Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 587: Inexplicable Tribulation II

CH587 Inexplicable Tribulation II

While those waiting outside speculated about the events unfolding within the trial, Alex found himself devoid of the luxury of contemplation.

He was gripped by overwhelming agony.

After the wrath of the tribulation lightning tore through Alex’s soul—only to find its objective nowhere to be found—it abandoned the Soul Space and migrated to another region of his anatomy.

The Bloodline Space.

Boom!

Upon entering the bloodline domain, the tribulation lightning immediately locked its focus onto a target.

Alex’s heretical bloodline pools.

Bang!

As strike after strike hammered down upon the pools, Alex felt as though he were being consumed by internal flames.

"AARRRGGGHHHH!!!"

A roar of raw suffering tore from his throat.

His consciousness hovered at the edge of erasure, hanging by a thread so tenuous it threatened to snap at any second.

When the ninth bolt collided with the pools, Alex’s bloodlines could no longer withstand the onslaught in silence.

A humanoid manifestation of Alex’s fused bloodlines materialized instantly above his form—appearing both within the Bloodline Space and atop the Pyramid of Elements.

The figure rose, absorbing the brutal impact of the Heavenly lightning strikes.

Though Alex still endured searing pain, he finally found a sliver of relief.

Ninth strike...

Eighteenth strike...

Twenty-fifth...

Twenty-sixth...

And finally—

Twenty-seven strikes cascaded down upon the fused bloodline manifestation.

By the conclusion, the entity was left utterly battered.

Countless wounds marred its form, and it stood visibly on the precipice of dissipation.

Fortunately, it appeared the Heavenly Tribulation had reached its limit.

The gloomy storm clouds began a slow retreat, and the firmament above the pyramid started to brighten.

A cascade of radiant, golden sunlight poured down over Alex and his bloodline manifestation.

Light rising from the chaos of the storm.

These sunbeams bathed the frail figure prostrate atop the pyramid’s peak.

The light seemed to penetrate through his flesh, sinking deep to merge with the remnants of the tribulation lightning still lingering inside him.

Without warning, a profound evolution began.

The convergence of solar rays and residual lightning forged an entirely unique form of energy.

Wherever this force drifted within Alex’s frame, it initiated rapid regeneration and rebirth, leaving the tissue stronger than it had been previously.

Much like the destructive lightning before it, this new energy surged through every corner of Alex’s body, leaving behind healing and renewal.

His blood vessels were purged of all impurities, significantly refining his blood quality. Meanwhile, his mana pathways expanded, permanently boosting the efficiency of his mana flow.

Yet, the most startling alteration was observed within Alex’s bloodline.

Or rather, within the bloodline manifestation itself.

As it repaired, its previous bestial and demonic qualities gradually softened and refined.

It now carried a distinctly more human appearance.

Its facial features remained blurred, but the overall silhouette had shifted into a clearly human shape.

Fortunately, these modifications appeared restricted to its outward form.

The aura radiating from the manifestation remained undeniably that of Alex’s fused bloodline.

Even with its refined posture, the core nature of the bloodline remained clearly infernal, wild, and draconic.

Just as this enigmatic energy finalized its task in the Bloodline Space, another shift transpired.

The partially formed, indecipherable runic glyph within the Bloodline Space suddenly imprinted itself upon the forehead of the humanoid manifestation.

It settled into place naturally, as if it had belonged there since time immemorial.

What kind of power this glyph would eventually impart to Alex’s bloodline was unclear, as the rune remained incomplete—neither fully manifested nor ready to reveal its absolute mystery.

It is said that danger represents the shadow of opportunity.

Regarding the Heavenly Lightning, tribulation and rebirth were merely two facets of the same reality.

Truly, they were divided only by a slender turn of fortune.

Initially came the tribulation.

However, for those who endure, rebirth inevitably follows.

Although Alex had misjudged the trial due to biases from his prior existence, the fundamental cycle of tribulation and rebirth held true.

