Chapter 145
Nille and Lin Yue eventually left the public areas of the Rune Forge and made their way deeper into the sprawling complex.
As they approached one of the restricted corridors, the atmosphere changed immediately.
The bustling crowds of merchants, craftsmen, and students gave way to reinforced gates, rune-inscribed walls, and heavily armed security personnel.
Several students waiting near the public access halls immediately noticed them.
Whispers spread almost instantly.
"How are they allowed in there?"
"That's the restricted section."
"I heard even noble students need authorization."
"Maybe Lin Yue pulled some strings."
"Has to be."
A few wealthy students who had spent considerable amounts purchasing equipment from Rune Forge frowned openly.
Some of them had attempted to gain access to the restricted facilities before.
Every request had been politely denied.
Others had offered money.
That had failed as well.
Rune Forge rarely bent its rules.
Yet here was Nille Fajardo, a student many still considered an ordinary late awakener, casually walking into areas they couldn't even approach.
Their frustration only grew.
To them, Nille was still the same Level 2 student who lived outside academy grounds and carried financial debts.
Many conveniently ignored everything else.
They ignored his performance during practical examinations.
They ignored his unusual combat ability.
They ignored the fact that several instructors openly treated him differently.
Most importantly, they ignored the possibility that he had earned whatever trust Rune Forge had placed in him.
It was easier to assume favoritism.
Much easier than accepting there might be reasons they simply didn't know.
Lin Yue noticed some of the stares.
Nille did too.
Neither cared.
The guards standing near the checkpoint immediately stepped aside.
Not out of fear.
Out of respect.
The two continued forward.
Past the first gate.
Then the second.
Then an elevator platform reinforced with enchanted steel.
Several layers of security activated before granting access.
The descent toward the deeper levels began.
Soon they reached the Third Sub-Basement.
The area looked less like a workshop and more like a military research facility.
Large rune arrays glowed across the walls.
Magical testing chambers occupied entire sections of the floor.
Master dwarven engineers moved between workstations carrying blueprints and enchanted components.
At the center stood a familiar figure.
Head Merchant Rume Ironbark.
The dwarf's beard looked especially well groomed today.
His grin alone suggested he had been waiting for this moment.
"Finally!" he boomed.
"There you are, lad!"
Nille smiled.
Rume motioned toward a large table.
Resting atop a reinforced display stand was a weapon unlike anything Nille had seen before.
The dwarf's eyes sparkled with pride.
"Go on."
"Pick it up."
Nille approached carefully.
The weapon measured roughly one and a half feet long.
At first glance it resembled a compact crossbow.
Yet every component had been redesigned.
The frame consisted of layered mithril-alloy reinforced with enchanted draconian bone.
Complex rune circuits ran along the body.
A malignant core sat within a protected chamber near the rear.
Several mechanical systems integrated dwarven engineering with magical enhancement.
The entire design felt elegant.
Practical.
Deadly.
Nille lifted it.
The weight surprised him.
Light.
Much lighter than expected.
The weapon balanced perfectly in his hands.
Rume puffed out his chest proudly.
"My best forger made that."
"The absolute best materials Rune Forge could provide."
He pointed toward the various rune engravings.
"Four primary enchantments."
"Lightness."
"Stability."
"Precision Guidance."
"And Core Synchronization."
The dwarf's grin widened.
"Everything you requested."
Then he paused.
"And several things you didn't."
Nille inspected the magazine chamber.
It fed from the underside like a repeating mechanism.
A compact storage system held fifty enchanted bolts.
Each bolt measured approximately one foot long.
The arrowheads contained layered enchantments.
Armor piercing.
Paralysis.
Explosive impact.
A combination specifically designed to counter aerial threats.
The kind of threats currently occupying the Draconian Mountain Range.
Rume folded his arms.
"Lad."
"This isn't just a crossbow."
"It's a platform."
"The malignant core automatically cycles the bowstring."
"No manual reload after every shot."
"The system does the work for you."
Nille's eyes widened slightly.
"A repeating crossbow."
"A rapid-fire repeating crossbow."
Rume practically glowed with pride.
"Exactly!"
The dwarf pointed dramatically.
"I already patented it."
"Rune Forge exclusive."
"Only sold through us."
