I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Chapter 194: Julius' competitiveness

"Huff, Huff." Julius' ragged breath echoed in his room as he worriedly scrutinised the darkening sky, wondering if Shepard's smokey form would appear. But his big brother's words calmed and made him drop his guard.

"Relax, he won't chase us," Adam said before turning grave and resuming their earlier conversation, "I know I seldom express gratitude, but I always repay it."

"I know," Julius answered with a soft smile, remembering how much Adam insulted Theodore, only to help him brew medicine and clean the shop most of the time. Still, despite his actions, he never heard the words 'thank you' going out of his mouth. Being the first to whom those words were directed surprised him enough to cause him to doubt Adam's identity momentarily.

"Once again, thank you for your help," Adam said, his words echoing like thunder in the boy's ears before dropping his seriousness and continuing with a playful smile, "Anyway, I can't die and let a crying baby like you fend for himself."

'Who is a baby?' Julius thought, his brow twitching after hearing the sarcastic remarks. His competitiveness triggered by the belittling, he said, "With my legendary weapon and improvement with the sutra, I'm sure I'm as strong as you now!"

His words weren't empty boasts. During the last three days, he had been training wholeheartedly, learning to control his Qi and the five basic elements. He even spared with Shiro yesterday, completely overpowering the apprentice with his swift movements. Even her gravitational spells weren't enough to stop him.

Roughly channelling the elements to boost his body was enough to counteract the debilitating effect of her affinity, causing him to win every match until she gave up and screamed in frustration.

"Tsk, you changed, kid. I can't believe you're serious." Adam answered, a smirk tugging at his lips.

The boy's eyes widened in confusion as he thought, 'Heeeee? When did I change?' Somehow, he found this remark disturbing, yet didn't know how to answer it. However, his big brother wasn't done as his smirk broadened.

With a swipe of his hand, he materialised his dark Blade of Adaptation and seized it before taunting, "Guess what the blade rank is? I can even let you examine it since I'm not as petty as you. Hahaha."

After all, despite his curiosity, Julius always refused to share his gladius' details, saying it was his secret. In contrast, he didn't care. His weapons were only a part of his strength, and he could do without them if necessary.

"Cat got your tongue?" He asked, his eyes gloating at the boy's widened eyes.

'Is it the mythical item he told me about but couldn't show me? He wasn't boasting??' Julius pondered, chaos engulfing his mind. He knew empires possessed only one or two, guarding them closely for rituals or defense. His big brother possessing one made no sense. Worse, if others were to learn about it, they would hunt him down to steal his possessions!

"HIDE IT!" Julius yelled, his eyes trembling before adding, "Don't show it to anyone! Mythical weapons are too precious!"

"..."

'When did it become a mythical weapon?' Adam thought, lost for words at the sudden panicked command. After a moment, he burst into laughter and said, waving his hand, "It's just a legendary weapon. I'm sure it's better than your gladius, though. Try it if you don't trust me."

Reassured but still worried since even legendary weapons were rarities only possessed by the wealthiest nobles, Julius snorted. "Nothing can beat my gladius. I even wonder how it's not a mythical weapon."

"It seems like it is really extraordinary," Adam said before dismantling his confidence point by point, "Since I also possess a legendary blade, how are you going to contend against me?" Find adventures at m_v l|e-NovelBin.net

His words forced the boy to fall silent, simulating his fight with his big brother in his mind seriously. Adam's castless mana technique and strategies were the biggest threat he would face, but with his enhanced senses, he was confident he could bypass them. Once in melee, despite the new weapon, he would gradually gain the advantage by relying on his swiftness and strength.

Sounds of battles echoed in his mind as sweat dripped down his forehead before he answered, his voice filled with confidence, "Out of five fights, I can beat you three times!"

"HAHAHA." Adam roared in laughter, ethereal tears uncontrollably welling in his eyes at the serious statement.

"What?! I'm sure of my simulations!" The boy replied, annoyed not to be taken seriously. But Adam's answer caused him to freeze.

"I'm an apprentice already. Even if I weren't, I can see your moves," he said with an innocent smile, letting him remake his simulation to see the result himself.

After five minutes, Julius' face sank. Just adding his brother's swift reactions and counterattack after considering he could see him move distinctly lowered his chances of victory by fifty percent. If he included more and stronger mana to the mix...

As he grappled in his mind, trying everything he knew to beat his brother at least once, the room's door opened, revealing the panting Arun.

With a raised brow, Adam gazed at his dishevelled figure and shook his head disapprovingly. "Starting tomorrow, you'll train your body until you spite your lungs out." He said, his eyes fixed on the boy's thin arms.

"Hah? Why? I want to be a mage, not a body cultivator." Arun answered in confusion, taking deep breaths to recover from his escape.

"Because even Asha can beat you in a physical fight! Aren't you ashamed? Who cares about mana and spells if you can't protect yourself in melee?" Adam explained, holding the bridge of his ethereal nose between his fingers. More than ever, he was convinced that relying on mana alone wasn't enough for someone to become truly powerful. Look at Shepard.

Despite being an arcanist, he had been forced to team up with three others to beat a ghost of the same rank.

Of course, he didn't want the boy to reach a high tier, but at least the second, to be able to defend himself against most body cultivators if they reached him for whatever reason.

"..."

Arun lost his voice after being shamed for the second time in the last ten minutes as he thought, 'Why bring my fiancé to the discussion?! I can beat her in a fight... probably?'