Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage-Chapter 546: Two Sides— Entering the Formation I

CH546 Two Sides— Entering the Formation I

***

Crossing through the portal into the Heaven-Earth Concordance Talismanic Field, the group of Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of Verdantis’ Sorcery Sacred Lands found themselves standing within a vast grassy plain.

At first glance, the grassland appeared ordinary —lush grass swaying in the wind, scattered trees dotting the landscape, and clusters of beautiful flowers stretching as far as the eye could see.

There was only one problem.

On every horizon, immense walls rose toward the sky.

The sight reminded the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters —should they have forgotten— that this was not a true world, but merely a room within a greater labyrinth.

"Keep your guard up. Remember, this is a test. There is no telling what the Ancestor has prepared for us," Hiro said as he stepped ahead of the group.

They didn’t need the reminder. Hiro knew that.

But he said it anyway— a subtle assertion that he was the leader of this expedition.

Hiro rapidly formed hand seals, then he placed his palm against the ground, feeling for the flow of mana, attempting to guide the party along the correct path.

Moments later, his eyes snapped open with a sharp glint.

"This way."

He led the party across the grassland chamber toward the eastern edge.

There, hovering inches above the ground before them, floated a glowing white door.

Hiro stepped forward and opened it without hesitation.

With a confident smile, he led the party through.

The blinding light spilling from the doorway forced everyone to shut their eyes.

When they opened them again, they stood within a dense forest— one that, like before, was enclosed on all sides by towering sky-high walls.

Just as before, Hiro took the lead, acting as both the leader and pathfinder. And once again, he brought them to the chamber’s exit. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The third room proved far less pleasant— a harsh sandy desert environment.

Once again, Hiro moved ahead to determine their path.

But this time, the others turned to him before he even took a step.

An unconscious shift, which showed they unconsciously come to accept him as the expedition’s leader.

And without realising it, they had handed Hiro a measure of leverage— something he could use to influence and steer these proud sons and daughters of the Sacred Lands.

Without further delay, Hiro once again led the group toward another door.

The fourth chamber proved far more perilous.

They arrived inside an active volcano, standing upon an igneous rock platform suspended above a vast sea of molten lava.

Strangely, they felt no heat.

One might be forgiven for thinking the lava was harmless. But the shimmering waves of heat rising from its surface quickly proved otherwise.

On a whim, Jin —the thin, emaciated Holy Son of the Physique Tempering Sacred Land— extended his arm over the lava.

He jerked it back instantly.

"You lot would die immediately if you fell in," he said calmly. "I suspect it’s this platform that’s shielding us from the heat."

The group’s expressions turned solemn.

The rooms were becoming progressively more dangerous.

Fortunately, a brief survey of the chamber revealed the task ahead.

Other platforms —identical to the one they stood on— were scattered across the lava field. They simply needed to leap from platform to platform to cross.

But there was a twist.

Unlike the previous chambers, there were no towering walls enclosing this space.

Instead, the sky and horizon dissolved into endless darkness, as though they stood deep underground.

Yet the intense glow of the lava illuminated the distance well enough for them to see far ahead.

There — dozens of shimmering lights hovered in the distance.

Lights eerily similar to the doorways they had used in previous chambers.

’Multiple exits...’

Each Holy Son and Holy Daughter reached the same conclusion.

This chamber’s trial was not merely traversal — it was selection.

They had to choose the correct door.

But they did not give in to worry.

Because, once again, they turned to Hiro.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he placed his palm against the platform, preparing to employ the same sensory method that had guided them through the labyrinth thus far.

Soon, Hiro locked onto a particular direction.

However, moving that way was far easier said than done.

The platforms scattered across the lava were unevenly distributed. Some lay close together, making traversal simple, while others were spaced so far apart that crossing them became difficult— or outright impossible.

Every step required careful planning.

A wrong decision could leave them stranded.

Or worse, plunging into the molten sea below.

Beads of sweat gathered on Hiro’s forehead as he guided the party forward. He not only had to constantly adjust their direction to keep them on the correct path, but he also had to ensure the route contained platforms each member could realistically traverse.

After all, every Holy Son and Holy Daughter possessed different physical capabilities.

Chosen individuals like Ken of the Elemental Sacred Lands, Shin of the Armament Sacred Lands, and Jin of the Physique Tempering Holy Land could easily clear wider gaps.

Conversely, Ray of the Craftsmanship Holy Land, Lina of the School of Alchemy, and Ariana of the Grey Sacred Lands struggled even with medium-distance jumps.

Most surprising of all was Sana of the Anima Lands.

Despite her tribal appearance, she lacked the physical prowess one might expect. Her strengths lay elsewhere, and such exertion clearly wasn’t her forte.

Yet she remained stubborn.

Since the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters refrained from using their specialised methods, she refused to rely on hers.

That stubborn —and frankly frustrating— decision slowed the party’s progress significantly, forcing Hiro to factor her limitations into every calculation.

The burden weighed heavily on him.

Fortunately, after numerous detours and adjustments, the group finally reached the final platform, where another glowing portal door floated patiently before them.

They stepped through, hoping the next chamber would offer kinder terrain.

Their wish was granted...

Just not in the way they expected.

***