Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 611: Future Possibilities

***

After the battle subsided, Alex at last could thoroughly inspect his beast companions.

Senu showed no obvious outward shifts upon first look. Her form had merely expanded a touch—far too little to create any real distinction from earlier.

Yet her mana painted a vastly different picture.

The Light, Darkness, and Space elemental mana inside her were merging to birth a fresh elemental essence.

Alex had no idea what this blend would yield in the end, but one fact stood out—her potential had skyrocketed.

He felt certain Class 6 lay within easy grasp now. Class 7 no longer seemed impossible.

Class 8 might even be feasible...

Provided the proper resources and chances arose, naturally.

Fen had experienced a parallel transformation—though his fusion had finished, probably as an Anima trial prize.

His formerly pristine white fur now bore a faint ashen sheen.

In combat, Alex noticed Fen mastering both Ice and Fire in this evolved state. He had also unlocked minor Nature abilities.

His vitality surged powerfully, and his aura intensified.

Even the ’weight’ of Fen’s soul in their mind connection felt heavier.

Every indicator suggested a massive boost to his natural aptitude.

That realization filled Alex with deep contentment.

Last came Dread.

The Nightmare mount darkened further, standing taller, bulkier, and far more intimidating—even among Nightmares.

It now nearly matched Jared’s Terror in raw aura.

The dark flames eternally flickering at its hooves could be summoned or dismissed at will.

Alex didn’t yet grasp the full meaning of this shift.

All in all, the Dragon Emperor’s phantom clearly hadn’t granted raw power boosts...

Instead, it delivered a deep surge in their future prospects.

Alex prized that far higher.

Of course, actually fulfilling that promise... remained another question entirely.

’While we survive,’ Alex mused, eyes gleaming fiercely, ’they’ll achieve it... willing or not.’

Dread, Fen, and Senu shivered without warning.

They scanned about for the chill’s origin—but detected none.

Sharing puzzled glances, they parted ways as the fight ended.

Alex watched them, sighing inside at his dubious Beast Master ways, while admiring his companions’... self-reliance.

-

The Fortuna group acted fast, scouring the battlefield and stacking bodies into one mound.

Alex casually tossed a fragment of AetherKindle’s flame onto the pile, igniting it.

The blaze burned pure.

AetherKindle guaranteed no impurities—like the berserk trait—escaped the burning.

As everyone observed the pyre devouring the corpses, Alex’s wives drew near.

"Your Rune-Tech feels more potent now," Zora noted with a mischievous grin. "See you overcasting nonstop."

"It’s largely due to my Mana Capacity talent," Alex responded. "OmniRune couldn’t sustain such intense casting without a vast reserve backing it."

Eleanore cocked her head a bit.

"How did you fix your Rune-Tech?" she inquired. "Did those final two trials give you the required knowledge?"

"Not quite..." Alex admitted.

He then detailed it all—from the Heaven Secret trial’s close, his talk with One Heaven, to crafting the spell that fixed his Rune-Tech constraints.

"What? You ditched your spellcasting?" Zora stiffened, glaring fiercely. "Alex Fury, we step away briefly and you lose your mind. Why can’t you pick sensible choices?"

Exasperation laced her voice.

She lacked the vigor for a full reprimand now.

"It’s a lasting fix," Alex countered steadily. "It eradicates the core weakness in my Class and Path."

"How many planes do you plan to explore lifetime?" she retorted. "Is abandoning spellcasting truly worth it?"

"Yes," Alex affirmed instantly.

"I’m no standard mage—I’m a Rune Master. Runes define my Class. Unless death or failure strands me from Pangea, plane-hopping awaits inevitably. And this issue will recur each time."

He held her eyes firmly.

"What if I land on a plane lacking the fixes for my Rune-Tech setup?"

He shook his head.

"Better to erase the flaw forever with a universal remedy than bet on fixes every time."

"Plus," he noted, "as you witnessed—despite losing spellcasting, I cast even stronger... or superior."

"But it depends on an outside tool," Zora argued. "What if circumstances block it from acting?"

"OmniRune isn’t outside," Alex stated calmly. "It resides in my Mindspace. It embodies my Rune Master essence perfectly."

"By that reasoning, regular casting faces the same critique. Some places or foes suppress spells outright—anti-mages prove it."

A subtle smile curved his mouth.

"There, with proper enhancements, OmniRune could uniquely evade those blocks."

"Zora, this defines my path," Alex declared gravely. "I’ll follow it fully. From my view, trading spellcasting ensures my Rune-Tech endures any plane or Heavenly law."

He halted momentarily before adding,

"Anyway, I was never a top mage—merely decent. Rune-Tech marks my edge. Swapping competence for mastery... seems equitable."

Zora eyed him wordlessly, probing his face for hidden truths.

"Moreover, Zora," Alex continued evenly, "this could permanently tackle your bloodline problem."

Eleanore’s gaze intensified.

"How so?" she pressed.

"The spell lets me grasp alien plane glyph systems," Alex clarified, "and Zora’s Nirvana Markings resemble magical glyphs theoretically... so I might unlock the fix."

He paused softly, then,

"Assuming we reach the proper plane."

Eleanore furrowed her brow faintly.

"What’s the ’right plane’? Isn’t it Pangea?"

Zora grasped it swiftly.

"Oh... right," she whispered.

"My Nirvana Markings stem from atavism—bloodline link to my forebear... my clan’s founder—the Ice Phoenix."

She faced Alex.

"Ice Phoenixes hail from beyond Pangea. So if your idea holds—that Nirvana Markings act like rune-like glyphs—they tie to another plane’s system, not Pangea’s."

"Precisely," Alex agreed. "But finding and entering the Ice Phoenix plane... could make it real."

The atmosphere shifted.

Excitement sparked in the women.

Yet right away—

Alex lifted a hand.

"Hold back hopes," he warned.

"It’s just a potential down the line."

"Currently, I lack the power for it."

"The spell matches knowledge to my tier—peak Tier III edging Tier IV."

He regarded Zora.

"Nirvana Markings demand far superior insight."

"They work across Pangea and Verdantis from a foreign plane."

His eyes tightened thoughtfully.

"Runes failed here—despite Pangea’s might—hinting the Ice Phoenix plane or Nirvana glyphs operate at another tier.

"I need greater heights to unlock it."

He breathed out.

"Even so... this offers the clearest route yet, worth chasing."

"See my choice now?"

"Alright," Zora relented with a sigh.

Not from rejecting his logic.

She just feared his rush into one path... too soon.

’Still... that’s choosing a Class," she reflected silently, sighing softly.

Eleanore and Udara exhaled discreetly as tension eased.

Grabbing the opening, Eleanore asked.

"Rune-Tech fixed—can you now recreate the Interplanar formation for Pangea return?"

"Yes," Alex confirmed. "OmniRune’s on it. But my Tier IV-early knowledge limits simplicity."

"I must intervene personally at key points," he went on. "Translation hurdles need inventive solutions."

The Interplanar Orb’s core formation was a top-tier Grand Formation.

Hence the orb’s purpose—

Spare high-tier Array Masters the build.

For Alex’s group, though, OmniRune’s Tier IV-low Sigil limits prevented full independent conversion to Rune-Tech form.

Certain parts risked exceeding its grasp.

Advanced as OmniRune was, it stayed bound by its data.

Alex thus had to guide—or tackle tough sections himself.

Eleanore nodded, comprehending and eased.

The hanging storm clouds had notably cleared.

"What’s your plan here now, Master?" Udara questioned.

***