[{"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-613":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},148318,246,"Chapter 612: BloodIron City","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-613",613,"\u003Cp>CH612 BloodIron City\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is your plan for this plane now, Master?\" Udara asked. \"We arrived here by accident... yet now you’re saying this might have been part of some grand design by a Supreme Law of the universe? Do you truly believe that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s expression turned solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know,\" he admitted, much to the ladies’ surprise. \"Hearing it from One Heaven was... unexpected. And frankly, it’s a bit too complex to fully grasp right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I’ve decided to approach it from a simpler perspective.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our immediate goal remains the same— to return to Pangea,\" Alex continued. \"But to achieve that, we need to secure a strong foothold here and gather the necessary resources.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They nodded in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But once we return,\" he went on, \"what then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is, at the very least, a Class 6 plane. That means it undoubtedly possesses resources that are highly valuable— even in Pangea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes sharpened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s no way I —or the Fury family— can afford to ignore that. We will have to establish our presence here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what better way to do that,\" he added, \"than with an empire at our beck and call?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So our interests... and the needs of this plane align?\" Udara asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arguably,\" Alex nodded. \"That’s one of the main reasons I accepted One Heaven’s proposal. We were going to develop territory here regardless— so we might as well accept the advantage that makes it easier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused briefly before adding,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, I made it clear to him— I have no intention of living and dying for this plane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if I become an Emperor... or the Legatee of this plane’s Heaven and Earth— my priority will always remain my holdings in Pangea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is my true domain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all the allure that came with becoming the Legatee of Heaven and Earth, Alex hadn’t lost sight of himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His goal was simple—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To live a better life than he had in his previous one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one of the measures he intended to use was how far he could climb on the path of power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ceiling was relatively lower in Verdantis... Barely Class 8.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even that was questionable— since only one individual, One Heaven himself, had ever reached that level through orthodox cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Alex was certain that Pangea housed beings beyond Class 8.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was his master— the Ancient Dragon, Uthvaazgol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zora’s Frost family ancestor— likely an Ice Phoenix of comparable standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also doubted that the empires within their Hegemony lacked powerful figures hidden in the shadows of their royal families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, Class 8.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possibly even Class 9.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear that if he truly wished to stand at the pinnacle of power, Pangea had to remain his primary focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it bluntly, Verdantis was nothing more than a resource hub— a stepping stone toward a far greater stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood,\" Udara replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he had explained to his wives, despite regaining full functionality of his Rune-Tech platform —and the immense gains from the Heaven-Earth Concordance trials— the party continued their journey toward BloodIron City as originally planned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey was anything but uneventful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They encountered migrating berserk beasts... Fought off berserk humans... And even forced several large bandit groups to retreat without engaging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Alex kept his composure, inwardly, he was deeply appreciative of the team’s recent advancements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without their newfound strength, the journey would have been significantly more dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several weeks of travel, the group finally arrived at the infamous heart of the Hollowcrest Wildlands... The blood jewel of the wasteland—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BloodIron City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Dragonstone Oasis —which could barely qualify as a large town— BloodIron City was on an entirely different scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the Fortuna party’s surprise, not only was it a true city, It even rivalled capital cities— even by Pangean standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Fury family’s capital —the City of Ashes— fell short in comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It’s as if all development across the Wildlands was concentrated into this single location,’ Alex mused as his gaze swept over the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walls, however, were peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were relatively short and oddly structured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These walls are strange,\" Kavakan remarked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s because they aren’t designed to defend against human armies,\" Havel replied. \"They’re built specifically to counter beasts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’ve committed entirely to resisting beast tides,\" he continued, \"but against a coordinated, intelligent assault— they’d fall quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured toward the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At roughly ten metres high, they’re just tall enough to prevent most beasts from leaping over. Unlike humans, beasts can’t use ladders after all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m certain the surface has also been treated— making it difficult to climb.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the irregular structure...\" his eyes sharpened slightly. \"It’s designed to break momentum. To disperse charges and more importantly, to funnel the beasts into controlled choke points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once there, archers and long-range combatants can eliminate them efficiently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It makes defending against a beast tide far more manageable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex found himself nodding as Havel dissected the construction philosophy behind the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inwardly, he was mildly surprised by Havel’s grasp of the military doctrine employed by the city’s leadership.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what surprised him even more—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Havel has been talking more than usual,’ Alex mused. ’Did the trial change something in him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the walls, there was also a strong military presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guards patrolled both the perimeter and the surrounding outer areas in organised rotations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’As the core settlement of the Wildlands, I expected chaos...’ Alex thought as the group joined the queue at the entrance. ’But it seems I was mistaken.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’From what we know, the city is governed by a council made up of the dominant factions— likely including forces backed by empires, temples, and major organisations like the Adventurers’ and Mercenaries’ Associations.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The queue moved surprisingly quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within thirty minutes, the Fortuna party reached the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’As expected of a \"free trade city\" I guess,’ Alex noted inwardly. ’To merchants, every minute lost is worth its weight in gold— or rather, berserk stones.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A guard captain signalled for them to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex reached for a pouch of berserk stones, preparing to pay the entry toll—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could, a voice cut in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard captain immediately straightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped aside without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex turned toward the speaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you here?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And why can’t I be?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned slightly closer, his expression turning meaningful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you sure this is the place for that discussion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex frowned... then gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" the man said. \"Come along. The bald dwarf has already arranged accommodations for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as if recalling something, he added—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, and you’ve got a guest. Someone from afar who’s been very eager to meet you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s brows furrowed deeper, but he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he led his party to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, they arrived at a mansion large enough to house the entire group comfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they stepped inside—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have a lot to explain, Raven Horn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was none other than the drunken rogue Alex had met at the Dragonstone Oasis Adventurers’ Association, introduced through Branch Master Wayne Achard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, another figure emerged from within the inner chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? You’ve finally arrived,\" the man said casually. \"You took longer than I expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s eyes flashed with surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kron Belloc?\" he said. \"What are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1248,"2026-05-29T03:49:40.912Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","ac5f31f9e4912253763727d7991b01f8e2401070f3c34e4fecf03350cd62432b","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-614","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-612",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]