Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Last Resort
"You can't take another step, why so?" Aurien spoke, his expression was one of confusion.
Of course, Luck wasn't fooled. 'This piece of sh*t! If I take another step, I'm going to get killed!' Luck cursed in his heart. Luck knew that expression. This person was a sly demon that could care less about the misfortunes of a child! The moment he stepped through that exit, Luck was certain he would be sent to the afterlife.
'F*ck, how should I answer? If I don't want him to kill me, the best option is exchanging something of equal value or have him be interested enough that he won't kill me...' Luck's mind moved rapidly.
'Should I reveal that I'm a person of another world? If I do, I'm sure that will pique his interest.' Luck thought before he quickly scrapped the idea.
'No! Although I might be able to secure my life, being in the hands of this demon is definitely the worst possible outcome. As for giving something valuable for my life, perhaps some kind of invention from the future?' Luck was someone who was originally from Earth that had begun to move to its golden age, one that colonized and brought life to a few other planets. He was sure he could provide some idea that could spark his interest, especially considering this world is a medieval one. However, he also quickly scrapped this idea. He had no way to verify it nor an explanation as to how he got that information.
Moreover, this plan would still be troublesome and could backfire. Like a person from another world, his ideas may make this person too interested.
"Well?" Aurien said, his expression not changing. However, Luck could guess this person was becoming a little irritated. Luck didn't want to test his patience further, but he didn't know what to say.
'Think, Think! Information that's useful enough...'
After a second of thinking, which felt like an eternity under the eyes of the demon in human skin, Luck had finally thought of an idea.
Taking a breath and turning around, Luck's eyes met Aurien's. Unlike their previous interaction, Luck's eyes were tranquil, his face expressionless.
"Hm?" Aurien was slightly taken aback. The kid's demeanour had suddenly changed drastically. His previous demeanour was hopeful and hotheaded, but this one was cold and calculating. He quickly realised that the interaction they had previously was all an act!
'This kid... He's actually a great actor. I actually believed his hatred for Alexander was bottomless, but this expression... he probably doesn't even care in the slightest about what he was put through by him. What individual clenches their fists so hard that it bleeds? And all for an act! This kid will be a perfect fit for the dark or evil faction. A born demon...'
The corners of Aurien's mouth couldn't help but raise slightly. His interest was piqued!
With his usual tone and expression, Luck spoke,
"If I take another step... You will instantly kill me, thus, I don't dare to..."
Aurien's eyes ominously flickered as he said,
"Really? What gives you that idea?"
"It's my intuition. In this place where life essence is stimulated through countless deaths, this intuition is what kept me alive. A great individual such as yourself probably sees beings like us as ants..." Luck replied, his eyes not wavering in front of the man's gaze.
Aurien went silent, pondering about Luck's words as he suddenly laughed and said,
"Hahaha! Your intuition is true. Beings like us treats your kind as ants! Even if an ant slightly inconveniences us, with a wave of our hand, they can instantly be crushed and no one will even bat an eye!"
He continued, his tone suddenly turning ominous,
"Kid, with your act previously, it can be class as an inconvenience..." Aurien's eyes stared at the boy, looking forward to how he would respond.
Luck felt his body become slightly cold. He understood what he was implying by that last sentence. He technically tricked him, and him being killed would be justified in his eyes.
Taking a breath, Luck spoke,
"Those symbols over there." Luck pointed to the runes on the floor a few metres from him and continued,
"They are created through magic?" Luck asked.
Not sure what the child was getting at, he said,
"And if they are?"
"Well... In this place, there are similar symbols. From my experiences, there are many hidden areas throughout the Sanctuary..." Luck spoke. This was a half-truth. The only hidden area he's been to is the aptitude ceremony, however, he knew that there were many such similar symbols scattered throughout the Sanctuary. And considering he didn't know where the exit was, it was probably also hidden. He didn't know if the runes were the cause for such areas to be hidden, but he just mentioned it to give the man ideas. If there were more such hidden areas, Luck was sure Aurien would want the information.
"Hoh?" Aurien raised an eyebrow. Runes were created by the mage occupation "runists." They can use runes to achieve various effects. Aurien was also a runist. The ones he did on the floor a few metres away from him were called attack runes, however, he knew there were also runes that could hide things.
