"Everyone keeps mentioning fate as if it was the most obvious thing in the world." Arthur laughed lightly and shook his head. He looked at the screen and the countdown until the round begins and decided now wasn't the time for this. "Sit, we'll have a different strategy."
Yurirl nodded and sat down. When the countdown reached zero, the one-hour limit began. Arthur sat in front of the table and picked up his brush. He dispelled all of the thoughts from his head and focused on the competition.
Runic cards had a one-time usage. For runes like fire and other elemental runes, it was a short duration before the card disintegrates. After all, it was just a card and not an artificial artifact.
The existence of runic cards allowed for a more budget-friendly system to take place. Runes were essential for survival in the other world but not everyone could afford artifacts with different functions.
For the cards that Arthur creates, he had two choices. Ones with an open reality gate and others with a closed one. Their performance drastically differs. However, Arthur didn't hold back earlier. He created genuine protection and weaken runes because they were had a one-time usage and couldn't truly be perceived by outsiders.
The case was different for Fire, his only offensive rune. This rune was one of the few that didn't evolve but was a gate on its own. For example, the more mana Arthur used, the more fire he could produce. However, this fire's characteristic was different from artificial runes. It was noticeably hotter, destructive, and more flexible to control. That's why he inscribed and artificial fire rune earlier.
Now, he wouldn't. To break through an artificial rune, a genuine rune was necessary. He saw how Carlos's runes reflected damage but he knew there had to be a limit.
***
Yurirl walked toward the stage for the second time today. However, he wasn't as confident as before. He was a realistic person. He saw how Carlos's runes reflected the damage they sustained and eliminated the opponent easily.
'How would his plan work?' Yurirl thought that Arthur was a cautious person, but his plan was brute and overconfident. It was indeed simple, but simplicity isn't the best for the situation.
Carlos's partner walked onstage as well, carrying a smug expression of victory. Reflect was indeed a rune to be proud and assured with, so his confidence wasn't without basis.
"Just trust me," Arthur told him after he had explained his plan. Yurirl decided to do just that since he doesn't have anything to lose. He placed his hand on the stack of cards strapped to his belt.
'15 cards. He's a monster.' Yurirl thought as the host stepped on the stage and the countdown started. 'However, where does his confidence stem from?' He wondered.
The crowd cheered and counted down until zero. The opponent threw the first card and a green barrier rose in front of him like before. He then took out another rune and used it as ice shards generated and flew toward Yurirl.
However, Yurirl didn't just stand Idly. To the crowd's amazement, Yurirl activated ten barriers at the same time. Yurirl's and strength and mana were capped at 300, so activating the cards almost used all of his mana. He had used 240 units of mana just to activate the ten runes.
8 percent of 300 was 24. Multiply that by ten and you get 240 mana units. Each barrier equaled 360 in strength.
'A true monster.' Yurirl's felt a shiver at such a notion. Even if he received an attack of over 360, he would be immune until the attack breaks through all of the barriers.
Yurirl didn't stop and took out the five fire runes. He had used this one before and knew his mana wasn't enough to handle five of them. However, he told Arthur he would trust him. With 60 units of mana left, Yurirl activated the five fire runes.
Light engulfed the world the moment that he poured all of his mana into the runes. In the last moment, before he directed the fire, he realized something fatal.
He had miscalculated.
It was a layman's mistake, but it was fatal. It was related to the way runes worked in general. The runic lines would simulate the reality gate to gather the fire essence from the air and create fire. That's why if multiple runes were activated at the same time with identical lines, a semi-runic-circle would be birthed.
The five fire runes strengthened each other and absorbed the mana he poured into them greedily. A pillar of fire that as wide as ten meters sprung into existence as it traveled toward the opponent.
"CEASE!" He could hear Jumana's roar but he was helpless as well. The fire burned everything in its path as it headed toward the pale-faced young man who was still throwing ice shards.
The green barrier around the young man did its job and reflected almost half of the elemental attack at Yurirl.
