Kyren could barely stay on his feet. Every step sent a jolt of pain through his body, but he forced himself forward, stumbling toward Runa. He uncorked a health potion with shaking hands and carefully poured it into her mouth.
For a second, nothing happened. Then her body trembled, wounds stitching together as the potion did its work. Her breathing steadied, and the tension in her face eased.
Relief flickered through Kyren, but there was no time to rest. He summoned three more potions, draining what little remained in his inventory. Only two left.
One mana potion materialized in his palm. He downed it in a single gulp, warmth spreading through his veins as the fog in his mind lifted.
Kyren turned to Lydel and Baldwin, kneeling beside them. Their breathing was ragged, their bodies battered. He pressed the rims of the vials against their lips, tilting them just enough to let the healing liquid trickle down. Slowly, their color returned.
Liora lay nearby, her small body completely still. Not injured, but empty. Drained.
Kyren reached for her, his voice softer than before. "Liora, you want some mana?"
A tiny voice whispered in his mind. "Please."
Carefully, he lifted her into his palm. Mana swirled from his skin, wrapping around her like a gentle current. She absorbed it in silence, unmoving for a moment. Then her wings twitched. A faint hum filled the air as she shot upward, darting around with renewed energy.
Kyren exhaled and slumped against the wall. He opened the system, its glow reflecting in his tired eyes.
Secret Mission Completed
Would you like Runa Ironheart to join the party?
[Yes] / [No]
Kyren didn't hesitate. Yes.
Runa's stats appeared beneath Lydel's.
[Runa Ironheart]
Physical Constitution: A
Strength: A
Speed: A
Stamina: A+
Mana Pool: S+
[Ability: Ironheart's Arsenal] (Active/Passive – Mana-Based Ability)
Runa can transform natural materials into weapons, with the weapon type determined by the element of the material used. She can telekinetically control these weapons.
Lvl 5 – Exp (450/500)
Improvement Plan: Unavailable
Kyren's eyes narrowed. Two things stood out.
First—Runa had no title. No Hero, no Sidekick. Just her name.
Second—she was only Level 5. Yet her stats were incredible, even higher than his. If it weren't for his own abilities and traits, he wouldn't have stood a chance against her.
A flashing icon in his inventory caught his attention. He focused on it, and a deep crimson cloak appeared in his hands.
Ironheart's Aegis
Effects:
Weapons created through Ironheart's Arsenal gain +50% durability and resistance to breaking or countering abilities.
Grants Physical and Magic Resistance (scales with remaining Mana). The higher Runa's mana, the greater the damage reduction.
Mana Shield (Passive): When mana reaches 0, incoming damage is partially absorbed and converted into mana at 25% efficiency until she regains control.
Runa stirred, slowly pushing herself upright. She took an unsteady step toward him.
Kyren held out the cloak. "Got you a little surprise."
Runa blinked in surprise before taking it. The fabric felt weightless yet strong, shifting slightly as if reacting to her touch. She wrapped it around her shoulders, the deep red draping down to her knees.
"It looks good on you," Kyren said.
Runa pulled the cloak tighter around herself, but whatever emotion crossed her face was quickly hidden.
Kyren turned away, stepping toward Baldwin and Lydel. He crouched and shook them both.
Lydel groaned. "Bro, why are you shaking me?"
"We won," Kyren said, helping him up. "Let's go find your sword."
Lydel rubbed his eyes, still groggy, but nodded.
Nearby, Runa turned to Baldwin, arms crossed. "So what now?"
Baldwin stretched, wincing. "I'll start my own force to protect this place. Make sure the cult doesn't come back. I already have a few people in mind."
Kyren reached down and helped the old man to his feet. "Do you know where Lydel's sword might be?"
Baldwin shook his head. "No idea. But it should be near the prison cells."
He turned and walked toward the massive pipe they had climbed through earlier. "I'm getting some of my people. We need to clean up this mess and get back to trading." Then, with a grunt, he hoisted himself down into the passage.
