Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 130: Unexpected Opponent

CH130 Unexpected Opponent

Back at the arena, some time before...

Alex had been granted a quarter of an hour for treatment before his next duel would begin.

The crowd murmured with doubt, anticipation, and curiosity over what was to come. Many worried about how much the fight with Kurt had taken out of him—especially his final, relentless flurry.

After all, Alex had punched Kurt nonstop for five full minutes with high intensity. And that was on top of the already gruelling effort he’d put into defending against Kurt’s own five-minute onslaught earlier.

The toll on his body wouldn’t be small.

It was doubtful the healers could restore him to peak condition before the next match began.

Though Alex had shown remarkable combat prowess in his battle against Kurt, not everyone felt confident about his chances of winning the next one. The healers could only mend his physical injuries—there was little they could do for his mental state.

And more often than not, it was spent mental energy that became the unseen line between life and death.

Either way, whether Alex was ready or not, the duel was happening.

The healers left the arena once the allotted time passed, and six individuals walked onto the stage.

They were the heirs of the key representatives of the Family Council—the old noble branches of the Fury Family.

Alex was up against the heirs of three Viscounts and three Barons.

Technically, five of them belonged to old noble lines, while the sixth—another Viscount’s heir—came from a newer line that had been weakening over the years.

Alex glanced at this last person in particular.

Surprisingly, she was also dressed as a Rogue.

Her house had lost its patriarch five years ago during one of Earl Drake’s wars. It seemed the line still held deep resentment, blaming the Earl for their beloved founder’s death.

So much so that his daughter—who was once on the path to become a knight like her father—had switched professions to become a Rogue, something between a thief and an assassin.

Alex subtly shook his head.

While their grudge might seem justified, they’d forgotten one critical detail: the man who raised their line to Viscounty status... was Earl Drake.

It was by standing at Drake’s side, under his banner, that the original patriarch had earned the honour and glory of his title.

It had also been his own decision to continue fighting beside the Earl.

The battlefield was never safe. Anyone who stepped onto it had to accept, in full, that they might never walk off again. It was a reality one had to make peace with.

Sure, it was convenient to blame Earl Drake for the man’s death—but the truth remained: unlike the Earl’s sworn soldiers, the patriarch had not been obligated or conscripted. He had made that choice himself.

It seemed this branch had joined the Family Council seeking some twisted form of revenge against the Earl—any form it could take.

’Their patience has certainly paid off. Now the daughter has a chance to kill me—the heir of Earl Drake,’ Alex thought. ’Is this their idea of revenge? Something to wound my father?’

He couldn’t help shaking his head again.

He wasn’t sure if they were unaware—or simply pretended not to realise—that their noble status still hung entirely on Drake’s goodwill.

If the Earl chose to, he could strip them of their title at any moment. It had been his to give. And now, after all that, they dared to scheme so brazenly against their liege?

’I get it—the Fury Family values ambition and rebellion—but if you’re going to rebel, at least have the sense to do it wisely.’

Turning his eyes away from the only female among them, Alex scanned the rest of the group.

Among the party of six—if they could even be called a party—Alex faced two swordsmen and a berserker, heirs of three Barons. The remaining three, heirs of Viscounts, consisted of a rogue, an armoured knight, and a mage.

The five warrior-types hovered around the Intermediate rank, but the mage stood out—surprisingly reaching the peak of Elite rank.

This was unusual.

As noted before, mages were rare within the Fury Family, and the few that did exist usually had weak magical potential.

Not only had Alex been unaware that one of the heirs was a mage, but if they were around his age and already at peak Elite rank... then they were a prodigy.

After all, any mage who reached that stage before the age of thirty was exceptional.

That kind of magical talent rivalled Zora’s accomplishments.

The thought caused Alex to frown.

He took a closer look at the mage.

Even with the figure obscured beneath a cloak, certain things were still visible to his Truth-Seeker eyes.

Mages naturally linked their internal mana with the ambient mana around them. It was nearly impossible for them to avoid exuding an energy signature—especially one noticeable through Alex’s Spirit Sight.

’This...’

Energy signatures were almost always unique. While they might display the same colours through his Spirit Sight, Alex could instinctively distinguish one from another.

And the energy signature he was currently seeing... belonged to someone he’d met before.

”What is the meaning of this, Viscount Lars?” Alex called out to the mage.

”I am merely fulfilling the conditions of the duel,” the mage replied calmly.

He pulled down the hood of his robe, revealing the aged face of Viscount Lars Fury—the spokesperson of the Family Council.

”Boo~!”

The crowd erupted into boos and jeers the moment the old man’s identity was revealed.

”The duel is supposed to be between the heirs of the Family Council and the heir of Earl Drake’s line,” Alex said, his brow furrowed.

”I do not have an heir. I am the only one who can represent my line,” Viscount Lars replied.

Then, in a move that could’ve come straight out of Alex’s own playbook, Lars turned to face the VIP gallery—directly addressing Earl Drake.

It was just as Alex had said before: in the Fury Family, the power rested with the Family Head. As long as Earl Drake approved, the duel would proceed.

The crowd, understanding this, fell into silence.

They held their breath as Earl Drake’s indifferent gaze drifted between Alex and Viscount Lars.

”I received a report yesterday that Viscount Lars’ only son and heir went missing en route to the Ashen Castle to participate in this duel. He is feared dead. As a result, Viscount Lars is left without a suitable heir and has no choice but to represent his line personally.

”In light of these circumstances—and considering that the difference in strength is not excessive—I will allow his participation.”

Surprised murmurs swept through the crowd.

Very few had expected Earl Drake to allow the duel to continue.

After all, Alex had just endured a brutal fight. One would think a father might use Viscount Lars’ questionable participation as a pretext to cancel or at least postpone the duel.

But before everyone’s eyes, Earl Drake Fury did no such thing.

It was then they all realised something.

The Earl seated on the highest podium wasn’t acting as Alex Fury’s father.

He was acting as the Head of the Fury Family.

And his decision had come from that lens.

But Earl Drake wasn’t finished.

”Still, while the situation is understandable and unavoidable, compensation must be paid,” he added.

Then he turned to Alex.

”Alex Fury, you may introduce a stipulation or alter the stakes in the case of your victory.

”What say you?”

**