Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 60: Mother Nature’s Paradox; Farewell

CH60 Mother Nature’s Paradox; Farewell

***

It wasn’t difficult for Alex to realise why he could communicate with the wolves.

It was certainly due to his Auramir Bloodline.

More precisely, it was the influence of his True Name—Solmir—that explained why Mama Frostback entrusted her cub to him... and why the cub had submitted so quickly.

Solmir’s Dominance concept.

The Auramir Bloodline exuded a natural regality and dominance that instinctively drew in wolves, compelling them to obey.

As for why the Ironspine Ravager Wolves hadn’t reacted the same way—it made sense now. By the time they encountered Alex, they’d already marked him as a threat. There had been no opportunity for his bloodline’s aura to influence them.

They never paused long enough to sense it.

But how far this effect could go—how many wolves he could subdue, or command—wasn’t something Alex particularly cared about.

It wasn’t a power he intended to use actively, so there was no point in pondering its limits.

What did interest him, however, was what his bloodline might do to the wolf cub, especially as it was still digesting the energy from the Blazefrost Orchid.

It would take time, but once fully absorbed, the cub would have a stable foundation—one potentially greater than either of its parents.

Even if it didn’t surpass them immediately, it was heading with Alex to Pangea, and eventually, realms beyond. Opportunities to rise would not be lacking.

With that in mind, Alex stepped out of the pocket dimension and resumed his journey.

The portal was still two or three days away from his current position.

There was no time to waste.

---

Alex travelled across the outer rim, steadily making progress.

Along the way, he hunted small game and stored them in the pocket space. Around noon, after fetching water from a river, he returned to the dimension to rest and prepare a meal.

The smell of roasting meat soon woke the wolf cub from its slumber.

The sealed pocket dimension somehow remained well-ventilated, but the rich scent of grilled meat was impossible to ignore.

When the cub rose and stepped into view, Alex was momentarily stunned.

The cub had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Crimsonspine and Frostback wolves were typically black, with red or blue markings along their backs—hence their names.

But the cub...

It was now pure white.

White fur shimmered faintly under the light, giving it the ethereal appearance of a Moon Wolf—a creature Alex remembered from the fantasy stories of his previous life.

And just like the Moon Wolves from those tales, this cub could only wield ice-type abilities.

Which was... odd.

The Blazefrost Orchid was supposed to balance both fire and ice affinities. By all logic, the cub should’ve gained proficiency in both elements.

Yet for some reason, it seemed to had only developed its ice affinity.

Alex filed the observation away in his mind, but chose not to dive into it at that moment. There were more pressing matters, and besides, some things revealed themselves in time.

He handed the cub a barbecued rabbit. They ate in quiet companionship.

After the meal and a bit of rest, the cub threw a little tantrum, refusing to be left behind. Eventually, Alex gave in, and the two left the pocket dimension together.

---

The following days passed in a rhythm of travel and training.

The man and cub gradually perfected their cooperative hunting techniques, working in sync to take down prey. From small animals to mid-sized beasts, the duo grew more efficient, storing a steady supply in the pocket dimension.

It was still early, but a rudimentary partnership had begun to form.

Eventually, Alex reached the base of the hill where the portal was located.

He had the wolf cub return to the pocket dimension.

Then, alone, he began the ascent.

---

A few buff spells and about an hour later, Alex reached the top of the hill without any noteworthy drama.

Just before stepping through the portal, he paused.

He turned around to look one last time at the vast expanse of the Subspace that had become both battleground and sanctuary.

If this were a novel, this part of his journey would be a proper training arc.

He’d grown stronger—not just in power, but in perspective.

Aside from the combat experience, what Alex had truly gained here was clarity.

He had finally, fully accepted it.

He belonged to this world now.

And as someone of this world, he would have to shed the mannerisms and common sense of the one he came from.

This was a world of power.

And in this world, the allure of strength was so intoxicating that beasts and people alike would throw themselves into the obvious meat grinder just to seize it.

If he kept thinking like someone from Earth...

He would stay weak.

And the weak didn’t survive here.

They were devoured—used as fuel for the strong to climb higher.

The most important lesson he’d learned in this Subspace wasn’t about runes, spells, or combat.

It was something more primal.

The heart of nature.

---

Nature is fair.

In nature’s eyes, every being is both predator and prey.

To ignore that truth was to be swallowed whole by the beautiful cruelty of Mother Nature.

A force that never hides her savagery, yet is beloved all the same.

’Prey on others if you don’t want to become prey yourself... but the more of a predator you become, the more likely you are to be preyed upon by others. And yet... you have no choice but to keep being a predator, because that’s the only way to stay strong.’

Alex muttered the paradox imposed by Mother Nature under his breath.

Mother Nature pushes you to become a predator if you want to avoid being prey—but once you become one, you’re locked into that cycle.

A never-ending pursuit.

’Perhaps that’s what the path of power truly is... a journey without end.’

He sighed.

’The path of the strong... you can never stop walking it. Because there will always be someone stronger.’

And now, as the curtain closed on this Chapter of his life, Alex found himself feeling just a little reluctant.

The Subspace had clear rules, clear strength rankings—Class 3 was the ceiling.

But beyond the portal?

The outside world was unknown.

If Class 3s were already such a terror to him, then he’d be lying if he claimed he wasn’t a little afraid of what awaited him out there.

Still...

It was just a fleeting fear.

Whether he liked it or not, his path didn’t lie here.

His path laid in the expanse of Pangea—to the realms beyond.

For his purpose in this life... for the responsibilities he now carried...

And simply to live—truly live—in this world...

He had to return.

---

With that, Alex offered a silent gratitude to the Subspace.

Then, wearing a wide smile and a gaze filled with determination and maturity, he turned around and stepped into the portal.

”Let’s go take over the world!”

***