Eventually, Alex stirred and began to awaken.

He felt thoroughly rejuvenated.

Not a single mark lingered upon his skin.

Moreover, he could sense his Truth-Seeker Eyes initiating their own reawakening, having previously shut down to protect themselves from damage.

Among various other shifts.

Despite this favorable outcome, Alex felt no urge to celebrate.

Instead, he shuddered as memories of the intense agony resurfaced, causing his body to tremble involuntarily.

Fortunately, the trial space granted him a moment to collect his wits before ejecting him.

As Alex finally opened his eyes, he was struck by the sight of everyone staring at him.

"What is happening?" he inquired.

"Are you alright?" Eleanore asked with a sense of urgency.

"I am fine... but why is everyone so concerned?" Alex replied.

"You, brat, overstepped your bounds and challenged the Heavens themselves. I find it difficult to decide whether your actions deserve praise for bravery or condemnation for sheer recklessness," the Elder remarked.

"The tribulation lightning leaked into this area, terrorizing your companions. They nearly attacked me," the old man noted with a faint chuckle.

Alex knitted his brows.

A specific detail in the old man’s statement felt odd.

"Was I not required to reach the pinnacle of the pyramid?" he asked.

"Certainly not," the Elder retorted immediately.

"Throughout all my years, I have never witnessed someone at the Second Order attempt to reach the tribulation platform at the summit of the Pyramid of Elements. That peak is reserved for Fifth Order sorcerers preparing for their advancement to the Sixth Order."

The Elder shook his head.

"The young calf knows no fear of the tiger," he added with noticeable exasperation, clearly torn between admiration and a desire to scold.

"But the trial didn’t reject me and let me proceed," Alex argued in a guileless tone.

The old man suddenly felt a strong impulse to conclude their exchange immediately.

Without offering further comment, he gestured, causing the barrier enclosing Alex to vanish.

He then turned his focus toward the next candidate who had finished their trial.

Sensing the shift, Alex directed his attention toward the remaining participants.

His eyes flickered as he suppressed a measure of surprise upon seeing Udara tackling the Elemental Stele trial.

Almost instantly, however, his gaze betrayed his astonishment when he realized who had completed the trial first.

It was indeed Udara.

As she emerged from the Elemental Stele trial, the surrounding shadows coalesced toward her, wrapping around her frame as if she were the favored daughter of darkness.

Her presence felt softened within Alex’s senses.

Though he watched her directly, he possessed the strange intuition that should he lose sight of her for even a moment, he might fail to track her again.

Her Darkness affinity had clearly seen a monumental surge.

Roar!!!

Without warning, the distinct howl of a tiger resonated within their minds.

The group shifted their focus to the Anima stele, where Kavakan had just awoken.

Behind him stood a vibrant tiger phantom, projecting intense killing intent.

The murderous aura felt so authentic and potent that one might genuinely believe the phantom capable of taking a life with a mere glance.

Of course, that should have been impossible.

After all, it was strictly a phantom.

Or... was it?

The vision slowly dissipated, leaving Kavakan standing alone.

The massive weretiger surveyed the group with a sheepish look.

While the rest focused on Kavakan, Alex’s gaze had moved elsewhere.

He looked toward Zora, who had now been engaged in the trials for the longest duration.

Given her incredible aptitude, Alex found it difficult to grasp why she was finding the Elemental trial so challenging.

However, as if answering his question, Zora’s eyes snapped open.

Those familiar icy-blue eyes were back.

For a fleeting second, they possessed such coldness—like the frozen heart of an eternal glacier—that Alex felt his heart skip from a sudden spark of dread.

But when those blue eyes met his crimson gaze, the frost thawed, transforming back into the intense warmth he recognized.

Regardless, while the change in Zora’s pupils receded, the phenomena around her persisted.

Even as she sat immobile, the ambient air grew so frigid that tiny ice crystals began to materialize around her.