Vlad offered a slight smile as he nodded in agreement with the request from the black-armored man. The other three Sky Seed Depravitas followed suit, showing no sign of resistance.
Zalasar’s request was simple and made sense: he only wanted to prevent them from mobilizing their energies too aggressively, effectively ensuring that any hostile intent would be easy to detect. It was a prudent measure for protecting his people, especially in a Doomsday World where caution was paramount.
In truth, Vlad and his companions were not bothered by these conditions. Thanks to their A.I. Chips, they could prepare their energies covertly without revealing much of anything. Nevertheless, they had no desire to start a conflict with Graecia. Even with their formidable power, it would be foolhardy to court the hostility of a civilization that saw entire worlds as battlegrounds.
Zalasar’s lips curved into a faint smile when he saw how readily the four visitors complied with his request. He had encountered many powerful individuals from small planes in his travels, most of whom were arrogant and difficult to deal with—accustomed to being unrivaled in their own realms. But here, these strangers showed not pride but cooperation.
"We shouldn’t linger here," Zalasar said, casting a quick glance around the smoldering wasteland. "Even though we’re close to the fortress, we’ll be in danger if a Voroe Legend shows up. Let’s clean the battlefield as quickly as possible and move on."
The order prompted immediate action from the caravan. Agamenon and the rest of the soldiers began directing the wagons forward while others collected the corpses of the fallen Vorometallicae from around the battlefield. They salvaged whatever valuable minerals and metals could be extracted from these formidable foes, including the remains of Irion, the smaller Voroe Sage who had suffered a fatal defeat.
Vlad and his companions made no effort to claim any of the bodies for themselves. Although they recognized that the Voroe corpses could be worth a fortune in extracted ore, they decided to maintain goodwill for now.
Luckily, Zalasar quickly confirmed that the Depravitas would not be left out. "We’ll divide the spoils once we reach the fortress. The four of you saved many lives; I think twenty-five percent of the haul rightfully belongs to you."
The Sky Seed Depravitas exchanged satisfied glances. Twenty-five percent was more than fair, especially considering how many Graecian soldiers had risked their lives in the skirmish. With that settled, the caravan reformed into a cohesive column.
Enormous horses, each enhanced by runic inscriptions and selective breeding, thundered across the charred plains, pulling the heavy wagons at speeds exceeding a thousand kilometers per hour. Soldiers on horseback flanked the convoy, bows and magical weapons at the ready, scanning the horizon for any sign of further ambush.
As the caravan moved out, Vlad surveyed the vehicles with quiet interest. Graecia’s technology seemed to operate on principles that were, at a glance, medieval—horse-drawn wagons in place of the sleek airships and advanced vehicles used by the Xaos Civilization. Yet, in practice, the Graecian approach achieved comparable, if not superior, results. Their horses and wagons were strengthened by centuries of refining arcane arts and runic forging, enabling them to traverse hostile terrains with speed and agility.
"Different trains of thought lead to different forms of civilization," Vlad mused as he ran alongside the caravan with Jormugandr perched on his shoulder. "Neither is inherently better or worse. It all depends on how their creators apply their ingenuity."
Despite traveling at extraordinary speeds—over a thousand kilometers an hour—Vlad showed no sign of fatigue. Having reached Level 20, his body was capable of feats that would exhaust even the most elite warriors. Every so often, he glanced upward at Jormugandr, who seemed perfectly content. The cat’s adeptness at reading the environment’s energy flow helped ensure that no hidden threats approached them unawares.
While they maintained this grueling pace, a figure abruptly appeared at Vlad’s side, keeping up with surprising ease by propelling himself with short bursts of fire from his boots. Vlad looked over, recognizing the young man named Agamenon.
The youth’s gaze flickered across Vlad’s body, zeroing in on the runes that traced along his arms and legs. "By any chance," Agamenon asked respectfully, "are you a Runic Master?"
His tone was polite and lacking condescension, an unusual quality in someone who appeared to hold a high rank or aristocratic background. Vlad, who always returned respect when it was offered, smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
"That’s correct. I developed these runes myself. I call them the Inferno Comet Runic Set. It’s a Rank 3 Runic Set I’ve been refining for some time."
Agamenon’s eyes widened slightly, and it was clear from the sharp intakes of breath among the nearby soldiers that Vlad’s revelation had astonished them. Even Zalasar, riding ahead, cast a curious glance back. In Graecia—a highly advanced civilization in its own right—those who excelled in specialized professions like runic forging were esteemed. The complexity of runic crafting demanded immense talent and meticulous study.
For someone who hailed from a smaller plane to have developed a Rank 3 Runic Set was extremely impressive. It suggested that Vlad had relied almost exclusively on his own resources, guided only by whatever personal knowledge he possessed.
Agamenon hesitated for a moment, as though choosing his words carefully. Then he spoke again, his voice calm but underscored by keen interest. "Would you be willing to sell me the runic diagram? I promise I’ll pay you above-market value—at least fifty percent above, to be precise."
Around them, a hush fell over the soldiers who heard the offer. Obtaining a single rune was one thing, but purchasing the entire runic diagram was another. With a complete diagram, the buyer could theoretically replicate as many runic sets as desired, providing a continuous stream of powerful equipment or enhancements.
Even so, no one seemed surprised by Agamenon’s request. They had all witnessed the explosive power Vlad displayed in battle. Despite being a Rank 3 set, the Inferno Comet Runic Set had unleashed attacks verging on Sage-tier potency.