The Runesmith

Robert stood over his fallen opponent, chest rising and falling as he struggled to steady his breath. The golden knight's armor flickered weakly, its once radiant glow now dull. It was over. The final challenger had yielded.

For a moment, Robert simply stood there, trying to process what had just happened. Then, the world around him began to shift. The arena trembled, the walls rippling like water, and the golden knight faded into shimmering fireflies of light. The oppressive weight of the trial lifted, leaving only a vast throne room before him.

"Congratulations, Champion. You are now worthy to join me at the table. Come."

Robert was still taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. Just moments ago, he had been battling armored men as if his life depended on it, and now he was right back where it all began, the lord's throne room. The armored man pointed to a door that had been closed before but now slid open. Without a word, he stepped through it, clearly expecting Robert to follow.

'Is it really over?'

The lord was gone, and he hesitated. The memories of his past failures were fragmented, but the deaths he had endured had affected his psyche. He worried that another secret opponent would reveal himself once he stepped through the door. Nevertheless, he had to gather his courage and move forward. His weapons were gone, and he was dressed in casual clothes instead. This was probably the end of the trial.

Robert took a deep breath and stepped through the door. As he crossed the threshold, he felt a strange sensation as if he were shedding the weight of the trial itself. The air was lighter here, the ever-present pressure of combat gone. The chamber he entered was vast, its ceiling stretching high above, lined with glowing runes that pulsed in a rhythmic pattern. At the center of the room stood a massive circular table, and at its head sat the armored figure, the man people referred to as the rune lord.

'Those are… the opponents I faced?'

The Rune Lord wasn't alone. Around the round table sat many knights, the same men he had faced in battle during the trial. There was the knight wearing black he faced in the first part of the joust, the silver one and even the golden one he had just defeated a few moments ago. They were all wearing their armor and sitting there with a few others. Then right in front there was one chair, seemingly the one that now belonged to him.

'Is this how it ends? Do I just need to sit down?'

Robert took slow, measured steps toward the empty seat, his heart pounding despite the calm atmosphere. The knights around the table observed him in silence, their expressions hidden by their helmets. It was as if they were judging him not only for his performance in the trial but for the choice he was about to make.

"Sit, my Champion, my Arch Knight."

The Rune Lord commanded. Robert hesitated for only a moment longer before lowering himself into the chair. The instant he did, a pulse of energy surged through his body. His vision blurred, and his entire being felt as though it was being rewritten. For a fleeting moment, he thought he was about to be thrown into another battle, but instead, knowledge flooded his mind. Complex runic structures, battle techniques, the very foundation of the power he had just gained

He gasped, gripping the armrests as a blue glow surrounded him. The knights around the table remained silent, watching as his body absorbed the knowledge. His vision swam with patterns and symbols, his Runic Mana Perception surging to new heights. He could see the flow of energy around the runes in the chamber as if the very fabric of the world had been laid bare before his eyes.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the sensation faded. Robert exhaled sharply, his body drenched in sweat, as everything went dark and the scenery shifted again. His ears started ringing and he found himself unable to move but suddenly, he heard a voice call out to him. It was a soft and familiar voice, one that cut through the darkness like a guiding light.

"Robert… Robert, wake up!"

His vision slowly returned, the blurred outlines of a room forming before him. The dim glow of rune-infused lamps flickered above, and Lucille's worried face hovered over him. His brother stood to the side, arms crossed, as if he already knew there was no need to cast the memory recovery spell on him anymore. His body felt sluggish, as though he had been submerged in water and was only now rising to the surface.

"Bear with it."

"Huh?"

Roland spoke, and in an instant, he understood what he meant. He had passed the trial and returned to the real world. His ascension trial was complete, and now it was time to receive his rewards.

You have gained the Rune Arch-Knight Class

You have gained the Arch-Knight's Organs passive skill.

You have gained the Arch-Knight's Muscles passive skill.

You have gained the Arch-Knight's Skeleton passive skill.

You have gained the Arch-Knight's Tendons passive skill.

A tingling sensation spread through his body before it turned into searing pain, as if he were on fire. The agony was immense, like a thousand needles piercing his muscles at once and tearing him apart. Tier 3 class holders were known to undergo a transformation, and depending on the rarity of their class, the pain could be magnified.

