[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage":3,"chapter-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-498":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},148161,246,"Chapter 497: Field Test II","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-498",498,"\u003Cp>CH497 Field Test II\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian clearly didn’t understand goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Goblin Priest was unlike any other goblin. It was the most important member of a goblin tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant each and every goblin around it would gladly die to protect it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the barbarian broke formation and charged, more than ten goblins peeled away from their fights without hesitation, throwing themselves into his path like living shields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t care if they got cut down nor did they care if they died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They only cared about one thing about stopping the barbarian rider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, most of those goblins were immediately slaughtered by the warriors they’d turned their backs on... and the bloodthirsty orcs didn’t miss the opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, a few goblins managed to slip free, sprinting towards the rear to reinforce the priest’s defence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian, however, was already drunk on the taste of glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t notice the danger until it was almost too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Class 3 Goblin Warriors—both stronger than him—closed in from either side, thick crude blades raised high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blade-light surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian’s eyes widened—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent blast detonated between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shockwave sent everything in the area flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian and his unfortunate steed were thrown backwards like ragdolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian hit the ground hard, coughed, then scrambled back onto his horse with shaking hands and fled—galloping towards the expedition’s main formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when he reached safety did the horse finally collapse again, the adrenaline draining out of its body like water from a cracked jar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian barely even looked at the animal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His attention snapped instead to the man who had just saved his life– Alex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before the Goblin Warriors’ strikes could land, four [Mana Balls] had shot out from the rear and collided with the blades mid-swing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did they stop the attacks, but the resulting explosion had blasted the barbarian out of the kill zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alex wasn’t done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hand, his gaze locking onto the Goblin Priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Magic Bolt]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four mana arrows—larger than normal—fired in rapid succession, screaming through the air towards the priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Goblin Warriors immediately shifted, stepping into the line of fire cutting them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the Goblin Priest finished its chant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of reddish light rippled outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a crimson hue coated the remaining goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies twitched while their eyes went bloodshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if they’d been driven into a frenzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their speed spiked, their attacks became sharper, more vicious and they stopped caring about their own lives entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They attacked with little to no thought of defending themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when blades cut into their flesh, they didn’t flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They simply kept moving forward—forcefully continuing their assault as if they couldn’t feel pain at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kavakan’s hand tightened around the axes strapped to his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his mount sensed his restlessness. The horse began stomping the ground, snorting hot breath, practically begging to charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single look from Alex doused that thought from both man and mount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kavakan froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His horse whined then stilled its stumping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s gaze shifted away, landing instead on Mordor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Orc Shaman-swordsman caught his gaze and didn’t hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted a hand and casted a hex in a harsh, guttural tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Madness]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than dispel the Goblin Priest’s frenzy spell, Mordor chose to capitalise on the mental instability it created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the hex sank in, the goblins’ already fragile minds shattered completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lost all sense of friend and foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs and barbarians quickly pulled away as the goblins turned and attacked whatever was nearest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Class 3 Goblin Warriors were affected—though not as severely. Stumbled in blind rage, they attacked and fought at each other\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet somehow, instinct still kept them from striking the Lesser Goblin Priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The priest realised the battle was slipping out of its control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It immediately began retreating—desperately trying to get out of Alex’s range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it reached what it believed was a safe distance, it stopped, lifted its staff, and began chanting again in goblin tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Cunning goblin.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hand once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spell formation bloomed before his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, however, he didn’t simply let it form naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Let’s throw in a little rifling etches to extend the range.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mordor, Eleanore, and Zora watched with stunned expressions as the power glyphs within the spell formation shifted and rearranged themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The standard [Magic Arrow] formation twisted into something... different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana gathered and condensed— An arrow of pure mana formed within the ring of glyphs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, just like the formation that birthed it, the arrow itself began to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiral etchings appeared along its shaft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its head became slimmer—sharper—far more needle-like than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding spellcasters expected the modified [Magic Arrow] to shoot out and pierce the Goblin Priest’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire spell formation detonated right in front of Alex’s hand...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it!\" Alex cursed, waving his hand as heat washed over his palm from the spell formation’s backlash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I lost concentration...\" he muttered, his jaw tightening. \"Let’s try that again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he didn’t force it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He obediently prompted OmniRune to handle most of the legwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, before he could attempt the spell again, the Goblin Priest completed its casting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, clarity returned to the goblins’ eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their frenzy vanished as if someone had poured cold water over their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They surged forward at once—charging the orcs and barbarians, who had retreated the moment the goblins began tearing into each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A handful of goblins also broke away and rushed in Alex’s direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they thought that if they could disrupt the spellcasters, they could still salvage this fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goblin Priest closed its eyes, beginning another chant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clearly focusing everything it had on this spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by then, Alex had already recast his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the modified [Magic Arrow] shot out beautifully at insane speeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiral etchings along its shaft forced it into a rapid spin, stabilising its flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pucchi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a stable flight and longer range, the arrow reached and punched cleanly through the Lesser Goblin Priest’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its body dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its overconfidence in its range calculation, its undoing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the priest dead, its final spell collapsed mid-formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining goblins froze for a split second, then clarity returning fully to their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, without hesitation, they scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They fled in every direction like rats escaping a burning nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs and barbarians immediately gave chase—especially the barbarians, eager to rack up kills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alex’s voice cut through the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regroup!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctantly, they pulled back before they could chase too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex frowned as he watched them return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’They’re good troops... but they still lack a bit of discipline.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around, only to find several pairs of eyes fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" he asked, flashing a sly grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zora didn’t even humour him. She stared him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t pretend, Alex. You know exactly what.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When were you going to tell us your Rune-Tech problem was solved?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It isn’t solved yet,\" he admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his eyes gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I’ve taken the first step.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1228,"2026-05-29T03:49:10.137Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","eabeb3eb5d19ed1654d3ef4f8a62cf4a80f3c57c009303f4ca871e1cfe11d7f4","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-499","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-497",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]