NOVEL NEXT Chapter 63: Etherjack Rune Array, Advanced Inscription
'I said CPU, but it's really just a rune-based memory vault.'
The rune array was created from six runes in total, each joined with [Linked Glyph] perk.
[Runic Copy] – duplicated all digital information from the control system
[Memory Sigil] – stored the copied data
[Mana Pull] – absorbed mana from the air to power the array
[Veil Script] – suppresses mana signature
[Blind Ink] – cloaked the array from physical and magical sight
[Failsafe Burn] – automatically erased the entire array after four days
These weren't the usual Basic runes I had been working with until recently.
They were Intermediate Runes I created with the perk [Intermediate Inscription].
I finished the entire array. Within seconds, the whole thing shimmered and vanished.
'I'll get the data later. For now, let it copy quietly. Two days should be enough.'
There was a lot to copy and since it had to be done without alerting or damaging the control room's system, it had to be done slowly.
'The system's firewalls will get copied too, but I'll deal with that later. It should be possible as long as my Runesmith Class goes up a grade.'
With the array in place, I returned to the shadows just as the first guard walked back in.
"I'm back," he muttered, stretching and yawning.
The panel in the wall closed behind him.
The second guard blinked sleepily, rubbed his eyes, and said nothing. He had no idea he'd just been knocked out.
I remained still, watching their expressions through the shadows.
I stayed for ten more minutes just to be sure neither of them had noticed anything strange.
Only after confirming that everything seemed normal did I melt back into the hallway shadows and left the room entirely.
From there, I moved through the estate, sticking to the ceilings and corners.
My goal was observation. I needed to map guard positions, behavior, rotations, and weak spots.
I also needed more Shadow Essences.
As I moved, I used [Shadow Eater] to eat the Shadow Essences.
The guards here were Rank 1. Compared to the Rank 0 trainees back at my estate, they gave far better stats.
…
Shadow Summon
Stats:
Strength: 168 → 174
Dexterity: 63 → 71
Endurance: 139 → 145
Spirit: 0
…
I had to return home before I got all guards since the morning was coming.
The next day, I went back to Dusk Hand mansion.
I repeated the same process of Shadow Essence gathering.
By the end of the second day, the gains were stacking nicely.
…
Shadow Summon
Stats:
Strength: 174 → 184
Dexterity: 71 → 79
Endurance: 145 → 163
Spirit: 0
…
The skill levels were improving too:
[Shadow Eater]: Level 3 → Level 4
[Shadow Gaze]: Level 2 → Level 3
[Shadow Assimilation]: Level 2 → Level 3
With [Shadow Eater] reaching Level 4, I could now share 40% of my summon's stats instead of just 30%.
That gave me a solid boost in all physical areas.
[Shadow Gaze] increasing improved the range of skill.
As for [Shadow Assimilation], it was now far more flexible.
I could stay inside the state longer, and I could now jump between shadows up to 30 meters apart, instead of the previous 20-meter limit.
I sat down that night and checked my actual stats.
…
Name: !@$!@!$
Stats:
Strength: 43 (+56) → 43 (+73.6)
Dexterity: 63 (+21) → 63 (+31.6)
Endurance: 43 (+46.3) → 43 (+65.2)
…
"Not bad at all," I muttered to myself.
Today was the day I planned to retrieve the data stored in the rune array.
I stayed in my room and pulled out small vial of fairy dust. It shimmered faintly under the artificial light of the desk lamp.
I began drawing a complex rune on my forearm.
This was a type of connector rune, but far more intricate than ones I had used before.
The process took nearly an hour.
By the time I was done, sweat was dripping down my back, and my arm was stiff.
…
Class: Runesmith
Rank: Rank 1
Grade: Combat Runesmith → Artisan Runesmith
Perk Upgraded: [Intermediate Inscription] → [Advanced Inscription]
Effect: You can now permanently inscribe Advanced Runes on objects.
…
A faint grin spread across my face as I stared at the black lines that began to fade slowly from my hand.
This was a [Etherjack] rune array.
It let me access any digital system I touched, bypassing interfaces and directly connecting my thoughts to the software inside.
Computers, security cameras, electric gates, anything digital could be connected.
I couldn't outright hack firewalls with it yet, but I could gain raw access.
The best part was the fact this rune array would let me connect with any digital system without needing to type or plug anything in.
I made a [Runic Copy] Rune along with Etherjack rune array and connected them with [Linked Glyphs].
'With this, I will be able to access the rune array I created in Dusk Hand mansion, and take the copied data with me.'
Lastly, I created a Dreamroot Mist Pill of weak dosage with [Quickmix Technique] perk.
After I finished preparing, I activated [Shadow Assimilation] skill.
The moment my shadow merged with me, it felt like something had clicked into place inside my body.
My vision sharpened, muscles strengthened, and reflexes surged.
With this skill, I could tap into 100% of my shadow summon's stats.
I used a Warp Point and arrived in Drama, Greece, and moved toward the Dusk Hand mansion in the forest.
I slipped through the outer defenses, and entered the control room.
The guards this time weren't the ones from last time.
One of them looked half asleep already.
The other was fidgeting with a thermos, tapping his foot against the desk.
I settled into a shadowed corner and waited.
Patience was something you either learned early or paid the price for later.
Two hours passed before one of the guards stood up and stretched.
"I need to make a call," he muttered and walked toward the back wall.
A seamless section of the surface slid open at his touch, revealing a hidden corridor.
Perfect.
As soon as the door shut behind him, I rolled the weak Dreamroot pill from my shadow. The small sphere slid under the control system's panel.
Within a minute, the mist had spread.
The remaining guard yawned once, blinked slowly, and slumped forward in his chair.
I stepped out from the shadows.
My foot touched the rune array I had hidden here days ago.
It was invisible, but still fully functioning.
I pressed my palm to the floor and activated the Etherjack Rune etched onto my hand.
It drank my mana like a sponge.
Then, the world shifted.
Suddenly, data streamed into my mind.
It had feeds from cameras, logs from system access, records of alerts, and dozens of folders, each labeled with timestamps.
The feeling of opening a digital terminal inside your own thoughts was strange.
It felt like I was floating in a dream.
I copied everything into the runic memory storage linked to my Etherjack array.
Since I didn't need to worry about being detected this time, I let the transfer run at full speed.
In a few minutes, the job was done.
I stepped back into the shadows.
The guard returned not long after, yawning again.
He sat back down and resumed watching the monitors.
Suddenly, the guard looked around the floor.
I tensed, wondering if he had detected something.
But he picked up the fallen earpiece, and returned to looking at the monitors.
A sigh of relief escaped my lips
After making sure nothing seemed off in their behavior, I left the control room.
'I'll need an actual computer to break through the firewall.'
The data I had was locked, and the rune array on my hand wasn't enough to decrypt it directly without the support of a digital terminal.
'There must a house in the city with a proper desktop or even a laptop.'
I left the Dusk Hand mansion, and returned to the main city of Drama, Greece.
I searched quietly through the neighborhood until I found a suitable target.
I tossed a regular Dreamroot pill toward the bedroom room window.
It broke on impact, silently releasing its full dose.
Within moments, the people inside were in a deep, undisturbed sleep.
I entered through the back door.
After checking the people in the house had fallen, I booted the computer in the study room.
[Type the Password: ____ ]