Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH59 Solmir, the Line between Man and Wolf

***

’Luck’s on my side. All hail the MC’s halo.’

Alex inwardly chuckled to himself, giddy.

"Sleep!"

The spell triggered instantly.

The OmniRune Core cast the basic mental interference spell before the insect could escape.

The strange creature wobbled mid-air, wings stuttering, before gently dropping onto the scorched ground—unconscious.

Alex dashed forward, eyes gleaming.

He knelt and examined the insect carefully.

It was definitely rare.

In a place where scavenger insects gathered in the hundreds or even thousands, this one stood out simply because... there were so few of them.

He had only seen two so far.

By the time he raised his head again to track the second one, it had already vanished—slipped away into a valley of ash and flesh.

Alex grimaced.

The mite’s mana signature was incredibly faint, and among the chaotic mana signatures from so many insects, it was like trying to find a single drop of water in a vast ocean—without knowing where to start.

A fool’s endeavour.

So he focused on what he had.

Gently, Alex picked up the slumbering Spindlecarve Mite, and darted into the surrounding greenery.

He spent a few minutes scavenging for vines, wood fragments, and moss to create a makeshift holding nest, then carefully transferred the creature into it.

Once the container was secure, he brought it into the pocket space, depositing it as far away as possible from the wolf cub.

Just in case.

He also stacked a few obstructions—moss, wood, even a mana-repelling herb or two—to deter either one from approaching the other.

With that done, he resumed his escape from the forest.

---

The moment he left the valley and its overpowering stench, Alex noticed something he hadn’t before.

He reeked.

Not the forest.

Him.

He smelled like blood—a lot of it.

Multiple patches of thick, dried blood had soaked into his robes.

"Clean."

The familiar comfort of a utility spell washed over him.

It cleared the dried blood, loosening the crusted patches and evaporating the filth. But the scent still lingered—the metallic, iron-rich aroma that made his stomach twist.

His first instinct was to just ditch the clothes.

But as he moved deeper through the forest, he reconsidered.

Most of the blood came from the Class 3 Bladefanged SkyTiger. He’d harvested its core from deep inside its belly, preventing any other beast from feeding on it—and stealing the chance to ascend to Class 3.

That meant the blood still carried traces of its aura.

And in the Subspace, the SkyTiger was a local tyrant.

The SkyTiger’s violent reign over this forest was still fresh in the minds of nearby beasts. So while Alex had expected a dangerous, adrenaline-filled night filled with dodging predators...

None came.

The local beasts avoided him entirely.

Of course, this didn’t mean he could relax—but it did make travel significantly easier.

---

By daybreak, Alex reached the meeting point between the inner and outer rims of the forest—the same place he had first encountered, and been chased by, the SkyTiger.

He exhaled a deep breath, the kind that released more tension than air.

He was out of the danger zone.

The outer rim held fewer carnivores. Here, things should be... manageable.

Still tired, Alex found an old tree with a hollow cavity just big enough to squeeze into.

He crawled inside, checked the area with his Spirit Sense, and then retreated into the pocket space.

---

Within moments, he appeared beneath the bonsai tree.

The leaves rustled gently in the still air of the hidden dimension.

He walked up to the tree, let his body slide down against its bark, and leaned into its cool, calming presence.

Then promptly fell asleep.

-

Some time later, Alex stirred awake to the sound of whining.

There was also a strange wetness on his face... and a weight on his chest.

When he cracked open his eyes, he found the wolf cub standing on his chest, licking his face with enthusiasm.

"Stop, stop. I’m up," Alex mumbled unconsciously.

The cub immediately ceased its licking and hopped off his chest with a little bounce.

Alex rubbed his eyes and sat up, finally taking stock of his surroundings.

"You’re finally awake," he said, smiling tiredly as he reached out to rub the cub’s head.

The cub allowed it—for a few moments. Then it pushed his hand away and resumed whining.

Alex blinked in surprise.

Just like with Mama Frostback Wolf, he could understand the cub.

No, it was actually even clearer now. As if the link between their minds had deepened.

The cub’s thoughts were jumbled, emotional—grief-stricken. It was remembering its mother leading it to the lava cave, the scent of blood, the sight of its kin dying one by one. Now it turned to Alex for answers.

It was asking about its parents, its siblings... its pack.

Alex exhaled slowly.

He considered lying.

But something inside told him not to.

’Better to tell him now.’

’He deserves the truth.’

Alex placed a steady hand on the cub’s back.

"Your parents, your siblings... your kin... they’re all gone," he said softly. "They died fighting off the Ironspine Ravager Wolves. Your mother’s last wish was for me to save you."

The cub understood.

Its little body trembled, shaken by a grief that felt almost human in its depth.

And then...

Howl~

A long, piercing cry echoed through the pocket space.

A mourning howl. A final farewell to those lost.

Alex didn’t move.

He let it grieve.

Ten long minutes passed.

When the howling ceased, the cub’s body slumped forward—drained. It swayed and dropped.

Alex moved to catch it, but paused.

The cub was forcing itself back up, eyes gleaming with conviction.

So Alex let it stand on its own.

And it did.

Growl.

The cub said something.

Alex nodded. "Your parents already avenged themselves. They took down the Ravager Wolves that ambushed them. As for the others... I’ve already dealt with those that were left."

Bark!

The tone shifted. A question.

"Well, if you’re wondering what’s next..." Alex smiled faintly. "You can come with me. To a world far more interesting than this forest. It’s what your mother wanted. And it’s yours... if you want it."

Yip!

Alex chuckled. "Am I asking you to join my pack? I suppose I am."

Whine!

The cub leapt into his arms, tail wagging, fur brushing against his skin.

But this wasn’t just affection.

There was something more. A ritual.

Suddenly, Alex’s Auramir Bloodline stirred—without his control.

The cub let out a high-pitched whine, then dropped low, exposing its belly to him in a clear sign of submission.

Moved by instinct, Alex reached out and rubbed the cub’s belly, acknowledging the act.

The wolf jumped to its feet—and bit down on Alex’s index finger.

He winced. It wasn’t a deep bite, but sharp enough to draw blood.

A single drop of crimson, rich with Auramir essence, trickled down into the cub’s mouth.

It licked the blood eagerly and swallowed.

Immediately, its tiny legs began to wobble, like it had drunk something too strong.

Yip!

The cub’s voice was weak, but filled with excitement. It was trying to tell Alex something.

"Alright, alright. Go get some rest."

Still dazed, the cub returned to its previous spot beside the Bonsai Tree, curled up—and fell fast asleep.

***