Novels2Search
Runic System
Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Amidst the towering, unnatural foliage of a dense forest, a lone figure dashed through the underbrush, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The trees here were massive, their leaves a vibrant, almost ethereal green, and their trunks so thick that they blocked out much of the sunlight.

The sound of heavy footfalls and snapping branches echoed through the forest as if something immense and powerful was giving chase. The figure darted between the trees, his movements agile yet desperate. His long dark blue hair, tied back to keep it from hindering his vision, whipped behind him as he ran.

With a swift, practiced motion, he leaped over a fallen log, landing lightly on his feet. The beast pursuing him was close—a monstrous creature that seemed to be a hybrid of dragon and turtle. Its scales glistened like emeralds, and its shell was an impenetrable fortress of jagged, rock-like protrusions. Each step it took shook the ground, its snarls reverberating through the forest.

The figure skidded to a halt in a small clearing, realizing he could run no further. He turned to face the beast, his eyes narrowing in determination. He was holding an ornate sword that seemed to be radiating with dark purple energy.

The beast roared, a sound that seemed to rattle the very trees around them. It lunged forward, its powerful limbs propelling it with terrifying speed. The figure braced himself, raising his sword. He moved with precision, dodging the creature's claws and snapping jaws by mere inches.

Despite his skill, it was clear he was struggling. The beast's strength was overwhelming, and every attack he parried sent vibrations up his arms. His muscles ached, his breath was ragged, and sweat dripped from his brow, mixing with the dirt and blood that stained his face.

As the beast swung its massive tail, the figure leaped high into the air, narrowly avoiding the strike. He landed on the beast’s back, gripping onto its scales as it thrashed wildly. He drove his sword into a gap between the scales, but the blade barely made a dent. The creature roared in pain and anger, shaking him off with a violent twist.

He hit the ground hard, the impact driving the air from his lungs. As he struggled to rise, the beast loomed over him, its eyes blazing with fury.

“Shit…”

Rui swore the rune on his forehead shining with intensity. He was alone and he was slowly running out of energy. He had been fighting with the beast for what felt like days and the damage he had dealt quickly regenerated as if it was never there.

He tried escaping it, but he was unable to outrun it. His ability to fly was also restricted and he didn’t know why. His movement techniques were only a fraction of what they were before. His energy itself seemed too weak despite his rank.

If it wasn’t for his refined body, it would have been impossible to survive in his current environment. Each breath he took felt heavy, the air thick with the raw energy of the place.

“Why… won’t you… just stay down?” Rui muttered through gritted teeth, his sword still glowing faintly with dark purple energy. He knew he couldn’t sustain this battle much longer.

The beast roared again, a deafening sound that echoed through the eerie forest. It lunged at Rui, its massive claws slicing through the air. With a burst of desperate energy, Rui rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. He sprang to his feet, his mind racing for a solution.

His eyes darted around, searching for any advantage he could exploit. The clearing was devoid of any significant cover, but he noticed an outcrop of jagged rocks near the edge of the forest. If he could lure the beast there, perhaps he could use the terrain to his advantage.

Gathering the last of his strength, Rui dashed towards the rocks, the beast hot on his heels. Each step felt like a monumental effort, his body screaming in protest. As he reached the rocky outcrop, he turned to face the beast once more, his back against the stone.

“Come on, you overgrown lizard,” he taunted, raising his sword. “Let’s finish this.”

The beast charged, its eyes filled with rage. Rui waited until the last possible moment, then sidestepped, causing the creature to crash into the rocks. The impact sent a shower of debris into the air, and the beast howled in pain as sharp stones pierced its thick hide.

Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Rui climbed onto the creature’s back again, this time aiming for the base of its neck. He drove his sword into the vulnerable spot with all his remaining strength. The blade sank deeper than before, striking something vital. The beast let out a guttural roar, thrashing wildly, but Rui held on, driving the sword even deeper.

Finally, with a final, agonized bellow, the beast collapsed, its massive body slumping to the ground. Rui tumbled off, landing hard on the forest floor. He lay there for a moment, panting, his body trembling with exhaustion.

He panted heavily, keeping himself awake through sheer will.

“Damn it… Rai won’t respond and I can’t find anyone. I’m not even able to sense Sunny in this place…”

He muttered to himself, frustration and worry gnawing at his mind.

It had been almost a week since he had entered the Abyssal Arcane Realm and the place was nothing like he had expected. The energy was different from runic energy and he had encountered beasts that could easily injure even 6th-rank rune masters.

What was more devastating was the fact that he was unable to fly due to the sudden increase in energy, essentially making him unable to move freely through space due to his incredible purity. It was like he was constantly moving through dense water that constantly pulled him down.

When he first entered, his vision had blurred and when he regained it his companions were nowhere to be seen. He was alone inside an abnormally large forest.

With great effort, Rui pushed himself to his feet, using his sword for support. The dark purple energy that had once radiated from the blade was now dim, reflecting his exhaustion. He wiped the sweat and blood from his face, his thoughts racing as he considered his next move.