Several nearby engineers nodded proudly.
Months of development had gone into the design.
Nille looked genuinely impressed.
"How many magazines can we carry?"
The question made Rume laugh loudly.
"I thought you'd never ask!"
The dwarf immediately pulled out a belt bag and tossed it toward him.
Nille caught it easily.
The moment he touched it, he recognized the craftsmanship.
Spatial storage.
High-grade spatial storage.
The same class of equipment used by senior merchants.
The same type Professor Caelum carried.
The same type Nhulla possessed.
Nille opened the bag.
His spiritual senses reached inside.
Immediately he found the magazines.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
He blinked.
"There are five magazines inside."
Rume burst out laughing.
"I was aiming for ten!"
The dwarf threw his hands upward dramatically.
"But spatial compression limits are still spatial compression limits."
"Five was the best we could manage without turning the bag into a magical hazard."
Nille smiled.
Five magazines.
Fifty bolts each.
Two hundred fifty shots.
Far more than he expected.
A nearby dwarf engineer approached Lin Yue.
"Lady Lin."
"We have yours prepared as well."
Moments later, Lin Yue received an identical weapon.
Her own spatial belt bag followed shortly after.
She examined the crossbow carefully.
Even she couldn't hide her surprise.
"It's beautiful."
The dwarven engineers immediately looked pleased.
Receiving praise from customers was nice.
Receiving praise from a skilled awakened practitioner was better.
Several minutes later, the elevator platform activated once more.
Two familiar figures emerged.
Professor Caelum Verdanis Eruien.
Nhulla Loresong.
Both fully equipped for the next phase of the expedition.
Caelum immediately noticed the weapons.
His eyebrows rose.
"Oh."
Rume smirked.
"Oh indeed."
The professor accepted the prototype handed to him.
Nhulla received hers shortly afterward.
Within minutes all four expedition members stood equipped with identical rapid-fire enchanted crossbows.
Rume looked at the group proudly.
"Now then."
His grin widened.
"Let's see if my engineers just changed monster hunting forever."
The testing range doors slowly opened.
And for the first time since returning from the mountains, the entire expedition team felt eager to head back into the unknown.
Nille looked at the others and raised the newly crafted crossbow.
"Before we leave," he said, "everyone should inspect their equipment and test it properly."
The others immediately agreed.
There was no point carrying new weapons into the wilderness without understanding their capabilities.
Professor Caelum began examining the rune circuits engraved along the weapon's frame.
Nhulla checked the magazine release system and ammunition feed mechanism.
Lin Yue tested the balance and aiming posture.
Meanwhile, Nille carefully observed the malignant core chamber and firing assembly, wanting to understand exactly how the repeating mechanism functioned.
Head Merchant Rume Ironbark nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"Smart."
"The dead are usually the ones who skip equipment testing."
Several nearby dwarves laughed knowingly.
The merchant leader then turned toward one of his staff.
"Prepare the flying targets."
The staff member immediately bowed.
"At once, sir."
The worker hurried toward a reinforced storage section and returned moments later pushing a heavy metal crate.
The crate was placed near the far end of the Third Sub-Basement testing grounds.
As the locks disengaged, several metallic clicking sounds echoed throughout the chamber.
Personnel throughout the basement gradually paused their work.
Blacksmiths.
Rune engineers.
Researchers.
Merchants.
Even warehouse workers.
Word had already spread.
The expedition team was testing a completely new weapon platform.
Nobody wanted to miss it.
The Third Sub-Basement itself was enormous.
The ceiling stretched nearly fifteen meters overhead.
The floor measured approximately thirty five meters by thirty five meters.
Its original purpose had been large-scale storage and logistics.
Now, thanks to Nille's stationary gate anomaly, the facility had become one of the most valuable sections of Rune Forge.
Within only a few days, the organization had accumulated staggering amounts of resources.
Nearly ten tons of gold.
Several tons of silver.
More than one ton of raw mithril powder.
Countless rare herbs.
New potion ingredients.
Previously undocumented minerals.
Hundreds of research samples.
Entire departments had been created simply to process the discoveries emerging from Sector Twelve.
And they had only explored a fraction of the swamp.
The Draconian Mountain Range remained largely untouched.
