Sword God in a World of Magic Chapter 5 - Mages

Alex gazed at the youth with a complicated look on his face. Transforming a realm brimming with folks who could grow as mighty as the God standing right in front of him? How in the world? He was nothing but a mere mortal.

"Hold your horses now," the youth remarked with a sly grin, peering into Alex's thoughts once more. "At this moment, you're just like a kid learning they'll have to take over their dad's business someday. Naturally, it all seems overwhelming."

"Truth is, you won't need to lift much of a finger."

"All you gotta do is get stronger."

"That's the whole deal."

Alex knitted his brows. "That's all? Yet you mentioned I have to alter the world."

"Spot on," the youth replied, reclining once again. "But your rise to power is precisely what will shake up the world."

"Can you quit the cryptic talk and straight-up say what you expect from me?" Alex inquired.

The youth chuckled lightly. "You got it."

"I gave you a glimpse of my primary world earlier," the youth continued. "To recap, in my world, supreme might comes from boosting the strength of body and mind."

"Countless routes lead to ultimate power. One way involves drawing in the ambient energy to empower your mind. This fortifies your soul, and a stronger soul amps up your psychic prowess. You could smash elephants with mere thoughts or channel worldly energy into devastating blasts."

"On the flip side, you might hone your physique. By pulling atmospheric energy and merging it into your flesh, you gain speed and strength so immense that mind-focused foes can't even twitch before your strike lands."

"Or blend with abstract notions and call them forth."

"Or specialize in arms, letting a single swing tear through reality itself."

"Or grasp the world's principles and bend energy to mimic them, commanding fire, gravity, time, space, water, metal, life, and more."

"Or endlessly hoard Energy, turning into a living explosive that dumps years of buildup in one devastating blow."

Alex paid close attention.

All this rang with pure magic.

In truth, it resembled a game featuring varied classes. Each class could hit near-equal peaks through unique paths by game's close.

The youth burst into laughter. "Yep, you could see it like a game. But keep in mind, this is real life, not some game."

Alex gave a nod.

"In essence, endless paths to strength exist," the youth summed up.

Then, he fell silent.

Alex eyed the youth, brows furrowing.

Next, his nose scrunched up in revulsion.

"Whatever," the youth said, glancing back at Alex, tone less upbeat. "I introduced all these varied power paths. Gradually, humans uncovered them one by one, pushing humanity's pinnacles ever higher."

"Things progressed smoothly, and I relished watching the clashes between power paths."

Then, the youth clenched his jaw.

"That's when he appeared," the youth growled in loathing. "Who?" Alex questioned.

SHING! Thump!

A brilliant flash lit up briefly before Alex, accompanied by a thud on the ground.

Alex glanced over and drew in a sharp breath.

There lay the bare corpse of a young man!

"This bastard," the youth reiterated with venom. "The infamous Mage Emperor!"

'Mage Emperor?' Alex pondered, staring at the nude body.

"Among the power paths I devised was Magic," the youth clarified. "That was the first example I shared when outlining some paths in my world."

Alex felt uneasy chatting with the youth next to a naked cadaver. "You mean those who harness energy to bolster their mind and soul?" Alex asked, eyeing the corpse uneasily.

"Exactly," the youth responded flatly. "Like all others, Mages craved dominance, yet they held no edge in power."

"Until the Mage Emperor rose," the youth spat with contempt, shooting the corpse a glare. "He claimed the throne as the strongest, but rather than chase further personal gains, he aimed to exalt Magic above all."

"Thus, he slaughtered the top experts from every other power path," the youth added heatedly. "Worse still, post-massacre of the elites, he commanded fellow Mages to eradicate anyone potent enough sans Magic!"

"In mere years, this prick demolished millennia of advancement!" the youth bellowed, eyes blazing at the corpse.

The youth rose and stormed about furiously.

Alex stayed quiet, thoughts and words held back.

By then, Alex grasped how quick to rage this God was. "Do you grasp how dull my world turned after that?!" the youth roared, fixing Alex with a fierce stare.

Alex shook his head fast.

"Nothing but Mages remain, with Magic as the sole route to real power," the youth vented in irritation. "Power-seekers just flock to the Mages. Easiest path, right?"

"Why experiment when a proven road exists?" the youth mocked bitterly. "Why bother with the trouble, eh?"

"Even trailblazers of other paths quit and turn Mage once progress lags. Duh, it's slow! You're forging a fresh trail solo!"

"Worst part? Mages don't even bother stifling other paths!" the youth yelled. "No need! All flock to them anyway! With eons of polished Spells, Techniques, and Crafts, while others start from zilch thanks to your old purge. Naturally, they swarm you!"

"My damn world crawls with Mages only, and Mage duels rank among the dullest spectacles!" the youth thundered. "Ever watched folks lob crap at each other from afar for hours? Total snooze-fest!"

The youth's strides quickened.

"I'm bored out of my skull observing my own creation, meant for my amusement!"

"All thanks to this jerk!"

BANG! BOOOM!

In fury, the youth booted the corpse, sending it hurtling at breakneck speed into the wall, which burst apart.

Alex inhaled deeply.

Post-kick, the youth calmed somewhat, a wicked smirk curling his lips.

"You should've witnessed his strut into my palace like he ruled it," the youth said.

"I'd viewed him positively back then for his impressive strength. Figured other paths would rebound in time."

"But the fool strutted in, demanding I yield space."

SHING!

The nude corpse rematerialized before the youth, unscathed.

BANG!

Another savage kick, another wall-shattering blast.

"Just like now, I battered him across the chamber till death claimed him," the youth boasted with a vicious smile. "Took hours, but mounting wounds finally felled him."

Alex held utterly still.

This fellow spelled pure peril!

The youth drew a steadying breath and faced Alex anew.

"Now, that's your role," he declared, "a bold soul driven to true might."

"I'll drop you into my world in a form barred from Magic. Yet you're a power hound. If Magic fails, you'll carve another route."

pᴀɴdᴀ nᴏveʟ "And that's your full gig," the youth grinned, resuming his throne. "Just act like yourself there. Do as you please. Doesn't matter— you'll pursue power relentlessly, sans Magic."

"That's everything."

Alex mulled the youth's words, brows creased.

Matching this God's power?

Not a bad prospect.

A realm of genuine brutal combats?

Sounded promising.

Sensing his growth, taxing limits afresh in new flesh?

Appealing too.

Still, Alex let out a sigh. 'I wanna dive in, but it feels off, like choice got snatched away.'

"Pfft!" the youth scoffed with a brief guffaw. "No choice? That's your hang-up?"

"Fine, pick then."

"Return to your old world for the afterlife, or enter mine. Your call."

Alex recalled his former life and kin left behind. He yearned for them.

But death had taken him.

No resurrection from this God.

They were gone regardless.

Alex sighed once more. The God offered a pick, yet Alex's mind was set prior.

"Done dawdling with pointless musings?" the youth queried smirkingly.

Alex spared the nude corpse a glance.

Then, facing the youth, he nodded.

Fresh existence awaited.

"Not yet!" the youth barked. "Don't jump ahead. Before my world, I gotta lend a boost."

Alex's right brow arched. "A boost?"

"Yep," the youth affirmed with a pleased smirk, leaning back. "Three gifts to smooth your power climb."