Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 612: BloodIron City

***

"What is your plan for this plane now, Master?" Udara questioned. "We arrived here by accident... yet now you’re saying this might have been part of some grand design by a Supreme Law of the universe? Do you truly believe that?"

A serious look appeared on Alex’s face.

"I don’t know," he confessed, surprising the women greatly. "Hearing it from One Heaven was... unexpected. And honestly, it’s far too intricate to comprehend completely at this moment."

He breathed out softly.

"Thus, I’ve chosen to tackle it from a more straightforward angle."

"Our short-term objective stays unchanged—to head back to Pangea," Alex proceeded. "However, to make that happen, we must first build a solid base in this place and collect the required supplies."

His gaze shifted to the women.

Understanding nods came from them.

"But after we get back," he pressed on, "then what?"

"This realm is no less than a Class 6 plane at minimum. Such a place surely holds treasures immensely precious—even by Pangea’s measures."

His gaze grew keener.

"There’s absolutely no chance that I—or the Fury family—would overlook such opportunities. We must plant our flag here firmly."

"And what finer method exists," he noted further, "than commanding an entire empire at our command?"

"So our goals... match the demands of this plane?" Udara inquired.

"One could say so," Alex agreed with a nod. "That’s a key factor in why I agreed to One Heaven’s offer. We planned to claim land here anyway—so why not seize the boon that simplifies it all?"

After a short pause, he continued,

"Naturally, I told him outright—I won’t devote my life to this plane."

"Whether I rise as an Emperor... or claim the mantle of Legatee for this plane’s Heaven and Earth—my main loyalty stays with my territories in Pangea."

Firmness rang in his tone.

"That remains my real territory."

Despite the tempting power of becoming Heaven and Earth’s Legatee, Alex kept his focus clear.

His aim stayed straightforward—

To enjoy a superior existence compared to his past life.

One benchmark for that was the heights he could reach along the road to strength.

Verdantis offered a somewhat limited peak... Scarcely Class 8.

Doubts lingered even there—only One Heaven had attained it via proper cultivation.

On the other hand, Alex knew Pangea concealed entities surpassing Class 8.

His mentor stood out—the Ancient Dragon, Uthvaazgol.

Zora’s Frost family forebear likely matched as an Ice Phoenix of equal might.

He suspected the empires in their Hegemony hid mighty guardians within royal shadows too.

Class 8 at minimum.

Perhaps Class 9 or beyond.

Evidently, true supremacy demanded keeping Pangea as his central pursuit.

In plain terms, Verdantis served merely as a supply base—a mere launchpad to grander realms.

"Got it," Udara responded.

—

True to his words to his wives, even with his Rune-Tech platform fully restored—and massive benefits from the Heaven-Earth Concordance ordeals—the group pressed on toward BloodIron City per their initial itinerary.

Far from dull, the trip brimmed with action.

Migrating berserk beasts crossed their path... Berserk humans clashed with them... Several major bandit bands fled before full battles erupted.

Alex maintained outward calm, but deep down, he valued the team’s fresh power surges immensely.

Lacking those boosts, the trek would have posed far greater perils.

Weeks of hard travel later, they reached the notorious core of the Hollowcrest Wildlands... The crimson gem of the barren expanse—

BloodIron City.

Dragonstone Oasis hardly merited calling itself a big town, but BloodIron City dwarfed it entirely.

Shocking the Fortuna crew, it wasn’t just a genuine metropolis—it even matched Pangean capitals in splendor.

The Fury family’s own City of Ashes paled beside it.

’Development from every corner of the Wildlands seems funneled straight into this spot,’ Alex reflected, scanning the urban sprawl.

Yet the fortifications struck an odd note.

Short in stature and bizarrely shaped, they defied norms.

"These walls look weird," Kavakan observed.

"They’re not meant to repel human forces," Havel explained. "Beasts are their sole target."

"Full commitment goes into withstanding beast tides," he elaborated, "though a smart, organized human attack would overrun them swiftly."

He pointed at the barriers.

"Around ten meters tall, sufficient to block most beasts from jumping across. Humans wield ladders, but beasts don’t."

"The outer layer must be coated too—tough for claws to grip."

"Regarding that jagged design..." His eyes narrowed. "It shatters charges. Scatters rushes, and crucially, channels beasts into kill zones."

"From those spots, archers and ranged fighters can pick them off with ease."

"Beast tides become far easier to repel that way."

Havel’s breakdown of the walls’ defensive strategy earned Alex’s approving nod.

Inside, mild astonishment hit him at Havel’s insight into the city rulers’ tactics.

Even more startling—

’Havel’s chattier than before,’ Alex pondered. ’What did the trial do to him?’

Past the barriers loomed heavy military forces.

Sentries marched steady patrols around the edges and nearby outskirts.

’I figured the Wildlands’ hub would reek of disorder...’ Alex pondered while lining up at the gate. ’Wrong assumption.’

’Reports say a council of top factions runs it—probably empire proxies, temples, and big groups like Adventurers’ and Mercenaries’ Associations.’

The line advanced at a brisk pace.

Half an hour later, Fortuna group stood at the head.

’Fitting for a “free trade city,”’ Alex thought. ’Time squandered costs merchants dearly in gold—or berserk stones.’

The guard captain beckoned them ahead.

Alex fished out his berserk stone pouch for the toll—

Yet a voice interrupted first.

"They’re with me."

The captain snapped to attention.

"Understood, sir."

He moved aside promptly.

Alex faced the voice’s owner.

"Why are you here?" he demanded.

A chuckle escaped the man.

"And why can’t I be?"

Leaning in, his look grew suggestive.

"Are you sure this is the place for that discussion?"

Alex scowled briefly... then nodded faintly.

"Good," the man replied. "Follow me. The bald dwarf’s set up lodging for you already."

Remembering something, he tacked on—

"Oh, and there’s a visitor waiting. Someone from far away, dying to see you."

Alex’s forehead creased more, though he stayed silent.

Wordlessly, he guided his companions after the man.

Soon, they entered a spacious estate fit for the whole party.

Upon crossing the threshold—

Alex declared.

"You have a lot to explain, Raven Horn."

That’s right—

He was the boozy scoundrel Alex encountered at Dragonstone Oasis’s Adventurers’ Association, via Branch Master Wayne Achard.

Right then, a new silhouette stepped from the inner rooms.

"Oh? You’ve finally arrived," the newcomer remarked offhandedly. "You took longer than I expected."

Surprise flickered in Alex’s eyes.

"Kron Belloc?" he uttered. "What are you doing here?"

***