To many within Rune Forge, reaching its deeper regions represented the greatest opportunity they had ever encountered.
Rume himself openly referred to it as the crown jewel of their exploration efforts.
A loud mechanical click interrupted everyone's thoughts.
The crate opened.
Several flying constructs emerged.
The golems resembled metallic birds roughly the size of large hawks.
Each possessed reinforced armor plating and independent flight capability.
More importantly, they were fast.
Very fast.
Perfect training targets.
The constructs immediately launched upward.
Within seconds they were circling the chamber.
Some flew high.
Others changed direction unpredictably.
A few even accelerated and decelerated at random intervals.
The dwarven staff clearly intended to make the test difficult.
Rume rubbed his hands together.
"Excellent."
"Let's see what these beauties can do."
The expedition team moved into position.
Five individuals.
Five prototype weapons.
Five spatial ammunition bags.
Dozens of Rune Forge personnel gathered behind reinforced observation barriers.
The atmosphere became increasingly excited.
Nille loaded his first magazine.
A satisfying click echoed through the weapon.
The malignant core immediately activated.
Soft blue runes illuminated along the weapon's body.
The firing mechanism quietly adjusted itself.
Ready.
Professor Caelum raised an eyebrow.
"Smooth."
Nhulla nodded.
"Very smooth."
Lin Yue shouldered her weapon.
"It feels lighter than my academy training bow."
Rume practically looked offended.
"It should."
"It cost more than your training bow."
Several nearby dwarves laughed loudly.
The merchant leader pointed toward the flying targets.
"Alright."
"No holding back."
"Show me if months of development were worth the effort."
The metallic birds continued weaving through the air.
The first official field test was about to begin.
And everyone present wanted to see whether Rune Forge had truly created a weapon capable of changing future expeditions into the dangerous and unexplored regions beyond Yamatai's known territories.
The moment the final target entered its flight pattern, silence settled across the testing chamber.
Dozens of Rune Forge personnel watched from behind reinforced observation barriers.
The flying golems circled overhead.
Each one had been deliberately designed to imitate the Stymphalian Birds encountered during the expedition.
Their size matched closely.
Their flight speed was similar.
Their maneuverability had been adjusted using wind-enchantment arrays.
The only major difference was durability.
The golems were intentionally tougher.
Far tougher.
If the weapon could disable these targets, it could likely handle the real creatures.
Rume Ironbark folded his arms.
"Whenever you're ready, lad."
Nille nodded.
He stepped forward.
The repeating crossbow settled comfortably against his shoulder.
His fingers wrapped around the grip.
The targeting rune activated.
A faint magical interface appeared along the side of the weapon.
Distance.
Trajectory.
Target movement prediction.
Everything updated in real time.
"Interesting," Professor Caelum muttered.
"The weapon is calculating corrections."
One of the dwarf engineers grinned proudly.
"Real-time trajectory assistance."
Nille focused on the nearest target.
The metallic bird suddenly accelerated.
Its wings folded.
It dove sharply.
Attempting to simulate an attacking Stymphalian Bird.
Nille squeezed the trigger.
THWIP.
The sound surprised everyone.
It wasn't loud.
There was no explosion.
No thunderous report.
Only a sharp mechanical release.
The malignant core immediately pulled the bowstring back.
The next bolt loaded automatically.
The enchanted arrow crossed the chamber almost instantly.
The projectile struck the diving target directly in the chest.
CLANG.
The armor-piercing enchantment activated.
The reinforced plate cracked.
The paralysis rune triggered immediately afterward.
Blue sparks erupted across the golem's frame.
The construct froze mid-flight.
Its wings locked.
Gravity took over.
The target crashed into the floor.
BOOM.
The entire chamber shook slightly.
The golem slid several meters before stopping.
Motionless.
Destroyed.
The observation area erupted into excited murmurs.
"One shot!"
"It dropped immediately!"
"The paralysis effect worked!"
Nille wasn't finished.
He tracked the second target.
The metallic bird was already changing direction.
Attempting evasive maneuvers.
Nille fired again.
THWIP.
The bolt crossed the chamber.
The target attempted to roll.
Too late.
The arrow struck the left wing.
The armor-piercing enchantment shattered the reinforcement plates.
The explosive rune detonated.
A controlled blast erupted.
