"Count on me for whatever you need; no need for deals or anything like that. I owe you my life. Whatever it is, I'm at your service. We will give you the inventory of what we have. From now on, we're completely at your disposal."
Without even thinking twice, Tomás spoke in a serious tone, then glanced at his companions, who quickly nodded with expressions full of sincerity. At that moment, Chen announced with a voice brimming with gravity.
"You already know you've got us 100%. Whatever you need to do, just give me a task, and I'll complete it with everything I've got."
"Boss, just tell me what to do! I'm ready!"
Frank quickly declared with firmness, raising his staff into the air. The other mages nodded with equal seriousness, and even Christine, who had been in shock until now and had practically done nothing, struggled to her feet and nodded, her face streaked with tears.
"Does that mean you're naming me the leader?" Erik asked in a calm tone after drinking another healing potion. Tomás nodded and replied with a serious, almost solemn tone.
"What you've done is something I could never do. If it weren't for you and all the sacrifices you made, we'd all be dead right now. No one but you can be the leader, Erik. We can all trust you with our lives without fear."
Hearing Tomás, Erik turned to look at everyone present, including Hiyori, who simply ignored him. But everyone else, except the spirit, nodded confidently, leading Erik to reflect deeply. After a few seconds, Erik began to speak in a calm tone after taking another healing potion.
"Alright then, first we need to focus on preparing. Even though we've confirmed the formations work, we're still far from safe. If we really want to live, our only option is to escape this ruin, and for that, we need to find a portal as soon as possible.
"I'm hopeful that what the hologram said about 'evacuation portals' means the exits have been activated ahead of time. Therefore, we need to reach the portal I saw earlier at the far end of this place, and that will require organized cooperation, as well as, of course, enough resources."
"I'm on the same page, but before anything else, let's focus on your recovery, Erik. At the rate you're downing healing potions, they won't last long." Elara commented with a worried expression as she offered her own healing potions to Erik. Tomás quickly nodded and added in a serious tone.
"I agree. Besides being our leader, you're the most valuable asset we have right now and our only hope for survival. We can't afford to lose you. So, what did you need from me? I'll cooperate with everything I can."
"Well, about that… Do you remember what you mentioned about destroying storage pouches to get what's inside without damaging it? I need to do that with a ring." Erik said in a calm tone while taking half of the healing potions Elara offered. Tomás's eyes widened slightly with realization, but soon his smile turned a bit bitter as he explained.
"So that's what you meant when you said you had a way… But unfortunately, destroying a ring without affecting its inner space is a challenge on a whole different level. It's not something I can do right now, or I'd have already opened my own rings. Not to mention, it's possible the inner space of the ring could have collapsed after they stopped functioning."
"For now, explain roughly how you manage to 'open' the storage pouches. If my suspicions are correct, the inner space of our rings might still be intact." Erik said, a hand on his chin, deep in thought. Though a bit surprised by Erik's words, Tomás quickly nodded and explained.
"I see… and honestly, it's not especially complex. It's just a combination of speed, precision, and my father's sword technique, developed based on his perfect synergy, [Resonance]."
"Resonance?" Erik looked up, a bit puzzled by the name. Tomás nodded and explained calmly.
"That's the name my father gave to his perfect resonance and the technique he developed from it—a combination of light and air elements that allows the use of mana to perceive and alter the resonance frequency of anything. Of course, the sword technique is just an imitation, so it's far from showing the true potential of perfect synergy.
"Anyway, to 'open' storage pouches, I make a precise cut that interrupts the natural vibration of their inner space, destabilizing it and causing a controlled collapse that expels everything inside. Of course, the pouch itself can't withstand that collapse and ends up in pieces.
"But with rings, it's much more complicated. Not only because they don't have an 'opening' through which to expel the contents, but also because they're more complex, robust, and their natural frequency shifts and reorganizes automatically in response to any disturbance. Even my father, a Master-level, can barely force open Sage-level rings using this method. Anything beyond that would require a capable artificer."
"I see. Though the method is quite creative, the effects are more or less what I expected, so there's hope." Erik commented in a calm and reflective tone, which led Zoe to ask with equal parts surprise and curiosity.
"What do you have in mind?"
Erik took another recovery potion, then tucked the vial into his storage pouch and replied in a calm, thoughtful tone as he pulled a notebook from his pouch.
"It's more of a possibility than something concrete, but among the rings I have, there are a couple I made myself, so I know every aspect of them. Plus, from what I now know about the golden chains, it's highly likely our artifacts haven't been destroyed. Instead, they've had a crucial, shared component 'stolen' that's necessary for them to function.
"Therefore, for it to be something so general, it must be something isolated from the specific functionality of the artifacts. Something adaptable to any type of magical artifact, but at the same time crucial. If we combine that with the fact that storage pouches work, hunters' weapons work, and other 'simple artifacts' function without issue, that leaves us with a very likely candidate…"
"The Wisdom Runes…"
Christine murmured as if it were a sigh, looking quite weak and tired to the point of using her staff to stay upright, but her shining eyes were focused on the starry-haired young man. Erik nodded and replied with a satisfied smile.
