Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 899: Truth, Endless Void of the Unknown

CH899 Truth, Endless Void of the Unknown

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“As you know, there are three peaks to the path of power, each representing the state of Mana flowing within the body of each being gifted to walk the path of power—with each peak being a greater hurdle to ascend than the one before it.

“The Gas Peak represents assimilation, for it is the stage where mere assimilation of Mana into the body, in whatever form, defines the three ranks under this stage.

“Progress to and through the Liquid Peak is defined by comprehension, for gaining a personal comprehension of Mana, Concept, and Law defines the three ranks of this stage.

“And finally, the greatest difficulty of the three, the Solid Peak. It is defined by the elevation of self. One must truly comprehend oneself and the path they walk; only then can they seek the ultimate peak—Truth.”

Uthvaazgol spoke, almost as if narrating a poem long since a part of time immemorial.

The Ancient Dragon looked down at Alex.

“To reach the Liquid Peak, one must first comprehend Mana, and then compress the previously free-moving Mana in its gaseous form into liquid that binds to their body.”

As the Ancient Dragon spoke, Alex ‘saw’ the dragon’s blood pumping through his veins. Blood extremely potent with energy, Mana, and power.

He continued, “Then, they must comprehend a Concept through which they will interact with the world.”

Suddenly, a small presence softly radiated from the dragon’s body—a Concept.

Feeling through the Concept, Alex felt like he had been thrown into a world where different forms of energy came together into one.

He even recognised one of these combined energy forms.

‘Aether Energy,’ Alex muttered to himself.

“And finally, one must show reverence to this existence by reaching to comprehend at least one of its Laws—even if only a fragment.”

Then, another presence exuded from Uthvaazgol. It was a presence Alex sensed from his father, Drake. The presence of a Law.

Unfortunately, Alex couldn’t tell what type of Law it was.

“These are the three steps to reach the Liquid Peak,” Uthvaazgol said.

‘The first step is for Class 4, the second step for Class 5, and the third step for Legend,’ Alex noted to himself.

His eyes gleamed as he predicted what was to come next.

Uthvaazgol continued his teaching, “To reach the Solid Peak, one must comprehend thyself—and from this comprehension, combine their Concept with their Law to create a new Law-Concept unto their own.”

Before Alex’s Truth-Seeker Eyes, he saw both Uthvaazgol’s Concept and Law presences combine into one within the Dragon’s controlled domain, giving birth to a new power.

Due to Uthvaazgol’s extreme control, the presence only exuded out softly, but still, it gave the Ancient Dragon an unfathomable air. A sense of natural supremacy that Alex had not felt from any being he had met before.

Even the Class 7 beings he had met, or rather, seen, in the Heaven-Earth Concordance formation—the Heavenly Venerable, the Sword Emperor—none of them could compare to his Master’s presence.

“After an understanding of self, one can then use their Law-Concept Domain to speak with the True Natural Order and gain an understanding, or rather, a realisation, of the true Laws that bind all beings in existence—the Supreme Laws. Laws which are bound upon all beings.

“Only by gaining a realisation of the Supreme Laws can one truly shed their mortal coils and obtain that which is functionally immortal.”

As Uthvaazgol spoke, the unfathomable presence about him seemed to change. Alex didn’t know why, but he felt he saw the dragon’s body, yet did not. Other times, he saw multiple forms of the dragon’s body… an almost infinite cycle.

“Ah!” Suddenly, Alex held his head and dropped to his knees.

‘What was that?’ He thought to himself as he felt the pain throb through his body.

His ocular abilities had once again stopped.

However, he quickly realised that his Truth-Seeker Eyes didn’t go into hibernation, but had shut themselves down to prevent Alex from seeing what he shouldn’t—or wasn’t ready to see.

Amusement flashed in Uthvaazgol’s eyes for an instant as he also seemed to sense what had happened to the youth. However, he showed no concern. Instead, he continued,

“Only when one fully gains a realisation of the Supreme Laws can one begin to search for the ultimate goal of all beings—the endpoint of the path of power… Truth.”

BOOM!

As soon as Uthvaazgol’s words landed, Alex felt his world quake. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Just a mere revelation, and he felt his body shiver.

However, Uthvaazgol didn’t stop.

