Reincarnated as the Villain’s Father

As I mentioned before, Rebecca was a sorceress, and she had already mastered two techniques. The first of these was the Sacred Flame Technique, a hereditary art passed down through bloodlines. Unlike me, Rebecca had inherited this technique from her mother. She had unlocked all three ability awakenings within the Sacred Flame Technique and that alone made her a formidable mage.

But Rebecca possessed a second technique as well. One far rarer, nearly mythical in its rarity: the Time Fracture Technique.

Each technique granted three unique ability awakenings, but these abilities weren't predetermined. In truth, the rarer the technique, the greater the pool of potential abilities. The choice lay in the mage's hands but once selected, the ability could never be changed.

Rebecca's second technique, Time Fracture, was so complex and potent that an ordinary mage could not comprehend it in a single lifetime. It wasn't just about slowing or speeding up time. It could rewind specific moments or create temporal echoes that dragged remnants of the past into the present.

She had already unlocked the first ability of this technique: Breaking Point. It allowed her to observe time until a crucial moment, and then "fracture" it, returning to that moment to act differently. A second chance not granted to every sorcerer. This alone made her deadly in a duel.

The second ability had not yet fully awakened, but the signs had begun. Lately, Rebecca had claimed she heard people repeating their words, just seconds apart. The same phrases echoed twice, yet those around her remained unaware.

It was believed to be the onset of Temporal Echo, the second awakening. If it fully manifested, Rebecca would be able to hear the echoes of the past. possibly discerning her enemies' intentions even before they spoke.

As for the third and final ability, there were only theories. In the tale, the final power of Time Fracture was said to remove Rebecca from the flow of time itself, granting her the ability to move while everything around her remained frozen. However, such a gift came at a cost. The physical burden was immense, and if left unchecked, it could trap the sorceress in the void beyond time.

Either one of these techniques -Sacred Flame or Time Fracture- would be extraordinary on their own. But Rebecca bore both. She was calm, calculated, ruled not by emotion but by reason. In battle, she shunned flashy displays in favor of lethal precision.

With these techniques, Rebecca was poised to become the strongest mage of her generation within just a few years. And with my help, she wouldn't just outclass her peers. she'd become one of the most powerful mages alive. But that was a concern for another day.

For now, we had a dungeon beast to deal with.

Rebecca's eyes shimmered faintly in the dim light. The foul stench from the creature's steaming jaws tainted the air, but her attention was elsewhere. Its movements, too sluggish. No, not sluggish. Repeating. The same shoulder muscle tensed again. The same mist rose twice. Rebecca's brow furrowed.

"Time Fracture: Breaking Point," she murmured under her breath. The spell had not yet fully taken effect, yet, but its presence could be felt. The creature's actions were echoing. Rebecca was receiving a few seconds' worth of extra data. Even in a duel, that was a deadly edge. Against this monster? A priceless start.

She took a step back, studying the creature's repeating motions. Every twitch, every breath, passed through a crack in time. No pointless incantations or theatrical gestures, just action. She extended her hand; crimson flames danced at her fingertips, but this was no ordinary fire spell.

"Sacred Flame: Execution Spark."

With her temporal insight, she predicted exactly where the beast would reposition. It wasn't sorcery. it was mathematical certainty. Her flame tore through the air, streaking toward the creature's neck. And then it happened. The disgusting smell of the monster's burning flesh filled the air.

The monster's shoulder tensed again.

There was no way I could just stand idle and watch.

Unlike Rebecca, I possessed only one technique, also hereditary. called the Stellar Line Sword Technique.

This technique had been passed down through my father's lineage. Leonardo, the original owner of this body, had already unlocked all three abilities of this technique.

As Rebecca's flame seared the creature's neck, I was far from idle. This wasn't her show. This was a battle. And I, reborn in Leonardo's body, held full right to wield the Stellar Line Sword Technique.

I had begun training with it just days ago in preparation for this dungeon. When a technique seed resides in a body, its abilities become instinctual. Learning didn't take long, though mastery would take time.

As Rebecca's Execution Spark lit up the chamber, I noticed something strange in the beast's reflexes. It didn't stumble forward, it pulled back. That's when I understood: this creature wasn't just strong, it was adaptive. Rebecca's foresight gave her the first move, but beings like this always prepared for the second.

"Stellar Line: Slip Point," I whispered.

The connection between my feet and the ground shattered like starlight. This technique didn't merely accelerate movement, it bent the motion of the universe itself in my favor. The world pulled back, and I surged forward. Like a spark leaping across the line between time and space.

My sword "Leonardo's heirloom, forged from Asurdan steel" gleamed as I activated the second ability of the Stellar Line: Intersection Edge. Rebecca's flames had weakened the beast, but hadn't killed it. My strike would be the final blow to that fractured defense.

The monster turned, but too late. I was no longer visible. Just a streak, a glimmer of light in motion. My sword passed between its ribs, not just a physical attack. The Stellar Line severed the creature's life force. No blood spilled. only energy drained from its body. It staggered, then collapsed.

Rebecca said nothing. She didn't need to. Our eyes met, hers held a flicker of respect, mine a calm acknowledgment. This fight wasn't about ego or performance. It was a reminder of who we were.

"Well... if that was the first creature, this dungeon might prove exhausting," I said. "How about we make camp here before heading to the next section?"

Rebecca nodded slightly. "Agreed. I've used up a portion of my magic reserves. If we push on without rest, the risk of error increases."

I scanned the surroundings quickly. Toward the edge of the chamber, I spotted a small alcove partially collapsed inward. It lay in semi-shadow, but the space was clean. It looked easy to defend.

"There's a suitable spot over there. It looks like a safe place, secure against possible attacks. Let's set up camp there," I said and took the lead.

As we set up camp, my mind was elsewhere. I knew what awaited deeper in this dungeon, and I had plans. I only hoped, when the moment came, I'd have the guts to carry them out.

Rebecca conjured a small orb of warmth with her magic and anchored it to the ground. It provided both light and heat. We sat around it. I plunged my sword into the dirt, but my gaze remained on Rebecca.

She closed her eyes. Just before slipping into meditation to restore her reserves, she let out a quiet sigh. In the flickering light of the heat orb, her features softened. Normally so distant and composed, something in the post-battle silence shifted within her. Perhaps it was fatigue or maybe a fleeting sense of trust.

I watched her a while longer. My sword stood firm on the ground, its glow reflecting faintly in her magic's light. Eventually, I broke the silence.

"Do you ever think about starting a family?"