"Exactly. My hypothesis is that the chains 'attack' the fundamental principle shared by all 'intelligent artifacts'—the interconnection between artificial neurons. After all, to a greater or lesser extent, every artifact we brought uses some kind of 'Wisdom Rune.' So there's a chance that, in the case of the rings, the inner space remains intact, just inaccessible.
"So, my plan is to use a refinement circle to open a hole in the inner space of the rings I created myself, since I know all their details and weaknesses. But most likely, that will cause the total collapse of the ring's inner space, destroying everything inside."
"That's why you wanted to know how I handle the pouches… You want to use that 'hole' to pull out as much as you can before the ring collapses." Tomás commented with an expression of realization. Erik nodded and replied while hurriedly writing in his notebook.
"That's the idea."
"But even if the 'hole' you mention helps, the inner space of a storage ring is quite robust. It'll be hard to affect it with my sword technique." Tomás said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. Erik nodded calmly, then revealed what he was writing in his notebook as he spoke in a steady tone.
"That's where this comes in. If my ideas about how the black fire I can somehow create are correct, then it'll be the key to opening the storage ring."
Looking at the notebook, Elara could see a dense array of calculations and formulas written across the pages, leading her to reflect for a moment before commenting with visible disbelief.
"You want to use the black fire to weaken the ring's structure…?"
"Yes, I don't know if it'll work, but it's better than nothing. In one of the storage rings, there's a portable shelter I made myself. Though it's far from the best, I built it with a modular structure using as few Wisdom Runes as possible. So, if my hypotheses are correct, even if the golden chains attack it, its basic functions should still operate." Erik paused briefly, shifting his gaze between each of the direct disciples present, then added in a more serious tone.
"In that shelter, there are resources I used for my experiments, experimental artifacts, cauldrons, and more. But most importantly, there are several potions and magical artifacts I was studying, including several potions created by my master, Sigrún Eldurdóttir, and even formation flags my other master, Eleonora Silverwood, personally crafted to enhance the shelter's camouflage functions."
"!!!"
Hearing Erik's words, all the young people present couldn't help but widen their eyes in disbelief, now feeling more deeply than ever the weight of the starry-haired young man's masters. Not only were they the youngest Master-level individuals in history, but they were also artisans recognized across the galaxy as the best in their respective fields, as well as Auric Laureates.
Being awarded the most prestigious and respected prize in the galaxy, given only to those responsible for notable research, discoveries, or contributions to humanity, could only mean one thing. Anything coming from them, no matter how simple, was the best of the best—a divine resource. In their current situation, anything from the hands of those two women was an incredibly valuable turning point that could completely change their hopes of survival.
"No matter what, we must get that portable shelter." Elara declared in a solemn tone. Zoe nodded and added in a similar tone.
"Though I have no knowledge of artificing, I'm fast. I can try to go retrieve the boxes we left behind with teleportation if anything's missing."
"I'll go with you. Going alone with those golems is suicide." Tomás looked at Zoe and commented seriously. Ethan, from the back, added with equal seriousness.
"Though my illusions can't hide us from the golems, they can confuse them pretty well, so count me in."
"Though I'm not good at fighting or stealth, I can help create makeshift formations to support and cover the entire process of opening the ring." Chen soon added in an equally serious tone, closely followed by Christine, who spoke while trying to stand straight.
"Though I may not be at your level, I still have some knowledge of artificing. I'll be your assistant, Erik."
"Relax, I don't need anyone to go retrieve the boxes. Though Chen's and Disciple Taylor's proposals are exactly what I need." Erik commented after taking another recovery potion, then looked at Ethan and added.
"As for Ethan, do you know any formation that can heal me continuously? I need to reduce the number of potions I'm consuming at all costs, or I won't last a day at this rate."
"I've got something, but it's not that effective." Ethan said after thinking for a few seconds. Erik nodded and replied calmly.
"Doesn't matter. Even if it only helps me save a few potions, it'll buy me valuable time." Erik looked at the others and then commented in a calm tone.
"The rest of you, for now, I need you to focus on recovering and keeping watch over the area. We have to be ready to run at any moment."
"Erik, let us mages help you with healing spells." Elara said in a serious tone, but Erik shook his head and replied.
"No, if you spend your mana healing me and something unexpected happens, you won't be able to fight properly. The risk is too high now that I can barely cast spells myself."
"…At least let me do it. If you keep taking so many potions, you'll end up poisoning yourself and making things worse…"
After biting her lower lip hard, Elara looked at Erik and spoke with a voice full of concern and reluctance. Erik glanced at Elara, at which point Zoe, who was close to her, looked at him with an equally worried but more pleading expression, as if silently begging him to accept. Erik let out a small sigh and replied.
"Alright, then I'll trust you, Elara. Coordinate with Ethan so your spells don't interfere with the formation."
"Leave it to me!" Elara said with determination, ready to fulfill her task at any cost, then walked toward Ethan to start discussing seriously. For his part, Erik looked at the others and commented with gravity.
"Then let's get to work. Time is of the essence."
***
You can support me on patreon.com/lordanl and get up to 24 advanced chapters.