‘I need to find a safe place to recuperate’

He thought to himself, scanning his surroundings. The dense forest, with its towering, otherworldly trees, seemed to close in around him. He took a cautious step forward, his body aching with every movement.

Suddenly, a faint sound reached his ears—a rustling of leaves, barely perceptible but enough to put him on edge. Rui tightened his grip on his sword, his senses on high alert. He moved silently through the underbrush, following the sound.

After a few minutes, he came upon a small clearing. In the center stood a figure, cloaked and hooded, their back turned to him. The figure was hunched over, examining something on the ground. Rui couldn’t make out any details, but he felt a strange, unsettling energy emanating from them.

“Who are you?” Rui called out, his voice steady despite his fatigue.

The figure slowly turned, revealing a face shrouded in shadows. Eyes that glowed with an unnatural light peered out from beneath the hood. The air around them seemed to shimmer, distorting the space.

“Huh, I haven’t seen you before…”

The figure said, their voice a whisper that seemed to echo in Rui’s mind.

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“Young blood I presume? Which world are you from? Judging from the weird symbol on your forehead, I guess you come from that barbarian world… how did they call it? Runic World? Yeah, that one…”

Rui’s breath caught in his throat. The figure’s words were unsettling, and the eerie light in their eyes only added to the growing tension. He tightened his grip on his sword, though he was keenly aware of his waning strength.

“Who are you?”

Rui repeated, his voice firmer this time.

The figure chuckled softly, the sound like dry leaves rustling in the wind. They straightened, pulling back their hood to reveal a beautiful face. Sharp purple eyes, with flowing blonde hair, paired with an incredible figure. Rui couldn’t tell how powerful she was, but it was clear they weren’t a rune master by the absence of a rune on their forehead.

“Ning Xiao, the first disciple of Immortal Emperor Zheng Zi. How about you?”

A frown couldn’t help but appear on Rui’s face since he couldn’t recognize anything about the person in front of him. There was no one with that title in the rune master world and being called an immortal emperor was odd.

"I'm Rui."

He replied cautiously, still gripping his sword tightly.

"And I don't recognize your master’s title."

"Of course you don't. My world is ranked first when it comes to power, so it’s impossible you would know anything about it. Your backwater Runic World doesn’t even have immortals. Still, I find it fascinating that someone like you can be born there and even enter the Abyssal Arcane Realm. You know, this place isn’t something that anyone can enter."

Rui’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed Ning Xiao’s words. The arrogance in her voice grated against his nerves, but he kept his composure. He had no choice; his energy was almost depleted, and he needed to learn more about this realm and its inhabitants.

“What do you mean, not anyone can enter?”

Rui replied, trying to keep his tone neutral. He didn’t know of any restrictions when entering, but it was clear why some were unable to enter. Jane also couldn’t enter, which meant he had to be forcefully separated from his wife. What was mostly odd however was the fact that the system commands didn’t work at all here.

He could still mentally command it like he had practiced before instead of giving commands, but he was still a newbie to it. The absence of R.A.I. also made things weird. It was as if the system was naturally shut off once he entered.

Ning Xiao laughed softly, a sound that sent a shiver down Rui’s spine.

“The Abyssal Arcane Realm is a convergence point of multiple worlds, each with its own unique energy and beings. Only those with extraordinary abilities or circumstances can breach its barriers. It seems your world has some hidden potential after all. Though you’re only at the the core formation rank, you’re almost at the stage where you can form your nascent soul, or however, you people call it.”

Rui's grip tightened on his sword as he processed Ning Xiao's words. The Abyssal Arcane Realm, a convergence point of multiple worlds, sounded both fascinating and perilous. He was unsure of her intentions, but the disdain in her voice was unmistakable.

"Why are you here, then?"

Rui asked, trying to keep the conversation going while he regained some strength.

Ning Xiao smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Curiosity, mostly. There are many treasures and opportunities here, things that can elevate one's power to new heights. It's also a good place to test one's skills against the various dangers this realm presents."

Rui's mind raced. If this realm was as dangerous and rewarding as she implied, then he had to be even more cautious. He didn't know who or what else might be lurking around.

"Testing one's skills, huh?"

Rui replied, trying to sound casual.

"So, what have you found so far?"

Ning Xiao's smile widened.

"Enough to keep me interested. I've encountered creatures far stronger than that dragon-turtle you just defeated. But I've also found items and artifacts that would be invaluable in my world. What about you? Aside from running for your life, have you found anything useful?"

Rui's exhaustion was making it hard to think clearly, but he knew he couldn't show weakness.

"A few things,"

He lied, hoping to keep her talking.

"But nothing that stands out yet."

Ning Xiao seemed to sense his evasiveness but didn't press the issue. Instead, she turned her attention to the surrounding forest.

"This place is vast and full of secrets. If you want to survive, you'll need allies. Going it alone is a death sentence."

