SSS Ranked Shadow Monarch: Summoning Infinite Shadows-Chapter 213: Karmic Runes

Julius led Aren through a series of hallways, and then finally they arrived at a door.

"Behind this door is a small artefact storage, and as the first person to make it through, you’ll get the opportunity to pick something from inside here," Julius said.

The door was made of heavy wood and seemed to be reinforced with runes. Aren had always been seeing runes all around, on doors and whatnot, and he had always wondered the use of them, and if they could help him grow stronger.

That thought that came to mind led to his next question.

"Are there anything on runes?" he asked.

Julius paused for a moment. He looked back at Aren, not sure what Aren wanted to do, but since he was meant to give something to Aren, he didn’t ask much. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He pushed the door open, revealing a room filled with hundreds of shelves standing neatly with tons of books, stands with artefacts, soul weapons, and whatnot.

"Runes were not created by the awakened," Julius said as they walked in. "They were made by trueborns who wanted to be strong. It harnesses soul energy in a way that we awakened were incapable of using it."

He walked into the room, his boots hitting against the marble floor as they walked. Aren followed close behind.

"Runes harness soul energy around us and create results. Many of the magic cannons you see are made with an inner working circuitry of runes, as well as other advanced methods.

But I’m sure what you are asking about isn’t for such runes. You want to know if you, as an awakened, can use runes to get stronger, right?" he asked as he stopped and looked at Aren.

"Yes," Aren replied simply.

"Well, I’d advise you against that. Runes are like a drug. The moment you indulge in them and see results, you can’t stop. They make you feel untouchable, strong, and better.

All that is an illusion, because that power isn’t really yours. It belongs to the runes, and when you start, you begin to believe you can’t get stronger except through more runes, and then soon, you enter Karmic Runes," Julius said as he pulled out what looked like a grimoire from the shelf.

It had a black cover with golden edges and something that looked like an upside down four drawn on it.

He opened the book and showed the first page to Aren. "This is a book on Karmic runes, the start of any awakened downfall.

Inside the first page was a depiction of two runes. One was the upside down four and the other was a sideways seven.

"These two runes are called the rune of Sacrifice and the rune of Oath," Julius said. His tone grew heavy as he spoke.

Aren paid full attention, because he was extremely interested in where this was going. He didn’t think Julius would give him an entire class on runes, but he wasn’t complaining. If anything, he wanted it to keep going.

"A sacrifice rune means you give up something for the sake of power. The more the sacrifice costs, the greater the power it gives you.

There have been people who sacrificed eyesight, parts of their bodies, and much more. There are some that even went the ultimate route and sacrificed their soul."

"Sacrificed their soul? How much power did they get from such a risk?" Aren asked.

"A lot, but it wasn’t enough," Julius said.

"How so?" Aren asked.

"Well, you see, the rune only takes the current soul and gives you power equivalent to the cost of your soul. Now that power may make you seem extremely strong, but then you realize you have sold up your potential to grow," Julius said.

Aren didn’t need more explanation to understand what Julius was saying.

"The soul is what enables awakened to grow. If you sold it for a fixed amount of power, you’ll be unable to advance past there," Aren deduced.

"Exactly, you’re pretty smart, kid," Julius said. He shut the book and then continued, "When people have sacrificed their souls and have nothing else to use to get stronger, then they get desperate. They need more strength, but how can they get that?

Many times, that’s where most switch to the rune of Oaths. The Karmic rune of Oaths gives you power for a promise that you must keep. The greater the promise, the higher the power."

"I see, so it follows the same concept as the rune of Sacrifice, only with promises," Aren said.

"Indeed, and those that are desperate for power make scary oaths. Some which look like, I’ll save the world in under three years by not defeating the trials myself, or I’ll stop the gods from carrying out the trials.

These sort of oaths grant you so much power that it ends up deluding you, making you believe you are inevitable, and then they have to go against beings like gods, and those beings are not just strong, they are Laws. Each god is an embodiment of a law, and a mere human like you can’t hope to take them down, even with such power.

And when you fail, the oath comes for you and completely destroys you. These are the two strongest Karmic Runes, for people who desire power so badly that they end up destroying themselves." He finished explaining and then slid the book back into the shelf.

"So what do you want?" he asked.

Aren, who was engrossed in the discussion, forgot that he was here to even get a reward.

"Oh, uhm, can I have the book on runes?" he asked.

Julius frowned. He looked at the book and then at Aren. "With your potential, I don’t see why you would want to risk yourself," he said calmly.

"Oh no no, don’t get me wrong. I simply want to know more about it, and seek out better applications than what those that used it before did.

I don’t plan on giving away myself for a fixed amount of power," Aren said.

"Hmmmm, that’s fine then," Julius said, and then took out the book, handing it to Aren.