Power of Runes-Chapter 99: Unexpected Bond

KNOCK!!

Hearing the sound, Ash calmly closed the thick notebook in his lap and placed it back into his space ring. With a small breath, he stood up and made his way to the door, opening it without much thought.

"Lunch is ready," came the short notice from one of the sailors—a man in a sleeveless vest with a thick beard and tanned skin from working under the sun all day.

He didn’t wait for a reply and simply turned around, walking off with practiced steps.

Ash gave a silent nod in return, then stepped outside into the salty sea air.

After walking for a bit across the wooden deck, passing sailors busy with their own tasks, he reached the ship’s dining area—a broad open space near the lower center of the vessel.

The scent of freshly cooked food hung warmly in the air, mixed with laughter and the occasional clang of dishes.

Dozens of sailors were already there, gathered around wooden tables bolted into the floor to keep them stable on the rocking ship.

Some were laughing heartily, others deep in conversation.

A few were drinking from large mugs, enjoying the rare moment of rest, while others focused more on piling food onto their plates like it was a contest.

The atmosphere was loud but relaxed—comfortable in a way that only came from shared hardship and trust on long journeys.

As Ash stepped into the area, a familiar voice rang out.

"Oi! Nox! Over here, slowpoke!" shouted Jaren, the grinning, tan-skinned sailor with wild brown hair that never stayed tied. He raised a hand and waved Ash over like they were old friends meeting again.

"He finally shows up! Thought maybe he fell into his books again," added Lina, a tall, toned woman with a black ponytail and sleeves rolled high, who sat at the far end of the table.

"He probably got lost again on the way here. Short legs take longer, don’t they?" smirked Torin, a lanky guy with a resting sleepy face and a quiet laugh that always followed his jokes.

"Be nice," chuckled Rek, the oldest of the group, a broad-shouldered man with graying temples and a voice like distant thunder. "Maybe he was just meditating on the mysteries of lunch."

Hearing their familiar voices and the teasing tone, a faint smile tugged at Ash’s lips but unfortunately it was hidden by his mask so, no one saw it.

Nox.

That was the alias he had chosen for this journey, a name that carried no past and no expectations.

The group calling out to him was a small gang of four sailors who had, over the past few weeks, become strangely comfortable around him.

While most people on the ship preferred to keep their distance—wary of the masked figure who rarely spoke and never showed his face—but these four never judged him.

They didn’t ask intrusive questions or mock his quiet presence.

Instead, they spoke to him like he was just another traveler on the same road.

They didn’t need a reason. They simply accepted his presence.

To Ash, it was... new.

If it had been the previous version of him—the one who kept everyone at arm’s length—he would have avoided them without a second thought.

But after being nagged by Elysia, who insisted that there was no harm in opening up just a little to those who showed genuine effort, he decided to try.

And unintentionally, he had ended up forming a quiet bond with them.

The four of them were all in their mid-twenties, and since Ash’s soul was around the same age—even though his body was younger—they somehow matched his pace and energy.

It felt natural.

Though... his short height did become the target of occasional teasing.

As he sat down beside them, Torin nudged his elbow.

"Hey, Nox," he whispered, "be honest—are you secretly a tiny old man in disguise?"

Ash tilted his head slightly, feigning confusion. "I could say the same about you. Except the ’tiny’ part."

Lina laughed, nearly choking on her drink. "He got you there, Torin!"

Jaren leaned in and smirked. "I don’t know, though. You’ve got that mysterious lone-wolf vibe, but every time you sit with us, it feels like a kid hanging out with the grown-ups."

Rek chuckled, shaking his head. "Leave him be. At least he doesn’t talk nonsense like the rest of you."

"I’ll take that as a compliment," Ash muttered dryly.

They all shared a laugh, the kind that came easily when there was no judgment in the air.

As the meal continued, they swapped stories from previous voyages—Rek told one about outrunning a sea storm near the Emerald Line, while Lina claimed she once caught a fish bigger than Torin.

Torin denied it with exaggerated horror, saying, "If it was that big, why didn’t you marry it?"

Ash didn’t say much, but he listened, after all he although sat with them but never ate because of his mask.

He chuckled at their jokes. And when asked, he gave his opinions, short but thoughtful, earning a few approving nods from the group.

It was simple.

Just people eating and talking and being human.

And after their meal was done, Ash stood up with a polite nod, excused himself quietly, and left with food in his hand which he will eat alone later.

As always, he returned to his room to train.

He spent hours researching his breathing techniques, pushing his mana control to the limit.

He then switched to sword drills, swinging endlessly in silence, focusing on each motion until they burned into his muscles.

He didn’t waste a single moment.

And just like that, a few more days passed by on the vast, open sea.

Until, he reached the Island near Dragon Continent.