Yurirl watched with dismay as he tried to take off the Limiter, but it was too late. He braced himself as he watched the fire travel his way and break through his protective barriers.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. Yurirl thought it was Jumana but it turned out to be the back of someone he knew. For the briefest moment, Yurirl saw black light shine in front of him.
Arthur's hand descended on the incoming flames and cut them apart in half. The flames diverged and headed in two ways around Yurirl and Arthur.
Yurirl stared with shock at Arthur who had split apart the flame with his bare hand. However, his hand was just fine and Arthur turned to him with an apologetic expression.
"I'm truly sorry." His voice was sincere as he apologized. "I didn't think it would be this powerful. I have never tried it before."
Before Yurirl could answer, the flames died down revealing the opponent's side. Jumana was already at his side to protect him from the flames. Neither side was disqualified and the two stared at each other.
Jumana had a barrier in front of her that was still shimmering. Her red hair was waving in the aftermath wind as a terrifying frown overtook her face.
"Phew." She sighed in relief suddenly. "I fucking told that geezer that this partners shit is useless. Laymen can never be as proficient as runes masters." She complained as she dusted herself and pulled the pale young man upward. "As for you," She looked at Yurirl and Arthur. "Good runes you have there."
***
Arthur had underestimated his runes. He has honestly never tried using several runes together, so he was also shocked by the magnitude of the flames. Luckily, he was able to avoid endangering Yurirl's wellness by using his insignia in time.
Despite the mental toll it took on him, his insignia was powerful. It was his trump card if things get weary with the seven families. He didn't think he would need to use it today.
Jumana announced that both participants demonstrated great skills in runes, so it was concluded with a draw. Both Arthur and Carlos passed this round so it would be 26 participants in the next round.
"Thank you," Yurirl told him when they were heading back toward the room to rest. Arthur was tired mentally but he still wanted to clarify things.
"It was my fault." Arthur turned to face him with tired eyes. "I endangered you even though you were helping me." He bowed his head apologetically. "For that, I'm sorry."
Yurirl looked at him for a moment and shook his head. He then looked at Arthur's hand as if he wanted to say something, but refrained.
"Your runes are terrifying."
"I know." Arthur lifted his head and grinned. "I'll make you an artifact in the future." At his words, Yurirl grinned for the first time today. The two then walked back to the room and Arthur asked Yurirl about his words earlier.
"What did you mean when you said it was fate?" Arthur was more curious than cautious.
"It happened when I was in the ruins of the Immortal Sage," Yurirl asked the staff to leave them alone before standing outside the inspection room to tell him. "I read a diary that mentioned someone proficient with runes."
"There are a lot of people like that." Arthur frowned but Yurirl simply shook his head.
"Do you know what's my ability is?" Yurirl asked but Arthur shook his head. Most people thought it was Swords-related, but no one was sure. "It's called Divine Sense." Arthur almost gaped at this man revealing his secret so easily. "It allowed me to glimpse at the memories of the diary's writer."
"And?"
"I saw you."
"What?" Arthur thought he misheard. Yurirl saw him in someone else's memories? Was it someone he knew? However, why would their diary be in the ruins of the immortal sage?
"I didn't think it was someone, well, alive." Yurirl frowned. "However, I saw your face when I was looking through articles related to runes. You can imagine my shock." He laughed helplessly.
"I still don't understand." Arthur shook his head. Confused was an understatement to how he felt right now. "Even then, why did you want to meet me?" Yurirl's motive was on top of Arthur's priorities.
"I asked the sage a question and he gave me the diary of someone else. He said I'd find my answer in it. You're the only clue I have for my question."
"What question?"
"I can't say."
"Hah," Arthur massaged his temples in confusion. He was tired, to begin with, and this just threw his thoughts into turmoil. "Then, do you know the name of the diary's writer?" Arthur hoped he would understand although he didn't expect an answer.
"Yes," Yurirl nodded slowly. "His name…" The sentence stretched until Arthur felt like he wanted to whip it and get the name.
"… is Solomon."