The Runic Alchemist

Chapter 813: The Grand Opening Celebration Week 9

The giant sword was snatched from the spellsword’s hand just as easily as snatching a lollipop from a baby’s hand. Theren’s massive purple fists were not just for the show; the muscles seemed to work exactly like the real thing, granting him increasing strength.

The spellsword could only watch in bewilderment from the stone floor Theren had thrown him to after taking his sword as the manaless mage broke the giant steel sword in two with just brute strength. Theren threw the two pieces of blades away as he slowly walked towards the spellsword.

“I.. I yield!” The spellsword named Aozark screamed.

Theren stopped, and the referee declared the mage the victor of the match.

This match had not lasted even a full 2 minutes. The match before that between pugilist Basha and mundane Valery Crowbar had lasted full five minutes. It was a brutal fight. Kind of hard to watch as the muscular pugilist bent the armor of Valery with every punch.

But in the end, using a clever strategy, she managed to win. Illusion Dust Potion to create a little distraction while using a wormhole runic tool, combined with a strength potion, had resulted in Valery successfully throwing the giant pugilist out of the stone stage.

She had taken a lot of damage in the process, and even after using the Sanctum-provided healing potions, she couldn’t fight any further. Third place was hers. Now Theren and Ryoden Nightblade were about to fight for the first and second position.

The runesmith was good with his sword, but being a pathfinder, he was not allowed to have more than two runic tools. A mundane was allowed to have five since that was their main method of fighting. A runesmith would also have a lot of runic items, but for the sake of the competition, they had limited it to only two.

The fight between Ryoden and Theren went as expected. Theren didn’t let the guy breathe for a second as he charged ahead, his hands wrapped in the purple jelly-like thing, and pummelled him left and right.

Ryoden had a sword, but his opponent had an unnatural protection on his hands – nothing could cut it. Soon, not getting any chance of fighting back, Ryoden was knocked unconscious. Damian thought Theren would keep hitting him, but the guy stopped immediately after Ryoden blacked out.

The guy was awfully careful about not breaking a single rule. Which would make him a good person, but Damian knew something was wrong with that guy.

This time, along with Sam and Einar, Damian too had to go onto the stage and congratulate the winners.

Third place was for Valery, second for Ryoden, and the first-place prize winner was Theren Emberwrit.

“Congratulations, you have shown impressive skills as a warrior,” Damian said, looking in the guy’s eyes while shaking his head.

“Oh! Thank you, Lord Keeper.” Theren replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes at all. Actually, the eyes looked wrong, as if this was not the natural face for these dark-purple eyes at all.

“I have been practicing a lot since we last met.”

Damian’s eyes narrowed. Standing in front of the three transcendents, the guy was not showing even a hint of fear. That was not a good sign. And when had they met? In his whole life on this planet, no person was so empty of mana as this guy. He would have indeed remembered such an individual if he had met him before.

“One would assume an Esper of your caliber would make a lasting impression,” Damian replied in an equally low voice.

The mundanes and normal pathfinders wouldn’t be able to hear him, but peak-level second rankers and third rankers definitely would. Sam and Einar, beside him, congratulating the other two winners, had their ears perked up listening to their exchange.

“Haha.. I was much younger back then. Not all of us are as talented as the infamous Morph Vialist. Some of us are late bloomers.” The man with the dark eyes replied.

The minor movements of his eyes, throat, and mouth were so off-putting. As if the guy was beyond ecstatic to talk with him.

Damian’s instincts said he shouldn’t be standing so close to this weirdo, even though he couldn’t sense any mana or aura of the guy; there was still a weird pressure around the guy. Damian had noticed it earlier, too. The other contestants had often made small and big mistakes because of it.

The whole colosseum was focused on them, though they couldn’t hear the voice, they could still see the faces of everyone on the stage with Mindseer’s help.

“So, who are you?” Damian asked, not changing his expression.

**

[Inside the Sanctum, The city of Sanctuary, Evrin’s POV.]

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Evrin made her way through the large hallway of the fifth floor. The new shoes she had bought were only good in looks; they didn’t hurt, but were awfully uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, like the ones people realize after using the item for some time.

Everyone had left to watch the grand tournament, while she was still busy with her duties. At first, when it was only her, Einar, and Grace, they were much poorer, but she had lots of free time on her hands. Now, Damian had made a ton of changes, and they had many more resources. But she was somehow even busier than ever.

But it was a good thing anyway. Drona was here, and with Einar away from the Sanctum, she had to stay here, in case she was needed by the little guy.

’Not sure, we can ever go back to what we used to be. Even if Damian stepped down or left Sanctuary.’ She thought.

Though much harder to manage, each day with that crazy runesmith was full of activities. Either it was to store thousands and upon thousands of dungeon relics, or make some insane giant building, or some other weird yet strangely useful runic machines.

Suddenly, Evrin stopped walking. Something different. No, someone unknown. Soon she heard the footsteps of people running towards her from the other side of the turning.

Evrin pulled out her staff and dagger, quickly throwing the new shoes to get into a fighting stance. It wasn’t overreacting. She knew every single person that was supposed to be in the building; these four did not belong here.

Two spells were already set up by her, chanting as fast as possible before the enemy showed themselves. While using the receiver to inform the heads.

Four people with black masks on their faces. But three of them were beastmen. That they could not hide. And from the looks of them, they were specifically searching for her.