Aurien contemplated,
'If what this kid said is true, some of the treasures of the ancient magi may be hidden there... Perhaps I can reap the benefits before the others find it first. In my contract, it merely said to find the culprit who stole the treasures of an ancient magi, not harm one another and to not disclose this information to outsiders. However, it doesn't prevent me from taking it first. Although I won't be able to take the extremely valuable treasures, surely an inheritance from an ancient magi should have many treasures...'
After a brief moment of silence, Aurien eventually spoke,
"I see... You're telling me this information as you know where they are? And you are using this information to exchange for your life?"
Luck nodded.
Aurien smiled. He thought this kid was quite interesting and rather quick-witted. Aurien was a ruthless person who can easily kill. The words he said about letting the boy leave were just nonsense. He gained nothing from letting this boy leave and would've killed him the moment he took a step through the exit, however, the boy saw right through it and decided to change how he acted.
Despite being threatened with death, the boy's expression didn't waver. Now he is bargaining this information in exchange for his life. What was scary was that mages held incredible power so anything from mortals was like dirt in their eyes, but this kid had actually found something that interested him.
Aurien thought of taking this kid to become a disciple of his Academy, but he eventually decided not to. Although there were natural treasures of this world that can raise one's talent, they were too expensive. Furthermore, the chances of this kid having an aptitude were slim, and him having a high aptitude was even slimmer.
"Lucky you, kid. This information is quite good. Truth be told, you were right when I said I was going to kill you. I find the expression of hope turning into despair quite amusing to look at." Aurien said with a smile.
Luck felt a bit of his tension leaving his body with the man's words.
"Well, lead the way."
Luck nodded, however, he suddenly asked,
"Are you sure I'll be able to keep my life if I lead you to those hidden areas?"
Luck wasn't someone to believe in words and promises so easily.
Aurien felt slightly irritated as he said, "Don't give me that look, kid. Mages believe in the law of equivalent exchange. Although I'm not necessarily a trustworthy person, I won't break my word. As easy as it is to kill you, sparing you will be just as less of an effort."
Luck gently nodded, deciding not to ask any further. He was away from death at the moment, and this man's words were better than nothing.
Luck decided to head to the south area of the Sanctuary. That had been the area he had investigated the most.
Luck spent the next 10 minutes leading the man. Despite his superhuman speed, the man had easily kept up with him.
Once Luck arrived, after scanning the area, he eventually pointed at the symbols on the wall. Without his incredible eyesight, such small symbols would be ridiculously hard to notice.
Aurien walked over as his hands traced the runes. He was using his magic to sense the mana flow of the runes. After some time, his lips curled. "These really are runes that are meant to hide things."
Aurien spent the next 10 minutes deciphering them. He was a genius runist in his Academy. Compared to the runes that hid this place, these runes were much more simple and easier to decipher.
As Aurien's mana was deciphering the runes, Luck noticed how the walls were slowly distorting. Such a sight shocked him.
After a few more breaths of time, eventually, the wall turned illusory and disappeared as a long spiralling staircase suddenly revealed itself!
'I knew it! The aptitude ceremony was hidden here. And the exit is also hidden, likely by similar runes...' Luck pondered.
After the spiralling staircase revealed itself, the two walked down. They eventually arrived at the bottom as they noticed the altar at the centre of the room.
"The magical energy in this place is quite rampant, how unusual..." Aurien mumbled.
Aurien inspected the altar and realised it was enchanted by runes. With a strange expression, he spoke,
"Kid, do you know about this altar?"
Luck nodded his head. "Yes, all the children had to give a drop of their own blood to it."
Hearing Luck's words, he continued,
"Well, this altar absorbs your blood and remembers it. It can be used to check the life essence of an individual. It also signals Alexander whenever a child dies. Moreover, it acts like a tracker."
'This... I see. This was probably why I was chosen for this trial. Lord Thel knew that I was at the diamond stage already. It's a relief I suppressed my growth. If I really became a diamond stage in 5 months, Lord Thel would be very suspicious.' Luck sighed in his heart.
Once Aurien finished examining the altar, with a motion of his hand, the altar suddenly disappeared. Aurien had put the altar inside his spatial ring.
After he did that, he said,
"Are there any more runes in this place?" Aurien asked.
After briefly contemplating, Luck remembered the indentations on the floor when he first arrived here as he said,
"There should be some on the floor." He pointed once he noticed the symbols with his sharp eyes.
Aurien once again walked towards the runes as he kneeled and traced it with his fingers.
Once he found the mana flow of the runes, a strange expression suddenly appeared on his face.
