Standing before Liang was an awe-inspiring sight - a massive stone tablet, its sheer size and weight giving it an imposing presence. As he examined its surface, he was met with a mesmerizing sight. Countless runes, symbols, and intricate patterns covered every inch of the tablet, like a map of forgotten knowledge waiting to be deciphered.
A surge of astonishment struck Liang as he absorbed the magnitude of this discovery. What had started as a simple visit to the headquarters of the renowned coven had turned into something far beyond his expectations. He had come to the coven headquarters with humble intentions - collect some runes and and perhaps find some interesting treasures, Never in his wildest dreams had he anticipated an artifact of such magnitude and significance.
The stone tablet bore an undeniable resemblance to the one held by the revenant Yuan, capturing attention with its uncanny likeness. Its intricate design and meticulous detailing added an air of mystique and allure, captivating curiosity and fascination. Yet, the true value of this coveted artifact went far deeper than its mere external beauty.
To possess such a relic, one had to possess an immense amount of power, surpassing mere physical strength. It required a profound mastery over formation and rune laws, or an exceptionally sharp intellect.
Whispers of legends and tales echoed in his mind as he attempted to grasp the significance of the stone tablet. The coven’s origins were said to trace back to an ancient true paragon, an individual who had ascended to the ultimate level of runic mastery. A true paragon possessed not only a seven-colored true rune and but also a cultivation at the ascended runic mastery realm, these experts often rivaling even those who had reached the half-step Void Return realm.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Liang’s doubts began to manifest. The surprisingly fortuitous events that had occurred since his arrival on this planet raised suspicion within him. Had he unknowingly stumbled into a domain of boundless fortune, or was there something more sinister at play beneath the surface?
Shaking off these thoughts for the time being, Liang knew he needed to focus on the matter at hand. With a wave of his hand, he attempted to move the stone tablet, only to meet an unexpected resistance. Panic briefly flickered across his face before being replaced with a wry smile. He had been too eager, too blinded by the allure of the tablet, to fully inspect the chamber’s surroundings.
Examining the area more closely, comprehension dawned on Liang. Encircling the stone tablet were multiple complex arrays, each radiating an aura of secrecy and power. These exquisite seventh-order formations were unlike anything he had encountered in his years of study. They formed a concealed pocket dimension around the tablet, expertly crafted by someone with a mastery of the void law far surpassing his own.
With no other options remaining, he resolved to sit down next to the stone tablet and devote himself entirely to understanding its contents.
***
As the dust settled and the echoes of the explosion subsided, an eerie calm descended upon the central region, cloaking the area in an unsettling silence. All eyes were drawn upwards, their gazes transfixed on the sky, waiting with bated breath for what would come next.
Slowly, astonishment morphed into bewilderment as the crowd realized the unexpected twist unfolding before them.
The black robe that once concealed the hooded figure had been torn apart in the chaos, revealing smooth, slender legs that seemed out of place amidst the chaos. Gasps and murmurs spread through the onlookers, their eyes widening in disbelief. They had expected a formidable adversary, yet they were faced with a woman, her presence enigmatic and mysterious.
Meanwhile, the youth who had caused the explosive turmoil remained untouched, his laughter echoing through the now eerily quiet square. His amusement was evident as he spoke with a hint of mockery in his voice. "Who would have thought that you are a woman?" he jestingly remarked. "If I had known earlier, I might have approached with a touch more gentleness."
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The mysterious woman’s response was laced with a subtle bitterness, her voice finally breaking the silence. "Do not be so quick to flatter yourself. Had it not been for the protective array that shielded you, your fate would not be any less severe than mine. Imagine the rumors that would circulate if the mighty governor of Nocturna proved incapable of handling a mere girl, one who lies a realm below him."
Markin, the governor in question and also the current leader of the Eclipse Coven, scowled at her words. It was true - he had relied on the city’s formation to safeguard himself against her onslaught. Without it, his injuries would have been far more gruesome and debilitating.