System messages flashed left and right, notifying him that strange passives were altering his body from within. The pain was immense, but after a few moments, it began to subside, replaced by a warm, comforting sensation. His vision was still blurry, but he could make out his brother holding out a gauntlet-covered hand over him, using a runic spell to ease the pain. Thanks to his newly acquired skill, he could clearly see the runes in action. The complexity of the runes compared to those in the ascension trial was on an entirely new level.

"This should help, and once the nervous system gets enhanced, you should be in the clear."

You have gained the Arch-Knight's Nervous System passive skill.

Even with the help of the spell, the process was quite uncomfortable. However, just like his brother had proclaimed, once the next system message appeared, it started getting better, and he was even able to move his body around.

"Does it still hurt? Maybe you should lie down."

Lucille asked him, worry written all over her expression.

"No, I… I'm fine now…"

Robert exhaled as the last remnants of pain faded from his body, leaving behind a newfound strength he had never experienced before. Every fiber of his being pulsed with vitality, his senses sharper, his muscles denser, his very bones feeling unbreakable. He clenched his fists, watching as the veins on his hands glowed faintly with residual energy. The transformation was complete, and he was no longer just a knight but something beyond, something more. Lucille knelt beside him, her hands still gripping his shoulders.

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"Robert, are you sure?"

He nodded slowly, still adjusting to the overwhelming sensation coursing through him.

"I… I think so. I actually… feel great!"

His voice came out steadier than he expected, filled with a power that hadn't been there before. The body he had once known had been transformed into something more, and it had something to do with the strange new class he had received - Rune Arch-Knight, something he had never heard of before.

Lucille smiled at him and reached out her hand to help him up from the chair. Robert smiled back and reached out eagerly, but before their hands could touch, he felt his wrist being grasped by his brother.

"That's not a good idea. You're probably not used to your new strength. If you're not careful, you might crush Lucille's hand."

Robert froze mid-motion, staring at Roland in shock. The weight of his brother's words settled in his mind, and he slowly withdrew his hand. The last thing he wanted was to hurt the woman he loved. Lucille was still a tier-2 class holder, while he had surpassed that level, but he wasn't sure if Roland was exaggerating. He felt like he could control his strength if he focused.

"Don't believe me? How about we try this, then?"

Noticing Robert's hesitation, Roland grabbed a lone mug from one of the nearby tables. Roland held the mug out to Robert, a slight smirk playing on his lips. The cup was unassuming, plain ceramic, but Robert knew his brother well enough to understand that this was a test. A simple, yet necessary, test.

"Take it."

Roland said, his voice calm but firm.

"Hold it like you normally would."

Robert hesitated for a moment before reaching out. His fingers wrapped around the mug's handle with practiced ease, but the moment he tried to lift it, a crack echoed through the room. The handle shattered in his grasp, and the mug tumbled to the floor, breaking into pieces and spilling some tea on the floor. Lucille gasped, stepping back in surprise. Roland, however, only chuckled, shaking his head as he crossed his arms.

"Told you. You're stronger than you think. Your body has changed, but your mind hasn't caught up yet. It's going to take time before you can move like you used to."

Robert flexed his fingers, staring at the shards of ceramic on the ground. He hadn't even exerted much force, yet the handle had crumbled in his grip. The realization settled in that his body was no longer the same, and he would have to relearn how to control it. Lucille knelt to clean up the shattered pieces and asked.

"How long will it take for him to adjust?"

"Depends."

Roland replied with a shrug.

"Could be days, could be weeks. The important thing is that he starts training his fine control now. Otherwise, he's going to start breaking more than just mugs. That's why I'd advise you two against any… nightly physical activities together."

Robert took a step back in shock at how casually Roland said it. Lucille's face turned as red as a tomato the moment she realized what he was implying.

"Roland! Y-you…"

"What?"

Roland shrugged again as if he didn't care about this fact. Robert tried to hide his embarrassment by turning around and glancing at his system screen where the list of new passives and skills was. He had just achieved a breakthrough and was still not sure if the class he took was truly worth it.

Rune Arch-Knight

Class

Grants a 50% bonus to HP, MP, and SP. Reduces mana cost of rune and rune-related skills by 40%. Reduces SP cost of combat-related skills by 20%.

Tier 3 (Arch-Knight)

Trait

Adds a multiplier of 3.8 to all of the basic stats with the exception of luck and charisma.

