Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 669: Meeting the BattleBane Guild Master I

CH669 Meeting the BattleBane Guild Master I

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Alex and Eleanore departed the Fortuna Mansion, with Kavakan and Mogal in tow.

Cloaked figures, the party moved stealthily through the city until they reached the Jadewell and BattleBane Estate. From there, a hidden passage within the city guided them, clearly designed to conceal their destination. Eventually, they arrived at the private villa of the BattleBane Guild Master.

The Fortuna contingent exchanged doubtful looks as they traversed the dim, empty, and plainly decorated hallways of the estate.

Before long, they reached the chamber where the guild master resided. Just as before, Dalton Asheton and Lady Rosa Mercier approached, rapping respectfully on the door.

"Dalton, Rosa..." the BattleBane Guild Master's voice emanated from within. "I see you've arrived with our guests. Enter."

Dalton pushed the door open, ushering the group inside.

Dalton and Lady Rosa were already accustomed to the oppressive dimness beyond the threshold. However, for the unprepared Fortuna party, the gloom struck like a physical assault.

The instant they crossed into that suffocatingly melancholic space, it felt as though every spark of joy, exhilaration, and warmth within them was utterly extinguished.

Yet, in that precise moment, both Eleanore and Alex reacted in ways that shifted the expressions on the faces of the BattleBane Guild Master, Dalton, and Lady Rosa.

Eleanore’s Fey Monarch bloodline immediately awakened, instinctively repelling the encroaching gloom. Inside her mind, this manifested as a brilliant shaft of sunlight, forcefully dispelling the darkness with its radiant warmth.

Her bloodline appeared almost indignant at the intrusion, as if eager to project that warmth outward and completely obliterate the source of the gloom—restoring hope to this false domain. Alas, the BattleBane Guild Master's power far surpassed her current reach. Her bloodline's resistance could not extend even an inch beyond her own body.

Alex's response was considerably more direct. The instant he comprehended the situation, he vigorously unleashed his formidable Spiritual Force, annihilating the invading gloom within his mind through sheer force of will.

Illusionary Gaze!

His Truth-Seeker Eyes activated, reflecting the residual stream of illusory gloom directly back towards its origin.

Crack! Shatter—!

"Huh?"

Dalton, Lady Rosa, Kavakan, and Mogal heard the distinct sound of something cracking—then shattering—followed swiftly by a surprised gasp from the BattleBane Guild Master.

Calm Madness!

Before anyone could fully grasp what had transpired, Alex—his crimson eyes blazing with contained fury—directed a chilling gaze at the BattleBane Guild Master.

"What is the meaning of this, BattleBane Guild Master? Is this how you greet your guests—by assaulting them with your Saintly Domain?" Alex inquired icily.

The BattleBane Guild Master, upon hearing Alex's accusation, performed an unexpected action—he promptly stood and bowed in apology.

"I apologize for my transgression. I have become so accustomed to my domain naturally permeating my surroundings that it requires a moment to retract it when receiving guests," the man clad in battered armor explained.

Spirit Sight Lv.2!

Alex scrutinized the man, yet he perceived no hint of deceit or animosity emanating from him.

Gradually, the BattleBane Guild Master withdrew his Saintly Domain until its influence was confined solely to the immediate vicinity around him—encompassing the table and the seat he occupied.

Alex observed this process intently, a flicker of surprise crossing his mind.

According to Jared, maintaining a domain necessitated a constant expenditure of mental energy. In other words, sustaining a Saintly Domain perpetually would impose an immense strain on the user's mind.

It wasn't something undertaken lightly unless absolutely unavoidable—or if the situation was critically dire, such as in a life-or-death confrontation. This was precisely why most Saints and Legends chose to unfurl their domains only at pivotal junctures.

If nothing else, this fact alone spoke volumes about the BattleBane Guild Master's formidable mental fortitude. For this, Alex silently acknowledged a measure of respect for the man.

Cough!

The BattleBane Guild Master suddenly erupted into a cough.

Cough! Cough!

The coughing fit persisted, causing Dalton Asheton and Lady Rosa Mercier to observe him with profound concern.

Eleanore's demeanor also grew somber as she watched the man.

Eventually, the BattleBane Guild Master regained composure, and the coughing subsided.

"It appears I continue to reveal only regrettable facets of myself to you," he remarked, slowly returning to his seat.

He was evidently in great pain, yet he bore it with sheer, unyielding resolve.

Even so, Dalton and Lady Rosa inwardly breathed sighs of relief. At the very least, on this occasion, he had not expelled copious amounts of blood as he typically did.

"As I was proclaiming earlier, I am compelled to maintain my domain’s influence over my immediate vicinity. This is the sole method by which I can manage the consequences of my... malady, which I’m certain the esteemed lady here has already discerned," the BattleBane Guild Master stated, his gaze abruptly shifting to Eleanore.

This sudden focus from the man caught Eleanore somewhat by surprise, as she had been discreetly observing him from a distance. Nevertheless, she acknowledged his declaration with a composed nod before casting a brief look towards Alex.

Alex, for his part, had already grasped the reality of the situation, though this did not diminish its peculiarity.

'A debuff-centric domain...?' Alex pondered internally as he scrutinized the individual before him.

Typically, domains were predominantly of an enhancement-oriented nature.

From the limited number of domains he had encountered and experienced—ranging from his father’s Legendary Stellar Storms Domain, to Jared’s Saintly Domain, and even the Legendary Domain wielded by the Legend who had once attempted to assassinate him—despite their significant divergences, Alex had noted several fundamental commonalities uniting them.

Paramount among these was the purpose of such domains: to amplify conditions most conducive to their wielder. This could manifest as an increase in mana concentration aligned with the user’s affinity, or the imposition of rules, concepts, and laws understood by the user upon the surrounding area of effect.

Every single one shared the identical ultimate objective: to augment the user’s strength by creating an environment overwhelmingly advantageous to them.

The weakening of adversaries—or indeed anyone else ensnared within the domain—was merely an incidental outcome of this process. Only the domain’s proprietor could fully leverage the imposed conditions, while all others would invariably find one or more aspects of the domain inimical to their own essence.

However, the domain belonging to the BattleBane Guild Master presented a stark inversion of this principle.

Its principal aim was not enhancement, but suppression.

Every element within its sphere of influence—mana, conceptual frameworks, emotional states... even the very atmosphere itself—was manipulated in a manner that diminished all except its originator.

Consequently, bolstering his own power became a mere byproduct. After all, if everyone else was enfeebled, then the user who remained unaffected was, in comparison, effectively empowered.

'He is actively manipulating the surrounding environment to stifle the mana and principles that sustain his curse. Without this measure, the curse would have advanced much more rapidly... and judging by his present state, he would likely have perished long ago had he not been employing this method,' Alex deduced.

Following this realization, he couldn't help but ponder—

'Just what exactly did you do... to warrant such profound attention from a Navi, BattleBane Guild Master?'

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