The Eldestin Minaret. This is one of the largest mountain ranges in the southern part of the Valerian Federation. It is filled with highly concentrated and pure mana, as well as countless alien creatures that have not yet been recorded in the database. The rich and pure mana density here also makes this place a popular place for those who seek to improve themselves. Hunters, mercenaries, apprentices who aspire to become martial arts masters, mages who hope to join the Mage Tower... countless people with these titles have also come here. In addition, due to the high-purity mana compressed in the mountains, many natural treasures are also born here. Therefore, this is also a place where treasure hunters frequently explore. Since the advent of mana on the day of the Nexus Fusion, the nature of the world has changed. Those natural treasures have taken countless different forms. Some are evolved herbs, some are alchemical materials, and some are mana-compressed ores used to forge equipment. Among these treasures, there is a special profession called "Rune Seeker". A Rune Seeker is someone who travels to places of special mana density in search of runes. So, what are runes?
Runes are special artifacts of mana that can be directly integrated into the body or soul, granting the recipient special effects. It can be in the form of strengthening skills, enhancing psionic imprints, improving attributes, enhancing talent limits, strengthening characteristics, or adding hidden attributes. A rune is a special natural product, rare enough to be sold for at least one million Valer. Simply put, finding a rune is enough to bring about earth-shaking changes in the life of an ordinary person, allowing them to live a life without worries about food and drink. That’s why some people dedicate their lives to finding this amazing thing. One such person is Nathan Lake, one of those people who hopes to get rich by finding a rune. His special talent allows him to see the special magical properties of things around him. Although his talent is not strong or advanced, this ability is still very useful in his work. He traversed the rugged terrain of the Eldtyn Spire, his eyes scanning his surroundings for any fluctuations of mana that might indicate the presence of a rune. The air was thick with the smell of adventure and potential wealth. Suddenly, among the trees, he noticed a figure in the distance, a young man wearing a hood that obscured most of his face. The quality of the man's clothing, boots, and overall demeanor suggested that he, too, was a Rune Seeker. After all, he knew that Rune Seekers often climbed to mountains and regions filled with extraordinary mana, so they needed sturdy clothing to cope with special circumstances. 'He must be a novice.' The young man's clothes looked brand new and unused, so Nathan immediately thought he was a novice. 'It looks like I've found a good target.' He laughed inwardly. In this place without any surveillance, people were never as naive as they seemed. Especially those who don't have a steady income like the Rune Seekers. "Hey!" Nathan called as he approached. "Are you a Rune Seeker too?" The young man turned around, revealing a handsome profile under his hood. He looked a little weak and pale. He looked younger than Nathan had imagined. However, those glowing purple eyes seemed to be able to see through his thoughts, as if they could see through everything.
Feeling those eyes staring at him, Nathan felt a little strange and slightly uncomfortable. 'Maybe it's because I haven't come across this kind of thing in a while.' The hooded young man looked frail and youthful, a perfect target for Nathan's usual intimidation tactics. His hand moved quietly to the dagger at his waist, a move that had been practiced countless times and would not give away his intentions. "There's a lot of money to be made in finding runes," Nathan continued, feigning enthusiasm. "But you see, this place is not for the faint of heart. Dangerous creatures and complex terrain await the untested." His words were meant to scare the person in front of him, making him feel uneasy and panic. This was a trick he had practiced countless times. However, the young man remained expressionless, and his purple eyes seemed to penetrate Nathan's disguise. This made Nathan feel uneasy and made him begin to doubt his strategy. This feeling of uneasiness grew stronger, but the temptation to dominate pushed him forward. Just from the clothes and equipment, he knew that this guy had a lot of money. Nathan approached slowly, ready to execute his usual plan, trying to threaten and intimidate the newcomer. He would demonstrate his supposed superiority, and perhaps even get the young man to leave the place. However, as his fingers touched the hilt of the dagger, doubt began to gnaw at his insides. His gift that allowed him to see the special magical properties of other objects had activated, and now he saw why. 'What the hell is this?' The young man's aura was extremely powerful, completely different from what Nathan had expected. The dark purple aura and the light that kept changing from white to green, red, and then to blue-gold indicated that this guy was definitely not an ordinary person. His hand paused, hesitant, unsure if this newcomer was really the easy prey he had imagined. At that moment, suddenly, he felt some tiny shadow tentacles coming towards him. 'This is......!' Fear gripped him. "Look," Nathan stammered, trying to maintain a false sense of confidence, "if you're not cut out for this, you'd better go back. The Eldestine Spire is merciless to the unprepared." The young man remained motionless, but Nathan had already begun to back away cautiously. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this encounter than what it seemed. The young man's gaze pierced his heart, causing Nathan to doubt the situation he had originally intended to reverse. His inner intentions conflicted with the newcomer's mysterious aura, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. The young man finally spoke, his voice calm and composed: "Have you noticed that there is a tree in this area that feels different from the other trees?" The question surprised and frightened Nathan. How did this young man know about the special tree he had sensed earlier? Panic welled up in him as he realized that this man seemed to know about his unique ability. "I…I don't know what you're talking about," Nathan stammered, trying to hide his growing fear. He did not want to reveal the location of the tree. He knew, with his special qualities, that it was a special place. Even though he had not found any runes when searching, he knew there was something special there, so he wanted to hide it as much as possible. The young man's eyes were still fixed on Nathan, firm and intense, as if he could see through all the disguises and lies Nathan had constructed. "are you sure?" The young man asked a simple question. There was no emotion in his tone and eyes, neither anger nor greed. It was as if he was staring into nothingness, which made Nathan more and more scared. Every moment brought a growing fear to Nathan, who was convinced that this young man was someone he should not mess with. No, it should be said that this young man was someone he shouldn't even get close to.
Finally, his voice trembling, he said, "Well, there's a tree not far from here that feels different from the others. It's... special. But I don't know what it is, I swear!" The young man's eyes rested on him for a moment, examining him, as if assessing his fear and honesty. Then he said, "Where is the tree?" Driven by fear, Nathan became obedient and described in detail: "From here, go southwest, close to the edge of the cliff, and cross a small clearing. The tree trunks are thick and twisted, and the roots form complex patterns on the ground, full of energy like veins." The young man nodded, taking this information in. Nathan could feel his heartbeat quickening, anxiety creeping through him, and he couldn't help but begin to speculate on the intentions of this mysterious man. "Thank you," the young man said simply, and then turned and left. This move was so sudden that Nathan was confused. "Wait!" Nathan blurted out, fear taking over his heart. "Who are you?" The young man glanced back, his hood still partially covering his face. "Does it matter who I am?" “Ahaha… that’s right…” "I'll give you a piece of advice," the young man began, his voice steady and calm. "For the next three days, it's best to avoid going to the northeast exit of the Eldtyn Spire." "Northeast exit? Why?" "There will be a lot of blood there. It's best not to go near there." Nathan felt a chill at the seriousness of the young man's words. He nodded vigorously, swallowing his fear. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice." whoosh! Without another word, the young man disappeared into the shadows, leaving Nathan standing alone, filled with doubt, with the sound of birds chirping all around him. "Ha...what a strange man." When the young man left his sight, the strange feeling in his heart disappeared and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I'd better avoid that place." Then he started walking towards his next destination.