Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 599: Alex’s Considerations I

CH599 Alex’s Considerations I

***

”What?”

For a brief moment, Alex’s mind went blank upon hearing Sorcerer One Heaven’s offer.

”...Is that even possible?” he asked.

The notion that a single individual —regardless of strength— could take control of an entire plane... it sounded absurd and unbelievable.

Sorcerer One Heaven simply nodded.

”As long as you successfully obtain the Heavenly Mandate through the Legacy, and form a bond with the plane’s Consciousness, then yes. It is possible.”

He continued, ”The Legacy teaches you how to mobilise the collective power of Heaven and Earth. The Heavenly Mandate grants you the highest authority within, and beneath, the Heavens.”

”As for the plane’s Consciousness...” His gaze deepened slightly. ”It is currently in its most vulnerable state.”

”By my estimations, it has only just been reborn. In essence, it is an infant.”

”With the Legacy, and the Heavenly Mandate, you will be able to enter the Heavens and establish a bond with the plane’s Consciousness— its very soul.”

”Through that bond, you will gain influence over the Will of Heaven itself.

”As long as your intent does not threaten the survival of the plane and does not trigger its instinctive self-preservation... Then your will shall be enacted.”

For a split second, Alex’s breathing quickened.

Countless possibilities surged through his mind.

Knowledge of every resource point across the plane... The authority to command wind, rain and even natural disasters... The potential to use the plane itself as a conduit to access the Universal Laws ahead of time...

The implications were staggering.

But then, like a bucket of cold water poured over his thoughts— clarity returned.

’It’s never going to be that simple...’

Alex exhaled slowly.

He was far too well-read to fall for such illusions.

Power of this magnitude never came without a cost.

Either it demanded an immense price to wield or the process of obtaining it was unimaginably difficult.

Perhaps both.

Silence followed.

Alex fell deep into thought.

Minutes passed quickly...

Nearly half an hour went by.

Sorcerer One Heaven watched in quiet surprise.

This was longer than he had expected.

Finally, Alex spoke.

”Alright.”

”I will accept the Legacy.”

Sorcerer One Heaven nodded.

Though the time taken to reach the decision had been longer than anticipated, the conclusion itself was not.

’He is still young,’ the old man thought. ’In the end, the allure of power is difficult to resist.’

What he did not know was that he could not have been more wrong.

If the old man’s offer had been limited to control over Verdantis’s Heavenly Will, Alex might very well have rejected it outright.

’Too much power corrupts.’

It was a well-known principle in his previous life— one that remained just as relevant in this world.

A mere Second Circle individual controlling an entire plane?

That was not power. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

There was no way a powerhouse like Sorcerer One Heaven would be ignorant of that fact.

Which meant only one thing.

Either the offer was not as absolute as it seemed or there were significant limitations and hidden conditions attached to it.

Even so, Alex chose to accept.

Firstly, because of the Daddy golden energy, or rather, Providence— the force that had brought him and his party to Verdantis.

Even if there was no immediate, tangible gain, there was clearly a design at play by Fate or perhaps something even deeper— Destiny.

If he was already entangled in it, then it was better to move along with the current in order to extract as much benefit as possible.

Rather than to be forcefully dragged along with the current anyway with nothing to show for it.

However, the true deciding factor was not the promise of authority.

It was the Legacy itself.

’A power that can mobilise the collective forces of Heaven and Earth, if it works the way I think it does... then this isn’t going to be limited to Verdantis.’

’It could elevate my Rune-Tech to an entirely new level.’

For a fleeting moment, a smile threatened to surface on Alex’s lips, but he quickly suppressed it.

Instead, he leaned forward slightly and placed both hands on the table. He opened his palm upwards.

This was a very deliberate gesture.

”Alright, One Heaven,” Alex said calmly. ”Now that we’re on the same side, please tell me everything.”

He held the old man’s gaze.

”And I mean... everything.”

A faint glint passed through Sorcerer One Heaven’s eyes.

Without a word, he mirrored Alex’s action.

His palm rested upon the table, facing upwards.

A simple gesture, yet one laden with profound meaning.

A tradition from the ancient era of Sorcery—a symbol of absolute openness. An unspoken pact, no less binding.

Once accepted, neither party would withhold truth from the other.

While there was no actual force compelling either party to remain truthful, the gesture was a tradition deeply respected within sorcerer society— especially among those of higher rank.

It was far better to refuse the gesture outright than to accept it and then lie.

To do so would not only stain one’s reputation, it would be seen as a betrayal of one’s own self.

Such a transgression could weigh heavily upon the mind, to the extent that it could hinder, or even halt, one’s progress in cultivation. (Inner Demon.)

”Here is everything I know...” Sorcerer One Heaven began.

”I cannot say whether my ascension to the Eighth Circle was merely a consequence of destiny... or the catalyst of a greater, preordained event. But what is certain is that my breakthrough marked the beginning of an era of tribulation for Verdantis.”

”A tribulation already inscribed within the stream of Destiny, one that the plane itself cannot avoid.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

”Within this destined tribulation, exists multiple fates and outcomes.”

”In one, Verdantis is devoured by Gu Mo.”

”In another, the traitors —those who now proclaim themselves as deities— succeed in repelling Gu Mo, only to claim the plane for themselves.”

His gaze darkened.

”But in both of these outcomes, I see the same end. The eventual death of Verdantis and the extinction of all who inhabit it.”

Silence lingered.

”And so, taking advantage of the Heaven’s Will’s inherent drive for self-preservation, I used the power of the Heavens to create a Legacy... one capable of opening a third path—a third fate.”

His voice steadied.

”A legacy that would give rise new force. One that does not siphon the plane’s Providence, but instead nurtures and strengthens it. And uses it to stand against both Gu Mo and the traitors.”

”A new force that would restore Verdantis to the correct path.”

His gaze locked onto Alex.

”What I ask of you is to become that third force.”

”To guide this plane towards survival, continued existence and growth.”

He paused, then added,

”But as I said earlier, the battle you are stepping into is not a direct one. You will not face Gu Mo nor the traitors in direct confrontation... at least, not yet.”

His voice lowered slightly.

”Instead, this will be a battle for the Heavenly Mandate.”

***