"Enough of this banter," Markin declared with a mixture of frustration and determination. "Once I capture you, we will have ample time to dissect these unexpected revelations and lay bare the truth."
A flicker of annoyance flashed across the woman’s eyes, but she maintained her composure. Her attention was momentarily diverted as Markin summoned a gray and green rune with a wave of his hand. The gray Illusion Rune materialized beside him, emanating a faint shimmering light that lent an otherworldly quality to the scene. Within moments, two lifelike copies of himself materialized beside him. The mysterious woman watched with interest, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation.
Unfazed by the astonishment around him, Markin focused his energy, hands moving in a flurry of intricate gestures.
"Reality Infusion Technique," he chanted in a low voice.
As the words resonated in the air, the vitality rune transformed, radiating a brilliant green light that enveloped the two newfound doppelgangers. Energy surged through their forms, the aura surrounding them erupted, revealing their cultivation — equal to that of Markin himself, at the ascended runic mastery realm.
The spectacle left the audience stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. The mysterious woman drew a deep breath, her mind recalibrating her initial assessment. "His comprehension of the stone tablet runs deeper than I had initially surmised," she murmured to herself, her tone one of begrudging respect.
Even among highly skilled Runeforged and Ascended Runic practitioners, techniques like these are considered the pinnacle of expertise. To accomplish what Markin did, one would need not only raw talent but also an incredibly deep understanding of the intricacies of runic magic. It would require countless years of intense study and contemplation.
The presence of the stone tablet undoubtedly played a significant role in aiding his comprehension of the runes. The ancient inscriptions upon its surface likely provided him with invaluable insights and unlocked hidden knowledge. It acted as a catalyst, igniting his innate abilities and elevating his understanding to previously unattainable levels.
Markin’s accomplishment is nothing short of extraordinary and deserves the utmost admiration. The fact that he only stepped into the Ascended Runic mastery realm recently makes his achievement all the more impressive and commendable.
Not to be outdone, Markin tapped into the full extent of his runic prowess, summoning the remaining runes at his disposal - the violet, white, and black. The lightning rune melded with his right hand, crackling with raw power and unpredictability. With seamless grace, the other two runes intermingled with the left hands of the clones, each imbued with its own unique vitality.
In a matter of seconds that felt like an eternity to the spectators, the three figures raised their hands in unison, their voices blending into a single harmonious chant.
"Celestial Tempest!" Markin’s voice resounded with an authoritative majesty.
"Luminous Nova!" The clone with the light rune echoed with sublime elegance.
"Dusk Fall!" The darkness-infused clone intoned with an ethereal intensity.
From their outstretched palms, immense power surged forth, each destructive ray representative of the rune it emanated from.
The Celestial Tempest, belonging to the lightning rune adorning Markin’s hand, crackled with an electrifying energy that commanded the air itself. It unleashed a violent storm, with arcs of lightning dancing amid tumultuous winds and echoing thunder.
The Dusk Fall, born of the dark rune on one of the clones, coalesced into a concentrated beam of pure darkness. The ray surged forward, leaving behind an eerie trail of corruption and obliteration.
Finally, the Luminous Nova, a blinding beam of light erupted from the other clone’s palm, illuminating the desolate scene with its brilliance. The ray possessed the intensity to scorch anything it touched.
The combined fury of these elemental forces reverberated across the planet, shaking the very core of existence. The sky darkened as black clouds swirled amidst the crackling lightning, while pockets of distorted reality formed and shattered like glass. The devastation extended far beyond the central region, spreading outward like a wave of annihilation.
In the midst of this cataclysmic display, the girl’s voice cut through the chaos. In a low, almost reverent tone, she uttered a single word, "Oblivion Rune."
As the resonating words hung in the air, a black rune materialized beside the mysterious woman.
Following it’s activation, an eerie stillness settled upon the central region, as if time itself had come to a standstill.