Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 545: Two Sides of Heaven-Earth II

CH545 Two Sides of Heaven-Earth II

***

Hiro smiled. He stepped forward, stopping at the entrance of the Grand Formation.

”They have decided,” Hiro said. ”Let us begin, brothers.”

The two other disciples of the Heaven Secret Sect moved to his side.

Their voices rose in a sonorous chant while their hands blurred through rapid hand seals faster than the eye could properly follow.

”Open!” Soon, the three roared in unison.

A pulse rippled through the Heaven Net Grand Formation —the subordinate talismanic field of the Heaven–Earth Concordance formation that held the berserk humans trapped before the mountain’s formation-eye.

For a split second, the dome-like outline of the formation imprisoning the berserk humans flashed into visibility... then vanished just as quickly.

A door of light opened before the three disciple-brothers of the Heaven Secret Sect.

Hiro turned to the other Holy Sons and Daughters and gave a small nod before stepping through first.

The others followed without hesitation.

—

Meanwhile, Alex and Sugud struggled to determine the theme of the Grand Formation so they could deduce the likely condition required to navigate its maze.

They reached no concrete conclusion.

Well... Sugud found nothing reasonable or logically sound.

Alex, on the other hand, had arrived at a possible answer — but he kept it to himself. It was far too speculative.

’Providence...’ Alex mused.

’I can’t imagine the condition is anything other than Providence,’ he reasoned. ’Our journey up to this point has felt guided by an unseen hand. And the only reasonable suspect for that hand... is Providence.’

’Our arrival on this plane was literally facilitated —guided— by Providence. And since then, I’ve led my team on a hunt for divine energy in order to earn more Providence.’

’Whenever we succeed in gaining said divine energy —and by extension, Providence— we somehow end up being guided toward locations where we can gain more divine energy... and more importantly, learn a secret or background truth about this world.’

Alex couldn’t help recalling a joke he once told himself.

’A location —a secret land— that hasn’t opened for centuries or millennia... a treasure unseen for ages... an opportunity that only appears after centuries suddenly manifests when the main characters or heaven’s chosen arrive...’

’Considering what we’ve encountered since leaving Pangea, one could argue our party fits that cliché mould.’

’And the reason for that all comes back to... Providence.’

The more Alex thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was onto something. The otaku within him was practically screaming that he was right.

And since there was no better explanation available, Alex decided to proceed under that assumption.

’That said, I should take precautions.’

Alex nodded to Sugud before calling the other Fortuna members over.

He gave a brief SitRep based on his and Sugud’s deductions— carefully omitting anything that needed to remain hidden.

”Due to the circumstances, only a few of us will go in,” Alex said. ”If anything goes awry, it will be up to those left behind to return to Dragonstone and inform the Adventurer Association branch master, Wayne Achard, of the situation.”

”I will now call the names of those who I wish will come with me,” Alex said. ”Like I mentioned, due to the unknown circumstances surrounding this, I won’t force anyone to follow. The decision is yours. No one will be reprimanded for refusing to join what is, at this point, essentially a suicide mission.”

Alex’s gaze swept across his party members. He hesitated —only briefly— before listing the names.

”Zora, Udara, Eleanore...”

The hesitation stemmed from a simple conflict.

He didn’t want his wives to come because of the danger. Yet at the same time, he knew he could not do without their strength. If there were members of the party capable of surviving this unknown, it was them.

And beyond strength, each of them was a chosen daughter of heaven in her own right. If the theme of this formation truly revolved around Providence, then they might be safer inside it than remaining outside.

”Sugud...”

The next name surprised many, but the reason quickly became obvious. Alex wasn’t bringing Sugud for combat strength— he was bringing him for knowledge.

”Silver, Kavakan, Mogal, Havel.”

Alex finished with the most natural choices.

From their demeanour, it was clear none of those named intended to stay behind. Zora, Udara and Eleanore’s reasons were obvious— they were not about to let their husband wander into an unknown location alone.

’Who knows what world-altering havoc he’ll unleash if we leave him alone.’

As for Sugud...

’A formation of this level... this sophistication... the chance to decipher what such a place contains... I must go!’

His eyes burned with a fervour Alex recognised instantly.

It was the zeal of a researcher determined to reach the truth of a phenomenon— no matter the danger.

As for his followers...

Well, there was the little unspoken reality none of them could ignore— the binding contract that existed between Alex and each of them. Should anything happen to him... should he die... they would die as well.

In that sense, accompanying him was the more rational choice. Better to follow along and ensure he didn’t get himself —and, by extension, them— killed.

”Mordor, Lopota... the two of you are in charge now. If we don’t return soon, head back to Dragonstone and inform Wayne Achard.”

”Understood.” Lopota bowed, accepting the order without hesitation.

”How long do we wait?” Mordor asked.

”I’ll leave that to your discretion,” Alex replied. He gestured behind him without looking back. ”The biggest determinant will be... them, I suppose.

”If they do anything too far out of the ordinary —something you judge to be an advanced threat— withdraw immediately.”

”Understood.”

The entry group prepared themselves.

Within Alex’s vision, the thin lines of golden energy converged at and toward a specific point in space.

He watched it for a moment... then made his decision.

’If I’m betting the theme is Providence, then I might as well follow it completely.’

Alex led the group directly beneath the line of golden energy hanging in the air above, ready to follow its direction precisely— down to the final coordinate.

He looked over the group. Each of them met his gaze with a quiet measure of trust and confidence— expressed in their own ways.

Alex drew a subtle breath.

”Well then... may Providence favour the brave.”

He stepped forward.

And entered the formation.

The others followed without hesitation.

***