Chapter 431: Chapter 431: Back to Base
After the ceremony ended and the council members dispersed to their respective chambers, the cool night air outside Feo Berkana was a welcome change. Stars glittered over the stone city, distant and quiet, a stark contrast to the celebration just concluded inside.
I stood beside Gondo on a terrace overlooking the city’s lower levels, arms crossed as I took a breath of crisp mountain air.
"I got everything I needed for what you asked," Gondo said, adjusting the strap of the pack slung over his shoulder.
"Good," I replied. "Anything else you needed to take care of before we begin?"
Gondo rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "Actually... after I announced that I’d be traveling the world to further develop Runecraft, some of the younger dwarves expressed interest in following me. Said they want to learn, to become the next generation of runesmiths."
"You planning to take them?"
"I haven’t given them a reply yet," he admitted. "But I thought I should speak to you first."
I nodded. "Let them wait. They can come once your work on me is done. For now, this needs to remain between us."
Understanding passed silently between us. Gondo nodded once. "Understood."
I raised a hand and summoned the portal—a shimmering oval of black and purple energy crackling with power. The gate to our base in this world.
"Let’s go," I said, and we stepped through.
On the other side was the familiar obsidian courtyard of my base—an enormous fortress that stretched far underground. The scent of polished stone, controlled mana, and faint incense hung in the air. Torches lit themselves as we walked through the darkened corridor toward the central chamber.
The moment we arrived, a figure was already waiting. Cloaked in black and red, with a face sharp enough to cut glass and eyes that burned like twin suns behind a monocle, Demiurge approached with a slow, deliberate pace.
"Welcome back, Lord Alex," he greeted, bowing with precision. Then his gaze flicked to Gondo. "And this would be...?"
"This is Gondo Firebeard," I said. "A runesmith from Feo Berkana. He’s here because he practices a rare and nearly lost form of smithing—Runecraft."
Demiurge arched a brow, intrigued but guarded. "Runecraft, you say?" His eyes flicked back to Gondo. "You’re not part of the Arcane Tradition, yet you inscribe magic onto materials?"
Gondo stood tall despite the demon’s imposing presence. "Aye. Runecraft is older than many of your so-called arcane traditions. We inscribe runes on armor and weapons to imbue them with elemental force, resistances, or even spiritual resonance. It is an art form passed down through generations. A craft of balance and precision."
Demiurge tapped his fingers together thoughtfully. "So, you create enchanted artifacts without the use of typical magic formulas or enchantment circles... Fascinating."
Then he turned to me. "What purpose do you intend for him, my lord?"
I didn’t hesitate. "I want him to inscribe runes directly onto my body."
The silence that followed was heavy. For once, even Demiurge’s ever-calm demeanor faltered. He blinked.
"On your body...?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes," I said. "I want to see if runes can be used to enhance my physical capabilities—strength, regeneration, resistance to magic. Everything."
Demiurge straightened, brows furrowing. "My lord... with all due respect—I opposes this."
I countered. "I’ve studied the nature of these runes. Gondo has shown me enough to know it’s possible."
Demiurge’s voice lowered, sharper now. "But not certain."
Gondo opened his mouth, perhaps to defend his craft, but Demiurge raised a hand—not rudely, but firmly.
"My lord," he continued, eyes locked onto mine, "if this were anyone else, I would allow them to risk such a dangerous experiment. But you—you are the cornerstone of everything. If something goes wrong—if this affects your ability to command, to fight, to lead—then we risk more than your body. We risk the entire structure we’ve built."
I didn’t said anything.
Then he continues, "That is precisely why I oppose this. You must not be the test subject."
There was a moment of tense silence. Even Gondo could feel it.
"If a subject is needed, allow me to volunteer," Demiurge said suddenly. His voice was steady, resolute. "I will allow the runes to be inscribed on my flesh. Let me bear the consequences, if there are any."
That caught even me off guard.
"You’d do that?" I asked.
"For you? Always." Demiurge didn’t flinch. "We can monitor the effects on a high-level demon first. If it works, then—only then—should it be attempted on you."
I exhaled slowly. His reasoning was flawless, as usual. He wasn’t saying no. He was saying not yet.
Gondo frowned slightly. "I understand the concern, but it’s not a spell. Runecraft doesn’t behave like alchemy or demonic rituals. It’s... simpler, but more subtle. Still, I’ve never etched runes onto living flesh. Not once."
"Then you mustn’t try on our master first," Demiurge said firmly. "Test it. Refine it. Use me, if you must. But until we know what it does, we don’t gamble with Lord Alex."
I watched them both—one a master of tradition, the other a being of infernal intelligence and unwavering loyalty.
Finally, I nodded. "All right, Demiurge. You win. Don’t test it on you. You captured the Dragons from the Capital Right."
"Yes,"
"Use it on them and give me a report within three days."
"An Excellent suggestions, My Lord." Demiurge said.
Since it was Death’s idea, there wouldn’t be any problem, but for Demiurge’s peace, I didn’t force my way.
Demiurge bowed deeply, though his face betrayed a glimmer of relief.
"I’ll prepare a chamber," he said. "We’ll need monitoring tools, mana stabilizers, pain suppressants—Gondo, I’ll need your full methodology."
"Of course," Gondo replied. "It’s all in my notes."
~~~
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