Robert's eyes widened as he took in his class bonuses, but what truly caught his attention was the Arch-Knight trait. His stat multiplier far exceeded the standard 3x multiplier that most tier-3 classes had. From what he knew, a Sword Champion typically had a 3.2x multiplier, which was already considered high, and an Aura-class warrior was rumored to have around 3.5x. That meant, in terms of raw stats, he now surpassed even warriors who wielded Aura, something he had once thought was nothing more than a dream.

'What more is there?'

Soon, he was looking through the skills he received and quickly found the first one, the one that allowed him to pass the trial after learning it.

Runic Mana Perception

Passive Skill

Allows the person to perceive mana gathered within runes and to better understand the magical flow within.

This skill was the first one on the list, and it was quite self explanatory. However, it wasn't the only skill he received as there were more.

Rune Arch-Knight Vow

Active Skill

The Rune Arch-Knight can perform a vow, temporarily empowering the rune magic they wield. While in this state, the runes cannot be destroyed, as long as the Knight's conviction remains unwavering.

This skill was more intriguing. It seemed to grant him a sense of empowerment. However, it was a Knight's vow, which typically needed to be tied to something: his lord, perhaps a person he cherished, or some other conviction. It appeared to have unique restrictions, and it seemed unlikely that he would be able to use it freely at all times.

'Convictions…'

Runic Armor Mastery

Passive Skill

Increases the synergy between user and rune-engraved armor, improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

Runic Weapon Mastery

Passive Skill

Increases the synergy between user and rune-engraved weapons, improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

The next two skills were basic rune passives that would allow him to wield rune weaponry and armor more easily than others. He just needed his brother to design a new suit of armor along with a sword to truly unlock his potential. Perhaps he would even be able to wield the strange exoskeletal armor he had used during the duel in the past, but that would depend on what his brother decided. Then there was the last skill, which was somewhat more interesting than the previous two:

Invoke Rune

Active Skill

The Rune Arch-Knight can invoke the power of a previously mastered rune and use its power. The skill can only be used on a weapon or armor the knight is currently using.

The explanation was a bit vague, but as with all skills he received, he had a general understanding of its function. This skill would allow him to use a rune even without it being inscribed on his armor. In other words, even if he was left with armor or weapons without enchantments, he would be able to create one of his own for a limited time.

"But what does it mean with 'mastered'? Do I have to train myself to use runic spells?"

Robert muttered to himself, forgetting that there were two other people in the room with him. Roland stood still, unmoved, and didn't seem perturbed by the cold treatment. Lucille, on the other hand, appeared more concerned, and her gaze brought him back to reality. However, before he could speak, his brother spoke first.

"You should go rest, and remember, be careful not to hurt anyone. Once you've recovered, return here, and we'll discuss your new class in detail."

"Ah…"

For a moment, Robert wanted to say that he was fine and ready to try out his newfound abilities, but then he remembered the shattered teacup, its pieces still on the floor as Lucille cleaned them up. Eventually, he nodded. While he felt physically great, his psyche had been affected by the constant deaths and failures within the ascension ritual space. He needed to lie down for a while and reflect on all the things he had received.

******

"Thank you."

"No need, just rest for now."

Roland watched as Robert headed out from the workshop, his walk erratic as he seemed to be putting too much strength into his legs. Roland had glanced through Robert's status screen and saw the skills appear in real time, something he hadn't experienced before. He was almost certain that his own Overlord class had somehow influenced Robert's choices, as the bonuses Robert received were quite similar to his own.

'All his skills are similar to mine, but more constricting.'

He tapped his chin, thinking about how the new class would evolve. Robert's powers were now far more focused, structured around runic equipment. This meant that, to truly capitalize on the new Rune Arch-Knight class, he would need a tailor-made suit of armor crafted from the finest metal and enhanced with the best enchantments, something Roland could either provide himself or leave up to the dwarves.

'I'll handle the runes myself, but the dwarves and Bernir can take care of the armor construction.'

His time had become very limited lately. Creating runes was one thing, but fashioning an entire suit of armor by himself would take considerable time. While Robert had made a giant leap forward, the armor he would be given would eventually be replaced and modified. It was best not to invest too many resources into it just yet and instead gather more data to understand what his brother truly excelled at. Roland had an idea of what to make after spending time preparing Robert for the ascension trial, and the schematic had already taken shape in his mind. Once this new armor and the sword were completed, Robert would finally take on the identity of Durendal, a knight commander.