The wing assembly disintegrated.
The construct spun uncontrollably.
Moments later it slammed into a warehouse pillar and collapsed.
Disabled.
Rume's grin widened.
"Oh, that's beautiful."
The third target suddenly accelerated.
Flying near the ceiling.
Trying to simulate a retreating aerial predator.
Nille adjusted slightly.
Aimed ahead.
Fired.
The prediction rune compensated automatically.
The bolt intercepted the target perfectly.
Direct hit.
The golem's core destabilized.
It dropped instantly.
The fourth target attempted a zigzag flight pattern.
Left.
Right.
Up.
Down.
Nille fired twice in rapid succession.
THWIP.
THWIP.
The first bolt missed by mere centimeters.
The second corrected.
The target exploded into fragments.
The crowd erupted again.
Several dwarven engineers actually began cheering.
The weapon was exceeding expectations.
Only one target remained.
The largest.
The most durable.
Rume had intentionally upgraded its armor.
"If it survives," he announced loudly, "I'll personally buy everyone drinks."
The final golem accelerated.
Its metallic wings generated bursts of wind.
The construct dove.
Climbed.
Rolled.
Changed direction repeatedly.
Simulating an experienced Stymphalian Bird hunting from above.
Nille narrowed his eyes.
Then smiled.
He squeezed the trigger repeatedly.
THWIP.
THWIP.
THWIP.
Three enchanted bolts flew in quick succession.
The first struck the torso.
The second shattered the left wing.
The third pierced directly through the reinforced core housing.
The paralysis enchantment activated.
The explosive rune followed immediately afterward.
The target simply stopped.
Its flight ended instantly.
Like a puppet with cut strings.
The large construct crashed heavily into the floor.
Dust erupted throughout the testing area.
Silence followed.
Everyone stared.
All five targets lay scattered across the chamber.
Motionless.
Destroyed.
Not a single golem remained airborne.
Nille lowered the weapon.
The malignant core continued humming quietly.
Ready for more.
A grin slowly spread across Rume Ironbark's face.
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hah!"
"It works!"
The dwarf practically looked ready to celebrate.
Professor Caelum walked toward the fallen constructs.
After a brief inspection, he nodded.
"Complete neutralization."
"No critical weapon failures."
"No instability."
"No enchantment degradation."
Nhulla checked the assessment readings.
"The targeting assistance increased accuracy by nearly forty percent."
Lin Yue looked impressed.
"The recoil is almost nonexistent."
Several engineers immediately began writing notes.
Others rushed toward the wreckage to collect data.
Rume turned toward Nille.
"Well?"
"What do you think?"
Nille looked at the destroyed targets.
Then at the weapon.
Then at the others holding identical prototypes.
Finally he nodded.
"It works."
A simple answer.
But everyone present understood its importance.
The real Stymphalian Birds had nearly forced the expedition to abandon their camp.
Now, for the first time, they possessed a reliable method of dealing with them without relying entirely on expensive spells or exhausting magical combat.
Professor Caelum looked toward the expedition team.
"It appears," he said calmly, "that our chances of surviving the next expedition have improved considerably."
No one disagreed.
For the first time since encountering the flesh-eating avian malignants, the team possessed something invaluable.
Not just a weapon.
A solution.
Rume Ironbark crossed his arms as the last of the destroyed flying golems were hauled away for analysis.
The testing chamber slowly returned to order, but the atmosphere remained charged with excitement and calculation.
He glanced up at the ten-meter ceiling, then toward the wide but still limited 30-by-30-meter floor space.
A low chuckle escaped him.
"Still too small," Rume said bluntly.
His beard shifted as he shook his head.
"This place… this whole sub-basement."
He tapped the stone floor with his boot.
"It's nothing compared to Sector Twelve."
Several dwarven engineers nearby nodded in agreement.
Rume continued, voice growing more thoughtful now.
"In Sector Twelve, the spatial layers stretch hundreds of times larger than this."
"You can test full aerial formations there. You can simulate entire ecosystems."
He looked back at the scattered remains of the training golems.
"But here?"
He shrugged.
"It's like testing a war strategy inside a cupboard."
A few staff members laughed quietly, though not out of disrespect, more from shared understanding.
Despite its size, the Third Sub-Basement had limitations.
