Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 677: Fortuna 300

CH677 Fortuna 300

***

It had been nearly a week since the conflict with the Lost Heathens erupted, and for the first time, the Fortuna party openly left the Fortuna Mansion through its main gate.

Within the BloodIron territory, many individuals privately ridiculed them, murmuring that it was only a matter of time before the Lost Heathens completely annihilated them.

Such was the harsh reality of existence in BloodIron, and indeed, throughout the vast Wildlands.

The strong were both revered and feared, while those perceived as weak faced scorn, even from creatures as insignificant as ants who would never dare to challenge them but would readily trample them underfoot without a second thought.

Alex’s piercing ruby-red eyes surveyed the onlookers lining the roadside. Utilizing his Truth-Seeker Eyes, he easily discerned those who had spoken ill of his group, yet he paid them no attention.

There was simply no need.

In just a few days, those same critical voices would undoubtedly be echoing with praise for them.

The Wildlands operated under a hypocritical mantra: fear the strong and prey upon the weak.

Mounted on the formidable frame of Dread, Alex spearheaded the remainder of the Fortuna party as they exited BloodIron.

Despite attempts by scouts to follow, Alex, accompanied by his wives, his six direct subordinates, thirteen Fury soldiers—including the skilled crossbowmen—seven copper-skinned orcs, and thirty barbarians, all vanished into the obscurity of the night, cloaked by his [Dark Shroud] spell.

Once they had successfully evaded all pursuers, Alex turned his gaze towards Tivela, who was riding alongside Mordor.

It appeared the woman possessed an innate gift for shamanism, and Mordor, fortunately, was capable of imparting the fundamental principles to her.

Despite the absence of formal instruction, Tivela had already begun to showcase her burgeoning abilities.

After gathering the barbarian slaves captured during the raids on the Lost Heathen stronghold, Alex made a significant discovery: a number of them exhibited considerable potential for Rune Slots—many boasting five or even six slots, marking them as ideal candidates for his forthcoming Rune Soldier initiative.

Narrowing his selection criteria to a minimum of four rune slots, he identified fourteen individuals among the captives who possessed the aptitude to become Rune Soldiers.

Kavakan had also succeeded in persuading Alex to accept an additional seven barbarians who did not meet the specific Rune Slot criteria he was looking for.

These seven, along with the three who did possess innate Rune Slots, constituted the most formidable ten among the barbarian slave warriors who had fought to defend the Lost Heathen base—at least, those who had survived the conflict.

Astonishingly, each of them proved to be no less than a 2-Star Silver rank warrior, with one even nearing the threshold of breaking through to the Gold rank.

Such exceptional talent was exceedingly rare among the native barbarian population and even more so among those held captive.

Individuals of this caliber were typically either sold to high-level buyers or eliminated entirely, as their heightened self-awareness of their own strength made them more prone to rebellion.

Under ordinary circumstances, recruiting such formidable individuals willingly would have presented a significant challenge. Yet, somehow, Tivela had managed to persuade them to join Fortuna of their own volition.

In fact, to a certain extent, they had practically pleaded for acceptance.

With the incorporation of these twenty-two barbarians, including Tivela herself, the Fortuna force had expanded to a total of sixty members.

This represented a substantial increase from their initial numbers, yet even Alex conceded that their strength was still far from adequate.

"They have arrived, Master," Udara announced, drawing Alex from his introspection.

She gestured with her chin to the side. Following her indication, Alex shifted his gaze and observed a contingent of over two hundred individuals advancing towards them.

The newly recruited barbarians instinctively stiffened, but the veteran Fortuna barbarians—those who had endured the ambush by the Lost Heathens—quickly reassured them.

The approaching force was not hostile.

They were allies—the BattleBanes.

A subtle smile graced Alex’s lips as he watched them draw nearer and integrate seamlessly into his formation.

The BattleBane Guild comprised an elite contingent of eight hundred warriors, organized into four distinct companies, each numbering two hundred members and led by a Captain. The least powerful among them ranked at 3-Star Bronze, while the majority had already attained 2-Star Silver.

Their four Captains were all either 2- or 3-Star Combat Masters, and their Guild Master himself was a 2-Star Combat Saint—although his current condition had diminished his power to the level of a 1-Star due to his affliction.

Although Alex had declined the BattleBane Guild Master, Saul Redwald’s, offer to fully integrate the guild under Fortuna’s banner, he did accept the man’s proposal to transfer a contingent of elite members to his direct command.

The emergence of new allies, such as the BattleBane Guild and, to a degree, the Black Scar Syndicate—which was essentially the Alston Family—presented Alex with the strategic advantage of potentially commanding multiple, distinct forces.

Indeed, the presence of several specialized divisions wasn't just beneficial; it was imperative for forging the extensive influence Alex needed to fully unleash the legacy bestowed upon him by One Heaven.

With this objective clear, Alex resolved to be proactive and create a personal elite contingent—a unit that would answer only to him. Upon joining, any prior allegiances would be completely disregarded.

Unsurprisingly, Alex designated Fortuna as the core foundation for this elite cadre.

Equally predictable was his decision to limit its strength to a select three hundred individuals.

This restriction stemmed not only from his fondness for historical precedents but also from his calculated assessment that this number offered the ideal equilibrium between swift maneuverability and robust resilience—sufficiently large to withstand an initial onslaught, yet small enough to enable rapid command execution.

To assemble the inaugural contingent of this three-hundred-member Fortuna unit, Alex handpicked two hundred and forty elite fighters from the BattleBane Guild, selecting sixty from each of its four constituent companies. A considerable number among them boasted at least four Rune Slots, marking them as ideal candidates for his long-term objectives.

The remaining slots were provisionally filled by other competent individuals, with the intention of phased replacement as Alex identified and recruited more prospects possessing the requisite Rune Slot potential.

Considering the profound respect and near-worship the BattleBanes held for both Alex and Eleanore, the assimilation of these new recruits into the enlarged Fortuna force occurred with extraordinary smoothness and negligible discord.

***