Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 628: Unexpected Conclusion

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[First Step: Ghost Step]!

Dalton depended on sheer velocity and brute strength, but Alex favored subtlety and skill—utilizing the slippery initial move from the Abyssal Conqueror Steps to dodge along the borders of Dalton’s assaults.

His blade sliced with accuracy, parrying and blocking Dalton’s blows, as his battle axe advanced without pause, hunting for any chance to strike back.

The pair clashed across the arena’s surface, showcasing the ultimate display of raw martial skill below the Sainthood realm.

Every collision brimmed with purpose and ferocity, their attacks infused with deadly sharpness and poison.

The impact from their clashes whipped up fierce winds that surged outward, battering the onlookers at the edges.

"This..." a BattleBane started, then faltered, words escaping him.

Not one had foreseen their captain facing such difficulty against a foe who seemed inferior by all accounts.

"The captain’s truly giving his all," one whispered. "It’s the handicap making it tough... isn’t it?"

"No," another BattleBane responded, shaking his head. "With all this opponent has revealed, do you believe he’s unaffected by that same limitation?"

"How could that be? He’s just Gold Rank," the first protested.

"Yet look—he’s matching our captain blow for blow," the other shot back steadily.

He shifted a bit, locking eyes with his teammate.

"The captain warned us already. This isn’t some lesser foe... it’s a rival. Don’t look down on him."

Like echoes, similar mutters rippled through their ranks, skepticism slowly yielding to grudging respect.

Soon enough, those hushed talks drifted to Lady Rosa’s hearing.

’Is he holding back too?’ she pondered. ’How does such a youth match Dalton stride for stride?’

Right then, Lady Rosa spotted a vital clue the BattleBanes had missed without realizing—Alex’s youth.

He was unmistakably young, barely past his early twenties—still holding his own against Dalton, seasoned by years on the battlefield.

The budding esteem from the BattleBanes had clouded their view of this truth.

Yet Rosa Mercier refused to be swayed so simply.

Though she and Dalton often clashed in views, she recognized and honored his power.

If he faltered before a foe who looked weaker on record, the reality was clear—

Dalton wasn’t deficient; his rival was exceptional.

’A fighter of this level, so youthful, couldn’t emerge from nothing...’ Lady Rosa reflected silently.

’Some mighty faction must have groomed such prodigy.’

Remembering Eleanore’s rock-solid assurance from before, Lady Rosa’s conviction grew firmer.

Within the arena, as Alex and Dalton charged fiercely—both vying for dominance—Dalton’s frame trembled abruptly.

That split-second weakness was all Alex required.

He seized it instantly, batting Dalton’s weapon aside and lunging with a fatal thrust.

Alex acted on pure reflex, his mind locked on wrapping up the duel swiftly—enough that he overlooked Dalton’s strange condition.

The moment passed in a flash.

When Alex sensed the anomaly, his sword was already piercing toward Dalton’s chest.

Then—

A palm lashed out, seizing the edge.

Shatter!

Alex’s eyes bulged in astonishment as Dalton shattered the blade barehanded.

"I am... sorry. I can... no longer... suppress it," Dalton rasped, his tone ragged and broken. "Defend yourself... someone will soon—"

His warning cut short as his gaze blackened entirely.

Sclera, iris, pupils—all devoured by a creepy, absolute darkness.

In his fading awareness, Dalton hurled his massive sword aside, disarming himself.

Alex couldn’t grasp the chaos unfolding.

It was like peering into a bottomless void—and before he could move—

Boom!

A savage burst of foul gray aura exploded from Dalton, hurling Alex away.

The air itself twisted.

Around Dalton, the atmosphere grew dense and oppressive—drenched in insanity and frenzy.

That sinister force expanded rapidly, overflowing the arena to shroud the whole grounds.

"Stop him!" Lady Rosa cried out sharply.

"ROAR—!"

Like a feral monster, Dalton pounced at Alex, his punch exploding with horrifying might.

"That’s enough," Alex stated icily.

He let his weapons fall and lifted his palm against the oncoming blow.

[Stun Current]! [Umbra Grasp]!

A field of crackling lightning burst forth around Alex, surging into Dalton’s body and leaving him stunned for a brief moment.

Simultaneously, a gigantic shadow hand emerged from Dalton’s own shadow, wrapping tightly around him and holding him immobile.

Dalton thrashed wildly, trying desperately to escape the bindings that held him fast.

Yet Alex offered him no chance to do so.

Closing in swiftly, Alex grabbed Dalton firmly by the head.

[NightShock Grasp]!

The lightning and darkness mana flowing through Dalton’s body suddenly gathered at Alex’s hand, merging into Netherspark mana to power the spell.

Strands of dark lightning extended from Alex’s palm, piercing into Dalton’s body via his veins and arteries.

Through Alex’s exacting control—and directed by OmniRune’s precise guidance—the normally deadly spell was greatly toned down.

Instead of crippling Dalton’s full nervous system like usual, the assault was adjusted to disable just his motor abilities—circumventing his body’s inherent protections completely.

Even as Alex let go and Dalton crumpled to the floor, the dark lightning kept surging within him, guaranteeing his continued paralysis.

"Udara!" Alex shouted.

As the BattleBanes stayed dazed by the abrupt reversal—and by how effortlessly Alex had seized command—Udara materialized beside him instantly, passing over a vial containing bluish potion.

With no delay—and without asking leave—Alex poured the potion straight down Dalton’s throat.

"What are you doing?!"

At that point, the BattleBanes snapped out of it, their astonishment turning to fury as they yelled together.

Regality! Dominion! Domination! Subjugation!

Alex’s True Name awakened.

A overwhelming aura exploded from his form, flooding the arena like a unseen wave.

"Calm yourselves. I am merely saving your captain’s life," he declared, his tone laced with absolute command.

Instinctively, the BattleBanes halted where they stood.

His words brooked no resistance—demanding submission alone.

Lady Rosa’s frame quivered slightly.

’This... this presence of a ruler...’

Right then, all remaining uncertainty evaporated. She felt ’certain’ that Alex’s origins were far from commonplace.

Indeed, her doubts only grew wildly beyond bounds.

Shortly after, Captain Dalton started coming back to awareness.

Seeing this, Alex dispelled his spell, letting the numbing surges fade away.

Upon Dalton’s full return to consciousness, the first thing he saw was Alex bent over him—not one of his BattleBane Guild comrades.

Alex’s eyes held firm, grave intensity.

"What did you do... to incur the wrath of a deity to the extent that they would place such a curse upon you?" Alex inquired.

That query rippled shock and terror across the BattleBanes.

Weapons came out in a flash.

Blades gleamed as they encircled Alex—primed to battle unto death for their hidden truth.

***