Ascension of The Unholy Immortal

A low profile was paramount.

Liang's gaze swept over the bustling city, his mind working through the intricate web of runic pathways that protected the tower. Brute force wouldn't do; he needed a subtler approach, a way to navigate the defenses without triggering a city-wide alarm.

Furthermore, he has already employed the power of the Thousand Derivations Rune to predict the outcome, and the results were unexpected: there were no indications of either fortune or misfortune.

This outcome implied an extraordinary level of uncertainty surrounding the orchid, suggesting the involvement of a force capable of disrupting even his divination attempts.

At his current level and strength, only a being at the Void Return realm could generate such uncertainties.

Intrigued and slightly wary, Liang decided to observe the city's routines, searching for a weakness in their defenses or, better yet, an opportunity to exploit.

His eyes quickly identified a pattern in the flow of runic energy. Every three days, at precisely midnight, a subtle fluctuation rippled through the network, originating from the tower's peak. This brief lapse, lasting mere heartbeats, presented a window—exceedingly small, yet enough for Liang.

His eyes then settled on a group of dwarven guards patrolling near the tower's base. Each bore the emblem of a hammer crossed with a chisel, Their movements were precise, their eyes constantly scanning for any sign of intrusion. These dwarves, Liang knew, possessed a deep connection to the city's runic network, their very essence intertwined with its flow.

A plan began to form in his mind. He could exploit their connection, turning their strength against them.

With a flick of his wrist, Liang summoned a sliver of his universe spiritual energy, shaping it into the form of a tiny, iridescent spider. The construct, infused with a fraction of his bloodline power, scuttled towards the unsuspecting guards, its movements imperceptible to the naked eye.

As the spider brushed against the lead guard's ankle, Liang channeled a sliver of his will through the connection. The guard stiffened, his eyes glazing over momentarily as a foreign consciousness brushed against his own. He shook his head, as if clearing a sudden fog, unaware of the subtle intrusion that had just occurred.

"Oi, Grommok!" one of the patrolling dwarves called out, his voice gruff but friendly as he approached the group stationed near the base of the tower. "You look like you've seen a ghost. What's got your beard in knots?"

Grommok—the leader of the patrol—shook his head again, though there was no mistaking the faint unease in his usually stoic demeanor. "I don't know, Tharok," he muttered, rubbing at his temple with a thick-fingered hand. "Something... felt off for a moment. Like a chill running down my spine, even though I swear I didn't see or hear anything unusual."

Tharok chuckled, slapping Grommok on the shoulder with enough force to make most men stumble. "Probably just the ale from last night catching up with you or the cursed Formation Node we've been patching all week. You've spent so much time down there, you're starting to dream about it."

At the mention of the node, several other dwarves turned their attention toward the conversation. One of them, a shorter but wiry dwarf named Borrik, spoke up. "Don't joke about that thing, Tharok. That node is critical—it feeds power into half the defensive arrays guarding the outer perimeter. If it fails again, we'll have to reroute energy manually, and that's a headache none of us need."

Tharok rolled his eyes dramatically. "Bah! It's just a glorified rock with some fancy carvings. You'd think it was the Heartstone itself the way everyone talks about it."

Borrik glared at him. "Careful what you say, fool. That 'glorified rock' keeps us safe from whatever's lurking out there beyond the ice fields. Remember the last time the arrays destabilized? We lost two scouts before they could even scream."

Grommok held up a hand, silencing the argument before it could escalate further. "Enough. Whether it's cursed or just old, our duty is clear: keep watch and ensure everything stays operational. Now focus, all of you. Something feels… wrong tonight."

As Grommok scanned the area once more, his gaze briefly lingered on the edge of the market where Liang stood concealed. For a split second, Liang thought the dwarf might have sensed something amiss, but then Grommok shook his head again, dismissing the feeling as paranoia.

From his hidden vantage point, Liang allowed himself a faint smirk. These dwarves were disciplined, yes, but they were also creatures of habit—and habits could be exploited. Through the subtle link established by the spider construct, he probed deeper into Grommok's consciousness, carefully sifting through memories and impressions without alerting the dwarf to his presence.