Kyren faced the other end of the trade hall—the cultists' quarters. He could already see movement inside. A few cultists stirred, their weapons just out of reach.
Before they could act, Kyren's voice rang out.
"We killed your priest and his men. If you want to live, leave."
For a moment, they hesitated. Then, one by one, they ran. Kyren didn't chase them. He had no interest in a pointless slaughter.
Except for one.
The man in silver robes tried to slip past him. Kyren's hand shot out, grabbing the back of his hood and yanking him off his feet. The cultist hit the ground with a grunt.
Kyren loomed over him. "Not you. I've got some questions first."
The man's eyes darted between Kyren and the others. Fear settled in.
Runa stepped forward, her voice sharp with anger. "Who are you?"
The man swallowed hard. "Velber." His voice was weak, his head hanging low.
Lydel stepped closer, fists clenched. "Where the hell is my sword?"
Velber hesitated before pointing toward a door at the far end. "The storage room. End of the prison hall."
Lydel was gone before he finished speaking, sprinting down the hall.
Runa searched a nearby desk and snatched up a ring of keys. "Time to let the prisoners out."
As she moved from cell to cell, unlocking doors, Kyren dragged Velber toward the weapon room. Lydel was already walking out, sword in hand.
Kyren tightened his grip on Velber's robe. "I've seen guys dressed like you in every cult-run village. What does it mean?"
Velber coughed. "We're messengers. We deliver orders from headquarters."
Kyren's grip tightened. Headquarters. The cult was bigger than just scattered outposts.
A moment later, the prisoners flooded into the room—men and women who had spent days, weeks, or even longer in chains. Their eyes burned with fury.
Kyren let Velber go, shoving him forward. "If you make it through that door alive, tell your people this—I'm coming for them."
Velber hesitated only a second before bolting. He barely made it two steps before the first prisoner tackled him.
The room exploded into chaos—punches, kicks, screams. It lasted two minutes. By the time it was over, Velber lay in a motionless heap, groaning.
Lydel stepped forward, calling to the freed prisoners. "If you had weapons when they locked you up, check the storage room."
Kyren crouched beside Velber, grabbing him by the collar. The cultist's breath was ragged, his body shaking.
Kyren summoned a health potion. "Can't have you dying before delivering my message." He forced the vial to Velber's lips, pouring it down his throat.
The cultist gasped, coughing violently as the potion took effect.
Kyren dropped him and turned back to the group. "We need to figure out what's next."
For now, the outpost was theirs. But the real fight was only beginning.Chapter 46: Sword in a Slaughterhouse
Kyren could barely stay on his feet. Every step sent a jolt of pain through his body, but he forced himself forward, stumbling toward Runa. He uncorked a health potion with shaking hands and carefully poured it into her mouth.
For a second, nothing happened. Then her body trembled, wounds stitching together as the potion did its work. Her breathing steadied, and the tension in her face eased.
Relief flickered through Kyren, but there was no time to rest. He summoned three more potions, draining what little remained in his inventory. Only two left.
One mana potion materialized in his palm. He downed it in a single gulp, warmth spreading through his veins as the fog in his mind lifted.
Kyren turned to Lydel and Baldwin, kneeling beside them. Their breathing was ragged, their bodies battered. He pressed the rims of the vials against their lips, tilting them just enough to let the healing liquid trickle down. Slowly, their color returned.
Liora lay nearby, her small body completely still. Not injured, but empty. Drained.
Kyren reached for her, his voice softer than before. "Liora, you want some mana?"
A tiny voice whispered in his mind. "Please."
Carefully, he lifted her into his palm. Mana swirled from his skin, wrapping around her like a gentle current. She absorbed it in silence, unmoving for a moment. Then her wings twitched. A faint hum filled the air as she shot upward, darting around with renewed energy.
Kyren exhaled and slumped against the wall. He opened the system, its glow reflecting in his tired eyes.