Reborn As Noble

Javier looked at his father, who stood not far away, hands folded behind his back, expression as calm and unreadable as usual.

”Pardon me, esteemed father,” Javier began, keeping his voice steady.

”As I mentioned before... I found those old parchments mentioning the Power of Destruction and Hand of Creation. Since then, I’ve tried everything to find the users, using my detection magic, my Sky Eyes, my scout drones. I even flew my new inventions all across the world, searching for anyone who might pose a threat. But... I found nothing.”

Garius studied him, then spoke evenly. ”And what would you do, Javier, if I told you who these users are?”

Javier met his father’s gaze, determination clear in his eyes. ”I’d track them. Observe their powers directly. I’d build new inventions to counter them, so that if either of these users ever tried to use their powers for evil, I’d be ready to stop them.”

Garius smirked, a hint of challenge in his voice. ”How can you be so sure you could handle them? That your inventions would be enough? That you could even stand against them in a fight?”

Javier gritted his teeth, refusing to back down. ”Because... as it said on those parchments, these users appear when the Eyes of Truth user is present. That means... these two could be incredibly powerful. If they ever become enemies, if they turn evil, they could be a threat to everything.”

He paused, glancing aside. His voice lowered. ”I just want to be ready, Father. To protect Armand, our family.”

Garius’s smirk deepened as he glanced up at the pale morning sky, then back at Javier.

”So, you want to be ready for it. I assume that’s your answer?”

”Yes, esteemed father. I want to make sure I’m ready to face them. If my inventions can’t scratch them, then I need to know if my current magic, strength, and power are enough.”

”Very well...” Garius’s aura surged, a low hum vibrating through the air. His right eye shimmered, the Eyes of Truth fully awakening. Garius’s smirk never left his face. ”You mentioned these users only appear when the Eyes of Truth user exists. And I’m sure you already know who that is... am I right?”

”Yes. I know you are the user of the Eyes of Truth, esteemed father.”

”Good. And since, according to you, those two users will appear only after the Eyes of Truth user is present, then you also understand those two might be more powerful than me.”

Javier’s eyes went wide as he felt the world shift. The training ground was still there, but the air felt heavy, reality itself bending as a barrier enveloped the area, one of Garius’s special abilities to ensure their power wouldn’t affect the outside world.

”E-esteem father?” Javier stammered, a note of panic slipping through.

Garius’s expression was calm, but his voice was absolute. ”Prove it to me that you’re serious about stopping those two users... my youngest.”

Javier’s instincts kicked in, his body leaping away just in time as a barrage of golden fireballs erupted from where Garius stand, each one trailing dazzling arcs of heat and light.

”Esteemed father! I do not wish to fight you!” Javier shouted, darting away, his movements a blur as he dodged faster than the eye could follow.

”Oh?” Garius’s voice rang out, cold and challenging. ”So you think you’re ready to face two ancient power users, users who might be even stronger than me?”

”But!”

”Javier De Armand!” Garius’s shout echoed, his tone absolute. ”Fight seriously! If you can’t even face me, what chance do you have against those two users?”

Javier gritted his teeth, the gravity of the challenge finally settling in.

Shit! Father’s not playing around. But... judging by his aura, he’s not even going all out. He’s barely trying. And what’s with those golden missiles? They’re too fast!

Fine, dried plum. I’ll show you!

Javier planted his feet, swatting aside the next wave of golden fireballs with a burst of mana. He snapped his fingers, opening his dimensional storage.

But.

Nothing happened.

Javier’s eyes went wide, heart pounding. ”What!?”

His storage didn’t respond at all. The sword, his gear, everything was sealed.

What’s going on?! My dimensional storage... it’s blocked?!

Javier swatted aside another incoming golden orb, barely avoiding two more as they streaked past. He landed lightly, sweat on his brow, eyes locked on Garius, who stood at the far end of the training ground, hands clasped calmly behind his back, not even shifting his stance.

What the...?

Thinking fast, Javier raised his palm and launched a rapid barrage of fireballs at Garius, trying to match the golden onslaught. With his other hand, he lifted his arm skyward and cast a rain of ice spikes, aiming to pin his father in place from above.

But Garius didn’t move. He didn’t even raise a hand. The ice spikes vanished before they could reach him, erased mid-air by some unseen force.

Garius’s voice carried across the field, calm and steady. ”How about this, Javier? If you can force me to use my full power, I’ll tell you exactly who those users are.”

He smirked, eyes glinting. ”Oh~ and let’s raise the stakes. If you can actually defeat me, I’ll make sure you’re never forced to inherit the crown.”

Javier’s eyes widened, a wild grin spreading across his face. ”Ohh! You said it, old man! No taking it back!”

Garius’s right eye glinted with anticipation as he sensed Javier unleashing his full aura.

”Show me how strong you are, my youngest~”

In a flash, Javier vanished, reappearing behind Garius in the blink of an eye, his entire body wreathed in mana. He delivered a powerful, enhanced side kick, aiming straight for Garius’s back.

But Garius only smirked, tilting his body effortlessly aside. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a massive golden sphere and hurled it point at Javier. The attack exploded, sending Javier hurtling across the training yard. He landed hard, but managed to twist upright, striking a cool pose despite his now-messy clothes.

Shit. If Father’s already this strong... just how powerful are those two users going to be?

Javier steadied his breathing, channeling every drop of mana he could muster.

Fine. No more playing around.

He vanished again, flickering through the air at top speed. Garius watched him come, the faintest smirk on his lips.

Javier surged past, circling around, and activated his full power. A dome of thick, reinforced ice instantly formed around Garius, locking him in on all sides.

But Garius only shook his head and smiled, stepping forward as if nothing impeded him at all. The entire ice structure shattered around him, falling to the ground in harmless shards.

( End Of Chapter )