"Thirty-five achievement points unlock a draw?"
Ron stared in surprise at the glowing message hovering on the interface, his mind already running the numbers. The first time had been at one point, the second at ten, the third at twenty now thirty-five.
Was there a pattern? Would the next unlock come at fifty… or fifty-five?
He made a mental note to test that theory later. For now, his attention was locked on the new draw screen blooming before him, excitement rising like a tide.
He had been waiting for this. What he wanted most now was a defensive magic anything that could keep his body safe when enemies closed in. Even something like spatial teleportation would be perfect.
With his "Divine Mode," gaining either would make him nearly untouchable.
The screen shimmered into full clarity. This time, it looked entirely different from before. There were more runes four or five new ones and instead of being arranged in concentric circles, they now formed a pyramid, layered from bottom to top.
The bottom layer contained the four basic elements: Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire.
The wind and fire runes, which Ron already possessed, were dimmed out with the label [Basic Rune] beside them.
Above that layer glowed another: [Special Runes].
Four runes shimmered there, each radiating a unique hue ice, lightning, light, and darkness.
And above even that, a new label appeared [Eternal Runes].
This level also had four symbols, far more intricate and cryptic than the ones below. The first looked like a shield, the second a skull, the third a cube, and the last a clock hand.
Ron's eyes widened as realization dawned. "Guard… Undead… Space… Time?"
It made sense. These were forces far beyond mere elements concepts that transcended physical reality. No wonder they were marked Eternal.
At the very top of the pyramid sat one final level: [Supreme Runes].
But this tier was blank completely empty, waiting for some unknown condition to unlock it.
Even with his usually steady heart, Ron felt it pound faster.
Eternal Runes. Space and Time.
Just the sight of them made his hands tremble.
Those two were undoubtedly the pinnacle among everything displayed. Next came the other Eternal types Guard and Undead then the Special Runes, and lastly the Basic ones.
Ron took a deep breath to steady himself. His expectations were simple: if he couldn't get Space or Time, he would settle for Guard or Undead. Even Ice or Earth would do; both likely carried some defensive abilities.
He pressed his finger to the interface. The light began to spin.
Click. Click. Click.
The glimmer danced around the pyramid, flashing fastest among the basic runes, slower among the special ones, and so fast across the Eternal layer that it looked like lightning.
After several tense seconds, the speed slowed. The light crawled forward, paused on the Water rune, then drifted stopping squarely on Earth.
"Earth element, huh…" Ron sighed, half disappointed but willing to accept it.
Then, suddenly, the light quivered.
Snap.
It jumped one more space upward straight to the Eternal layer and locked on the Shield Rune.
[You have obtained the Guard Rune.]
Ron froze. For a heartbeat, even breathing stopped. Then his eyes widened with disbelief and delight.
"So it really is called Guard…" he whispered.
That had been his own guess based on the symbol's shape. To think he was actually right.
He didn't yet know its full power, but the fact that it was classified as an Eternal Rune said enough. It stood above all elemental and special runes combined.
The draw interface faded away.
Unlike when he had received the elemental runes, this time there was no projection of runic assembly no visual of the rune forming inside his wand.
Instead, a faint heat spread through his left palm. Ron looked down instinctively.
A golden light blossomed in the center of his hand, unfolding intricate lines that connected and wove together into the most complex rune he had ever seen ten times more elaborate than his wind or fire runes.
When it finished forming, it shrank until it was no larger than an eye, glowing like a tiny sun against his skin.
Ron blinked, awe and confusion mixing. Then instinct guided him he poured a trickle of spirit energy into the golden rune.
A hum filled the air.
Woom!
The rune flared, and before him materialized a transparent, curved barrier a shimmering dome of light that stood between him and the world.
[You have learned Guard-Type Tier 1 Magic: Magic Barrier.]
The system's cold, mechanical voice echoed in his ears.
Ron reached forward, pressing a hand against the barrier.
Solid.
Unyielding.
Even his Gale Slash wouldn't be able to break it.
He could feel it spiritually, instinctively. Despite being only a first-tier spell, this Magic Barrier surpassed his second-tier wind and fire spells in sheer resilience.
To test it, he stepped back, raised his wand, and unleashed a Gale Slash straight into the shield.
Boom!
The barrier shuddered violently, rippling like disturbed water but it held. Not a single crack appeared.
Ron's eyes gleamed with excitement.
The barrier was still active, though he could sense its energy fading. If left alone, it would dissipate soon but the golden rune in his palm responded to his thoughts.
He willed it, and the barrier vanished. Another thought and it reformed instantly.
The rune didn't vanish after casting; it stayed imprinted on his palm, allowing him to control and renew the spell at will.
He flexed his hand, watching the golden light pulse faintly beneath his skin.
"So this… is the true nature of an Eternal Rune," he murmured, realization dawning. "A rune that exists forever."
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