And Rume knew it.
But then his eyes shifted toward Nille.
A knowing look appeared.
"But I know you, lad."
"You didn't forget that."
The merchant's tone became more approving.
"You accounted for the ceiling, the spacing, the rebound angles… even the limited vertical combat zone."
Nille didn't deny it.
He simply nodded once.
"I did."
Rume grinned.
"Good."
"Because most people would've designed that weapon thinking only about open skies."
He gestured upward.
"But real battles rarely happen in perfect conditions."
Professor Caelum adjusted his stance slightly.
"Environmental constraints always determine survival efficiency."
Nhulla nodded while reviewing her interface data.
"Especially in regions with unstable aerial interference."
Lin Yue quietly observed the weapon in her hands again, as if re-evaluating its true potential under different conditions.
Nille then turned slightly toward Nhulla.
"Before we proceed further," he said calmly, "I need gas masks."
That immediately caught attention.
Nhulla blinked once.
"Gas masks?"
Nille nodded.
"Enchanted ones."
His tone remained steady.
"I'm planning to introduce a non-lethal suppression method."
Rume raised an eyebrow.
"Gas?"
Nille continued.
"If we assume Stymphalian Birds, or similar aerial malignants, operate in coordinated patterns, then direct engagement isn't always the best first option."
He looked toward the destroyed targets.
"Especially in confined terrain like forest canopies or mountain corridors."
Professor Caelum crossed his arms.
"You're thinking area denial."
"Yes," Nille replied simply.
Nhulla tapped her interface, already calculating possibilities.
"Spiritual suppressant compounds?"
"Or sleep-inducing agents," Nille clarified.
He adjusted his grip on the crossbow slightly.
"If we deploy gas near the initial campsite before opening the gate, we reduce the chance of residual hostiles from the previous encounter interfering."
A brief silence followed.
Then Rume slowly nodded.
His expression turned serious.
"The campsite will be the return point."
"You're worried those earlier Malignants might still be active."
Nille confirmed it.
"They may still be in the area."
"If we open a gate too close without preparation, we risk drawing attention immediately."
Lin Yue tightened her hold on her weapon slightly.
"So you want to soften the field first."
"Exactly," Nille said.
"Not every fight should start as a fight."
Professor Caelum studied him for a moment, then gave a small approving nod.
"A controlled entry strategy."
"Reduce variables before engagement."
Nhulla closed her interface.
"I can prepare enchanted gas masks within the hour."
Rume let out a low approving laugh.
"You see this, lads?"
He pointed at Nille.
"This is why Rune Forge keeps him close."
"Most warriors think about killing."
He tapped his temple.
"This one thinks about control."
The dwarf turned toward the staff.
"Prepare suppressant deployment kits."
"Fast."
Then he looked back at Nille, grin returning.
"But don't forget, lad."
"Even the best plans fall apart once the sky starts screaming at you."
Nille didn't respond immediately.
He simply looked toward the direction of the expedition gate.
Quiet.
Focused.
Then finally spoke.
"That's why we prepare for it now."
And with that, the next phase of the expedition quietly shifted from preparation… into execution.
Nille pressed the safety mechanism on the crossbow with a soft mechanical click.
The weapon immediately shifted.
Runes dimmed.
The malignant core reduced its output to a stable idle state.
In moments, the compact crossbow folded into its transport configuration—slimmer, safer, and easier to carry.
He attached it to the sling carrier belt and secured it across his back with practiced ease.
The motion was smooth, almost instinctive now.
Lin Yue followed a few steps behind him.
She carefully placed her crossbow against the reinforced wall near her, making sure it was stable before stepping away from it.
Then she glanced around the busy sub-basement testing area.
After a brief pause, she approached one of the nearby staff members.
"Is there somewhere I can sit for a moment?"
The staff member hesitated, then nodded quickly.
Before he could even move, Professor Caelum raised one hand.
A subtle motion.
Calm.
Controlled.
A nearby reinforced bench—previously stationed on the opposite side of the chamber—responded immediately.
It lifted from the ground without sound.
Slowly, it floated across the room, guided by invisible force until it gently settled beside Lin Yue.
The staff bowed slightly in appreciation of the professor's precision.
Lin Yue blinked once, then sat down.
