Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 107: Abyssal Conqueror’s Steps

CH107 Abyssal Conqueror’s Steps

***

”The Abyssal Conqueror’s Steps is a mobility technique that relies on our bloodline as its foundation. The purer the bloodline, the stronger the affinity with the elements required to perform it—and the easier it is to execute,” Earl Drake explained.

”It’s a technique that grows with its user. It evolves to accommodate the user’s preferences, Laws, and concepts. With sufficient bloodline purity, it can be used throughout one’s entire journey on, as you put it, the path of power. Even mages should be able to use it.”

Alex raised a brow. ”It sounds like a technique that should be widely used. Even if bloodline purity is a hurdle, shouldn’t hard work or unique variants help overcome that? Why isn’t anyone using it?”

”Two reasons,” Earl Drake replied.

”First, it requires a strong mid-purity bloodline just to begin using it. That alone disqualifies much of our family—most only have a weak mid-purity bloodline at best. That’s why the Elder Council began pushing aggressively for intrafamily marriages.”

Alex grimaced at that revelation.

”Second, not everyone has the talent to create their own technique. It’s hard enough just to comprehend an existing one, let alone modify it. The effort to make a variant isn’t always worth it. In most cases, it’s more efficient to just use another pre-established technique.”

He gestured for Alex to follow him to the centre of the training hall.

”Although I have high bloodline purity, I do not possess the Netherspark affinity. What I have is Lightning affinity, which I use to forcefully perform the technique. You’ll have to replace the Lightning in my demonstration with your own Netherspark element.”

”Is that easy or difficult?” Alex asked.

”Don’t worry. The principles are the same. As long as you can freely use the elemental affinity, adapting the technique should come easily enough.”

Alex nodded in understanding.

Earl Drake shifted his posture. His presence changed subtly—focused, coiled, dangerous.

”The Abyssal Conqueror’s Steps has four steps, each with its own purpose. You may think of it as a four-in-one technique.”

”Are you ready?”

Alex activated his Eidetic Memory, eyes sharp, mind focused. ”I’m ready.”

”The first step...”

Without warning, Earl Drake vanished.

Alex blinked. His father had taken only a single step forward—yet he was gone.

The next time he sensed him, it was from the very corner of his eye. But when he turned, the Earl was already shifting again, just beyond his angle of sight.

Step by step, the man continued disappearing and reappearing—each movement evading direct perception until, eventually, he appeared beside Alex and tapped his shoulder.

”What the—?”

Alex turned, stunned.

”First Step: Ghost Step,” Earl Drake said calmly.

”It’s the simplest of the four. The core principle is basic: use feints and misdirection as you move to slip into and stay within your opponent’s blind spots while attacking.”

”It’s so straightforward, in fact, that you don’t even need mana or elemental affinity to perform it. It’s more of a foundational footwork principle than a battle technique.”

He paused, then continued, ”However, with the right elemental affinity, it becomes much easier to use. Lightning affinity boosts speed and manipulates optics, making it easier to evade sightlines. Darkness affinity helps you remain in blind spots longer by enhancing stealth.”

”I see... So, with the Netherspark affinity—a fusion of Lightning and Darkness—I get the best of both worlds,” Alex commented thoughtfully.

Earl Drake nodded in affirmation.

’Since it’s not so much a technique as it is a movement method...’ Alex mused. ’I have a hunch that using it with other elements might yield different results...’

As if sensing his thoughts, Earl Drake interjected, ”Word of advice—don’t try to use Ghost Step or any of the Abyssal Conqueror’s Steps with elemental affinities outside of Netherspark.”

”Huh? Why not?” Alex asked, surprised.

”Because at its core, it’s a bloodline technique. Once you begin practising, you’ll realise how difficult it actually is to execute. You’ll need the crutch of our bloodline’s relations to Infernals. And if you’re using that crutch but attempt to run other elements through it... well, don’t come crying to me when you maim yourself.”

”So, that means if I don’t rely on my Furor Bloodline as a crutch, I can use other elements?”

”In theory, yes,” Earl Drake conceded. ”But in practice, the Abyssal Conqueror’s Steps are inherently peak-level techniques. Mastering even one with the appropriate bloodline is gruelling enough. Creating a viable variant with other elements? You’d be wasting years of effort better spent on more productive pursuits.”

”I... understand.”

Earl Drake nodded and began explaining the deeper mechanics of the Ghost Step, though he didn’t allow Alex to begin practising it yet. Instead, he moved forward with his demonstration.

”Second Step...”

Once again, Earl Drake vanished from view.

But this time, it felt different.

It wasn’t just that he had moved out of sight—his entire existence seemed to vanish from the world.

Alex immediately pushed his Spirit Sight to its limits. Only then did he barely perceive flickers of lightning mana dancing around the space.

He turned suddenly, sensing something behind him.

But it was too late.

A firm palm landed on his shoulder.

”Second Step: Phantom’s Veil,” Earl Drake’s voice rang out calmly.

Only when he spoke did he materialise again, fading into sight as if stepping out of a dream.

Alex frowned. ”That’s... completely different from Ghost Step.”

”You’re not wrong,” Earl Drake replied. ”They operate on entirely different principles.”

He folded his arms and explained, ”Phantom’s Veil is a stealth technique. It merges the user with their elemental affinity, allowing them to move unseen. Unlike Ghost Step, which is a combat or evasive footwork technique, this is pure stealth.”

Realisation clicked in Alex’s mind.

The flickering lightning he’d detected with his Spirit Sight must have been his father moving in stealth. Despite his ocular power, Alex had been fooled—not just once, but twice.

He thought back to the assassin ambush, how he failed to detect the enemy hiding in the shadow of the lamp post. That moment returned with sharp clarity, and it struck him just how much he’d begun to over-rely on his Spirit Sight.

’Even my most trusted tool can fail me...’

”Like Ghost Step, each component of the Netherspark affinity plays a different role in enhancing Phantom’s Veil,” Earl Drake continued. ”Lightning provides speed to execute the movements; Darkness enhances the stealth—obviously.”

He offered a wry smile. ”Since I only possess Lightning affinity, I compensate by relying purely on raw speed to remain hidden.”

As before, the Earl explained the subtleties and theory of the step until Alex had a solid grasp of it.

Then he moved on to the third.

**