Second-Order Runes

Magic power surged like a raging billow and instantly converged in Owen's palm. Immediately, a fire dragon woven by magic power lunged out with its fangs and claws bared. The blazing flames seemed capable of distorting and deforming space as it swept directly towards Alice. However, Alice merely made a slight and graceful dodge. Her seemingly delicate yet mysteriously powerful figure appeared even more ethereal against the backdrop of the flames. At some point, a feather pen had appeared in her hand. This feather pen, which seemed ordinary at first glance, seemed to possess its own intelligence. It trembled slightly at Alice's fingertips, as if responding to the impending battle.

The moment the fire dragon and the feather pen collided, time seemed to stand still. Then, an alarming energy fluctuation centered around the point of impact and spread out wildly in all directions like surging ripples. Everyone felt a powerful force surging towards them. Many even staggered back several steps before barely managing to steady themselves. Instead of being damaged in the slightest under the impact of this force, the feather pen seemed to have awakened from a slumbering power. It suddenly swiveled, and from its tip, numerous sharp light blades emerged, like peerless blades that cut into the body of the fire dragon with a sweeping force. The flames of the fire dragon seemed as fragile as silk under the cutting of these light blades and disintegrated inch by inch, dissipating into tiny magic light spots and vanishing into thin air.

After shattering the fire dragon, the feather pen showed no sign of slowing down. It streaked like a black bolt of lightning straight towards Owen's right eye. In Owen's deep eyes, a flicker of panic and determination flashed instantly. His pupils contracted sharply, like two profound black holes attempting to devour all danger. At this critical moment, he waved his hand, and a dazzling light burst from his palm. A sword with a cold and gloomy gleam instantly appeared in his hand. Mysterious runes were engraved on the blade of the sword, and these runes flickered with an eerie light under the infusion of magic power, as if telling of their extraordinariness. Owen clenched his teeth and roared as he swung the sword with all his might at the feather pen.

"Clang"

A crisp sound like a clap of thunder exploded in everyone's ears. The feather pen snapped in two under the sharp edge of the sword. The break was clean and without any hesitation. With a "clatter", it fell to the ground like a fallen star. However, Alice's figure was like a wraith. In the blink of an eye, she had silently appeared behind Owen. Her figure was light and agile, like an elf dancing in the wind, making her difficult to fathom. At this moment, she held another identical feather pen between her delicate white fingertips. These fingertips trembled slightly, as if playing a deathly tune. With her movement, the feather pen underwent another astonishing transformation. It seemed to have been infused with a living soul and instantly turned into an extremely sharp needle. The needle body glowed with a cold blue light that sent chills down one's spine. Alice's eyes were icy and without a trace of mercy as she thrust it towards Owen's back at an extremely fast speed, as if transcending the limits of time and space.

"Seal, halt all actions!"

Alice murmured these words softly. Although her voice was gentle, it seemed to carry boundless magic power and authority. Empowered by this incantation, the needle moved even faster, like a bolt of lightning. In the blink of an eye, it silently penetrated into Owen's body. Owen felt an icy and piercing force surging into his body like a raging tide. It flowed wantonly through his meridians. Wherever it passed, the meridians felt as if they were being stabbed by countless sharp ice picks, causing excruciating pain.

"Ahhh..."

Owen let out a painful scream that resounded through the sky, like a wail from hell. The sword in his hand slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a crisp sound. His face was distorted and hideous due to the pain, as if possessed by a demon. His originally handsome face now looked like a fierce ghost. With a "thud", his knees could no longer support the weight of his body and he knelt heavily on the ground. His hands clutched tightly at his chest, as if trying to wrench out the painful force within his body. He foamed at the mouth, his eyes rolled back, his appearance was extremely grotesque, and his body convulsed on the ground like a snake with its spine removed.

"Eek... Ahh..." He let out a strange scream that made people's hair stand on end. The people around couldn't bear to look and subconsciously stepped back, as if afraid of being tainted by this misfortune. It was truly unimaginable that a man who was originally so handsome had turned into such a state, like a nightmare descending upon the world.

Roger's eyes widened in shock and disbelief was written all over his face. His voice trembled slightly as he asked loudly, "What have you done to Brother Owen?"

Everyone, including the steward of the Treasure Hall, stared at Alice in astonishment. Their eyes were filled with confusion and awe, as if looking at a sovereign from a mysterious world.

Alice, however, just smiled without saying a word. There was a faint smile on her beautiful face, like a flower in bloom in spring, forming a sharp contrast to the cruel scene before them. She twirled the feather pen in her hand casually. The feather pen danced nimbly at her fingertips, as if it were her pet. Then she put the feather pen away gently and gracefully.

"He dared to attack me, so he should be prepared to endure a fate worse than death." Alice looked at Roger with a pointed face. There was a murderous glint in her eyes that seemed capable of freezing Roger's soul. "If you are still his good brother, send him for treatment. If not, then let his magic power within his body continue to dissipate."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other. Their eyes met in the air, and they all saw a look of shock in each other's eyes. The shock was like a storm raging in their hearts.

"How cruel you are!" Roger cursed harshly. His face flushed red, like a ripe tomato, and his eyes burned with anger.

