Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 550: Crumbling Situation

CH550 Crumbling Situation

***

The sorcerer party found themselves in the middle of a vast fortress training ground.

The duelling platform stretched endlessly, large enough to hold thousands of people... perhaps even larger races such as dragons or giants.

But that wasn’t the most important thing.

Ahead of them stood a group of Berserk Humans.

Ten of them.

Each radiated strength at least equivalent to Gold rank — meaning, on paper, they were equal opponents to these Third Circle sorcerers.

If one didn’t know the Heaven-Earth Concordance talismanic field was a non-sentient construct, one might assume the sigil formation had deliberately matched the sorcerers against opponents of equal rank.

”These filths that tarnish our world...” Shin of the Sacred Land of Armament gnashed his teeth.

He pulled at his waist, drawing what looked like a belt— which straightened and hardened into a flexible sword.

[Raging Wood Style: Venomous Jaw]!

Without waiting for the others, Shin lunged at the nearest berserk human— a slow, lumbering vitality-type berserk human.

As his blade swung, mystic energy coiled around it, forming the phantom image of a massive serpent opening its jaws.

The strike tore off the vitality-type’s arm as the blade cut through.

A sickly green energy clung to the wound and surged into the creature’s body, racing through its veins. Bulging green protrusions spread across its chest as the venom crept toward its neck... and brain.

Pucch!

Instinctively sensing danger, the berserk human drove its dagger-like claws into its own chest, ripping open flesh and tearing out the infected tissue before the venom could reach its head.

Roar!!!

It howled in agony and fury, hurling the corrupted flesh toward Shin, who sidestepped smoothly as if he had expected it.

’I will put you out of your misery, filth.’

Shin pressed the attack without hesitation.

Seeing the unblessed human rush him, the vitality-type berserk human reached out, attempting to snatch the puny attacker.

Shin moved first.

He leapt— flipping not only over the creature’s grasping hand, but over its entire body. As he passed above its head, his vine-like sword extended, slithering around the berserk human’s neck like a living serpent.

Shin landed in a half-kneel, using his lowered stance and body weight as leverage to yank on the wrapped blade.

His eyes flashed as he formed a series of hand signs with his free hand.

[Raging Wood Style: Crimson Blossom]!

The mystic energy surrounding the blade sharpened into pure sword energy, bursting outward from both sides of the weapon.

The neck caught within the coil was cleanly severed.

The berserk human’s head separated from its body, spraying jets of corrupted blood into the air.

Shin rose smoothly to his feet, not even sparing a glance for his fallen opponent. Instead, he searched for his next target.

Alas... he was too late.

The other Chosen Children had already finished the remaining berserk humans.

More impressively, Ariana of the Grey Sacred Lands had slain three on her own.

The three berserk humans lay collapsed in a rough circle around her— without any visible wounds nor obvious strikes.

A subtle ripple passed through Shin’s heart.

’Fear?’ His eyes widened. ’Impossible. How could I feel fear toward a peer?’

Whether it was fear or not, one fact could not be denied.

Her methods were terrifying.

The quiet, gloomy woman was a Curse Sorceress.

She possessed countless ways to kill without leaving traces— methods that became even more effective against beings with weakened souls, such as berserk humans whose bodies spirits and souls had been corrupted, suppressed, and stripped down by the berserk property.

Turning away, another Chosen Child Shin found fearsome was Ken— the Holy Son of the Elemental Sacred Lands.

Even at a young age, Ken had mastered spells across three elemental branches— a feat few could claim.

However, it was not just that.

[Lightning Chain]!

Unlike most sorcerers who required multiple hand seals to activate a mystic art, Ken needed only a single hand sign.

Because of that, Ken could cast several spells in the time his opponent managed only one.

This overwhelming casting speed had cultivated something unsettling in him— a warped combat mindset.

The [Lightning Chain] mystic art manifested as thin, wormlike entities bursting from the ground, drilling directly into the target’s body and binding them in place.

They restrained their prey... but restraint was only the beginning.

The creatures chewed through flesh from within while streams of lightning energy surged through the victim’s body, tearing apart nerves, muscle and bone simultaneously.

