Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

"Listen carefully, because these are your instructions for the exam." Instructor Layla announced with a commanding voice that got their full focus.

She gestured toward the belts. "After I activate these, a spherical dome of hardened earth will surround each of you. Your task is simple: destroy the dome using only your lightning spells. Only your lightning spells... Don't even use your fist." she emphasized the last part and her gaze lingered on Kyle for a moment longer than necessary.

Kyle knew why he got the look. The memory of his infamous one-punch knockout during a sparring match was still fresh in everyone's minds.

The students nodded, some already strategizing in their heads.

"For every layer of earth you break, you'll earn points," Layla continued. "The first layer is worth 10 points. The second is worth 20. The third, 40. And so on. Each layer doubles in value."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the room.

Layla smiled at their enthusiasm before adding, "And there's no time limit."

The students broke into cheers.

"Piece of cake!" one student exclaimed.

"I'll just keep going until I break a hundred layers!" another boasted, grinning from ear to ear.

Layla waited patiently, her serene smile slowly morphing into a wicked grin.

"Ah, I forgot to mention one tiny detail..."

The room fell silent.

"... You won't be able to breathe while inside the dome."

The announcement landed like a thunderclap.

"Wait, what?!"

"No air? Are you serious?!"

"We'll suffocate!"

Panic spread like wildfire, and the once-confident students now looked at Layla as if she'd lost her mind.

"Quiet!" Layla snapped, her tone slicing through the chaos. The students fell silent, though their wide eyes betrayed their unease.

"In cultivation, you don't breathe while absorbing mana," Layla stated matter-of-factly. "Think of this as a test of your focus and endurance. Besides," she added with a shrug, "you can give up at any time. Just tap the belt, and the dome will disappear."

Her smile returned, but this time it was devoid of warmth. "But don't say I didn't warn you. If something happens, you'll be liable for it."

A cold shiver ran through the room as the students imagined the consequences of failing such a grueling test.

"Let's begin, shall we?" Layla said, clapping her hands together.

Before anyone could protest further, she activated the belts with a flick of her wrist. The metallic devices hummed to life, and thick, earthen spheres rose from the ground, encasing each student in their own private prison.

Kyle barely had time to take a breath before the mud solidified around him, plunging him into darkness.

Kyle didn't waste time the moment he was surrounded, breathing wasn't a problem for him at his current strength, at least not yet.

'Alright, let's do this,' he thought, raising a hand. Lightning crackled at his fingertips, illuminating the narrow space with flashes of bright, electric blue. A moment later, he released the energy with a commanding flick.

The first layer of the dome shattered instantly, crumbling to dust.

Kyle blinked as the fragments vanished into the void of darkness, and in their place, another dome appeared, just as solid, just as impenetrable, as if it had always been there. There wasn't even a trace of the first dome's destruction.

'Huh, no openings... It just resets. Guess I'll have to keep blasting,' he thought.

Kyle couldn't help but reflect after seeing the spell's power. 'My strength increase has amplified the power of my spells as well. It's no wonder the [Lightning Bolt] feels like it can tear through anything.'

Confidence surged through him and he aimed at the second dome, letting loose another powerful [Lightning Bolt]. It only took 2 [Lightning Bolts] for it to shatter like the first.

And again, a new dome materialized instantly.

Kyle paused for a moment, staring at the endless cycle. His thoughts shifted.

'Wait a second... They can't see what's going on inside the dome. Which means... I don't have to hold back. I can spam spells anyhow I want.'

Kyle raised his hands, his smirk twisting into something almost wicked. With a flick of his wrist, he fired another [Lightning Bolt]. Then another. And another. Until the lightning bolts were coming in rapid succession.

There was no stopping him now.

***n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Meanwhile, outside the domes, the training hall was filled with the sounds of groans and heavy breathing. Students emerged one by one, collapsing to their knees or leaning against walls for support.

Instructor Layla stood with her arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold with a serene expression. She had expected nothing less.

By the ten-minute mark, Milo, the very last person apart Kyle, came out. He had managed to destroy all the domes until the fourth, which had proven too difficult to destroy. So in total, he had amassed 70 points.

The other students were murmuring amongst themselves, their gazes fixed on the one dome that remained.

"Kyle's still in there..."

"Don't tell me he's about to crush us all in another test."

"That guy's a monster."

The whispers grew louder, and Milo's jaw tightened. His teeth ground together as he glared at the unyielding dome.

"Of course it's him," he muttered under his breath.

Layla's smile widened as she took in the murmurs. "See?" she said, addressing the group. "That's why he's my favorite. All of you should work harder to be like him." Her gaze shifted to Milo. "Especially you, Milo."

Milo's face burned with anger and humiliation, but he stayed silent, his fists trembling at his sides.

The rest of the students waited anxiously, their eyes glued to Kyle's dome. They couldn't see the layers breaking, couldn't tell how many he had destroyed. The domes were replaced so quickly that it looked as though nothing was happening at all. Yet, the fact that he was still inside after so long spoke volumes.

***

Inside the dome, Kyle had been at it for nearly hours. He needed to breath more tan ever now and the strain had begun to weigh on his body. He stood before the 15th dome, his breath shallow but his determination unwavering.

[Points: 10 + 20 + 40 + 80 + 160 + 320 + 640 + 1280 + 2560 + 5120 + 10240 + 20480 + 40960 + 81920 = 163,830]

He stared at the shimmering barrier in front of him, his mind a whirlwind of calculations and resolve. This particular dome had consumed over ten thousand [Lightning Bolts], each cast with precision and power. Yet it held firm, refusing to yield.

'The difficulty's skyrocketing,' he thought, beads of sweat forming on his brow. The toughness of the domes had increased exponentially, and he could feel his body demanding oxygen already.

Still, he refused to give in. Channeling his remaining strength, he summoned another [Lightning Bolt] and hurled it at the dome with everything he had.

>BOOOM!!<

With a thunderous explosion, the sixteenth dome finally crumbled.

Kyle stumbled, clutching his knees as he gasped for nonexistent air. His body screamed for relief, and he knew that going further was out of the question.

'Sixteen domes... Not bad,' he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Reaching for the belt, he tapped it once, and the dome dissolved around him, releasing him back into the light.