Power of Runes

[Status]

Name – ?

Race – Primordial Serpent

Age – 0

Rank – Hatchling (F)

Affinity – Life, Death, Space, ????.

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[Innate Abilities]

-Magic Immunity : Immunity against all kinds of magical attacks.

-Spatial Step : Instantly teleports to any place it has seen or sensed before.

-Soul Scent : Able to track prey from thousands of kilometers away by sensing the unique signature of their soul energy.

-Toxin Adaptation : Instantly adapts to any poison, disease, or environmental hazard, then produces an even deadlier counter-poison.

-Soul Bound : Can use the passive effects of all the Runes fused with its master's soul.

Master - Ash Burn

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Ash stayed still for a while, his eyes locked on the status window, his thoughts swirling like a whirlpool. This was beyond surprising for him.

A Primordial Serpent.

He had never even read a single mention of such a creature in any record or book he had come across. Not even in the novel.

Solareth said I'd know when I saw it… but I know nothing about a Primordial Serpent. What in the world is this thing…?

There were no numerical stats shown. It felt as if the window was deliberately hiding most of its information from him.

The only reason he could even see this much, he suspected, was because of the unique bond he shared with the little white serpent.

Still, he couldn't ignore the feeling that the Runes had something to do with the change in information provided by Solareth.

Its abilities were incredible for a newborn, far beyond anything that should be possible for a hatchling.

But the last one — Soul Bound — made his heartbeat quicken.

Does that mean… it can use everything? Regeneration, revival, knowledge, balance… all of it?

The thought was nothing short of astonishing. It opened up possibilities in his mind, each one more tempting and dangerous than the last, until his thoughts felt like they were bursting in all directions.

He forced himself to set those ideas aside for now and looked at the baby serpent. It had just finished its… meal… and was now lazily coiling itself around his neck, rubbing its small head against his cheek as if claiming him.

Ash felt his chest warm at the sight.

"Right… let's name you. No, wait, we'll name you after you meet Elysia. I'm sure she'd love to see you too." He spoke softly, cupping the tiny serpent in his hands.

'Mama…?'

"Yes, yes, I'll show you your mama."

'Mama.'

As if perfectly understanding his words, the little white serpent bobbed its head up and down like a duck, letting out a small hiss that sounded almost happy.

Cute…

I can't wait to see Elysia's reaction…

****

"So… you are saying you stole an egg?" Elysia asked with a cold voice, her tone low and steady, yet carrying an edge sharp enough to make Ash feel as if the temperature in the room had dropped.

What's with this atmosphere…

Ash thought, his shoulders tensing as he shifted uncomfortably under her unwavering gaze. The little white serpent, still curled loosely around his neck, tilted its head upward to look at her, its bright eyes full of innocent curiosity.

"Y-yes… you know, t-this is a fantasy world, and I-I was just…" Ash's voice trailed as he stuttered, almost as if some part of him didn't want to complete the sentence.

"What?"

"…I just wanted a cool companion, like the ones I've read about in books."

But as her stare held firm, unblinking, he felt himself give in and admit — at least to himself — that it hadn't only been about that. There had been another reason… a selfish, intrusive impulse he couldn't quite defend.

Damn it… where did it even go wrong?

At first, everything had seemed fine. Elysia had been genuinely shocked when she first saw the serpent resting against him, its white body coiled like a scarf. She had even nearly screamed, her expression a perfect mix of disbelief and surprise. Honestly, he had enjoyed watching that reaction. But after the initial shock faded… her expression changed. The look she gave him was far from amused.

And now here they were, in his room. Ash sat on the floor with his head slightly lowered, his posture tense. Elysia sat on his bed, her legs crossed and arms folded, looking down at him like a queen passing judgment, her shadow falling over him.

Without warning, Ash felt her hands slide around his neck. This time, there was no warmth in her touch — her fingers were cold, almost unfeeling. Leaning in, her lips close to his ear, she whispered, her voice calm but carrying a quiet, dangerous weight.

"How would you feel… if our child was taken away from us before we even got to see him or her?"

The words sank into the air slowly, deliberately, each one hitting heavier than the last.

Elysia wasn't sure how he would respond. She knew Ash Burn in this life was not the same as the one she had known before, and she wasn't certain if saying something this deeply personal was the right choice. But she did not back away. Still leaning close, she asked again, this time softer yet sharper.

