(Second Book Complete!) Runeblade: A Delving & Skill Merging LitRPG

Kaius narrowed his eyes at Porkchop, running a mental tally of how long his challenge had taken him. Time had gotten away from him in the flow of the fight — it was easy for it to slip by when your mind ran fast enough for seconds to stretch several times over, and a battle moved so quick that a heartbeat’s delay could mean death.

Still, he couldn’t have taken that long — he’d still had a quarter of his stamina by the end. He was pacing himself, but still, it couldn’t have been more than a few hours.

“How long have you been waiting?”

Porkchop chuffed, giving him a smug smile.

“Two hours, or there abouts — took me less than half of one to seal the win.”

Kaius rolled his eyes at the teasing jab — though it was annoying to be bested to thoroughly.

“It’s not a competition.”

“Ahh, but you’re still annoyed — therefore, I have won.”

“Bastard.” he said, leaning forwards to punch Porkchop lightly in the shoulder.

It was good that Porkchop’s Animus had come so easily to him — that both of theirs had, really. Their experiences before going their separate ways must have pushed them right up to the edge, and their challenges had given them just the right push to move on.

In all honesty, he was glad he didn’t care much about taking longer. For a while, he’d been worried that his aspect would be focused on achieving victory — on seizing the win. His previous pillars had suggested that it was at least a possibility.

Thankfully, he knew it wasn’t — even without having gone through ignition. The warmth of its fire shone true, and he knew that it was much more about challenging himself and enjoying the process of pushing himself to his limits.

“So, how was it to get an aspect about being a blockhead who enjoys being beaten up like some sort of depraved weirdo?”

He gave Porkchop a sharp look of shock. What? How’d he guess that? And more importantly, rude!

“For one, I don’t like getting beaten on! I just like being challenged. For two, how the hells did you know that? I only just figured it out like fifteen minutes ago!”

Porkchop chortled at his expression.

“Please, it was a safe guess. Do you know how many people I’ve met who’re inclined to smile when they get stabbed? One — you.”

Kaius coughed, scratching behind his ear. When you put it like that, perhaps it wasn’t such a big jump. Though, he supposed that those simple truths were sometimes the most obvious to those outside looking in.

In that vein, he wondered what Porkchop had gotten. His brother loved a fight as much as he did, nor did he shy away from effort and struggle — but he didn’t exactly crave the latter in the same way Kaius did.

He frowned.

“Excitement? No, that feels a little wrong. Something close to that.”

“Curiosity.”

Kaius nodded contemplatively. It checked out. Porkchop was always eager to jump into something new. I mean, he was literally the first of his people to cross the Wildguard mountains in gods’ knew how long — before he’d even unlocked his class equivalent, at that. Even the little things, like how Porkchop lit up whenever he cooked a new dish, or the ease with which he’d thrown himself into Deadacre — an utterly foreign urban environment.

“Well, I guess we did it. All three Aspects in a little more than a year, though I’m not sure how objective that last bit is — time has been ...odd in here.”

“We did, though I wonder what will happen when we ignite our Animus. Do you think we’ll get another Honour?”

“Well, considering we were already amongst the first to ignite, and we have the advantage of a Crucible, I’d be surprised if we didn’t. That said, if there have been others who’ve challenged a place like this, we might be out of luck if they’ve already finished it. We can still hope, though — and who knows, if there is an Honour, it might be different from the first.”

Porkchop bobbed his head. “True — besides, even if we miss out on an information packet, Xenanra might be able to share more about Aspect Refinement. Or maybe there’s other crucibles deeper down that relate to it?”

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“I suppose we’ll have to find out,” Kaius replied, grinning.

Through their bond, Kaius knew that they were both ready and eager to ignite their final pillar.

He turned his attention inwards, to the nascent flame that flickered above his soul. Three carved spires, each topped with a burning sconce. Two burned with truth, while the last waited to awaken.

Reaching for it, he felt the system’s question flicker into view.

**Ding! Pillar of Self Discovered, Animus Ignited. Would you like to initiate Aspect Formation?**

Revelation washed over him.

Satisfaction, found in exertion and sweat. The drive to push himself onwards, ever searching for the next thing that would provide the pushback he needed. Refinement of the self, but also simple joy.

It was primal. Sat at the very core of him — a truth that had been moulded young, and reinforced with every fight, every journey, and every choice he had made. The thrilling heat he felt in his blood, and the visceral delight he felt as he danced on the edge.