Rui couldn't deny the truth in her words. He had barely managed to survive the encounter with the dragon-turtle. If there were even more dangerous creatures out there, he would need help.

"What do you suggest?"

Rui asked cautiously.

Ning Xiao's smile was calculating.

"An alliance. Temporarily, of course. We watch each other's backs, share information, and help each other out of tight spots. Once we find a way out of here, we go our separate ways."

Rui considered her offer. Trusting her was risky, but his current situation didn't leave him with many options.

"All right," he agreed reluctantly. "A temporary alliance."

Ning Xiao's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Excellent. Let's find a place to rest and recuperate. We can plan our next move from there."

Together, they made their way through the dense forest, the eerie silence broken only by their footsteps and the occasional distant roar of a beast. Rui remained on high alert, his senses attuned to any sign of danger.

As they walked, Ning Xiao shared more about the Abyssal Arcane Realm.

"This place is a nexus of energies from different worlds. That's why your powers are fluctuating. The energy here is different, more concentrated. It takes time to adapt."

Rui nodded, absorbing the information.

"Is that why I can't fly?"

"Partly," Ning Xiao replied. "The dense energy affects your ability to manipulate your powers. But there are also areas within this realm where the laws of nature are different. You'll need to find a way to attune yourself to this place if you want to regain your full strength."

They eventually found a small cave hidden behind a waterfall. It provided shelter and a source of fresh water, though water was useless to them since they could live without it. As they settled in, Rui couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. This alliance with Ning Xiao was born out of necessity, but he knew he had to be careful.

"Get some rest," Ning Xiao said as she started a small fire. "We'll need our strength for what's to come."

Rui nodded, though sleep seemed a distant possibility. His mind was filled with questions and concerns. As he lay down, the sound of the waterfall provided a soothing backdrop. He began cultivating, trying to absorb the energy of the surrounding environment.

He had already returned [Sun Cutter] to his inventory, making sure to discreetly do it. His inventory was quite a useful tool after all, though it was quite similar to other spatial artifacts. Even Ning Xiao seemed to possess multiple spatial rings.

As Rui focused on his cultivation, he felt the foreign energy of the Abyssal Arcane Realm flowing through him. It was intense and chaotic, unlike the runic energy he was accustomed to. He concentrated on attuning himself to this new energy, allowing it to merge with his own.

Hours passed, and Rui slowly began to feel a change. The energy that had felt so oppressive before now seemed more manageable. He could feel his strength returning, albeit gradually. It was clear that adapting to this place would take time and effort.

Ning Xiao sat nearby, her eyes closed in meditation. Rui couldn't tell if she was cultivating or simply resting, but he kept one eye on her, wary of any sudden movements. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford in this realm.

Eventually, Ning Xiao opened her eyes and looked at Rui.

"You seem to be adapting," she observed. "Good. We'll need every advantage we can get."

Rui nodded, sitting up. He still felt tired, but his energy reserves were replenishing. Since the energy was so chaotic, he had to spend a lot of time controlling it rather than refining it. He noticed that the energy was extremely pure with almost no impurities, but it was incredibly dense.

“How long have you been here? You look pretty experienced.”

Ning Xiao’s eyes flickered with amusement.

"Long enough to know that this place is full of surprises," she replied cryptically. "Time works differently here. Days can feel like hours, and weeks like days. I've lost track."

Rui nodded, filing away that piece of information. The Abyssal Arcane Realm was indeed a place that defied normal expectations.

"What’s the best way to adapt to the energy here?"

He asked, hoping to gain some practical advice.

Ning Xiao considered him for a moment before answering.

"The key is to not resist it. This energy is like a wild beast—it can't be tamed by force. You need to let it flow through you and gradually sync your own energy with it. Think of it as blending two different shades of paint. It takes time and patience."

Rui pondered her words, realizing that his approach needed to be more fluid and less rigid. He had to harmonize with the realm's energy rather than trying to bend it to his will.

As they rested, Rui felt a growing sense of urgency. He needed to find his companions and figure out a way out of this realm. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were all in grave danger.

The next morning, Rui felt significantly better. The night's cultivation had helped him attune to the realm's energy, and though he was far from mastering it, he felt more confident in his abilities. Ning Xiao seemed equally refreshed, her sharp eyes scanning the forest outside their cave.

"We should move," she said briskly. "Staying in one place for too long is dangerous. The beasts here are drawn to energy fluctuations, and we've made enough of those."

Rui nodded, gathering his things. As they set off, he couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Ning Xiao, despite his wariness. She was an enigma, but for now, they were united by their shared goal of survival.

Their journey through the forest was tense but uneventful at first. Rui used the time to ask more questions about the realm and Ning Xiao’s experiences.

"Have you encountered any other people here?" he asked.

"A few, most are like you—lost and trying to survive. Some are hostile, seeing others as competition for the realm’s resources. You have to be careful. Not everyone you meet will be as... amenable as I am."

Rui smirked at her self-assured tone but took the warning seriously.