
Rolien's stomach dropped.
Of course it was.
He slammed another spike into the chamber and stood, face grim.
The massive kaiju at the city wall was still recovering. His parents were still buying time. Elian was still up there, holding his own.
But that didn't matter if the eastern flank fell.
Because if that ogre reached the center path… the entire wall would crumble.
He shouldered the rifle again, eyes hard.
Every shot had to count.
Every move had to kill.
And that last Kairos?
It had to be perfect.
"Time to use my big Guns!"
To be continued...