Return of the Legendary Runesmith

Adrian told Raven everything, starting from the deep-sea temple to the battle with the dragon, and finally the information he had uncovered.

He never intended to give her incomplete details. This was too important. If things suddenly took a turn for the worse, she needed to be prepared.

Naturally, Querella grew concerned when he described the battle and how easily the dragon had pinned him down.

"You could have asked for my help. It only takes a single message." The system would have delivered it instantly across the server.

She was confident in her ability to stand by his side.

However, Adrian shook his head. "Querella... I don’t know how he did it, but everything around us came to a complete halt. Under those conditions, I don’t think you could have resisted that phenomenon."

The greenhouses were not far from the palace, yet she had heard nothing. If such a massive battle had taken place, she would have sensed it even in her sleep.

"How is that even possible?" Raven asked, voicing the same question that had been lingering in his mind.

But instead of dwelling on it, she looked at him and asked, "Are you really going to liberate him?"

There was clear worry in her voice. Not just because of what he planned to do, but because of the path he would have to walk to achieve it.

"Raven... you know this isn’t just about you, right?" Adrian said quietly. "I have questions that need answers. And he’s the only one who can give them."

When it came to his origins, he could afford to hesitate, to question, to delay. But now, with the future of the entire planet at stake, hesitation was no longer an option.

"Sometimes..." Querella murmured, her voice faint, "I feel like my position here always pushes you into danger."

Adrian let out a soft breath and pulled her into a gentle embrace. "Don’t say that. You never ask anything of me. I act because I choose to. Because I see this place, and these people, like my family."

Querella let out a quiet sigh. He always had a way with words, always knew exactly what to say to ease her concerns.

Pulling back slightly, she asked, "So? When are you leaving?"

Adrian hummed softly. "For now, we need to focus on the greenhouses. There’s a lot to do and very little time."

Raven nodded. Right. He was here to help her.

"You gave me a list of one hundred and eight regions across the nation, if I remember correctly?" Adrian asked.

Querella nodded. "Yes. But for now, we should focus on fifty major towns. You can take your time with the rest—"

"What are you talking about?" Adrian cut in, confusion slipping into his voice.

"I mean... have you prepared fifty artifacts? Even if not, we can prioritize the most important towns first."

They had completed the greenhouse construction earlier than expected. Since it was their highest priority, everyone involved had worked with unwavering dedication, pushing to finish as quickly as possible.

That was why Querella assumed Adrian couldn’t have finished his part yet. It was only natural... but—

"I’ve already made all the required artifacts and tools," Adrian said calmly. "We just need to install them across the sites."

"..."

Raven fell silent.

Looking into his eyes, she could tell he wasn’t joking.

And that was exactly why the first word that left her lips was—

"Ridiculous."

Adrian laughed at her reaction, then gestured ahead. "Come on. We’ve got a lot to finish."

.....

[The Next Day]

Inside a vast chamber that stretched far beyond the reach of a single glance, dim golden lights flickered along the high walls, casting long, wavering shadows across polished stone.

The air felt heavy, almost restrained, as if even sound itself knew better than to travel freely here.

One by one, figures gathered around a perfectly round table at the center of the hall.

Each of them wore formal attire, refined yet distinct, carrying the identity of their respective Towers. The atmosphere was thick with diplomacy, layered with something far sharper beneath it.

These were not ordinary individuals.

They had come from across continents. For the first time in history, every major Tower in the world had agreed to sit at the same table.

Sixteen leaders.

Sixteen authorities whose decisions could tilt the balance of the world.

Among them sat a familiar redhead, her presence composed but inwardly she was a little nervous and alert, positioned carefully between two figures she knew well.

To Ruby’s left was Tower Master Albec, his posture as composed as ever, the quiet weight of his influence unmistakable.

His ties to Adrian and the Runebound Academy placed him closer to the unfolding storm than most.

To her right sat the leader of Umbral, Janet, now known as Jean. Draped in a deep red cloak, the silver-haired woman leaned back slightly, her expression distant, her gaze unfixed.

She seemed uninterested at first glance, yet the faint stillness around her hinted that she was quite cautious. And it was to be expected. She was the only seated entity who wasn’t a part of any Tower.

Behind each leader stood their escorts, positioned at a respectful distance. They remained silent. Their purpose was clear. If anything went wrong in this room, they would be the first and last line of response.

Otherwise, they were nothing more than shadows.

Because today, only the seventeen at the table would speak.

And what they would speak of carried weight enough to reshape the world.

"I would like to clarify the agenda of this meeting."

The voice cut cleanly through the stillness.

A green-haired man adjusted the monocle resting over his left eye. His lean frame was wrapped in an olive-green suit that matched his composed, calculated demeanor.

His gaze swept across the table, before he added.

"As stated in the invitation sent by the Crimson Reapers," he continued, his tone evenly reaching everyone, "our purpose is to prepare a retaliation force against what is to come. This gathering is meant for us to share knowledge, assess the threat, and advise one another."

A brief silence followed before it was broken.

"I don’t understand..." A man from the south-east leaned forward slightly, his grey goatee shifting as he spoke. "Isn’t this a matter for nations rather than Towers?"

"Agreed." Another voice joined in,. "Our role has always been the development of individuals. We do not wage wars, nor do we fight them."

A faint murmur rippled across a few seats, restrained but present.

The green-haired man, whom Ruby recalled as Charles, let out a quiet breath, almost a sigh he chose not to fully release.

Then he spoke again.

"I believe all of you already understand the scale of what is approaching," he said, his voice lowering just enough to draw attention. "And that is precisely why you are here... instead of sending a letter of refusal."

The room fell still again.

This time, it is heavier than before.

No one could refute that. If they didn’t have any idea what is happening behind the curtains, they wouldn’t have been here.

"From how you speak," Albec finally spoke, "It appears you have a clear idea how vast this iceberg is."

The man who arranged this meeting turned silent, staring at Albec for a moment.

Then, in a single breath, he confessed,

"Devil summoning. They are about to offer a major part of their cult to bring a fragment of Darkness back to life."

°°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. We are about fifty Chapters away from the end.