He muttered as if reciting a poem, “Concepts are unique, Laws are many, the Supreme are few, while there is only one Truth.”

“There is only one Truth. And this Truth is the goal of the path of power. We all—dragons, elves, gnomes, beasts, Wildkin, humans… every single being blessed to be able to walk the path of power—walk the path of power to seek the Truth.

“This is our purpose.”

‘This is our purpose…’

Uthvaazgol’s words echoed many times in Alex’s head, leaving the youth with a blank stare.

He felt as if he had grasped something, yet at the same time, he had gained nothing.

In a daze, he looked at the gigantic form of his Master.

“Master, what is this ‘Truth’?” he inquired in a trance.

“I do not know, child. I myself am still searching for it,” Uthvaazgol said with a sigh.

“For eras unspoken, I, as well as many others, have searched the vast expanse of the Universe. We have uncovered many secrets; for example, a realisation of Six Supreme Laws—Time, Space, Death, Life, Destiny… and Balance. Yet we are no closer to finding out what this sole Truth is.

“Perhaps that is the point. Perhaps there is no one sole Truth to all. Perhaps only a sole Truth to one. And if this is the case, if there is no sole Truth to be found, maybe then there is no end to the Path of Power.

“This is the Realm of Mythos, the stage upon the Path of Power where one seeks out a Truth that might never be found.”

“There is no end to the Path of Power… Truth that cannot be found…” Alex muttered in a trance.

His body shivered as something broke in his mind.

It felt as if his soul had been thrown into a cold darkness with no end in sight. Slowly, the darkness around him seemed to creep in, binding his soul in place.

Alex’s body seemed to run cold, his countenance becoming pale while the energy in his body seemed to weaken, like a burning flame dying out.

His Soul Body didn’t even struggle as the darkness seemed to consume him, pulling him into the endless void of the unknown that surrounded him.

Not only from outside, a primal darkness—the purest of fear—welled out from Alex’s Soul Body.

After all, one of, if not the greatest darknesses hidden within the soul was fear.

And amongst all fears, none plagued the soul—none made the soul lose itself like the fear of the unknown.

Thrown suddenly and irresponsibly into the endless void of the unknown, Alex’s soul was slowly being consumed—was slowly being stripped of itself.

Yet, despite the dangerous situation, Uthvaazgol just watched, almost uncaringly towards his situation.

The only thing that said otherwise was a brief instance of hesitation that flickered in his ageless eyes, which seemed to have seen all calms and storms for time immemorial.

But he held firm.

‘Forgive me, child. But this is a trial you must endure. Endure it, and it will prove that you have that qualification. If not, then…’

Just as Alex’s soul seemed to fall into the deepest abyss of the unknown, a spark lit within his Soul.

Slowly, the spark grew into a familiar glyph—Alex’s Greater Rune.

But not just any Greater Rune mark, but one signifying his most elusive Concept—Limitless.

‘Limitless…’ Alex muttered in a daze.

Suddenly, the Greater Rune extended from his Soul to reflect within his eyes.

The Greater Rune, which read Limitless, etched itself into existence within Alex’s gold-rimmed, ruby-red pupils that signified his Truth-Seeker Eyes.

Suddenly, the endless void of the unknown which caused him fear—the realisation that there might be no end in sight, no end to the path—slowly dissipated.

‘Limitless…’ He muttered again. ‘The endless void… isn’t damnation. It is… limitless potential.’

Alex’s Soul suddenly lit up within the endless void.

A path seemed to illuminate for it, stretching deep into the endless void of the unknown.

It was unclear where the path led, yet Alex’s Soul danced with joy as it rushed down the path bravely. It was not without fear, but it refused to let fear bar him from walking the path.

After an unknown amount of time, recognition and consciousness returned to Alex’s eyes.

“What was that?” Alex spoke, clutching his head.

He massaged his temples beside his eyes to just underneath them, hoping to soothe the discomfort in his eyes.

Slowly, the Limitless mark in his pupils receded—returning to its usual glyphless state.

“Congratulations.” Uthvaazgol looked down at the human with appreciating eyes.

“What just happened, Master?” Alex asked again.

“You have just put a toenail through the door into the Realm of Mythos—one of the requirements to become a Mythos, if ever so slightly,” Uthvaazgol revealed.

***