Alice shrugged her shoulders casually and with a charming yet cold smile on her lips, she said, "I am inherently ruthless. I can not only make his magic power dissipate and turn him into a cripple but also turn you into a eunuch!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Roger's face instantly turned as ugly as if he had eaten something rotten. His lips trembled slightly. He wanted to say something, but the fear choked him in his throat.

Roger was about to speak when suddenly a team of black market guards emerged like ghosts from the darkness and unceremoniously picked him and Owen up...

"Let go of me! Let go of me!"

The leader of the black market guards spoke with solemn righteousness: "You have violated the rules of the underground black market. From this moment on, you two are expelled from the black market and are never allowed to set foot in the black market branch of the Augustan Empire again!"

Roger shouted loudly: "I didn't participate in the fight. Why expel me? I don't accept it!"

"I don't accept it!"

Alice watched as the two were dragged away, and a cold glint flashed in her phoenix-like eyes.

Owen, if your magic power gradually wanes, will you feel a fate worse than death and be filled with anxiety?

This is the first "gift" I give you on behalf of my aunt!

The future "gifts" will be personally delivered to you by my aunt!

Suddenly, a mysterious glint flashed in the eyes of the steward of the Treasure Hall. He opened his mouth and said, "This young gentleman is truly an outstanding talent."

Alice smiled and waved her hand modestly, "I don't deserve such praise."

"Please."

Alice nodded slightly in greeting.

After the two entered the inner chamber of the Treasure Hall, the people outside were all lost in their own thoughts and eager to make a move.

Inner Chamber of the Treasure Hall.

"Did you draw this rune on the note yourself?"

The steward unfolded the note, and the complex rune patterns on it faintly emitted a mysterious aura.

Alice shook her head, "No, it was drawn by my mentor. My mentor is a master rune caster."

"Oh? Your mentor is actually a master rune caster?" The steward's eyes clearly lit up.

Alice nodded slightly without confirming or denying.

In this world, there are several extremely rare professions. One is a beast tamer, the second is a rune caster, the third is an alchemist, and the fourth is an artificer.

The rarity is such that there is probably only one or two in a country.

Only large and super empires can gather more such rare talents.

Among the esoteric arts she mastered, rune crafting was also included. However, due to limitations in her strength, conditions, and materials, she could only create first-order and second-order runes at present.

And her most powerful eye technique could not be activated for the time being. Because she overused it on the first day she arrived in this world, and coupled with her weak strength, she was not yet qualified to activate the Crimson Eye.

Perhaps when her strength reaches that of a Grand Mage, she can activate and cultivate the eye technique.

Suddenly, a figure in black with a cold and handsome appearance emerged in her mind...

"Is your esteemed teacher interested in trading with our black market?" The steward of the Treasure Hall was extremely astute and quickly grasped Alice's intention.

Alice smiled and said, "Indeed. My mentor and I have traveled to the Augustan Empire and are short of money. So the idea of trading with you arose."

The steward thought to himself upon hearing this. No wonder the yellow paper used for drawing runes has faded and turned white. It turns out that they are short of money.

He was determined to firmly seize this excellent opportunity to trade with a rune caster.

The second-order rune caster who previously cooperated with the black market was extremely arrogant. He had long been dissatisfied with him. But there was only this one second-order rune caster in the Augustan Empire, so he had no choice but to endure.

He smiled amiably and said, "I see. The black market can provide you with rune paper materials. May I ask what the success rate of your esteemed teacher in crafting second-order runes is?"

The success rate of crafting?

Her success rate in crafting runes is about ninety percent. But she dared not tell the truth. After all, in her memory, the success rate of rune casters in this world is extremely low.

She thought for a moment and then blurted out, "About fifty percent or so."

The steward of the Treasure Hall was shocked when he heard this. His voice trembled slightly as he asked, "What... What is it?"

Alice sensed that something was amiss.

She cleared her throat and repeated, "About fifty percent."

"Your esteemed teacher is truly remarkable. Ordinary rune casters only have a success rate of twenty or thirty percent, while your teacher's is as high as fifty percent!" The steward sincerely praised.

Alice's mouth twitched slightly.

The steward cautiously probed, "Could it be that your esteemed teacher has reached the level of a third-order rune caster?"

"Well, more or less." Alice nodded.

The steward's attitude immediately became even more respectful, and his smile was more sincere.

"The price of our black market's rune paper is ten low-grade magic crystals per sheet. If your esteemed teacher can cooperate with our black market, we promise to sell you the rune paper at only five low-grade magic crystals per sheet."

Alice did not immediately agree after hearing this.

The steward saw Alice's calm and composed appearance and secretly marveled at how extraordinary this young man was. Although he could not tell his true strength, he was able to defeat a second-order Grand Mage at such a young age. He was truly not to be underestimated!

The rune caster behind her must be of the third order or even higher!

The steward, with the mindset of making a long-term investment, gritted his teeth and said, "For a second-order rune, under normal circumstances, we offer one thousand low-grade magic crystals. For you, young gentleman, we are willing to pay an additional three hundred low-grade magic crystals."

"Okay." Alice's eyebrows arched slightly, and she smiled brightly.

Before the steward could speak, Alice added, "I'll take all the rune paper you have here."