Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 675: Partnership And Irony

Alex offered a slight smile, nodding his head. "As you ought to."

This response caught Dalton, Lady Rosa, and even the Guild Master of the BattleBane Guild entirely by surprise. "What? Did you anticipate I'd deliver some profound sermon on abandoning vengeance for forgiveness?" Alex inquired, a wry smile gracing his lips. "Apologies, but you've approached the wrong individual. Had circumstances similar to yours befallen me, I wouldn't have stopped at merely dispatching the Archbishop—I would have reduced Juror's entire Temple to ashes."

As these words left his mouth, his eyes ignited with a fierce, crimson glow. Eleanore subtly nudged him with her elbow. Instantly, Alex's 'Calm Madness' state receded, and his eyes reverted to their customary ruby hue. "As I'm certain you've already grasped—given that we find ourselves in this discussion, and that you've been so candid—I am not indigenous to this Heaven. Consequently, much like yourself, I stand opposed to the deities of this realm. In that regard, we are natural allies. Therefore, my associates will provide a cure for your people's affliction, including your own condition. In return, your BattleBane Mercenary Guild will formally enter into a partnership with my Fortuna Mercenary Group for a duration of ten years. Throughout these ten years, you are to refrain from pursuing your personal vendetta against that Archbishop of Juror."

"Master, you can't—"

Dalton and Lady Rosa attempted to voice their objections simultaneously, but Alex, without missing a beat, continued, silencing them before they could fully articulate their concerns. "I bear the unfortunate distinction of being fated to confront every deity within this Heaven. During this decade, you will not only assist me and my group in solidifying our position against them but will also be fortifying yourselves for the eventual confrontation with Juror. Based on all you've conveyed, Juror appears to be the most formidable deity currently present in Verdantis. If this assessment holds true, then every possible advantage will be crucial for your success. Let us lend each other support... so that our individual quests for vengeance may be realized," Alex proposed with a calm demeanor.

(Flashback End)

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Alex observed the passing scenery from the carriage window as it transported him away from the Banshee Estate, heading back towards the tailor's establishment. His mind replayed the sequence of events that ultimately led to the BattleBanes forming a clandestine alliance with Fortuna.

The very day following their encounter with the BattleBane Guild Master, Alex and Eleanore commenced the treatment of the guild members suffering from the curse. Utilizing pill alchemy, Alex and Eleanore successfully manufactured substantial quantities of restorative solutions. This was achieved by refining multiple sets of ingredients into potent pills, which were subsequently dissolved in liquid mana to create powerful healing concoctions.

Concurrently, Alex collaborated with OmniRune to modify and enhance the formation Eleanore required, thereby enabling it to treat numerous patients simultaneously. This advancement came at the expense of increased energy consumption and a reduction in overall efficiency, but such compromises were necessary given the extensive scope of the required treatments. Although Alex integrated a self-sufficient energy-gathering mechanism into the formation, it proved inadequate to meet the complete energy demands. As a consequence, the BattleBanes rapidly depleted their stockpiles of berserk stones and berserk beast cores.

Despite these resource challenges, not a single individual voiced a complaint. Relative to the prospect of liberation from their curse, the expenditure was deemed insignificant. By the conclusion of the treatment process, a significant portion of the BattleBane members had been successfully cured. However, this cure carried an associated consequence—they forfeited the divinity granted by the Twilight Adjudicators.

In its place, their internal energy, identified as 'Combat Energy,' underwent a qualitative transformation, evolving into a superior form. While it could no longer be classified as ordinary Combat Energy, its newly acquired nature was markedly more refined and potent. Regarding the Guild Master of the BattleBanes, his condition presented a more intricate scenario. Although he could outwardly function and appear as a Combat Saint, the reality was that he remained far from completely healed. A minimum of one full month of continuous treatment—either administered directly by Eleanore or facilitated by the healing formation—would be necessary to fully resolve the deeper internal injuries and persistent sequelae within him.

Nevertheless, his current state was more than sufficient to serve as a potent deterrent—a strategic bluff already employed against Lady Wintermere and the Drumvale consortium supporting her. Subsequent to the treatments, the members of the BattleBanes held Alex and Eleanore in the highest regard, bordering on reverence. Had the pair decided to establish their own religion, it is highly probable that the entire guild would have pledged unwavering devotion as its most ardent followers without a moment's hesitation.

Even the Guild Master of the BattleBanes went as far as to offer Alex complete control over the organization, insisting upon it with a surprising degree of firmness. When Alex inquired about the reasoning behind such a drastic proposition, the elder man simply responded,

"You are the second individual in my life that my instincts have declared will alter the world. And that very premonition... it surpasses the one I held for the Cyrindale heir."

For a man who had willingly embraced one of the cruelest punishments a clergyman could face, all based on an instinctual feeling, it was truly impossible to foretell how far he might venture when that sentiment intensified even further.

Nevertheless, Alex managed to convince him to retain command of the BattleBanes, reassuring him that the opportune moment had not yet arrived for Fortuna to undertake such a significant maneuver as openly amalgamating with—or assimilating—a prominent guild such as BattleBane.

Akin to the partnership previously forged with the Black Scar Syndicate—and in certain regards, perhaps even holding greater consequence—the alliance established with the BattleBane Mercenary Guild delivered a monumental impetus to Fortuna’s burgeoning campaign within Verdantis.

The BattleBanes provided not only a substantial increase in manpower to Alex’s rapidly expanding forces but also extended their reach and accessibility.

As deeply entrenched entities within the Wildlands, the territories they could penetrate, influence, and scrutinize were far beyond the current capabilities Fortuna possessed on its own.

This subtly bolstered Alex’s standing in the world, enhancing—albeit modestly—his still developing qualifications to mingle amongst the true magnates operating within the concealed corridors of Verdantis.

Serving as a testament to this, the diminutive Fortune-Suppressing Dragon had indeed grown.

Should one observe with sufficient scrutiny—perhaps employing a magnifying lens—a faint glimpse could be caught of its scales becoming more dense, acquiring sharper edges, and appearing more vibrant than they had previously.

It represented but a minor advancement, yet it was undeniably a progression in the correct trajectory.

However, even more precious than the manpower and strategic access acquired from BattleBane, from a particular vantage point, the most significant acquisition might well have been the veiled historical knowledge Alex gleaned from the BattleBane Guild Master.

As the carriage traversed one of the city’s main thoroughfares, Alex observed the mundane hustle and bustle of everyday existence unfolding outside. Merchants engaged in spirited disputes over their wares while common folk bartered for prices—each and every one of them utterly unaware of the ominous currents swirling far above their heads.

Alex couldn't suppress a gnawing sense of unease.

’To think that the treacherous figures from the Era of Sorcery vanished over half a millennium ago. It carries a profound irony that they did not even manage to outlast the lingering phantoms left behind by the genuine heroes of this plane—despite their betrayal being fueled by an ambition to dominate this world for an extended duration. ’The very individuals who sacrificed their lives defending the plane have bequeathed a legacy far more enduring than those who betrayed it with the sole intent of achieving their own eternal dominion.’

Alex could only offer a slight shake of his head.

***