Reincarnated as a ‘Useless’ Dark Flame User

After lying down for a while and staring at the sky, Mav finally began to slow his breathing, allowing his heart rate to steady. Gradually, he started to gather his thoughts, examining each one carefully.

“First, the threat in the forest… How do I deal with that?” he pondered.

"I need more information about what kind of Daimoniki it was. To solve this problem, I’ll have to return to the library and find where that type is categorized in the Daimoniki books."

He sighed, thinking through his next step. “Second, I’m not sure I can defeat it alone. Maybe I should seek help, perhaps from Father Organos. But if no one can assist me, I need to prepare to face it by myself.”

Mav’s gaze hardened as he continued, “Third, if I do end up facing it alone, I’ll need to manage my skills and mana wisely. For that, I’ll definitely need some mana potions. Archa has some low-tier ones that I can probably afford with the drops from the Daimoniki I’ve hunted over the past few days. The high-tier potions she mentioned would be ideal, but they’re too expensive right now. Unless… Maybe I could use my Dark Blue Miracle for some sort of negotiation? I’ll need to meet with that top ranker from the Blue Flame Guild first and see what happens.”

He paused, his hand unconsciously gripping the edge of his cloak. The memory of the forest, the looming presence of that thing, sent a shiver down his spine. He exhaled slowly.

“For now, I’ll steer clear of that place,” he muttered, more to convince himself than anything else.

With a wave of his hand, Mav summoned his status display and examined his ascended skills:

Skill Name: Dark Red Nuke (Maximum) lvl. 3/120

Manacost: 118

Cooldown: 120 seconds

Skill Name: Dark Blue Miracle (Maximum) lvl. 2/120

Manacost: 119

Cooldown: 120 seconds

Skill Name: Dark Yellow Transcendence (Maximum) lvl. 10/120

Duration: 10 seconds

Cooldown: 120 seconds

Manacost: 1 per second

Skill Name: Dark Green Invincibility (Maximum) lvl. 10/120

Duration: 10 seconds

Cooldown: 120 seconds

Manacost: 1 per second

“So, Dark Green Invincibility didn’t level up, even when I used it to block that Daimoniki's attack, which was pretty strong,” Mav mused, frowning at the skill.

"Maybe the source of the attack has to die for the skill to level up?"

Shaking his head, he stood up. “Either way, to defeat that thing, I need to use these skills to their limits and maximize their efficiency.”

Mav glanced down at his clothes, noticing the remnants of vomit clinging to the fabric.

“I’m a mess. I need to clean up before heading home.”

He made his way to a nearby stream, washing his face and scrubbing his clothes. As he did, his mind buzzed with plans for what lay ahead.

“I’m home,” Mav called out as he stepped inside the house, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet space.

“Back early today, huh? That’s a surprise,” Emily remarked, giving the dining table a final wipe.

“Yeah… I didn’t feel like working out too much today,” Mav replied, carefully masking the truth of what had happened.

Emily looked up, concern creasing her brow. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Mav said, brushing off her worry. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s out back, chopping firewood,” Emily answered, her tone lightening.

“Thanks, Mom,” Mav said with a nod before heading outside.

He turned left and walked around to the back of the house, where he found Nacht hard at work, sweat soaking the back of his shirt.

“Hey, Dad, when are you heading to the Capital again?” Mav asked, casually leaning against a tree.

“In three days. Why?” Nacht paused in his work, turning to wipe the sweat from his brow with a cloth.

Mav’s fingers drummed anxiously against his thigh. Three days felt like an eternity. He clenched his fists, a growing sense of urgency gnawing at him. I can't wait that long. I need to get there as soon as tomorrow.

An idea sparked in his mind. "What if I run there? I know the way, and if I avoid the main roads, no one will see me. With Dark Yellow Transcendence, I might even get there much faster than the carriage."

“Mav, why do you ask? You want to come with me again?” Nacht’s voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.

“N-No, I was just curious,” he stammered, shaking his head.

Nacht paused, studying Mav for a moment before shrugging. “Well, okay then,” he said, returning to his work, the rhythmic sound of the axe cutting through the wood filling the quiet.

Mav watched him for a moment, a mix of guilt and resolve tightening in his chest, before heading back inside. He needed a plan—and fast.

That evening, after helping his mother in the garden, he retreated to his room, unable to sit still. He paced back and forth, his mind churning with plans and possibilities, tracing the route to the Capital in his thoughts over and over again. The urgency in his chest felt like a ticking clock, reminding him that tomorrow was his only option.

Finally, exhaustion tugged at him, and he sank onto his bed, staring up at the dark ceiling. “Tomorrow it is,” he whispered into the silence, his voice barely more than a breath, “everything I need is in the Capital.”

The weight of his plans lingered as he closed his eyes, but slowly, the tension began to ebb away. His mind, worn out from the constant racing, finally quieted, and sleep crept in, gently pulling him into its embrace.

The next morning, Mav stood at the edge of the village, gazing down the main road. He had told his parents he was going to the forest to train, keeping his true intentions hidden.

He watched as a few early morning carriages rumbled toward the Capital. “People will definitely spot me if I take this road,” he murmured, glancing around.

His eyes then shifted to a less traveled path, winding and uneven, but offering more cover. It wasn’t as straight as the main road, but it would keep him out of sight.

He stretched his limbs, took a deep breath, and steeled himself for the journey ahead. “Alright, let’s see how fast I can go. Dark Yellow Transcendence.”

As the familiar yellow flames enveloped his body, Mav surged forward, his feet pounding against the earth as he sped toward the Capital.