Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 544: Two Sides of Heaven-Earth I

CH544 Two Sides of Heaven-Earth I

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The party of ten stood at the foot of the mountain.

Just ahead of them stretched a horde of tens—if not hundreds—of berserk humans, all seemingly drawn to the same location.

One particular berserk human stood only a stone’s throw away from the sorcerers. Yet none of them paid it any heed, as though they were certain the creature either could not see them... or would not react to them.

And they were right.

Though the distance between them was small enough to throw a stone, the berserk human behaved as if the sorcerers did not occupy the same space at all. Its eyes were listless, fixed on something distant—something beyond, displaced in space.

Among the sorcerers, a man who appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties stepped forward. He reached out slowly, as if attempting to grasp an invisible thread, his gaze filled with mesmerised awe.

”Truly... beautiful and unfathomable,” he murmured. ”To think the Heaven’s Net function of the Heaven–Earth Concordance still operates perfectly even after a millennium has passed. Indeed, it remains the unrivalled talismanic field of the world.”

Save for the two sorcerers the Fortuna party had already encountered, the remaining seven did not look pleased by the man’s remark. Yet, as their gazes swept across the vast formation before them, none could bring themselves to deny his words.

The two sorcerers who had defended Dragonstone Oasis alongside Alex and the Fortuna party stepped forward to stand at the man’s side.

”Are you certain about this, Senior Disciple Hiro?” the younger of the two asked carefully.

”Are you questioning my decision, Junior Disciple Leo?” Hiro replied without turning, his voice calm but edged with authority.

”I wouldn’t dare, Senior Disciple,” Leo answered quickly.

”Junior Disciple Leo means no disrespect, Senior Disciple Hiro,” the second of the two intervened on the younger’s behalf. ”Like me, he is only concerned that we are flouting a law that—much like this talismanic field—has stood for over a millennium.”

”The guardian family of these Wildlands is meant to impose the test,” the sorcerer continued calmly, ”and determine whether an individual is worthy to become a candidate capable of challenging the Heaven–Earth Concordance trial. Our request was denied by the family currently overseeing this region.

”Our junior disciple-brother only wishes to know whether you are certain you intend to disregard that decision. If you are certain... then, as always, we will follow you to the ends of the earth.”

Junior Disciple Leo nodded firmly, signalling his agreement with his senior brother’s words.

Senior Disciple Hiro inclined his head.

”Do not worry. I understand what our junior brother intended, Junior Disciple Samir,” he said.

Hiro turned his gaze forward once more, towards the vast talismanic field— the array formation stretching across the mountain.

”This Heaven–Earth Concordance talismanic field was established by an ancestor of our Heaven’s Secret Sect. It is the birthright of our sect’s disciples to enter and undertake its trial. And yet... some glorified gatekeepers dare to bar our way?

”The talismanic field has activated once more after centuries of silence, ready to receive challengers. If not us —the foremost disciples of the Sacred Lands— then who is worthy to stand before the trials?”

His eyes flashed with conviction.

”Who, if not I —one acknowledged by my peers and by the leaders of the various Sacred Lands— should lead us into this trial?”

Then he smiled at his fellow disciples, his expression calm, confident... almost charming.

”If that is the case, why should I allow myself to be stopped by peasants throwing a tantrum because a few of their insignificant kin lost their lives —and their place— due to the actions of the previous trial taker?”

Hiro shook his head slightly, faint disdain colouring his tone when he spoke of the guardian family.

”We three carry the mystic energy of the Heaven’s Secret Sect,” Hiro said. Then he turned to the other seven behind them. ”And beyond that... we stand alongside the holy sons and daughters of the Eight Holy Lands of Sorcery.”

”Between us, we carry the energy, fate and fortune of the entire sorcery world. There is no way the Heaven–Earth Concordance talismanic field will not open to us,” Hiro declared confidently.

His eyes flashed with burning ambition.

’Just wait... First, I will conquer the Heaven–Earth Concordance and inherit the knowledge of that almighty ancestor. Then I will unite the Sacred Lands and finally rout the outside world of their false deities, returning the peasants —and this world— back under the rightful rule of sorcerers... where they belong.’ Hiro thought.

Hiro’s junior brothers of the Heaven’s Secret Sect —Samir and Leo— exchanged a quiet glance, a flicker of worry passing between them.

Their senior brother possessed extraordinary talent, and because of that, he had been groomed from childhood to bear the mantle of the world upon his shoulders. Somewhere along that path, however, Hiro had developed something dangerously close to a hero complex.

Samir and Leo had seen it clearly the moment their request for endorsement into the Heaven–Earth Concordance talismanic field was denied by the guardian family’s representative back in Dragonstone.

Even after Hiro displayed his strength during the defence against the beast tide, the representative did not change his stance.

The refusal struck Hiro harder than he allowed anyone to see. To him, it felt as though his very existence —his purpose— had been rejected.

Samir and Leo feared that this expedition into the Heaven–Earth Concordance formation was less a calculated decision... and more a stubborn attempt to reaffirm his identity as the hero —the saviour of the world— he had been told he was all his life.

’If that’s the case...’

Neither brother dared finish the thought.

Hiro, lost in his conviction, failed to notice the troubled expressions of his junior disciple-brothers.

Hiro turned to the entourage behind him.

”Each of you is a Holy Son or Holy Daughter of your respective Sect and branch of Sorcery.

”Before you stands the Heaven–Earth Concordance talismanic formation. And as you know, reaching its end means receiving the mandate of the Heavens.”

”So, I ask you now to vote.

”Should we accept the judgement of peasants who cower beneath the heel of false deities... or should we accept the verdict of our Sects and Sacred Lands, who have named us Holy Sons and Holy Daughters beneath the watch of the Heavens?”

Hiro’s gaze settled on a burly young man whose physique suggested youth, yet whose eyes carried the composure and wisdom of someone far older.

”What say you, Shin, Holy Son of the Elemental Sacred Lands?”

Without waiting for an answer, Hiro turned.

”And you, Ken, Holy Son of the Sacred Land of Armaments?” he asked the thin man with the oversized cleaver strapped across his back.

Again, he did not pause for a response. His attention moved to the next figure — a withered man whose hollow chest was bare to the elements, fists and legs wrapped in worn bandages.

”Or you, Jin of the Physique Tempering Holy Land?”

”Sana of the Anima Lands?” He shifted to the tribal-looking woman with three eye-catching pouches strapped to her slim waist.

”Ray, Holy Son of the Sacred Land of Craftsmanship — and you, Lina of the School of Alchemy?” He nodded to the pair in expensive robes bearing similar crests with only subtle differences.

Finally, his gaze reached the last of the seven.

”And what about you... Ariana of the Grey Sacred Lands?”

Hiro swept his gaze across them all.

”What say you?” he asked again.

The seven exchanged looks, their expressions varied— smiles, indifference, quiet frowns.

Yet despite the differences, their answer was the same.

One by one, all seven stepped forward until they stood just a single step away from the boundary of the mysterious Heaven–Earth Concordance talismanic formation.

Their response required no words.

***