Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 585: Pyramid of Elements III

CH585 Pyramid of Elements III

Alex summoned the Furor essence within his bloodline, channeling its raw power throughout his entire frame.

The impact was instantaneous.

For reasons that defied his understanding, the Darkness and Lightning elemental mana residing in the subsequent zone—which should have been unreachable due to the pyramid’s crushing gravity overwhelming his Spiritual Force—suddenly migrated toward him.

These elements drew close enough that his innate affinity talent naturally pulled them into the defensive shield enveloping his form.

Yet, merely accumulating basic elemental mana was insufficient.

The fissures in his protective layer would mend, but the shield lacked genuine resilience.

Recognizing this flaw, Alex rapidly transmuted the arriving Darkness and Lightning mana into Netherspark mana, successfully elevating the intensity of his energy.

Only then did the barrier achieve true durability.

He took a brief interlude to recuperate from the debilitating pressure that had struck him moments before.

After a short recovery, he pressed onward.

Fifty-five...

Fifty-six...

Fifty-seven...

Utilizing this refined technique, Alex continued his arduous ascent.

He had devised a new strategy.

Upon arriving at the sixty-third step, Alex immediately activated the Auramir aspect of his bloodline.

This surge caused Light and Fire elemental mana to cluster around him in significant abundance.

By fusing these into Solar elemental mana, he successfully maintained his momentum.

Sixty-four...

Sixty-six...

Seventy...

The next major obstacle manifested at the seventy-second step, just prior to the seventy-third.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Alex unleashed the third component of his merged bloodline: Dragon Presence.

In the various legends from his past, dragons were often depicted as the favored offspring of the elements—the masters of Heaven and Earth.

It appeared that some shard of that legend persisted in the realms of his new existence.

Alex banked on that inherent synergy between dragons and the elements to further bolster his own potent elemental affinity.

"Sigh..."

Alex breathed a sigh of relief as his gamble proved successful. Sensing the Dragon Presence radiating from his bloodline, even more mana drifted toward him, allowing him to reinforce his shield with ease.

He swiftly converted the local elemental mana into Solar and Netherspark forms to fortify his defenses.

Seventy-three...

Seventy-five...

Seventy-nine...

Soon, the subsequent roadblock waited at the eighty-first step, just before the eighty-second.

"Velkar."

Alex immediately invoked the first half of his True Name.

"[Subjugation]."

"[Domination]."

The conceptual weight of his True Name reverberated through the air. Answering his call, massive volumes of Lightning and Darkness mana surged from vast distances, drawn by the authority of the True Name’s concepts.

Before the force could overwhelm him, Alex’s Spiritual Force seized the pooled mana, converting it into Netherspark energy for his shield, allowing him to push forward.

Eighty-two...

Eighty-five...

Eighty-nine...

"Solmir."

The routine continued.

At the next hurdle on the ninetieth step, Alex triggered the remainder of his True Name.

"[Regality]."

"[Dominion]."

Light and Fire elemental mana coalesced rapidly, as if paying tribute to a monarch—a sovereign born to command. Alex barely needed to exert control. This new batch of mana aligned itself within his shield like disciplined soldiers, merging into the combined Solar form of its own volition.

A triumphant smirk tugged at Alex’s mouth as he steadily advanced toward the peak.

Ninety-one...

Ninety-three...

Ninety-seven...

Ninety-eight...

With that same smirk, Alex lifted his foot to conquer the ninety-ninth step.

Bam!

The shield around him disintegrated like a fragile bubble under the brutal gravity of the summit. Alex’s face collided harshly with the stone floor of the ninety-eighth step as the pressure multiplied.

"Groan—!"

A pained wheeze escaped his throat as he endeavored to rise, but it was impossible. The relentless gravity pinned him, seemingly intent on crushing him into the foundation.

To make matters worse, the ambient mana had been entirely repelled by the spike in pressure. Even if he could manifest his Spiritual Force, there was no mana left to draw from.

"Calm Madness!"

Facing immediate defeat, Alex triggered the unique passive trait of the Furor origin, granting him a few moments of absolute clarity.

He realized there was nothing left to calculate or plan. He simply unleashed every ounce of his power against the gravity.

Fire. Light. Darkness. Lightning. Solar. Netherspark.

He summoned every spark of mana in his body. Furor. Auramir. Dragon. He funneled the totality of his bloodline essence.

"Velkarasolmir!"

He cried out his True Name in its entirety. Simultaneously, he applied the circulation technique from his Astral Training Manual, forcing mana through every meridian of his body.

For a fleeting heartbeat, the gravity faltered.

That microsecond was all he needed. Utilizing the pause, he dragged his body onto the ninety-ninth step—the very summit.

The suffocating pressure vanished as if it were nothing more than a fading illusion.

'Yes! I made it!' Alex cheered internally.

He lay flat on his back, eyes fixed on the clear horizon. Although his breathing was ragged, a wide grin remained plastered on his face.

Alex sprawled across the platform. Closing his eyes, he began to meditate, attempting to recover the energy spent in his final stand against the pyramid’s gravity.

However, as his strength returned, his brow furrowed.

'Wait... shouldn't I be back at the stele mountain by now?'

The realization hit him like a physical blow. Alex’s eyes snapped open, only to find he was still within the trial dimension.

'Damn it...' he muttered.

The clear skies he had admired were gone, replaced by ominous, darkened clouds.

He attempted to sit up, but to his dismay, he remained pinned to the earth, unable to shift even a centimeter. Lightning flickered with lethal intent within the brewing storm.

'Don’t tell me...'

A grim truth settled in his gut. This was no reward platform. It was a lightning tribulation platform—a stage designed by the Heavens to strike down those they wished to punish.

And he had fought relentlessly to place himself directly in the crosshairs. Right at the epicenter.

If that weren't enough, the storm clouds were taking their time to gather. Held fast to the apex of the ninety-ninth step, Alex had a perfect view of the entire ordeal unfolding in real-time.

'Oh, how thoughtful,' he thought bitterly. 'A front-row seat to watch you prepare to smite me. You are truly too kind.'

Clearly, this was not a view he desired. He tried desperately to break his bonds, but every effort failed. Every power he had used to climb the pyramid was now suppressed by a mysterious, heavy force. For the moment, he was no different than a mortal waiting for divine judgment.

Finally, the lightning finished its accumulation. A terrifying bolt slammed down from the clouds.

"ARRGGGHHHH!"

Alex’s scream of agony echoed across the platform.