A runestone's misconception

"I find this strange."

Karl remarked this as he checked the red inscribed runic letters on the lower left side of his abdomen.

[Indeed]

Black said. "Can you tell me what it is?" Karl inquired.

[This is a rune]

[I analyzed the rune stone utilized in constructing and preserving the artificial sky in this underworld, and I learned a lot from my investigation through countless data in their archives.]

"Wait, did you mean that you wandered around this place while I slept?"

[...I do not sleep, what do you Karl think I do during those periods? Stare at the ceiling like a moron?]

[I have read all of the books in the academy's library]

[I have analyzed and synthesized the most of their allegedly universal level information] "...What exactly does that mean?"

[When we get there, we'll cross that bridge.]

"I'm not sure we've ever crossed any of your bridges, Black."

[Because we simply haven't gotten there]

[First, overcome yourself; if you continue to be like this, I will never allow you to use my powers.]

"You mean my powers"

[whatever]

Karl remained silent for a few seconds before scratching his hair and eventually saying, "I apologize for yesterday."

[That was yesterday, Karl; today is a new day; concentrate]

"Ah, I see," Karl remarked, smiling.

[As you know, you are strong, but in your brief time in the outside world, you have undoubtedly met a slew of people who can endanger your life.]

"You are correct."

[Which just shows that you need to work more, especially during this training week; take it as an opportunity to progress]

"Very well comprehended, master."

[I am not your master]

[Returning to this]

A black cable protruded from Black and made contact with Karl's body. "Eh? What are you doing? I sense a tingly."

[This is a runic symbol]

[The history of runes dates back to your time; they are thought to be ancients' words that were born into reality; runes are frequently found on stone, since that has been their most reliable carrier throughout the ages. They can, however, teleport themselves to anything or anyone].

[I'm presuming this was the catalyst for your sudden recall of your prior life]

"Wait, really?" "A rune attacked me?"

[You must have been attacked with a rune. Though I'm not sure if the individual intentionally transferred the rune to you, it would be their loss given how powerful this rune is.]

"That means the rune brought itself here."

[Yes, it appears to despise you... which is fantastic]

"Despise me? Can it communicate? "How precisely is that fantastic?"

[I can converse with it because I also speak runic]

"Wow, you can do so many things."

[Naturally]

[It says you're old like it]

[It means you both have a lot of history together, and you seem to have stole something valuable from it]

[It says: we were together for a long time, but you stole him away from us]

"...I can't recall anything, and I didn't take anything from this rune."

[It accuses you of lying and murder]

[Have you ever stayed anywhere for a long time and remember a place full of black stones with strange inscriptions engraved on them]

"hmmmmm"

Karl rubbed his chin as he really tried to remember, seconds left and minutes were going.

[...]

[It says cave of solitude]

"Yes!!! The cave of solitude When I was sixteen, I went into the cave of solitude for secluded training because I had hit a wall and couldn't advance from the Expert level to the Veteran level, so I went into the cave of solitude rumored to have birthed the first ascender, and there were a lot of writings on the cave's wall that I couldn't read. I recall meeting the first ascender, who told me, "They are not meant to be read."

[It claims that is where it was born, and that Cheol was our first and only buddy, and you stole him away from us]

"Oh?"

[So you killed its friend]

"It's a misunderstanding, Cheol was a martial artist, the best of the best during my father's era as Shin Empire's general, but he suddenly vanished, when I entered the cave of solitude, due to my training, I met him... he helped with my training, and also told me that he entered the cave because after reaching the ultimate grandmaster level, he wanted to enter the Ascension level, which he explained was a curse. There is no turning back once one begins the first step of the Ascension pathway, although Ascension takes many years, at least a thousand, which is inconceivable, but even if it is, it needs one with a strong resolve to reach, which is why it was different from other cultivation. After ten years, Cheol's resolve began to waver, he began to miss the outside world, his family, but it backfired, and he was stranded, unable to go back and unable to move forth, he became a bag of overloaded qi, he spent years talking to the cave. I see now, they probably saw Cheol as a friend and despised the fact that he was killed by me, but it was the greatest thing I could do for him. Cheol was in hell, pain, despair, he was in a dreadful situation, and he begged me to relieve him of that misery.. And I'm not sorry about it; if the rune doesn't agree, it means it's a selfish friend," Karl said, his head held high and a proud expression on his face.

[...]

[...]

[...You appear to have been a good boy in your youth]

"What did you expect?" Karl chuckled.

[However, you are now sixteen]

"I'm sixty-two if we include my years as Che Hua and subtract the period I spent in the seal."

[...]

[Karl responds, 'I am glad; I had no idea Cheol was in such pain']

"I see, say that to it."

[It says, 'I'm delighted I could meet you; I'll tell the others, and every rune in this world will be grateful to you.']

"That's a relief; I was beginning to worry about every rune hunting me if the cave of solitude was their site of origin."

[It says, 'Beware of the Rune of Destruction, a seven-syllable rune.']

[It also adds, 'The Rune of Creation particularly liked you, but it has been sleeping since the cave was destroyed and we all scattered everywhere.' I pray you find her before she wakes up and falls into the hands of the wrong people.]

"Many thanks for your advice."

[It states, 'The Rune of Creation can help you return your twelve generals back to life.']

Karl's eyes widened as he jumped to his knees "What exactly? what did it just say"

[Runes can see your deepest desires, Karl, so it must be true] "Can the Rune of Creation really do that?"

['Yes,' it says]

[It also says, 'I can't do much in comparison to what the Rune of Creation can accomplish, but please allow me to compensate you for assisting our friend by relieving him of his miseries.']

Black removed the black wire from Karl's abdomen. "Is that all?" Karl inquired.

[...that it has to say? Yes]

As the rune extended and thickened over Karl's body, his eyes suddenly lit red and he began to stretch extremely hard.

Notification windows began to appear.

[You have gained experience]

[You have gained experience]

[Unique Ability evolves]

With a shocked gaze, Black asked, "Nani?"

[The unique ability Darkness Touch has grown into the ultimate ability Lord Of Darkness]

[Skill slots have been expanded]

[Continual Flame has been equipped as a skill]

[You now have immunity against fire attribute abilities.]

[You understand the rune language]

Karl opened his eyes, huffed, and was gradually relieved, the rune had vanished, and he was sweating profusely.

[It seems you are really loved by luck]

[Not only did it give you a way to rebirth your generals, but it also gave you everything you needed at the time]

Karl huffed for a little more, then sat down and folded his fists before stretching them.

~whooop~

In less than a second, two daggers appeared on each hand.

[The time it appears to take to form been dropped from 6 seconds to 0.3 seconds]

[I'm sure you've grown stronger]

"Certainly, yes I have... I find it difficult to believe, but I absolutely have," Karl laughed.

~knock~

~knock~

~knock~