Ah, Liang thought as fragments of knowledge surfaced. The formation node they spoke of wasn't just any maintenance point—it was a central hub for the runic network surrounding the tower. More importantly, Grommok knew the exact sequence required to temporarily deactivate it for repairs. Such deactivation would create a blind spot in the defensive arrays, invisible to the Runesmiths monitoring the system.

Perfect.

He focused his will through the iridescent spider construct still clinging invisibly to Grommok's ankle. With delicate precision, Liang planted a series of subconscious impulses into the dwarf's mind, guiding him toward the formation node. To Grommok, it would feel like an instinctive urge—a nagging sense that something about the node required immediate attention.

"Grommok," Borrik said sharply, snapping Liang out of his concentration for a moment. "You're pacing again. What's gotten into you?"

Grommok stopped mid-step, his boots crunching against the icy stone floor. He frowned deeply, rubbing at his temples once more. "I… I'm not sure. Something feels off about the Formation Node. Like it needs checking."

Tharok groaned audibly. "Again? We just patched it yesterday! You're obsessed, old man."

But Borrik tilted his head thoughtfully, his wiry frame tense with concern. "Wait. Maybe he's onto something. The arrays have been acting up lately—minor fluctuations, nothing serious, but enough to make me uneasy. What if there's residual instability from last week's breach?"

Grommok nodded slowly, though Liang knew the dwarf couldn't pinpoint why he suddenly felt so compelled to investigate. "It's worth another look. Better safe than sorry."

Borrik crossed his arms. "Fine. But we go together. No heroics, Grommok. If something's wrong, we report it immediately."

As the group turned toward the pathway leading to the Formation Node, Liang allowed himself a faint smile. His plan was working perfectly. The seed of suspicion had taken root, and now all he needed to do was guide them further down the path he desired.

Deep within the twisting tunnels beneath the city, the Formation Node pulsed faintly with runic energy. Its surface shimmered with intricate carvings, each rune humming softly in harmony with the vast network of protective arrays surrounding the city. To the untrained eye, it appeared unremarkable—a simple rock embedded in the wall. But to those who understood its purpose, it was the heart of the city's defenses.

Grommok approached cautiously, his hand resting on the haft of his rune-inscribed hammer. "Something doesn't feel right," he muttered under his breath, glancing over his shoulder at Borrik and Tharok.

Borrik knelt beside the node, inspecting its glowing glyphs closely. "Looks stable enough to me. But…" He hesitated, his brow furrowing. "There's a faint irregularity in the energy flow. Almost imperceptible."

Through the link established by the spider construct, Liang guided Grommok's thoughts with surgical precision. Activate the repair sequence, Liang whispered silently into the dwarf's subconscious. Infuse these runes into the framework.

Grommok's fingers twitched involuntarily, reaching for the node. Without realizing it, he began tracing a series of complex symbols along its surface, channeling a precise amount of runic energy into the structure. The others watched in confusion.

"What are you doing?" Tharok asked, his voice tinged with alarm.

"It's… necessary," Grommok replied absently, His movements were mechanical, driven by instincts planted by Liang. As the final symbol flared to life, the node dimmed momentarily before resuming its steady glow.

Borrik stood abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "Wait a minute. That shouldn't have worked. The node wasn't malfunctioning!"

Before anyone could react, the hum of runic energy throughout the city faltered. For a brief instant, the defensive arrays guarding the outer perimeter—and, more importantly, the tower—went silent.

Liang wasted no time. The moment the arrays deactivated, he slipped through the shadows, his dual concealment techniques rendering him utterly invisible. The dwarves' heightened senses were useless against his mastery of illusion and distortion. He moved swiftly, navigating the labyrinthine corridors of the underground city until he reached the base of the towering spire.

The entrance to the tower was sealed by a massive door etched with ancient runes, their light flickering weakly due to the disruption caused by the Formation Node. Liang pressed his palm against the cold metal, channeling a sliver of his universe spiritual energy into the lock mechanism. The runes dimmed further, then extinguished entirely as the door creaked open.