"I Reincarnated But Have No System? You Must Be Kidding Me!"

Auren was done being merciful.

These soldiers weren't men defending their homeland or protecting innocents. They were executioners, blindly following orders from a foolish king.

And worse still, many of their faces triggered old scars in his memory.

They were the same ones who had slaughtered children thirteen years ago, their laughter still echoing in his nightmares.

His hand tightened on the hilt at his side. He didn't want to show mercy anymore.

"This is your last chance,"

Auren said, his voice low but carrying across the yard.

"Get out of our way."

The soldiers didn't flinch.

"Are you seeing this? hahaha!"

They sneered, armored feet crunching over dirt and gravel as they closed ranks.

Auren raised a blue potion to his lips and gulped it down in one go, the sharp tang of condensed mana burned his throat. His eyes glinted with murderous intent, promising blood to anyone foolish enough to test him.

Instead of backing away, the soldiers responded with furious mockery.

"Hah! Just because you lucked out on one of us, you think you can take us all?" one mage taunted, dark energy sparking between his palms.

"With that level of yours, I doubt you even have a drop of mana left!" another barked, his fingers weaving a magical circle before launching a spear of shadow straight at Auren.

[DARK PIERCER]

The spear shot forward with a shriek.

'Tsk.'

His boots flared, mana flickering at the edges, while his eyes lit up as his observation skill took hold.

In an instant, his world slowed while the dark spear inched closer on his head.

He twisted, the projectile passing so close it tugged at a strand of hair as it cut past.

'my mana is too limited,'

he thought grimly.

Physical attacks it is.'

SHI-BOOOM!

The spear missed Auren and landed behind and exploded .

The ground shook under the weight of magic and dark element.

"You're dead meat!"

The mages pressed in from every angle, their coordinated attacks filling the air with searing light and oppressive force towards Auren.

Three level-forty mages and one elite level 38 soldier. Against a single level 27 opponent.

In their perspective, Auren was just breathing because of luck.

Little did they know, one on one, Auren would have cut them down without hesitation.

Two against one, still manageable.

But four, well-coordinated and bloodthirsty? That was gambling against death itself.

And he was already running thin on mana.

Every ounce had to be measured, spent with precision.

'I hope this works…' Auren muttered under his breath. He kicked forward, body a blur as he hurled himself straight into the cluster of Austerran forces with reckless resolve.

The clash rang out like thunder.

Shaa~

While their eyes and spells stayed glued to Auren, the dark binding magic that had pinned Robert, Mardonio, and Austaire, have finally faltered.

The dark runes that had held fast began to crack, unraveling like brittle rope.

Mardonio noticed first with his eyes sharpened.

'I think this should be enough…'

With a grunt, the old warrior surged, mana flaring across his limbs.

CRACK-

The bonds snapped apart, smoke trailing from his arms as the black chains dissolved.

"Well done, kid," he muttered while massaging twisting his wrist, a smile flickering at the corner of his lips.

"Now its my turn."

His overwhelming aura exploded outward, raw and heavy, making the air tremble.

The frail, beaten man they thought had been harmless shifted into something else entirely. His grip tightened on the Divine Rapier, and the faint ring of steel echoed as he drew it fully.

Mardonio was like a dragon finally let loose.

Clink~

Then he moved.

[WIND SPEED][FALCON GAZE][DEATH HOLD]

Three buffs cascaded over him in a rush of green, gold, and crimson light. His speed surged, his vision sharpened to predatory clarity, and his killing intent honed itself into the very edge of his blade.

Flash!

AGHK!

The first mage never saw it coming.

Mardonio's blade carved through him in one sweeping arc, so clean the mage's eyes remained wide open even as his life was cut short.

BSSSSH~

Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, splattering hot across the stones.

The old warrior's gaze was cold and merciless towards the Austerran force.

Then he vanished again.

"No, wait—stop!" cried the mage holding Austaire, panic breaking his chant.

Too late.

Thud.

The man's head rolled free, eyes frozen in horror. Even as he activated his protective ring, the Divine Rapier in Mardonio's hand was like a death reaper's tool. Cutting through their defenses without problem.

Ughhkgh~

His body twitched, then collapsed in a heap. Austaire stumbled out of the unraveling bindings, gasping for air as the smoky restraints dissolved.

Robert struck next after finally breaking out of the binding himself.

He lacked Mardonio's elegance and power, but his experience made up for it. Spotting a mage mid-chant, he lunged, sweeping his legs from beneath him.

"What the—!"

SWOOP! THUD!

Before the mage could react, Robert's elbow cracked against his temple,

WHAM!

Then, a mana-charged fist followed, smashing across his jaw.

KAPOW!

The mage crumpled to the ground in silence.

In seconds, the prisoners were free, their bonds shattered, vengeance breathing life into their limbs.

"The rebels are escaping!" a scout screamed from the tower above, his voice shrill.

"Soldiers, stop them!" a knight commander roared, and a loud trumpet sound was activated.

TOTOOOOOOT!~

The yard erupted.

