LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 157: Smart
Veer didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Rain's comment. In the end, he just shook his head and turned towards the wall, as he tried to imagine Salvor standing behind it.
He smiled and said, "You aren't gonna die, Shorty. Also, this can also be your meal time."
"What do you mean?" Aurora frowned and asked.
"She has already devoured Corruption once and has basically chosen that path. We know how much of a problem Corruption is, not only here but also in the outside world," Veer said. "So, I just think it's better to make her immune to it as much as possible. Of course, I wouldn't force her to do that."
Rain chuckled at that and said, "Boss, I want to help you in any way, so if this helps, I'll do it."
"No! You'll decide that for yourself, not for someone else," Veer snorted and said. "So, choose, do you want to risk getting Corrupted or not?"
Rain thought for a second before answering, "I don't see any problem with it. It's just about getting stronger by living on the edge of death, not much different from how I live anyway. So yeah, I will devour it."
"Wait! But that's a fucking Saint Stage being?" Elara waved her hand and asked in exasperation. "She can't devour that?"
"I'm not telling her to devour it directly, but indirectly," Veer rolled his eyes and said. "She'll understand when we fight. So, are you ready to go out?"
"Yup. What do we have to do again?" Elara asked.
"Just run towards it while holding the Runic Slate and remember to not open your eyes," Veer said. "It will allow you to get closer to her, or maybe not. Never mind, it's a terrible idea."
Rubbing his chin, Veer muttered, "Since she sensed my gaze and my Life Force, she can also sense your Life Force."
He turned to look at Rain with a complicated look on his face. "I think it's best if Rain alone goes."
Before anyone could say anything, he added, "I know what you're going to say, but think about it. She can perfectly mask her aura and presence, so Salvor can't sense her. She's literally our best choice. And if anyone accompanies her, they would just slow her down and may even expose her location."
"I'm still not convinced," Elara scoffed and stood before Veer. "I am not letting her walk to her death."
"I wasn't asking, Elara," Veer narrowed his eyes and looked down at his partner. "I am the leader of this group and I am ordering you. If you still have any problems, then speak up."
The two continued to look dead in each other's eyes, refusing to back down. In the end, Rain raised her hand and said, "You two don't need to fight. I'm sure Boss must have a reason for this."
"Oh yeah? Then, I want to hear that reason," Elara said, as she took a step backwards.
Seeing that, Veer's eyes softened as he said, "I'm sure you remember the Presence we had to hide from in your trial, right?"
Rain shivered remembering that as she nodded unconsciously. She still couldn't shake off the dread and despair she felt back then. Even when she had no will to live, she was terrified at the thought of meeting that existence.
"Tell me, which of the two do you think is stronger?"
"That Presence," Rain answered without any hesitation. "Salvor... I think even in her prime she wasn't as strong as it."
Veer smiled and said, "This is the proof. Even that Presence couldn't sense her, so how do you think Salvor will? Also, she'll just need to flash the Runic Slate once the slate is in her sight. Then, we'll all jump in."
He put on his cap and said, "I will also be following her just in case. My concealment isn't as strong as hers, but I'm confident in my Agility. If something happens, I'll distract her while Rain does her stuff. Also, Aur, be prepared to send some arrows."
Everyone considered his words for a few seconds, then they nodded. He was their leader, so they would be following his decisions anyway. Him asking for their opinion was already something many wouldn't do.
Elara punched Veer's shoulder and growled, "Die, Bitch!"
"Haha! Sure, sure," Veer just laughed it off and retracted everything inside him, from his mana, his aura, and even his presence. It was tough, especially while moving around, but he was able to at least pull it off.
He turned towards Rain, whose presence had already vanished from the room, and smiled, "Let's go! You don't need to close your eyes, but don't look at her."
Just as they were about to leave, he got an idea and stopped. He also stopped Rain and turned around, looking particularly at Aurora.
"What?" Aurora asked, confused at his actions. Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire
"Can you make a Rune that glows or something?" Veer asked.
"Glowing Runes?" Aurora blinked in confusion. "Sure, that's an easy one as we use them in lamps and all. Why are you asking?"
"Make one and bind it on the slate," Veer smiled. "The slates are indestructible, so we can use that property."
Aurora's eyes widened in surprise before a smile formed on her lips. She winked at Veer and said, "Smart!"
She quickly took out the materials needed for the Rune Engraving process. Since she was weak, she couldn't use her Mana to carve a Rune Formation on anything. So, she had to use a special ink formed from various profound materials.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, she dipped her ink pen in the ink and poured her Mana into it to control the ink. After all, even a single drop placed in the wrong spot could ruin the entire Rune Formation.
She had to be extra careful of every stroke she made and had to use her Mana to control it. But it wasn't an easy task, as the materials used for the ink were usually from Magical Creatures of higher Stages.
Naturally, she couldn't control the ink containing the blood of Elite Stage Magical Creatures effortlessly. This was also the reason many couldn't walk in the path of Runemasters.
After a few minutes of careful hand movements and focused concentration, Aurora was finally able to carve a two-character Rune Formation on a wooden plate.
Sweat formed on her forehead, as she backed away, afraid that it might drop more ink on it. She smiled in satisfaction and said, "It's done. I have also made the modification so you don't need to put Mana in it to activate. Just destroy the lower side of the wooden plate and it'll glow in one second."
Veer rubbed Aurora's blonde hair and said, "Well done! It looks so easy, but I know how draining it is."
That was enough for Aurora to feel that her efforts weren't in vain. She enjoyed the pats and said, "I'm a future Grand Runemaster, so quickly wifey me up, okay?"
Veer chuckled and said, "Alright! If we survive this."
Aurora couldn't believe her ears and just sat there with her jaw almost on the ground.
Ignoring her, Veer and Rain took off from the shelter. Their speed was much slower than usual, as they couldn't sense their surroundings. After all, they had brought everything of theirs within themselves.
Veer could feel sweat forming on his forehead, but he didn't let the nervousness get to him. He was equally as scared and nervous as everyone else, but he needed to lead them.
He was the group's leader.
'Let's see. Two blocks from there, then three rights...'
Veer calculated the path they would take, as they ran around the centre, using whatever they could find to hide. Fortunately, there was a lot of debris to hide behind, so they could run around.
After a few minutes full of tension, nervousness, and anxiety at the possibility that Salvor would notice them, Veer and Rain finally reached the last broken wall before the Town's centre.
There was only a vast clearing covered in frost after the wall. At the very centre of the clearing, on a throne made out of Iron spikes, Salvor in her corrupted form sat.
Rain and Veer were on the ground, resting their backs against the wall. They didn't speak anything and simply communicated with eye contact.
Nodding at Veer, Rain took out the dark metal slate on which a single Rune was carved. It was in the shape of three parallel lines passing through a dying bird.
Rain didn't even dare to breathe, afraid that it might alert Salvor. She just looked at the Runic Slate for a second before standing up.
Then, she picked up a rock and threw it into the frosty clearing. Before the rock could even land, it was turned into dust by a flaming beam that vaporized some of the wall too.
Rain's hand trembled, but remembering something, she calmed it down and broke the bottom of the wooden plate. Then, with all her force, she threw it out and watched in horror as a giant wave of frost passed through it.