"Tell me, Ash."

The atmosphere in the room shifted entirely, turning tense and cold. Even the little white serpent could sense it. It hissed softly, its body coiling more tightly around Ash's neck as if ready to defend him, its gaze fixed on Elysia with surprising hostility.

Before it could react any further, Ash raised a hand to lightly hold it back. He met Elysia's eyes and answered in a steady tone, "I understand. I am sorry. I will never do that again."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

Elysia's expression eased, though only slightly. But then her relief turned into confusion as she saw him rise to his feet.

"Huh? Where are you going, Ash?"

He didn't answer immediately. Moving toward the door with the serpent still draped around his neck, his steps were slow and deliberate. He opened the door, and just before stepping out, he turned to look at her.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes… his eyes were cold, so cold they made her heart still for a moment.

"Don't say something like that again," he said quietly, his voice flat, almost emotionless.

Then he shut the door behind him.

-Bang!

The sharp sound echoed through the room, leaving Elysia in complete silence. The air felt heavier now, and in the stillness, the faint hiss of the little serpent seemed to linger in her ears like a ghost.

Ash…?

Her heart gave a sudden, uneven thud, an involuntary shudder running through her chest. The feeling was… unpleasant, almost suffocating, as if something cold had slipped into her veins. Her gaze lost focus, drifting aimlessly as her thoughts spun in circles.

Inside her mind, the image of Ash's cold, distant eyes kept flashing over and over again, each memory making her heartbeat grow louder and louder, until it seemed as if the sound itself filled the room.

Does that mean… he wants a baby with me?

The moment the thought took shape, her heart rate spiked unnaturally high, pounding so hard that if anyone else had been in the room, they could have noticed it without even trying.

Her lips curved slowly into a smile, one so wide it almost felt unnatural — eerie even. But as quickly as it appeared, it softened, her expression returning to normal, though the light in her eyes had changed.

I need to apologize to him… my Ash. He must be angry… what should I do?

Should I prepare something for him? No… no, I alone am enough. There's no need for a gift.

Without another thought, she stood up abruptly, her movements quick and restless. The bed creaked softly as she pushed herself away from it, her steps already carrying her toward the door.

She left the room in a hurry, determination in every stride, following after Ash.

****

[Melissia POV]

Crash!!!

Crash!!!!

Damnit… damnit… fuck it all!!!!!!!

Melissia's room looked as if a storm had torn through it. Every single thing was destroyed — shattered glass, splintered wood, clothes scattered like fallen leaves. Even the bed had been smashed into broken pieces. And yet, she kept going, breaking whatever was still standing.

Crash!!!

"Damn that bitch! Does she even know what she's stolen? Does she even care? I hope she burns knowing she's just some stupid prize to him! Curse them both… may their 'happiness' rot in agony!"

Her hands were covered in blood, shards of glass embedded deep in her skin, yet she didn't care. She slammed her fists against the wall again and again, grinding the glass in further, feeling the warm wetness drip down her arms as the cuts grew deeper.

"Why am I the one tearing apart on the inside while they laugh and flirt like it's a damn game?! Screw fate! Screw love! Screw everything! I'm sick of being invisible!"

"WHYYYYYY???"

Her voice cracked, raw from screaming. Tears streamed down her cheeks like an endless flood, hot and uncontrollable, showing no sign of stopping. The rooms were vibration and sound proof making no sound escape from her room.

It had been a week since the duel, but the storm inside her hadn't calmed. No matter how much time passed, the bitterness clung to her like chains she couldn't break.

For the last seven days, she had locked herself inside her room. She hadn't eaten a single bite of food — only drinking water now and then, almost unconsciously, as if her body was moving on its own.

Of course, anyone looking from the outside might think people should be worried about her by now… but they weren't. Before locking herself away, she had used her stockpile of merit points to request an indefinite leave from classes. She gave no return date, and in this academy, that wasn't unusual.

It wasn't the first time someone had shut themselves away like this. Many students did it for closed-door training or intense study sessions, often with enough food stored in their space rings to last weeks. So no one knocked on her door.

In their minds, she was probably just motivated by Ash's victory over Ray and had thrown herself into training to get stronger.

But reality… was far from that.

Instead of growing, she was crumbling.

Instead of finding strength, she was falling apart.

And every second she spent alone in that wrecked room, she could feel the pieces of herself breaking even more.

***