More Knights started poured into the backside of the castle, armor clattering like drums of war, weapons glinting with aura.

Horses screamed, hooves pounding as mounted elites charged in.

Neeeigh!

Swoooosh!

Among them, two expert mages soared above, wings of mana carrying them, while four mounted knights leveled their aura-steeped swords with murderous intent.

"Heiya! Heiya!"

Far behind them, more reinforcements poured in, the king's army eager to drown them in steel.

Mardonio froze as he watched them from afar using his observation skills, his chest tightening at his realization.

'Those bastards finally showed up.'

The sight of their armor made his teeth grind—the emblem of a sword driven through a lion's skull, glinting under the torchlight.

It was the mark of the Soulfang family. Their nemesis.

His blood began to burn.

In a flash, the memory seared into him, raw and unforgiving.

The night his kin were slaughtered. His family executed without trial. His home burned not in justice, but in blind obedience to a tyrant's word.

His hands shook, his heart pounding like a war drum.

"Finally…"

The word hissed from his lips, filled with killing intent.

His grip on the Divine Rapier tightened, his stance lowering.

'Just a little more...'

He was ready to charge, ready to carve his vengeance into their bones.

But a hand stopped him.

It was Auren.

"Stop!" The young man's voice cut sharp across the chaos.

"Lord Mardonio, secure Austaire first. Neither of you are in any best condition to fight."

"I know that, kid, but—" Mardonio's voice cracked, fury clashing with restraint.

"Please, Grandpa," Austaire's trembling voice broke through. She grabbed his sword arm, holding it down. "I know how much you want this fight, but this is their trap. If we stay, we lose. All of us."

Mardonio's heart twisted.

"I want to fight too, Grandpa… but not today."

His knuckles whitened on the hilt. Revenge screamed in his blood, but duty screamed louder.

He clenched his jaw, chest rising and falling as his rage clawed at him.

Sigh.

Robert laid a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"They're right," Robert said, his tone grounding.

"If you hesitate now, more will come. Protect Austaire. Do not lose her for revenge."

He bent down, grabbed a fallen sword, and moved to Auren's side. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Auren and I will cover you both. Go."

But Auren stepped back sharply.

"No, Father. You should go too."

Robert's eyes widened but Auren continued,

"You three go, I will hold them for you. With my boots, I can easily escape them anytime-"

"Are you out of your mind!?" Robert snapped.

But before he could finish, Auren's hand darted out, three fingers striking his nape with surgical precision that even he failed to dodge.

"what are you do-"

WHIP!

Robert collapsed, unconscious.

Mardonio's eyes widened. 'What speed… Is that how a level 27 knight is supposed to be?'

Auren hefted his father and dragged him to Mardonio. His voice was steady, but his eyes gleamed with quiet determination.

"If you want to repay us, then bring my father to safety."

Mardonio stared, then nodded slowly. "Such a brave knight. If you ever want a place, I will raise you to my rank and."

Austaire opened her mouth and about to reveal Auren's true identity, but Auren silenced her with a glance.

"I'll gladly accept, sire. Now go."

Austaire paused what she was about to say. She knows more talk will only delay their escape.

"Are you sure? How will you escape Auborn's men?"

Auren smirked. "I have my ways."

Reluctantly, Mardonio turned, lifting Austaire and the unconscious Robert. With his movement skill, the three disappeared into the shadows within a moment, retreating from the clash.

'Finally...'

Auren turned back, summoning a potion from his storage ring. He smashed it against the ground.

"It's time to play this counterstrike style."

POOF!

Thick black fog erupted from the potion, spreading fast, cloaking the battlefield.

The incoming Knights and mages smirked.

'You think your stupid fog will stop us?'

Their eyes glowed.

[FALCON FOCUS][DARK GAZER]

Exactly what Auren had wanted.

From the depths of the smoke, he hurled a swirling silver potion out into the open.

"You stare, you're over!"

SHH-POOOOW!

A blinding light detonated in an instant.

Screams erupted as sight was stolen, mana flow disrupted, balance shredded.

Their heightened senses made the flashbang unbearable, knives of agony stabbing their eyes.

"AAAGH!"

"I can't see!"

"You bastard knight!"

The horses panicked, crashing into one another as the thick dark smoke consumed them.

Instantly, chaos consumed the yard.

CRASSHH! BOOM!

"Get off me!"

"You fool, that's my foot!"

"Move, you bloody idiot!"

As the fog thickened, confusion ate their minds. After all, that fog potion was made from an exotic herb that causes blindness, mental dullness and mana disruption.

Inside, Auren slipped on his black mask, vision clearing through the haze, lungs shielded from its choking effects.

'I can't use the bazooka—it'll disperse the fog. I need something smaller… deadlier.'

He drew his upgraded gun, its barrel gleaming faintly.

It was the Magnum Kaboom.

He crouched low, eyes locking onto a staggering mage who clutched at his blinded face.

"Hasta la vista, noobs."

BANG!

The shot cracked like thunder, cutting through the fog and sealing another fate.