[{"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-683":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},148296,246,"Chapter 682: Bandit Becometh the Raided II","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-683",683,"\u003Cp>CH682 Bandit Becometh the Raided II\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sharp, unnatural snapping of dozens of crossbows—followed by the piercing whistle of over a hundred bolts tearing through the air—drained the colour from the caravan guards’ faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic spread instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They scrambled for cover, ducking behind carriage walls and scrambling onto roofs in desperate attempts to shield themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bolts tore clean through wood and reinforced panels alike, punching through both cover and flesh with terrifying ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the survivors could even process the first volley—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A second rain descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a fourth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the sixth salvo, the battlefield had become a grotesque tableau of pierced bodies and shattered defences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a handful of the stronger guards remained alive—those few capable of barely shielding themselves from the relentless barrage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it did not matter—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the strike unit arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kavakan, Mogal, Havel... and alongside them charged the blood-hardened survivors of earlier raids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed was not a battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without Alex micromanaging and issuing direct commands, the engagement concluded swiftly and decisively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a testament to how far his forces had evolved—not just in numbers or individual strength, but in coordination, equipment, and technological advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rapid firing capability of the enhanced crossbows alone had turned what should have been a difficult clash into a one-sided slaughter against a caravan guarded by more than four hundred men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As was now routine, once the last resistance was eliminated, the troops immediately began recovering any reusable bolts—war habits already deeply ingrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some began to celebrate quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alex did not even glance at the carnage behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze remained fixed ahead—towards the far side of the basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leave everything. Form up,\" he ordered calmly through the comms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, the unit leaders—his original companions, each equipped with comms earpieces—relayed the command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no hesitation nor complaint from the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire force reassembled into formation with disciplined efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex led them several hundred metres forward, away from the caravan’s remains, before halting once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold, damp wind swept across the sparse red soil. The air grew heavy, clinging to the skin and weighing down each breath. A thin fog drifted across the distance ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex stood unmoving, his gaze steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And soon, the others understood why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shapes began to emerge from the mist. A large force—marching in unison. About one and a half thousand strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at its forefront, was Brock Peyton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peyton’s face twisted into a mask of fury as his gaze fell upon the annihilated caravan lying behind the Fortuna formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s expression, however, grew solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes locked onto the figures flanking Brock Peyton—four distinct presences radiating Combat Master-level energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Good. All of the Lost Heathens’ Combat Masters are here... saves me the trouble,’ he thought calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alex Fury!!!\" Brock Peyton roared the moment he recognised him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not shout my name with that filthy mouth of yours,\" Alex replied, his cold voice carrying clearly across the battlefield, reaching every ear among the Lost Heathen ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will kill you... and drink wine from your skull!\" Peyton snarled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As expected of a savage thug,\" Alex answered evenly. \"I gave you the opportunity to resolve this peacefully, yet you chose violence. This... is the result of your choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused briefly before adding,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough talk. Come and die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill them all!\" Peyton roared, his rage boiling over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vanguard of five hundred broke away from the main Lost Heathen force and surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peyton might have been impulsive—but he was not foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The caravan had been bait, meant to lure Fortuna into position. Yet Alex’s forces had obliterated it within minutes—before the main force, trailing just beyond sight, could close in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This vanguard consisted largely of hired mercenaries—men drawn in by promises of coin... or rather, berserk stones—upon Fortuna’s defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex calmly withdrew from the front line, clearing space for his eager strike unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched the approaching five hundred—disorganised, reckless—charging headlong towards them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack! Thwack!! Thwack!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortuna responded without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A storm of bolts rained down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charging force collapsed almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over seventy percent fell within moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more horses were struck down, turning the advance into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The survivors broke ranks, panic spreading as they attempted to flee, trampling one another in desperate retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without needing a command, Fortuna’s formation moved—ready to advance and finish the job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Link]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex activated the modified goblin spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Energy, stamina, and defensives surge through the formation, binding each member into a unified whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strain on individuals lessened instantly—burdens that were distributed evenly across the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, it allowed the support casters to operate efficiently... and discreetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the link established, Eleanore and Mordor—hidden within the ranks—began casting their buffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike traditional methods, there were no obvious surges of power or visible emissions to reveal their positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every enhancement flowed seamlessly through the network, reaching exactly where it was needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex gave a faint nod to himself and was just about to turn his attention back to the five leaders of the Lost Heathen formation when something... changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time seemed to halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—or rather, his perception of it slowed to an almost imperceptible crawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his forehead, the small Fortune-Suppressing Dragon emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hovered above the Fortuna formation, stretching out its tiny hands towards them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the connection established by the [Link], the dragon began drawing out thin golden threads from each member of the Fortuna company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those threads shimmered faintly, pulsing with something deeper than mere mana—something tied to belief, loyalty, and intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within its grasp, the dragon gathered and moulded them together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, it formed a single object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A token...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A command token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of its small claw, the token shot directly into Alex’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He caught it instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt... strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solid—like carved wood—yet undeniably an energy construct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s eyes flickered as he examined it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Etched upon its surface, in the runes of Rune-Tech, were two inscriptions—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side: Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other: Fortuna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’An Army Fortune-Suppressing Token...?’ Alex inferred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment his grip tightened around it, a profound connection surged through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel every member of the Fortuna company—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their belief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as though the token itself contained an advanced, innate and intricate form of the [Link] spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that, it was doing something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was drawing upon the collective emotional energy of the formation... refining it into a subtle, abstruse force within itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fortune-Suppressing Dragon was not finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It pulled forth more golden threads from the formation, then drew upon the energy now stored within the command token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its tiny hands, the energy separated—splitting into four smaller orbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a fleeting instant, Alex felt his thoughts overlap with the dragon’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that moment, the four orbs transformed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An armband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each took form instantly, shaped by instinct, purpose, and intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, just as swiftly, the constructs shot back into the command token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information flooded Alex’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flag represented the unit fortune of the Main Force. The coat symbolised the Strike Unit. The hat corresponded to the Marksman Unit. The armband embodied the Autonomous Unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon gave a small, exhausted yawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its energy clearly spent, it wobbled back towards Alex and—without ceremony—pierced through his forehead once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It passed straight into his Mindspace... then through OmniRune itself, returning to the Sanctuary beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barriers, safeguards—none of it seemed to matter to the creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex could only shake his head wryly at its blatant disregard for the natural order of things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it disappeared, time resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield roared back into motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, the Fortuna company surged forward, charging directly at the main Lost Heathen force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On instinct—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex channelled his mana into the ethereal command token resting in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1317,"2026-05-29T03:49:41.560Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","544d91b347ff6340fd2b28e62ca1a88d9cc0f9314e3b8d89edfd050d5227787b","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-684","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-682",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]