Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH720 How To Gain A Territory III

**[A.N: Mass Release Chapter: 8/10]**

Alex poked the campfire with a stick again, causing the flames to crackle and sway briefly.

As the dancing firelight reflected within his eyes, his thoughts drifted back towards the Great Berserk Beast Forest looming in the distance.

’For centuries, that forest has served as a kind of bogeyman for this plane. Countless tales of its terror have been told and passed down across generations—and much of that fear is justified.

’After all, even Legends can—or more likely, already have—fallen within the forest. There is no other reasonable explanation for the overwhelming aura it exudes.’

’Its infamy has reached such an extent that even a two-star Combat Saint—a genuine Saint even by Pangean standards—hesitates to enter it.’

Alex’s gaze gradually hardened as he looked towards the distant forest.

’However... I do not possess the luxury of fear.’

His thoughts deepened.

’If I shrink back from something created merely as a consequence of Gu Mo’s lingering influence, then how could I ever hope to face the man himself in the future?’

As that thought surfaced, another realisation suddenly followed.

’Fear... One of the reasons Gu Mo is nearing the point of breaking free—or perhaps has already partially broken through his seal—is precisely because the people of this plane fear the remnants he left behind.

’They fear Berserk Property. They fear Berserk Transformation. And now, even Combat Saints—let alone ordinary people—are cautious of, or perhaps even fear entering the Great Berserk Beast Forest itself.’

Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.

’With so much fear directed towards his creations... generating faith, reverence, and providence for him... I would honestly be more surprised if Gu Mo hadn’t already recovered enough strength to begin at least testing the remnant strength of the seal.’

A faint sigh escaped his lips.

’Others may possess the luxury of fearing Gu Mo. I do not. Not as the inheritor of One Heaven’s Will... and certainly not as a Pangean.

’I refuse to generate faith energy for some damned Navi.’

Alex shook his head before a faint smile appeared on his face once more.

He finally lifted his gaze away from the campfire and looked towards Saul Redwald.

”Even if we avoid the forest today, it does not change the fact that we will eventually have to enter it in the future regardless,” he said calmly.

”There is no need to be overly dramatic about this,” Alex quickly added before Saul could respond. ”I did not come here intending to subjugate the forest—not yet. I am not foolish enough to believe I currently possess either the strength or the forces necessary to conquer a place like this.

”You told me yourself that the Great Berserk Beast Forest spans over fifty million square kilometres—perhaps even twice that size. From our current position, we only intend to travel roughly one thousand kilometres into it... two at most. By the standards of this forest, that barely even qualifies as entering it at all.”

”And besides...”

Alex gestured towards the rest of the retrieval party behind him.

”We possess a squad strong enough to defend itself and retreat over that distance if necessary. We have also prepared thoroughly for this expedition. We can accomplish this.”

His gaze settled firmly upon Saul.

”I know you can still hear the echoes of those you lost. However, you and the rest of the BattleBane members have already been healed. There is no reason to continue shackling yourselves because of lingering phantoms left behind by the curse within your minds.

”If you continue doing so even after the curse itself has been lifted... then all you are really accomplishing is allowing the deities who created that curse to continue benefiting from it.”

Alex’s gaze slowly shifted back towards the distant forest.

”Just as you are allowing the parasite responsible for the forest to continue benefiting as well,” he added quietly.

Saul frowned deeply.

He could tell Alex was alluding to something important. He tried to grasp the meaning behind the youth’s words, yet every time he felt close to understanding it completely, the thought seemed to slip through his fingers once more.

Nevertheless, Saul ultimately decided not to bring up retreating again.

It was obvious Alex had already made up his mind.

’And it is equally obvious that the curse took far more from me than merely years of suffering,’ Saul thought bitterly.

’It most likely stole my warrior’s spirit as well.’

A complicated sigh escaped him inwardly.

’Saul Redwald... you have grown old. Not merely in body... but more importantly, in spirit.’

-

The night passed without incident, and soon the morning sun rose to illuminate the sky and the land once more.

Alex looked over the all-star team he had assembled for this expedition.

The members of Fortuna were all significantly stronger than their apparent ranks suggested.

The Rune Soldiers were still only at the late-to-peak Intermediate Rank. However, thanks to the Guardian of Happenstance rune tattoo set, each of them could unleash combat power comparable to a late-to-peak Elite-ranked combatant. And if they coordinated together properly, their strength could rise even further.

As for Alex and his direct followers and retainers, while their outward cultivation placed them within the Elite Rank, their individual abilities and hidden methods allowed each of them to display battle prowess well within the Veteran Rank.

And then there were the BattleBanes.

They were exactly what they appeared to be—two Combat Masters and one Combat Saint. A genuinely formidable force by any standard.

Although this team likely did not require it, Alex still decided to deliver the customary pre-mission speech.

”It goes without saying, considering we are about to enter what is allegedly one of the most dangerous places on this plane, but remain cautious and watch every single step you take carefully.

”Remember, this is not a subjugation mission. We are not here to hunt beasts. This is primarily a retrieval and reconnaissance operation.

”We are here to scout the Great Berserk Beast Forest—its structure, its environment as well as anything else we can learn—but most importantly, we are here to retrieve House Skywalker’s Patriarch Seal.”

Alex pointed northward.

”Our destination is Anakor, the former capital city of the Skywalkers’ Tat Espa fiefdom, located approximately one to two thousand kilometres from our current position.

”This is the homeland of Berserk Beasts, and the location with the densest known concentration of Berserk Property on the continent. Needless to say, we must avoid combat whenever possible.”

His expression became more serious.

”For those entering the forest for the first time, remember this carefully: the entire forest is densely corrupted by Berserk Property. Be extremely cautious regarding anything you touch, consume, or interact with.

”Although we possess pills, potions, and medicine designed to counter contamination, avoid ingesting anything from the forest itself as much as possible.”

Alex paused briefly before continuing.

”Once again, we are about to enter one of the most dangerous locations in the world. Watch over yourselves... and watch over the men and women beside you.

”Inside that forest, we will be each other’s only allies. So make sure you protect one another...”

Alex’s gaze sharpened suddenly.

”...or I will kill you myself.”

The abrupt warning sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

Alex gave a satisfied nod.

’Audentes Fortuna Iuvat,’ he muttered inwardly.

Fortune favours the bold.

”Alright,” Alex ordered calmly. ”Move out.”

***