Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH669 Meeting the BattleBane Guild Master I

***

Alex and Eleanore slipped out of the Fortuna Mansion, accompanied by Kavakan and Mogal.

With their cloaks drawn, the group moved quietly through the city before arriving at the Jadewell and BattleBane Estate. From there, they were guided along a concealed route through the city—one clearly designed to ensure they could not determine where they were being taken—until they finally arrived at the private villa of the BattleBane Guild Master.

The Fortuna party exchanged sceptical glances as they walked through the gloomy, hollow, and sparsely furnished corridors of the residence.

Before long, they arrived at the door of the room where the guild master resided. Just as before, Dalton Asheton and Lady Rosa Mercier approached and knocked reverently upon the door.

”Dalton, Rosa...” the BattleBane Guild Master’s voice sounded from within. ”I see you have arrived with our guests. Come in.”

Dalton opened the door and led the group inside.

Dalton and Lady Rosa were already accustomed to the oppressive gloom beyond the threshold. However, it struck the unprepared Fortuna party like a physical blow.

The moment they stepped into that realm of suffocating melancholy, it felt as though every trace of joy, excitement, and warmth within them was extinguished without a trace.

Yet in that very instant, both Eleanore and Alex reacted in ways that caused expressions to change on the faces of the BattleBane Guild Master, Dalton, and Lady Rosa.

Eleanore’s Fey Monarch bloodline stirred immediately, instinctively pushing back against the invading gloom. Within her mind, it manifested as an illusory ray of sunlight, forcing away the darkness with radiant warmth.

Her bloodline seemed almost offended by the intrusion, as though it wished to extend that warmth outward and completely crush the source of the gloom—restoring hope to this false realm. Unfortunately, the BattleBane Guild Master was far too powerful. Her bloodline’s resistance could not extend even an inch beyond her skin.

Alex’s response was far more direct. The moment he understood what was happening, he forcefully unleashed his powerful Spiritual Force, crushing the invading gloom within his mind through sheer will alone.

Illusionary Gaze!

His Truth-Seeker Eyes activated, reflecting the remaining stream of illusory gloom directly back towards its source.

Crack! Shatter—!

”Huh?”

Dalton, Lady Rosa, Kavakan, and Mogal heard the distinct sound of something cracking—then shattering—followed immediately by a surprised gasp from the BattleBane Guild Master.

Calm Madness!

Before anyone could fully process what had happened, Alex—his crimson eyes burning with restrained fury—turned a cold gaze towards the BattleBane Guild Master.

”What is the meaning of this, BattleBane Guild Master? Is this how you greet your guests—by attacking them with your Saintly Domain?” Alex said coldly.

The BattleBane Guild Master, upon hearing Alex’s accusation, did something unexpected—he immediately stood up and bowed in apology.

”I apologise for my actions. I have grown so accustomed to my domain being imposed upon my surroundings that it takes me a moment to retract it whenever I receive guests,” the man in battered armour explained.

Spirit Sight Lv.2!

Alex observed the man closely, but he sensed no intention of deception or hostility from him.

Slowly, the BattleBane Guild Master withdrew his Saintly Domain until it only covered the immediate area around him—the table and the seat where he remained.

Alex watched the process carefully, and a flicker of surprise passed through his mind.

According to Jared, maintaining one’s domain required a continuous expenditure of mental energy. In other words, keeping a Saintly Domain active at all times would place an immense burden upon the user’s mind.

It was not something one did casually unless there was no other alternative—or unless the situation was absolutely critical, such as during a life-or-death battle. That was why most Saints and Legends only unfurled their domains at decisive moments.

If nothing else, this alone spoke volumes of the BattleBane Guild Master’s mental fortitude. For that, he silently earned a measure of respect from Alex.

Cough!

The BattleBane Guild Master suddenly coughed.

Cough! Cough!

The coughing came repeatedly, leaving Dalton Asheton and Lady Rosa Mercier watching him with grave concern.

Eleanore’s expression also turned solemn as she observed the man.

Eventually, the BattleBane Guild Master regained control and the coughing subsided.

”It seems I keep showing you one shameful side after another,” he said as he slowly returned to his seat.

He was clearly in immense pain, yet he endured it with sheer stubborn resolve.

Even so, Dalton and Lady Rosa inwardly released sighs of relief. At the very least, this time he had not coughed up bowlfuls of blood as he usually did.

”As I was saying before, I have no choice but to keep my domain imposed upon my surroundings. It is the only way I can manage the effects of my... affliction, as I am sure the fine lady here has already realised,” the BattleBane Guild Master said, his gaze turning suddenly towards Eleanore.

The man’s sudden attention towards her caught Eleanore, who had been quietly examining him from a distance, slightly off guard. Still, she acknowledged his words with a calm nod before glancing briefly towards Alex.

Alex himself had already realised the truth of the situation, though that did not make it any less unusual.

’A debuff-type domain...?’ Alex mused inwardly as he studied the man before him.

Typically, domains were far more enhancement-oriented in nature.

From the few domains he had seen and experienced—from his father’s Stellar Storms Legendary Domain, to Jared’s Saintly Domain, as well as the Legendary Domain of the Legend who had once tried to assassinate him—despite their remarkable differences, Alex had observed several fundamental similarities shared by them all.

First and foremost, such domains existed to amplify conditions most suitable for their user; whether by increasing the concentration of mana aligned with the user’s affinity, or by imposing rules, concepts, and laws comprehended by the user onto the surrounding area of influence.

Every single one of them had the same ultimate goal: to strengthen the user by creating an environment overwhelmingly favourable to them.

Weakening opponents—or anyone else caught within the domain—was merely a byproduct of that process. Only the domain’s owner could fully utilise the imposed conditions, while everyone else would naturally find one or more aspects of the domain hostile to their own nature.

However, the BattleBane Guild Master’s domain was the complete opposite.

Its primary purpose was not enhancement, but suppression.

Everything within its area of influence—mana, concepts, emotions... even the very atmosphere itself—was affected in a way that weakened all others except its user.

Thus, strengthening himself became merely the byproduct. After all, if everyone else was weakened, then the user who remained unaffected was, by comparison, effectively strengthened.

’He is forcibly influencing the area around himself to suppress the mana and laws feeding his curse. Without this, the curse would have progressed far faster... and judging by his current condition, he would likely have died long ago had he not been doing this.’ Alex deduced.

From that realisation, he could not help but wonder—

’Just what exactly did you do... that a Navi paid this much attention to you, BattleBane Guild Master?’

***