Ken’s target became paralysed and utterly defenceless.

But Ken did not finish it quickly.

[Flame Cyclone]!

A vortex of fire spun above his palm, which he casually flicked toward the trapped berserk human’s feet.

The moment it landed, the cyclone expanded violently, swallowing the creature at its centre.

What followed was slow and very much deliberate.

The berserk human charred piece by piece— beginning at its legs and gradually climbing upward.

It was a cruel way to kill an enemy incapable of resistance.

Yet no one spoke.

After all, none of them wished to argue over how a corrupted berserk human —something no different from a beast in their eyes— was put down.

Once the remaining berserk humans were put down, the trio disciples of the Heaven Secret Sect immediately resumed their task of locating the correct path for the group.

From then on, the environments they encountered grew increasingly diverse — from deep underwater chambers to windswept peaks towering above the clouds.

And with each shift in terrain came a steady escalation in the battles they faced.

After the fortress room, every space the sorcerers entered contained berserk humans.

Their numbers grew and their strength also increased.

Eventually, the Chosen Children could no longer fight independently. They were forced to coordinate and consciously working together to survive what they believed to be the trials of the Heaven-Earth Concordance talismanic formation.

Even so, morale gradually declined as the danger continued to rise.

”Are you even sure you’re leading us the right way?!” Shin roared directly into Hiro’s face.

He had finally reached his limit.

During one of the recent engagements, Shin had been injured by a unique berserk human — something far stronger than the usual variants.

A claw drew a dangerous gash by his side.

Thankfully Lina of the Alchemy school has some potions which flushed out the invading berserk property lacing the wound from his body.

The group had managed to kill the Class 4 creature through cooperation...

But not before Shin paid the price.

The appearance of Class 4 berserk humans within the trial planted doubt among the Chosen Children.

The Heaven-Earth Concordance talismanic field was not meant to be a test of raw combat strength.

No— that wasn’t entirely accurate.

Combat strength was one parameter... but only a minor one.

’Being forced into constant battles... the talismanic field shouldn’t function like this. Something is wrong.’ The thought spread silently among them.

Hiro frowned and shoved Shin away from him.

”Do you think this is easy? If you’re so confident, find your own path!” Hiro snapped.

It was becoming harder and harder to determine the correct route with each room they traversed. The mental strain on him — and on his two junior disciple-brothers — had become immense.

Hiro couldn’t help recalling the sneer of the guardian family representative when he mentioned he was going to clear the talismanic field easily with or without the guardian family’s endorsement.

At the rate they were going, it was looking like he’d have to eat his word.

In such a situation, having someone shouting in his face only deepened Hiro’s irritation.

”Alright, calm down, everyone,” Ray of the Holy Land of Craftsmanship interceded. ”It’s clear Hiro and his junior disciple-brothers are trying their best. The increased difficulty could also mean we’re getting close to the end.”

He adjusted his spectacles and continued calmly.

”Let’s not jump to conclusions yet. Give them the benefit of the doubt. We’ll see what the next room looks like.”

Shin —and indeed the other Chosen Children— were mostly venting frustration.

Considering the danger they had just faced, none of them truly wanted to move alone.

What if they ended up isolated in a room... facing a unique berserk human?

Or worse— multiple unique berserk humans?

That would be a death sentence.

It was safer to remain together. At the very least, unity improved their chances of survival.

Alas...

They spoke too soon.

[Prying Heaven Sight]!

Once again, the Heaven Secret Sect disciples guided the party toward a chosen portal.

They stepped through.

On the other side waited a grassland plain.

At first glance, it resembled the very first room they had entered. But something was wrong.

Instead of lush greenery, the land was covered in withered grass and dying vegetation.

These death and decay were obviously unnatural.

Because at the epicentre of that dead land stood a single berserk human.

And merely seeing it filled the Chosen Children with dread.

Radiating pressure at the Peak of Class 4... Before the sorcerers stood a berserk human Alex and the Fortuna party would have recognised.

The were-crocodile berserk human.

The strongest creature present at the foot of the mountain.

Even without fighting it, the Chosen Children understood the truth instinctively.

Facing it meant only one thing.

Death.

***