"Thank you, Professor," she said softly.
Caelum simply nodded.
"No need for formality."
Meanwhile, Nille and Rume had drifted slightly apart from the group, already deep in discussion again.
Their conversation returned to logistics.
Entry timing.
Gas deployment zones.
Possible retreat paths.
Fallback coordinates.
Rume gestured occasionally with a folded blueprint, while Nille responded with short, precise corrections—adjusting angles, distances, and probabilities as if mentally mapping the entire expedition route in real time.
On the other side of the chamber, Professor Caelum remained near Lin Yue.
For a moment, the conversation was quiet.
Casual.
Almost ordinary.
They spoke about Miyako's upcoming marriage to Aelarion Vaelcrest.
Lin Yue listened attentively as Caelum mentioned details of how Miyako and she had first met during early academy integration events.
"It was a rather formal introduction at first," Caelum said.
"But Miyako has always had a strong sense of awareness. She notices people quickly."
Lin Yue nodded slightly, her posture more relaxed than usual.
"I remember," she replied. "She helped me adjust when I first arrived."
Caelum observed her briefly.
There was something different in her demeanor now.
Not dramatic.
Not obvious.
But noticeable to someone who had spent decades reading students.
She was less guarded.
More present.
More willing to stay in the moment instead of retreating into thought.
The professor adjusted his stance slightly.
"And you," he said calmly, "have changed as well."
Lin Yue blinked.
"I have?"
Caelum gave a faint, knowing smile.
"Subtly."
He looked briefly toward Nille and Rume, still absorbed in their planning.
Then back to her.
"You're less distant."
Lin Yue didn't respond immediately.
A faint warmth rose in her expression, but she tried to keep her composure.
Caelum continued in an almost casual tone.
"So he finally noticed."
That single sentence landed softly, but precisely.
Lin Yue froze for half a second.
Then her cheeks immediately flushed.
"Professor…!"
Caelum's expression didn't change much, but there was unmistakable amusement in his eyes.
"I didn't say anything incorrect," he replied calmly.
Lin Yue quickly looked away, trying to regain her usual composed demeanor, but the faint blush refused to fade.
Across the chamber, Nille was still speaking with Rume, unaware of the exchange—or perhaps intentionally focused elsewhere.
The expedition preparations continued.
But for Lin Yue, the moment lingered quietly.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just a simple acknowledgment that something between her and Nille had already begun to shift—whether either of them fully understood it yet or not.
Professor Caelum Verdanis Eruien exhaled slowly, almost like he had been carrying a thought for far too long and finally allowed it to settle.
"Nille has been carrying too much weight for someone his age," he said quietly.
His gaze lingered in the direction where Nille stood, still speaking with Rume, still planning, still moving forward as he always did.
"When I first met him," Caelum continued, "there was something unstable about his presence."
Not weak.
Not broken.
But unsettled, like a life constantly being rewritten while it was still being lived.
"It felt as if he was always stepping forward," the professor said, his tone becoming more reflective, "but one part of him never truly followed."
He paused, choosing his words with care.
"As if his body moved into the future… while his feet remained chained to the past."
The image lingered between his thoughts.
A boy advancing through the world, yet never fully arriving in it.
Bound not by weakness, but by memory, by unresolved time, by experiences that had never been given closure.
Caelum's eyes narrowed slightly, not in judgment, but in understanding.
"That kind of existence creates a strange kind of distance," he said softly. "Not between him and others… but between him and himself."
He finally shifted his attention toward Lin Yue.
And there, something subtle changed in his expression.
Because he saw it now.
Not as theory.
Not as analysis.
But as proof.
"For a long time," he said, "he walked forward without ever truly choosing a direction of his own."
Then his voice softened.
"But now…"
Caelum allowed a faint, almost relieved sigh to escape him.
"It seems that chain is no longer fully holding him."
He glanced once more toward Nille.
Noticing the way he spoke differently now.
The way his decisions carried intention instead of reaction.
The way his steps no longer felt borrowed from survival, but taken for himself.
"Now," Caelum concluded quietly, "he is beginning to place one foot forward that belongs only to him."
A pause followed.
Then, almost like an afterthought shaped by experience rather than authority, he added:
"And that is the first real step toward a path of his own choosing."