The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

The ground trembled beneath Alex's feet.

The colossal wolf that emerged from the earth towered over him. Its fur was jet-black, rippling like liquid shadow. Its eyes glowed an unnatural crimson, locking onto Alex with terrifying focus. Clumps of dirt clung to its legs as it fully stepped onto the arena floor, each step pressing deep impressions into the ground.

Its jaws opened wide. Saliva dripped from dagger-like fangs, sizzling as it hit the stone. The beast exhaled, releasing a low, guttural growl that vibrated through the air and seemed to reverberate in Alex's bones.

Alex's hands tightened around the hilt of his sword. The weapon felt too light—like a twig against a hurricane.

His pulse quickened. His heart raced.

What the hell is this thing?

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The system's earlier notification had made Alex confident—too confident. He had believed these beasts were mere fodder, stepping stones toward growth.

This creature, however, was different.

Grade 1, Class 5.

Alex didn't need a manual to understand what that meant.

Monsters were classified based on their strength, intelligence, and magical capacity. The weakest were Grade 1, Class 1—like the wolves they'd faced so far. As the creature's power increased, so did its class, moving from Class 1 to Class 5.

But once a beast surpassed Class 5, it graduated to the next grade. For example:

Grade 1, Class 5 was the peak of the lowest grade. Beyond that came Grade 2, Class 1, a whole new tier of strength.

The massive wolf before him was the strongest possible version of a Grade 1 Shadow Wolf. The absolute apex predator of its kind.

The top of its food chain.

And it was staring right at him.

The Alpha Shadow Wolf

The wolf bared its teeth and lunged.

Alex barely had time to react.

He instinctively shifted into a defensive stance, raising his sword just as the wolf's claws slashed toward his torso. The impact rattled his bones. The force of the blow sent him skidding across the stone floor, boots leaving long trails in the dirt.

His arms burned from the effort. His breath caught in his throat.

Fast. Strong. Too strong.

The wolf prowled forward, its crimson eyes gleaming with something more than mindless hunger. This beast was intelligent—it had set the trap, waited patiently, and targeted him specifically.

It knows I've been hunting its pack.

A growl from his left.

Alex spun just in time to see another, smaller wolf leap at him. His sword lashed out, slicing through its neck. The creature dissolved into shadow, leaving behind its crimson core.

Ding!

[A portion of the target's stats has been absorbed.]

[Strength stat increased by 0.2.]

The sensation of power surged through his body. The slight increase in strength sharpened his focus.

More.

The alpha didn't give him time to recover. It leapt again, its massive body arcing through the air. Alex ducked, the wolf's claws grazing the top of his head and tearing strands of hair free. The force of its landing cracked the stone beneath it.

If I don't kill this thing soon…

***

From the stands, the spectators watched in stunned silence.

"Is that… a Grade 1, Class 5 Shadow Wolf?" one spectator muttered, voice tight.

"Impossible," another said. "Those creatures don't appear in basic training scenarios."

Melo's golden eyes never left the battlefield. Roman Lionhart's right-hand man remained silent, fingers steepled beneath his mask. He knew the truth:

This wasn't a mistake.

The appearance of the alpha was a calculated test, designed to push the trainees past their limits. To break the weak—and to reveal the strong.

And right now, all eyes were on Alex Lionhart.

***

The trainees watched from their clustered positions near the center.

"He's… fighting that thing alone," Sarah Margot breathed.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes. He's not protecting the weak anymore. He's hunting.

Only Klaus understood the full truth.

He saw the wild gleam in Alex's eyes, the reckless hunger with which he dispatched the smaller wolves.

Alex doesn't care about defending others.

He's farming stats.

***

The alpha charged again. Its paws barely touched the ground as it zigzagged toward Alex with predatory grace.

Alex braced himself.

The wolf pounced, jaws snapping for his throat. Alex pivoted to the right and slashed downward.

His blade connected with the wolf's shoulder. The steel cut through flesh, spraying dark ichor across the dirt.

The wolf roared and twisted midair. Its massive paw lashed out.

Alex felt a flash of pain explode across his torso as the wolf's claws raked his side. He stumbled backward, breath catching as warmth spread across his ribs.

Blood.

The beast landed, lowering its head. It circled him now, more cautious.

It's testing me.

The smaller wolves, meanwhile, intensified their assault on the other trainees.

The pack, emboldened by the alpha's presence, moved with lethal precision. Groups of three or four surrounded isolated trainees. The beasts feinted and lunged, driving their targets into confusion before finishing them off.

Screams rang out as two more trainees fell.

Klaus dashed to intercept one group. His sword flashed, bisecting a wolf mid-leap.

Ding!

[A portion of the target's stats has been absorbed.]

[Agility stat increased by 0.4.]

The notification barely registered.

He was watching Alex.

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The alpha feigned another frontal lunge. Alex slashed, but the beast anticipated the move and darted to the left.

Alex cursed and turned—too slowly.

The wolf slammed into his side.

The impact knocked him off his feet. His sword flew from his grasp, skidding across the dirt. Alex hit the ground hard, the breath driven from his lungs.

The wolf didn't attack immediately.

It stood over him, eyes glowing like molten embers. Its lips curled back in what almost looked like a snarl of contempt.

It knows.

The beast lunged.

Alex rolled to the side just as the wolf's jaws snapped closed where his throat had been. He scrambled to his feet, pain lancing through his ribs.

I need more stats. More power.

He spotted a wolf lunging for a nearby trainee. The girl screamed, sword raised weakly in defense.

Alex sprinted. His feet dug into the dirt, muscles burning. He reached the wolf just as it leapt.

His hand grasped the hilt of a discarded sword lying nearby.

He swung with every ounce of strength he had.

The blade cleaved through the wolf's neck.

The creature evaporated into smoke, leaving behind its crystal.

Ding!

[A portion of the target's stats has been absorbed.]

[Dexterity stat increased by 0.5.]

The sensation flooded his body. His limbs felt lighter; his reflexes sharper.

Yes.

The alpha, watching from across the battlefield, tilted its head.

Then it howled.

The sound was piercing, primal—a challenge and a command.

From the gate, more wolves emerged.

But these were different.

They were larger, bulkier, their fur darker than shadows.

Class 4 Shadow Wolves.

Alex's eyes widened. The alpha was calling in its elite.

***

Klaus reached Alex just as the new wolves spread into the arena.

"You idiot," Klaus hissed.

"Stay out of my way," Alex snapped, chest heaving. "I can handle this."

Klaus's eyes narrowed. "You're chasing stats. You're not thinking."

The alpha charged toward them.

Its crimson eyes burned brighter as it leapt.

Time slowed for both boys.

Klaus raised his sword; Alex gripped his stolen blade.

The wolf's shadow loomed over them.

Ding!

[A high-tier predator has locked onto you.]

[Survival protocol activated.]

Both boys froze.

The wolf descended.