Chapter 125: Controlling The Fortress (2/2)

The gaze she shot Arthur with sent chills down his spine as he saw her thin smile. He tried to ignore it but her curious eyes studied him from head to toe.

Arthur had no time to chat with them, and he was relieved because of that. Si directly started talking about what they wanted to do.

”You want us to steal the Calamity Spider?” Idris asked with genuine amazement. ”I understand that the lad was able to crack his way open, but this is no simple matter. It belongs to the association!” He said with worry.

”I know, but they can't do anything if we steal it now. Right now,” Si proceeded to explain the ongoing war with Ilios. It was a chaotic situation, but it was better than a day ago.

After the Calamity Spider stopped, the forces that had been deployed here were quickly sent as reinforcements toward the south-eastern border. The battles there were still ongoing but things were looking well, as Ilios hadn't managed to breach the walls just yet.

The Unbroken Corps, the strongest division in the Yalveran Army, were also deployed. Things turned when Ilios sent out their Sun Benders. Ilios was known for its fire and light mana essences and arts, boosting both healing and attack power. That's why the Sun Benders were also called Light Paladins.

From what Arthur knew, the Unbroken Corps were known for their gear and teamwork. They also had some of the best archers and gunmen in the world, making fighting against them quite difficult. With mechas added to the mix, the Yalveran Union was pushing the Ilios Empire back.

”However, that won't last for long. We need to act fast to secure the fortress and infiltrate the palace. Right now, the fortress is being handed to the Runes Association. We'll strike tonight and give Arthur enough time to take over the fortress.”

”And how much does he need?” Hua turned the conversation toward Arthur. She looked at him expectantly as Arthur tried to seriously think about it.

”The fortress has six layers and the core. The reason that the prince didn't emerge victoriously,” Arthur studied Si's expression, but it was stoic. ”Was that he tried controlling it from the fourth layer, not being able to utilize it fully. I don't know how he was able to control it without getting to the core.”

This was the truth.

”But it won't be easy to take control of it. The association had spent so much resources and manpower since the fortress was found.” Although it had only appeared through a fissure fifteen years ago, that didn't change the fact that the association still failed to reach the core. Arthur hypothesized that this had to do with the fact that they couldn't control genuine runes.

”What makes you so confident that you'd do something not even grandmasters were able to do?” William asked, frowning. He had a point since Arthur has yet to reach nineteen.

'Because my ability is to control runes themselves.' He answered in his mind but he would never reveal it. He can make others make assumptions, but he would try to hold back as much as possible.

There were certainly abilities that boosted not something supernatural, but other fields of knowledge. There were rare mutated abilities that can control machines or give magical effects to paintings, but never runes.

Runes were the link between knowledge and magic. They were the reason humans were advancing and technology hadn't fallen behind yet. They were the key that made it possible to surpass the limits.

”He can do it,” Si answered instead of Arthur. ”After all, that's the reason I recruited him in the first place. His potential.” If abilities had a sign like a dollar's sign, Si's eyes would be just that as he looked at Arthur like a rare gem.

After Si said that, no one doubted it any longer. This group has come into existence because of Si's ability to see potential in people and convince them.

***

They wore black robes that hid their identities and Arthur was handed a mask. Each mask was purely white with different engravings on each member's mask. Si's mask was engraved with three vertical lines and an eye, Ivy's had a bear head, Zas's had a crow, Hua's had a phoenix, Li's had a tree, and William's had a serpent.

Arthur's mask was purely white, yet to be engraved. The mask had no holes in it and no straps. When he wore it, he was able to see and breathe just fine, as if the mask never existed.

Si put on his mask and turned to the group. He nodded at them before issuing a command.

”Let's go.”