Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 139: Oath of Allegiance

CH139 Oath of Allegiance

***

According to the results from his detection spell...

Udara had a staggering twenty-one Rune Slots.

That number alone was mind-blowing—but it wasn’t just the quantity.

The quality was just as ridiculous.

Her Rune Slots were located all over her body—everywhere.

Her shoulders. Her back. Her thighs. Even her bosom and bum weren’t left out.

And each slot boasted a capacity well above average.

Together, the sheer number and potential of her slots made Udara the perfect model for his Rune Tattoos—just as Merlin had said.

Alex couldn’t help but wonder where in the world Merlin had found someone like her.

His mind was already firing on all cylinders.

’No... I can’t just slap random Runes on this epic-tier canvas. No way! This body was clearly made to carry my Rune Tattoos to their peak form.’

’I need to plan this out... carefully. Strategically. Meticulously.’

He exhaled hard.

’That’s it. Not random tattoos—an intentional, interlocking system. A Rune Set. A crafted symphony of Runes working in harmony!’

Rune Sets!

The idea echoed in his mind like a divine revelation.

His breathing grew heavier as the possibilities flooded in.

He was like a blacksmith presented with a mythical metal—aching to create a masterpiece... an Opus Magnus.

Drake and Udara exchanged a look.

They had never seen Alex behave this way.

He looked possessed.

Fortunately, Alex wasn’t completely gone.

He noticed their looks and quickly reeled himself in.

’Cough.’

He let out a very obvious fake cough and tried to regain composure.

”Let’s begin,” he said, schooling his expression back into one of calm.

Too bad it didn’t work. Not after that earlier outburst.

Still, neither Drake nor Udara pushed it. They simply let it slide.

Earl Drake took out a scroll and laid it on the floor. A magic circle immediately spread outward from it.

It was smaller than the one Merlin had used for Alex’s Oath of Discipleship...

But in terms of structure? It was far more complex.

Udara stepped forward and knelt before Alex, taking her place within the circle.

Drake moved to the side, his expression solemn.

And then—Udara began to speak.

Her voice was clear. Resolved. Each word rang with power, resonating with the magic circle beneath her.

”Before the fundamental laws that govern this world, In the presence of the Head of House Fury, I, Udara Gudrun Kael, do solemnly vow—My life, my strength, and my unwavering devotion... to you, Alex Fury, my Master.

”From this day forth, I am yours—Your blade in darkness, your shield in peril, your hand in all matters of trust. I shall stand beside you when the world turns cold, and kneel before you when duty calls it so.

”No force shall part me from your side, nor shall any trial weaken my resolve. Your burdens shall be mine to share, your victories mine to honour, and your name mine to cherish above all else.

”Where you lead, I shall follow. where you falter, I shall hold you firm. Where you command, I shall obey—Not from duty alone, but from the quiet truth that you are the keeper of my loyalty, my purpose... my very being.

”Should all others turn away, I shall remain. Should the weight of the world bear down upon you, I shall bear it with you. Until my hands grow weak and my breath is no more... my Master, I shall stand with you.”

Alex’s eyes flickered.

Even he hadn’t expected that.

Oaths of this level were not taken lightly. They weren’t empty words.

They were binding. Sealed not just by magic—but by the will of the world itself.

Every word mattered.

And with each phrase, Udara had firmly—and permanently—bound herself to him.

Not just in body.

Not just in service.

But in soul.

He could not doubt her loyalty.

Not anymore.

Clang!

The magic circle flared with brilliant light.

A pulse of energy surged through the room as the ritual completed.

Alex felt it immediately—a bond forming between him and Udara.

It was similar to the link he’d formed with Merlin after the True Disciple ritual...

But this one was different.

This bond was skewed in Alex’s favour.

If Udara were to betray him, the consequences would be fatal.

But if he betrayed her, he’d only suffer minor inconveniences.

Alex frowned.

That didn’t sit well with him.

He didn’t believe in blind loyalty—not without equal responsibility.

And so, acting purely on impulse, Alex raised his hand and declared:

”In the presence of the fundamental laws of this world, I, Alex Fury, accept your oath, Udara Gudrun Kael. And in doing so, I bind you not only to my service, but also to my trust—and my fate.”

”From this day forward, you stand as my blade in battle and my hand in duty. I shall rely upon your wisdom, strength, and loyalty—as I would my own.”

”Let no command of mine dishonour your devotion, nor any burden I place upon you be given without just cause.”

”You have pledged yourself to me, and in turn, I swear to you—You shall never stand alone, nor shall your service go unheeded or unvalued.”

”Your vow is heard. Your loyalty received. And your place at my side—assured.”

Udara trembled.

Though Alex’s vow was not enforced by the same magical compulsion that bound her... His words pierced straight into her heart.

They weren’t just formalities.

They were a declaration of trust. Of acceptance. Of partnership.

And that, more than anything, cemented her loyalty.

Earl Drake narrowed his eyes slightly.

His expression tensed.

There was something... odd.

The glow from the magic circle—which should have dissipated the moment Udara completed her vow—remained.

And only vanished after Alex’s words were spoken.

Nothing obvious happened. No backlash. No shift in the ritual.

But still...

Drake had never seen anything like it before.

He made a mental note but dismissed it.

If Alex showed no signs of harm, then there was no cause for alarm.

But he was wrong.

Something had happened.

Unbeknownst to everyone—including Alex himself—the moment he spoke those words, something shifted within him.

Within the depths of his Bloodline Space, the manifestation of his Runic True Name surged with clarity.

The once-faint scripts floating above his mindspace sharpened into blurred glyphs—Just a step away from full manifestation.

With just a little more refinement, they would reveal themselves. And his Runic True Name would be born.

At the same time, within his Sanctuary pocket dimension, the faint golden energy at the core of the Bonsai Tree began to pulse violently.

Strands of golden light multiplied and exploded outward.

A radiant wave burst from the tree, bathing everything within the sealed space—Except for Joselin Holt’s body.

The light flowed toward two focal points:

The Nest Queen, curled in its slumber and Alex’s modular Rune Lab.

Whatever effects this energy had would only be seen in time.

The wave then receded, retreating gently back into the Bonsai Tree as it continued its recovery.

Back in the real world...

Alex reached out and took Udara’s hand, helping her to her feet. In that brief, simple motion—a flicker passed through his Truth-Seeker.

Without his knowledge, it briefly scanned Udara’s mind, then quietly deposited a sliver of his Mental Energy within her.

The result? Unknown.

Alex merely felt a flicker of fatigue in his mind—nothing concerning. And so, the moment passed unnoticed.

But the oath was sealed.

And from it, a new force was born:

The Dark Hand of the Sage—the Sage’s unseen blade. His hidden power. His hand in the shadows.

**