It was in his fascination with magic, and his manic refinement of his bladework. It shone through the hard nights spent under the stars, with only dried jerky and stale water to fill his belly.

The excitement that burned within him as he threw himself at death, again and again.

Burning bright and true, it was simple honesty that he loved his life — even the tribulations that had been leveraged against him. It was in those moments, where his bloodsong screamed and his mind grew sharp and clear, that he truly felt alive.

He saw a champion, garbed in gold and silks — dread and boredom dripping from their skin as riches piled high around him. Gold lay piled and forgotten, courtesans scorned and ignored — even a table laden with dripping beef and perfectly charred greens sat cold.

The same man stood on the sands of an area, bare chested and panting. His blood flowed like water from a dozen cuts, and his left arm hung limp and broken. But his eyes. They were bright — full of life and vitality. He quivered, staring down a challenger that vied for his crown. Not out of fear, it was joyous laughter that tore free of his throat. A blade raised in salutation to the heavens, an acknowledgement for the blessing that even at the peak there was always something to rail against. Always a grindstone to keep their will sharp, and their heart beating strong.

The vision shifted, dispersing like water, before Kaius saw anew.

An elderly magus — mana so dense in his conduits that he burned brighter than the sun. Old and withered, he smiled pleasantly as raw arcane twirled around his fingers like a lover. A strand of pale blue, packed with enough power to smite titans and cities alike.

The mages hands shook and his brow twitched — strained from the complexity of so much power compressed so tight. Tightening, the strand flattened into a ribbon, and began to twist.

Uncaring of the agony, the mage’s smile twitched higher at the simple bow that lay in his hand — an exercise with no purpose, a challenge with no prize, but one that soothed his old soul all the same.

On and on the vision flowed. Skulking thieves, stealing from the most guarded purses — even when they weren’t the fattest. The chefs of emperors, constantly searching for a new masterpiece, even when they’d long since learned their employer’s favourites. The helmsman who steered into the storm, just to feel the charge of lightning in the air.

All felt the thrill, and all loved life for it. It was an endless well — from the weak and poor, to the strong and mighty, even to those of so much power that Kaius could barely even comprehend it; there was always something. Something to strive for, to rail again. A raising of the stakes, even when it served no purpose other than simple fulfilment.

In them, he saw kindred, and Animus burned.

**Ding! Animus Aspect Founded - The Ceaseless Warrior**

Kaius breathed deep, feeling his final pillar settle above his soul. Full and complete, he felt the solidity of them. How they supported his soul — bolstered every facet of his being in seamless unity.

Yet…there was a blankness there, from Animus. A blind spot, where the sensation of hyperreality from his embodied aspects failed to reach. He couldn’t feel it in the same way he could the others.

It was there, that much was obvious. Some sensation of grounding weight that lay just out of reach. After all, embodying his aspects didn’t so much empower them, as it let him come fully into tune with the truth that was already present.

He’d understand soon, he was sure of it.

No Honour for his efforts either, but he didn’t despair yet. There was still embodiment — if achieving that with all three aspects was considered to be the pinnacle of what could be achieved on the path in the first tier… Well, that sounded exactly like the kind of feat the system would reward.

Pushing the thought out of his mind, Kaius turned to what he was most excited for — his newest aspect.

The Ceaseless Warrior:

Pillar Animus - Seed Stage

For most, battle is something to be endured. A hungry maw, tolerated only for the weakness that tears away with gnashing fangs. Pain, struggle, and effort are meted out only because of the rewards that lie in wait — the succour promised, if only strived for with enough zeal.

For Warriors, it is life itself. The brightness of wine, the glint of gold, and the gush of red meat on the palette pale in the face of what is truly visceral. The fight.

Whether it is with sword, scalpel, or sonnet, every Warrior strives for the moment that their heart beats the loudest — when all is on the line, and every facet of their being comes into tune. When breath becomes flow; when intention and action become a singular inseparable stream.

Regardless of purpose, regardless of outcome, they hunger for the moments where they burn bright.

As an Aspect of Animus, The Ceaseless Warrior infuses the soul with self assurance and certainty. It is deeply set, subtly touching all that you are, and bolsters it further.

Ethereal Reinforcement: Purity of Self

The Pillar Animus kindles the soul, granting it the strength to burn true and project your Authority through all that you are. Grants a minute resistance to all that would effect change against you, and notably improves your ability to direct your will and intent.

Seed: Hardened by Life

Even a soul can be polished with enough grit.

Anchoring itself deep in your centre, your soul more readily accepts growth, and rejects exterior influence.