The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

Chapter 173: A Foundation For Mastery

The next morning, the energy in the training yard was different. There was no idle chatter, no uncertainty—only focused determination. Klaus had made his choices, and now it was time for those selected to begin training in the Lion’s Roar Formation.

Standing before the gathered soldiers, Klaus addressed them with his usual directness. "Juron, Alexandra, Finn, Darius, and Nolan—you will be the first to learn the formation. This technique is not something that can be performed individually. It relies entirely on synergy, timing, and control. If even one of you falters, the formation collapses." His blue eyes flickered over each of them. "Failure is not an option."

Juron cracked his neck, his broad shoulders tensing. "Sounds simple enough," he muttered.

Alexandra shot him a glance. "If it were simple, every squad in White Lion would already be using it."

Klaus tossed the thick leather-bound manual onto a wooden training table. "Then let’s make sure you’re the first squad in our rank to master it."

With that, the group moved to a secluded area of the yard, where the training began.

* * *

The Lion’s Roar Formation was more than just a coordinated attack—it was a battle stance that required an unbreakable bond between its users. At its peak, the five warriors would be able to channel their auras together, forming a spectral lion’s claw to strike their enemy in unison. The first step, however, was learning to synchronize their auras in the first place.

Klaus stood back, arms crossed as he observed the first attempt. "Draw your auras and align them," he instructed.

Juron and Alexandra took the front positions, with Finn, Darius, and Nolan forming a half-circle behind them. As they activated their aura, a distinct problem emerged—there was no harmony.

Juron’s aura burned bright and forceful, his raw strength pushing outward like a shield. Alexandra’s was swift and controlled, but it clashed against his sheer force instead of flowing with it. Finn, Darius, and Nolan struggled to match either of them, creating an unstable mess of energy.

The spectral lion’s claw flickered into existence for only a brief moment before it shattered into useless sparks.

Klaus sighed. "Your auras are conflicting. You need to match your breathing first, then align your energy output."

Alexandra scowled. "Juron’s aura is overpowering ours."

Juron folded his arms. "I can’t just tone it down. That’s not how this works."

Klaus cut in before they could start arguing. "Actually, that’s exactly how this works. The key to this formation isn’t individual strength. It’s adaptability. If you push too hard, you disrupt the flow. If you hold back too much, you weaken the formation. You need to adjust to each other."

Finn exhaled sharply. "Easier said than done."

Klaus wasn’t interested in excuses. "Then we’ll make it easier. For the next few hours, you’re going to do nothing but aura alignment drills. No weapons. No movement. Just pure control."

The team groaned but obeyed.

* * *

The next few hours were grueling. Klaus had them sit in a circle, each maintaining a steady output of aura while focusing on the rhythm of their breathing. It was a method he had used in his past life as a mage, adapted now for warriors who relied on a different kind of energy.

At first, their energy flickered unevenly—Juron’s output was too forceful, Alexandra’s too fast, Finn’s too hesitant. But slowly, under Klaus’s sharp corrections, they began to synchronize.

By midday, the first major breakthrough occurred.

A faint shimmer of the spectral lion’s claw materialized between them, lingering for a few seconds before dissipating.

Juron let out a surprised chuckle. "That was… better."

Klaus allowed a small nod. "Now do it again. And again. Until it becomes second nature."

And so, the training continued.

* * *

While his team drilled the formation, Klaus had a different task. He needed to begin his own training in the Phantom Step technique.

After receiving the manual from the Vault of Techniques, he had spent the previous night studying its principles. Unlike traditional footwork techniques, which emphasized speed or stability, Phantom Step focused on deception. It was about controlling the enemy’s perception—shifting weight at the last possible moment, creating afterimages through sheer movement speed, and slipping through gaps that seemed nonexistent.

That afternoon, Klaus stepped away from the formation training to begin applying what he had learned. He moved to an empty section of the yard, flipping open the manual as he traced the steps in his mind.

"Step lightly, but with intent. Control every shift in momentum. Let your opponent react to an illusion while you move freely."

Klaus exhaled, then began.

At first, the technique felt unnatural. His usual approach to combat was decisive and efficient—he rarely needed to deceive an enemy because his speed and precision were enough. But Phantom Step wasn’t about raw speed. It was about unreadability.

He pivoted sharply, shifting his weight at the last second. A barely noticeable afterimage remained where he had been standing. His second step was even smoother, his body gliding through the motion rather than forcing it.

By his tenth attempt, he had begun to feel the rhythm.

By his twentieth, he was vanishing from predictable patterns entirely.

A small smirk touched Klaus’s lips. This… could be useful.

* * *

As the sun began to set, Klaus returned to check on the team’s progress with the Lion’s Roar Formation.

Juron and Alexandra stood at the front of the formation, Finn, Darius, and Nolan behind them. Their breathing was synchronized, their auras merging into a single force.

"Again," Klaus ordered. Experience new tales on NovelBin.Côm

They stepped forward in unison, their combined energy surging outward. For the first time, the spectral lion’s claw fully formed—large, translucent, radiating power. It struck forward, colliding with a reinforced training dummy. The impact sent a deep boom through the yard.

The technique had worked.

Finn let out a relieved breath. "That actually felt… good."

Alexandra wiped the sweat from her brow. "We still need to perfect the timing, but this is progress."

Juron smirked. "I told you we’d get it."

Klaus watched the formation with a keen eye. "It’s coming together. But we’re not finished. Until you can execute it perfectly every time, you’re not ready."

No one argued. They had felt it—the potential of what this formation could do.

As the session wrapped up, Klaus gathered the team once more. "We keep drilling this formation until it’s flawless. I don’t care how long it takes. This will set us apart from the rest."

A collective nod of agreement swept through the group.

And with that, their real training had begun.