***

It’s... big.

Ash thought as his boots sank into the warm sand, a soft crunch following each step.

The salty breeze brushed past his face, carrying the scent of seawater and something faintly sweet—like blooming tropical flowers hiding somewhere in the undergrowth.

Waves rolled gently onto the shore, white foam hissing across the golden beach.

Seagulls cried overhead, wheeling in lazy circles under the clear, sunlit sky.

Palm trees swayed near the edge of the jungle, casting long shadows over driftwood and half-buried rocks.

He had expected a tiny island, something hidden and cramped.

But this? This was huge.

And when he turned to the left, his eyes widened further.

Across a shimmering stretch of sea, a vast landmass stretched beyond the horizon.

Jagged mountains, lush green ridges, and thick mist rising from dense forests painted a wild and intimidating silhouette.

The Dragon Continent.

And the island he now stood on—the supposed "hidden human base"—was positioned dangerously close to it.

So much for hidden.

Ash scoffed with his hands in his pocket.

Then his gaze shifted slightly,

Of course, it’d be this big, he thought dryly, staring across the large landmass which was the starting of Dragon Continent.

Behind him, the rest of the crew had started stepping off the ship.

Rek stretched his arms overhead with a content sigh. "No matter how many times I come here... the vibe is kinda immaculate."

"It’s true," Lina agreed, smiling faintly as she tucked her sun-kissed hair behind her ear. "Almost makes you forget where we are."

Ash took in the wooden buildings that dotted the island, rustic and minimalist. Nothing permanent. Just enough to sleep, train, and run if dragons ever woke.

Probably on purpose.

You didn’t pour gold into a place that could be turned into ash overnight.

There were already a hundred or so humans scattered around the area. With their group of fifty added in, the number climbed to one-fifty.

But to Ash, it didn’t look like a military outpost, it felt more like a quiet coastal village.

Just then, a hand dropped around Ash’s shoulder.

"Hey, Nox..." Torin’s voice dropped into a mischievous whisper, "be honest—are you a virgin?"

Ash froze mid-step.

His thoughts short-circuited.

Was he? Technically, in his last life, no. But in this one? In this twelve-year-old body? Definitely.

He didn’t respond.

Torin’s grin only widened. "Hehe... no answer? That’s a yes—"

SMACK.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH—!" Torin screamed as Jaren slapped his back like he was trying to knock the sin out of him.

"Dumbass," Jaren said with a roll of his eyes. "Can you not be weird for five minutes?"

Ash blinked in shock.

Torin stumbled forward, groaning dramatically before shouting, "I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE HIM TO A BROTHEL IF HE WAS A VIRGIN, OKAY?!"

Half the nearby beach turned to look.

Ash’s face went blank.

Lina burst out laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.

Rek choked. "Torin, oh my god—"

"I was doing the world a favor!" Torin declared proudly, wiping fake tears from his eyes.

"We all need mentors, alright?!"

Ash quietly stepped away from him like he didn’t know the man.

Jaren clapped Ash on the shoulder, smirking. "Don’t worry. He’s got the brain of a lizard. Most of us stopped being surprised years ago."

Ash gave a tired nod. "Thanks... I think.".

As they walked deeper into the settlement, Jaren casually added, "Oh, by the way, did you know this island has a portal?"

Ash’s steps paused for half a second.

P–Portal?

His mind immediately leapt into alert mode.

"But... wasn’t building a portal on Dragon Continent strictly banned?" he asked.

Jaren shrugged, unfazed. "Technically, this isn’t the continent. The island’s close, but still offshore. Plus, the portal’s inactive. It’s only here for emergencies—like if the dragons wake up. Then we’ve got a quick escape."

Hearing that, Ash felt the tension in his shoulders ease a little. The logic made sense now—why this place was big, temporary, and yet openly built.

Still...

He tilted his head, another question forming. "So... how long would it take to evacuate everyone through the portal?"

Rek cleared his throat and stepped in like a scholar answering a test question.

"Well... from what I’ve heard, the portal takes five minutes to activate. Then, it can handle one person every ten seconds. With 150 people here, that’s 1500 seconds, or about 25 minutes. Add the startup time and you’re looking at roughly 30 minutes total."

Silence.

Everyone turned to stare at Rek.

Torin blinked. "Dude... what are you, a calculator?"

Lina burst into laughter. "Did you practice that in front of a mirror or something?"

Jaren whistled. "Alright, math wizard. Next time I need help with taxes, I know who to call."

Ash gave a small huff of amusement, lowering his eyes with a quiet grin. Rek’s cheeks colored a bit, but he laughed with the rest of them.

30 minutes, huh...

Ash thought as they continued walking.

Just enough time to flee... or to be caught, depending on how fast the dragons woke.

***