Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 175: Win-Win Application

CH175 Win-Win Application

***

Alex had only hoped that by showing the Wendigo his memories of what happened, he might avoid a battle. He had helped the Wendigo’s daughter... even if it was by killing her.

He never expected that—just like the tale in the Bard’s Diary—he would earn the Wendigo’s recognition and be gifted its spirit antler.

And on top of that, the creature placed a kill-order on every goblin in the forest.

’Maybe the Bard’s claim wasn’t wrong... that the method would work for who it was meant to, regardless of whether he announced it or not.

’This only worked because I chose to send off the Wendigo female in the most humane way possible, even giving her a respectful burial. If I had not done that before meeting her papa—or mama—Wendigo, I would not have gotten the antlers.’

Alex looked down at the spirit antler in his hands.

Strangely, he didn’t feel as excited about it as he thought he would. His own Spiritual Force was already incredibly strong and durable—likely the combined value of two souls, in truth.

He doubted absorbing the spirit antler would help him much.

Eyeing the golden energy surrounding the antlers, Alex muttered, ”Daddy golden energy, you are dropping the ball. This is not all that useful to me. And just look at the effort you made me go through to get it.”

He grumbled on, ”Back in the subspace, you gave me awesome rare products like the Heavenroot Nectar, an entire high-grade mana mine, a Primal Origin Stone and a Wondrous Tree... all without making me work for them. But now? After risking my life, all I get is a not-so-useful rare item?”

Alex was being incredibly shameless, and he knew it.

If the golden energy had a will and voice, it would likely feel deeply wronged.

Which life-altering opportunity wasn’t hidden in the jaws of danger?

Even back then, to get to the Heavenroot Nectar’s cave, Alex would have had to face the Class 3 Overlord—Sunscaled Viper.

It only seemed like things were easier that time because the Bladefanged SkyTiger had attracted the Viper out of its cave... and perished with it.

If Alex had been the one to fight the Viper for that chance, it would have been just as dangerous—if not more—than facing the Wendigo.

He knew this. Deep in his mind, Alex understood it well.

He was just messing around.

Still holding the spirit antler, he made his way over to check on Udara and Fen.

With the Wendigo’s death, its passive Aura of Dread faded—a fearsome force that weakened the minds of its targets and amplified its mental and spiritual attacks.

Now that it was gone, Fen and Udara had a much easier time recovering from its effects.

Mere moments after the creature passed, both were already stirring—Udara included, despite having bore the brunt of the Wendigo’s mental assault.

”Are you guys okay?” Alex asked.

”...Yes.”

Whine...

Udara and Fen answered nearly in unison—both with the same ashamed, dejected look, having been saved by the very ’Master’ they were supposed to protect.

The two were so in sync that it almost made Alex laugh.

”Don’t overthink it. The Wendigo was simply a bad match-up for the two of you,” Alex said, trying to reassure them.

”Here...” He passed a Spirit Antler to each of them. ”Absorb it. It’ll improve your Spiritual Force and ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Fen’s eyes lit up, and he stepped forward—only for Udara to swiftly snatch the antler before him.

”We cannot accept this, Master. It was your prize. Yours alone. We have no righ—”

”I keep telling you to lighten up, Udara.” Alex patted her shoulder. ”The antlers are useless to me. My Spiritual Force is already at the peak for my rank and class. If I absorb it, most of the energy will go to waste.

”But if you use it, your Spiritual Force will grow by a lot... at least enough to make sure this never happens again. And who knows? You might even awaken an ability thatll make protecting me easier.

”It is a win-win all around.”

With that, he gently placed one of the antlers in her arms—his hand accidentally grazing her elastic bosom in the process.

Pretending not to notice, Alex immediately crouched before Fen and placed the remaining antler on the ground. The wolf dove on it without hesitation and began absorbing it with gusto.

”What are you waiting for? Do you need me to help you absorb it?” Alex glanced up at Udara.

”No,” she said, quickly shaking her head.

She sat down cross-legged and began her meditation, focusing entirely on absorbing the antler’s energy.

Alex stood guard, alert for any signs of danger.

About half an hour passed before both Udara and Fen finished absorbing the Spirit Antler. Now, all that remained was to slowly digest the rich Spirit energy contained within.

Still, some effects were already apparent.

Fen’s snow-white fur was now blackened around the paws. Through his Spirit Sight, Alex saw Fire-elemental mana slowly drawing into Fen’s body—gathering precisely at the boundary of the black fur.

”Your Fire Affinity is awakening?”

Woof~

Fen wagged his tail in excited confirmation.

Meanwhile, Udara’s presence deepened for a brief moment—then instantly stabilised.

Alex sensed her diverse racial traits—Amazon, Drow, Dryad, and Succubus—condense and fuse together after the surge in her Spiritual Force.

’Will her four racial genes eventually fuse into something new?’ Alex wondered.

He could scarcely imagine what kind of bloodline—or race—might emerge from such a combination.

”What now, Master?” Udara asked.

Alex paused for a moment.

While the Wendigo issuing a kill-order on the goblins worked to their favour, he wasn’t about to leave it all to them. Humans—his platoon—also had a score to settle.

”We continue as planned.”

No sooner had he spoken than the familiar golden energy reappeared—pointing him down a new path.

Alex turned to the glowing trail. It aligned perfectly with the direction he’d already chosen.

He smiled.

”Let’s go.”

**