He had expected to find the same runes that were meant to hide another entrance, but instead, it was a much more different rune.
"Why are there attack runes here?" Aurien mumbled. After deeply contemplating, soon his eyes constricted as he suddenly lifted himself off the air using magic. He searched the entire room before he suddenly came to a realisation.
"No wonder the mana in this place is so rampant... The entire room is completely engraved with attack runes! The ceilings, walls, floor! There were attack runes everywhere!" Aurien muttered. He felt a bad omen as chills travelled throughout his entire body.
He descended back to the floor before urgently saying, "Kid, you said there were similar runes all over this place, not just this room?"
Unsure as to why the cloaked man seemed to be panicking, Luck nodded and replied,
"Yes, there are runes scattered all over the place."
Luck noticed how the cloaked man's face seemed to grow paler once he said that as he suddenly flew back towards the surface. His flying speed was extremely fast, leaving Luck stunned and by himself in the room.
"He left... Just like that?" Luck muttered. Luck was unsure as to what had happened for the formidable individual to seem so afraid. But he felt that this was a good chance to escape.
Wait for him to come back?
Only a fool would do such a thing!
Without delay, Luck immediately headed towards the surface, however, before he even arrived at the spiralling staircase, the entire room suddenly glowed. Luck could spot hundreds of strange symbols all over the room as they emitted light.
Luck felt a bad premonition, however, before he could even react, all the glowing runes in the room suddenly combusted as a formidable and unrelenting force suddenly struck Luck at all sides. A blinding light enveloped him, tearing his body apart as the entire room exploded.
Boom!
...
At the centre of the Sanctuary, a fight had reached its resolution as three individuals in cloaks could be seen surrounding a heavily wounded man. Alexander's back was against the wall. Near them were the lifeless bodies of two other mages and a large grey monstrosity. The grey demon had two large white horns on its head, with grey spikes that formed from its shoulder. Its body looked sturdy, like flawless armour acting as its exoskeleton. This formidable demon was dead, its body leaking out black blood with bits of its body and limbs missing due to the damage from the mages.
"Alexander, where have you hidden the book?" Lord Highwind spoke, his expression one of anger. One of the elders in his academy had lost his life due to that demon he summoned. If he hadn't used his life-saving treasure, all of them would've died!
Coughing a mouthful of blood, Alexander scoffed as he spoke,
"Do you honestly believe I'll tell you?"
"Hmph! If you want a quick death, you better reveal where it's located!" Erikson shouted, his hideous face somehow looking even uglier from his unsightly expression.
Alexander coughed out blood once more, his face becoming paler from all his injuries.
Alexander opened his mouth, however, he suddenly closed it, keeping silent.
"You!" Erikson was furious as he was about to kill him using his magic, but before he could, he suddenly sensed a high magical signature coming his way.
It was Aurien!
As Aurien arrived, Lord Highwind's face showed displeasure as he said,
"Why have you come? Didn't I say to guard the entrance?"
Noticing Aurien's anxious expression, Lord Highwind felt a bad omen as he waited for his answer. He knew this person wasn't a fool.
Aurien took a breath as he urgently stated,
"We need to leave this place as soon as possible! There are attack runes scattered throughout this entire place. The moment it is activated, this whole place will blow up and collapse!"
"What?!" All the mages collectively shouted as they glanced at Alexander. They immediately noticed his bloodthirsty smile and the dangerous gleam he held in his eyes. He had been buying time for himself!
"You finally noticed, hahahaha! Did you really think I'll hand over my treasures to you? This is my last resort. Initially, I planned to collapse this entire place to hide my traces, but now... I will take you all with me! I'd rather die than hand the book over to you!" Alexander laughed maniacally. With that treasure that sealed the demon's strength, Alexander had been rendered helpless once more. The demon's body had been destroyed and he was heavily injured, on the brink of death.
If his fate was to be imprisoned and crippled, he'd rather die, making sure to take these people with him. Even if he couldn't, he would still destroy all of his belongings so all their hard work of searching for him will be wasted!
Realising this, all the mages immediately felt a chill as they all launched their spells at Alexander. He still had to direct his consciousness to all the runes to detonate them.
But it was too late!
A blinding light suddenly enveloped all the mages as the entire Sanctuary exploded. The vast magical energy seemed to be endless, corroding through all their defences.
Boom!
...
On the surface, the ground trembled as birds became startled and flew away from the forest.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone