Power of Runes-Chapter 97: Traveling to New Continent

As soon as she got close to him, Amelia froze for a moment, her breath catching in her throat.

For the first time since meeting him, she could actually see emotions radiating around Ash.

Until now, he had always been surrounded by that strange void—an empty stillness where no emotions could be felt, as if he existed beyond the grasp of feelings. But today... that void had cracks in it.

From those tiny fractures, emotions were leaking out, slowly and silently, like a thin mist of gas seeping through a shattered container.

His entire body was still cloaked in that suffocating void, but the cracks revealed something he had always kept hidden.

Two emotions stood out the most, almost overwhelming in their presence.

Anger and Sadness.

They pulsed with a deep, intense color—raw and unresolved. Compared to them, the other emotions she barely picked up on—like a faint sense of excitement or a fleeting relief—were so tiny they felt like mere droplets in an ocean of rage.

What happened to him? What changed inside him? she wondered, her gaze fixed on the emotional haze that danced just beneath his skin.

She wondered, unable to stop the thought from echoing in her mind. She had always believed that Ash was special, and that was why she could never see his emotions clearly.

But now, looking at this scene, she realized it might not have been because she couldn’t see them—it might have been because he had been suppressing them all along, hiding everything so deep that nothing could escape.

Was he not emotionless? Was he simply burying everything deep inside, compressing his feelings so tightly that no one could see them?

There was also the possibility that she had grown stronger, that her ability to sense emotions had evolved, and that was why she was able to perceive what had been invisible before.

But that thought faded from her mind almost immediately, pushed aside by the urgency to speak with him.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Ash," she called softly, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of worry.

He stopped at once and turned to look at her.

As always, his face was completely unreadable—calm, neutral, almost like a statue carved from stone. But today, something felt different, even if it wasn’t obvious at first glance.

He was dressed casually, wearing a black-and-blue Hawaiian-style shirt under a light grey jacket, paired with fitted black pants. The colors suited him, making him stand out effortlessly.

No matter which angle someone looked at him from, he looked striking.

His presence naturally drew attention, and as if to confirm it, several nearby female students—and even a few staff members—were staring at him in a daze, as if enchanted.

"Where are you going?" she asked gently as she walked up beside him.

In truth, even she found herself affected by his appearance. His aura had a gravity to it, like a quiet force that drew others in. But unlike the others, she did her best to suppress that feeling and not let it show on her face.

"I’ll be leaving the academy for a while. I’ve received permission," he replied in a short, almost mechanical tone.

"I-I see..." she murmured, not sure what else to say.

Before the incident, she would’ve teased him a little—just to try and provoke some kind of emotional response—but now, something in her heart told her not to. Not this time.

After a moment of hesitation, she gathered her thoughts and finally spoke.

"I just... I just wanted to say thank you."

"For what?" he asked simply, his tone unchanged.

"For, you know... saving me. I mean—saving all of us from the demons that night."

The words stumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. It wasn’t the most graceful way to say it, but she meant every word.

Part of her also wanted to see how he would respond—to know if he would show even the slightest flicker of emotion at the mention of that night.

Ash went quiet for a moment.

Then, slowly, he looked directly into her eyes.

She met his gaze, and for a brief second, it felt like time stopped.

His eyes... they were so cold, so still, that it felt like they could freeze her very thoughts. But beneath that icy surface, she sensed something shifting, something deep and buried trying to break through.

After what felt like a long silence, he finally answered.

"I just did what I could... what was within my power. There’s no need to thank me for that. And besides..." he paused for a moment before continuing, "it wasn’t me who saved you all. I lost consciousness too, just like the others. I have no idea who actually saved us."

His voice was steady, but there was something in the way he said it—a distance, a wall.

Hearing his reply, Amelia’s shoulders sank slightly. She lowered her gaze and muttered under her breath, "I see."

"I’ll be going now," Ash said, already beginning to turn around. "See you soon."

Amelia hesitated, pressing her lips together as if she wanted to say something more. But the words wouldn’t come. So she simply let out a quiet sigh and turned in the opposite direction.

"Alright then... see you soon."

Meanwhile, as Ash walked toward the academy gates, two pairs of eyes were silently watching him go.

One belonged to Melissia. She knew he was leaving today, but she didn’t go to see him off.

She was afraid that if she did, she might end up showing him a side of herself she didn’t want him to see—an embarrassing, vulnerable side—so she chose to stay back and quietly watch from a distance.

Be safe...

She prayed silently in her heart.

And the other pair of eyes belonged to Elva, the Vice Principal of the academy.

From atop the academy’s roof, she stood watching Ash walk away into the distance, her expression unreadable.

***

[Elva Quill Pov]

When she heard from the unconscious students that Ash had fought toe to toe with a demon—one who was using high-level magic and deadly curses—and had even been overpowering him because the demon’s curses weren’t working on Ash at all, Elva was shocked.

But not entirely.

Because deep down, she had always felt that Ash was different. Not in some flashy or obvious way, but in a quiet, unsettling kind of way.

There was always something strange about him—something that didn’t quite fit the mold—and yet, no matter how much she observed, she could never put her finger on exactly what it was.

Even during her classes, he would constantly surprise her. No matter what kind of question she asked—whether it was pulled straight from the academy textbooks or something more obscure.

Ash would answer it with calm confidence and accuracy, as if the knowledge had already been resting somewhere inside him, just waiting to be spoken out loud.

Even in sparring classes, where physical skill mattered more than knowledge, his technique and movements were sharper than many of the close range fighter students.

For someone who supposedly had low potential, he moved like someone born for battle.

And when it came to other theoretical subjects—like Dungeon Survival, War Strategy, and Beast Anatomy—he absorbed information like a dry sponge soaking up water.

No matter how fast the lessons went or how complex the topics were, he never once fell behind.

He remembered everything, even the little details that most students overlooked.

Elva had always been confident in her decision to place him in Class 1S.

Elva had always believed her decision to place him in Class 1S was the right one.

Many had doubted her back then, but after seeing his progress and results, no one could question her judgment anymore.

The only regret was that his potential ranking was painfully low.

If only that wasn’t the case... he might have become someone comparable to Ray. Perhaps even someone greater.

I heard he’s leaving the academy... going to the Elves to ask them to heal Elysia.

She had learned the full story from the Principal. And even though she had come to expect unusual things from Ash, hearing about what he did—how he directly confronted the Elven Saints—left her speechless.

But what truly shook her wasn’t Ash’s boldness.

It was the Saints’ response.

They had allowed it. Allowed a student to walk toward what could only be described as certain death.

When she asked the Principal why they hadn’t stopped him, he answered in his usual cryptic tone:

"It’s the path he has chosen. Who are we to interfere? If he doesn’t return, then so be it—who in this academy would even mourn him? But if he does return..."

He paused, and then, with a cold finality, added:

"Then I will personally fire every staff member responsible for checking potentials during the entrance exam."

Elva didn’t know how to respond to that.

But as she stood there, quietly watching Ash’s back as he walked toward the gates, a bitter feeling stirred in her chest.

A mix of helplessness... and guilt.

Because she knew there was nothing she could do to stop him now.

It was also hard to believe he was doing all this for a girl.

And not just any girl—Elysia.

She didn’t know what to make of it. There were no words that felt right.

So, in the end, she said nothing.

She just stood still, her eyes quietly following him as he disappeared into the distance.

***

As Ash walked away from the academy gates, his clothes fluttered in the wind and the weight of silence settling on his shoulders, he slowly lifted his hand and whispered under his breath.

"Status."

A transparent blue window appeared in front of him with a soft flicker.

**

[STATUS]

Name – Ash Burn

Race – Human

Age – 12

Class – Magic Swordsman (Unique)

Rank – Novice (F-Rank) – (89%)

Affinity – Lightning, Life

---

[ATTRIBUTES]

Strength – 171

Agility – 171

Vitality – 171

Intelligence – 171

Stamina – 171

Charm – 171

Mana – 171 {x 2}

---

[TRAITS]

- Codex of Creation (F-Rank)

- Primordial Core (Incomplete) (Rank- ???)

[SKILLS]

- Omni Thought

--

[RUNES]

- Rune of Stability

- Rune of Knowledge

- Rune of Life

- Rune of Balance freewebnøvel.com

- Rune of Concealment

****

His eyes scanned the numbers in silence.

His stats had increased drastically, and he knew the reason why.

The countless times his body had been destroyed and healed again during the battle had pushed his body beyond limits.

Being forced into a Core Overload state had strained every muscle and bone in his body—but it had also tempered him.

Of course, he knew this kind of improvement came at a price. This wasn’t natural development, this was forced and brutal one.

In the long run, it could end up hurting his body more than helping it.

But even so...

Ash couldn’t help but feel grateful for even a tiny bit of increase.

"Just 29 more stat points... then I can begin."

He muttered to himself as his gaze lingered on the numbers glowing faintly in the air.

For the plan he had in mind, reaching the next rank was necessary.

He didn’t have the luxury of time.

Every second wasted brought him closer to failure.

Because his destination wasn’t some peaceful city or hidden temple.

It was the Dragon Continent.

The place where monsters were born, and legends were buried.

Just wait a little longer Elysia, I will come back.

END OF VOLUME ONE - Transmigration

***

A/N:

So... here we are.Volume 1 ends, but not with a grand triumph. Not with a hero standing tall in the spotlight. Nah. It ends with a boy, walking away—empty, tired, and still figuring out who he is. 🌙

Let me be real. Writing this volume wasn’t easy. I’m a rookie, a newbie, stumbling my way through this process. I made mistakes—so many mistakes. I thought I had it all figured out, but then I’d hit a wall, and then another, and another. Each Chapter felt like climbing a mountain in a storm, and sometimes I wanted to give up.

But you? You were here. Even when the updates were slow, even when things got messy, you stuck with me. And that? That’s something I’ll never take for granted. I might’ve made you wait, I might’ve messed up some Chapters, but you stayed, and your support kept me going. 💬🖤

To all of you who read through every word, who cheered me on when I doubted myself, who left comments and showed love in every little way—you’ve been my lifeline. Seriously. You believed in this story even when I didn’t believe in myself. I can’t thank you enough. You made this possible. You are part of this story. 🙏✨

What’s next?New lands. New enemies. A deeper dive into this world, and a darker path for Ash. But no matter what, his fire won’t go out. 🔥

I might still be figuring this whole author thing out, but one thing’s for sure: I’m learning, and I’m grateful. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to share what’s next with all of you. 💫

Volume 1 is done.Let’s move forward together. The next Chapter awaits.

— thelastparagon 🖋️