Rune Magic

Rune Stone.

Plain and unadorned, its light contained within.

If Master Drumm had not pointed it out, Chen Ji probably would never have noticed that such a rune stone existed.

However.

The moment Chen Ji approached the display case, the Rune Stone immediately lit up with a sharp gleam, emitting a mysterious ripple.

"Ancient One."

"Where did this rune stone come from?"

Chen Ji's heart began to race.

He had discovered a magical item destined for him!

"The Rune Stone..."

"It was a gift Odin gave to Agamotto. Through this rune stone, Agamotto mastered Rune Script and established the magic array system."

"However, aside from Agamotto, no one has been able to awaken this rune stone."

"And yet, it has resonated with you."

"It seems..."

"This was Heaven's arrangement."

The Ancient One smiled.

Then, she opened the glass case, took out the unassuming Rune Stone, and held it out before Chen Ji.

"A gift Odin gave to Agamotto...?"

Chen Ji accepted the rune stone, his heart jolting.

He had never imagined that this rune stone had such an extraordinary origin!

Even the book Encyclopedia of Magic Arrays had drawn upon Rune Magic?

Rune Magic.

It was far more mysterious than Secret Art Magic!

Legend had it that Odin sacrificed his right eye and hung upside down from the World Tree for nine days and nine nights before obtaining these mysterious runes.

Rune.

In Norse Mythology, it carried the meaning of secrets and mystery!

Rune Script was also known as runic writing.

It had been passed down to humanity by Heimdall.

In WandaVision, the evil witch Agatha had suppressed Wanda's Chaos Magic through Rune Script!

One could even engrave Rune Script onto objects, granting them different magical properties.

It could turn the mundane into the miraculous!

It possessed all kinds of unbelievable, powerful effects!

Even Thor's Hammer bore a great number of runes, which was why it possessed its unbreakable divine power!

Asgard.

It was even older than Ta Lo and Kamar-Taj.

It was hailed as the realm of the Aesir!

If Chen Ji could master Rune Power, he would truly defy fate, doing what others couldn't and becoming a master of the secret arts!

"Chen."

"Congratulations."

Master Drumm praised him warmly.

He had long known that Chen Ji was exceptional.

From beginning to end, he had never shown the slightest contempt or neglect.

However.

Sally Valence, Eva Feynman, Doren Gale, and David Simmons only now realized why the Ancient One regarded Chen Ji so highly.

She had utterly disregarded propriety and appearances.

Chen Ji's talent for the secret arts, his Mutant ability...

One could imagine that the truth was probably enough to shock the Hidden World!

"Chen."

"I hope you will remain true to your original aspirations."

"Remember your mission."

"I will remain at Kamar-Taj for some time yet."

"If you have any other questions, come find me directly."

The Ancient One smiled faintly.

After spending this time with him, she had come to value Chen Ji's future immensely.

If Stephen Strange had not come to Kamar-Taj, the title of next Sorcerer Supreme would probably have been passed on to Chen Ji!

And bringing Chen Ji to the New York Sanctum's storeroom was no different from using lavish treatment to win over a talented person, ensuring Professor X would not lure him away!

Who would stand by and watch a future Sorcerer Supreme, a top-tier Mutant, change sides halfway through?

That would be a burden Kamar-Taj could not bear.

"Alright."

"Thank you, Sorcerer Supreme."

Chen Ji bowed.

His gratitude toward the Ancient One was beyond words.

Even without the Rune Stone, he had never planned on switching sides.

X Academy?

Pah!

Not even a dog would go there!

"Farewell, Sorcerer Supreme."

Daniel Drumm, Sally Valence, Eva Feynman, Doren Gale, and David Simmons watched as the Ancient One stepped through a portal.

I'm so mad!

She didn't even acknowledge me!

Isn't her favoritism toward Chen way too obvious?

Sally Valence's expression was complicated.

The treatment she received and the treatment Chen Ji received were worlds apart.

Faced with such unfairness, Sally nearly broke down!

"Chen."

"Hurry up and study Rune Magic."

"If you gain anything from it, don't forget to give us a bargain!"

The bearded sorcerer Doren slung an arm around Chen Ji's shoulders, acting as though they had known each other for ages.

He winked at Chen Ji, and his intentions were obvious to everyone!

"Ahem."

"I heard that if runes are engraved onto objects..."

"Those objects can gain incredible magical properties."

"Chen."

"I believe in you."

Eva Feynman and David Simmons also wore expectant expressions.

Clearly.

Everyone was preparing to freeload!

"Don't worry."

"If I master Rune Magic, I definitely won't forget any of you!"

Chen Ji held the Rune Stone in his hand and forced a smile.

"Chen."

"Don't delay."

"And..."

"Remember to protect the Rune Stone. This is a gift Odin gave to Agamotto."

"It must be priceless."

Master Drumm controlled the situation perfectly.

Then, a calm look appeared in his eyes as he patiently urged them on.

"See you all later."

Chen Ji waved and ran into his room.

The door was locked tight.

He immediately began eagerly studying the mysteries of the Rune Stone.

He did not notice in the slightest just how awful Sally Valence's expression had become!

"Isn't he my partner?"

Sally gritted her teeth in fury.

Chen Ji raised the Rune Stone and examined it carefully.

He found that the stone was dull gray and surprisingly heavy in his hand.

Mysterious symbols and script flickered faintly across its surface.

Yet he could never make out what the symbols truly looked like.

This made him mutter to himself.

"How am I supposed to master the rune knowledge within the Rune Stone?"

"Could it be..."

Chen Ji's eyes lit up.

He sat cross-legged where he was.

In an instant.

He manifested a Soul Anchor and viciously stabbed it into the Rune Stone.

Boom!

A roar of thunderous noise erupted.

The scene before Chen Ji's eyes immediately changed beyond recognition. Countless brilliant lights surged and flashed as streak after streak of meteors shot into the sky.

Looking closely, the starlight appearing before him was actually made up of magical runes!

The magical runes shone with radiant light, releasing vast, tidal waves of magical energy!

Chen Ji's gaze was sharp.

He carefully committed the outlines of every magical rune to memory.

With the [Academic Prodigy] talent, he possessed Total Recall. Yet even with Total Recall, he could not instantly memorize every magical rune...

Because the magical runes were alive!

They continued flickering and shifting.

Soon, Chen Ji felt a wave of weightlessness. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in his room.

The Rune Stone had also dimmed.

It seemed to have lost all its magic.

"This is bad."

"I haven't memorized all the runes yet..."

"Did I already use up all the Rune Stone's magic?"

Chen Ji was frantic inside.

This thing...

Was actually a single-use consumable?!

He had only memorized a handful of runes.

And Chen Ji still did not understand what they meant!

How exactly had Agamotto deciphered Rune Magic?

Agamotto's talent trait was probably ten thousand times stronger than his!

"Ah."

Chen Ji let out a quiet sigh.

But then he noticed the Rune Stone producing an almost imperceptible suction.

It seemed to be drawing in magic...

Could it be!

Did the Rune Stone have a "wireless charging" function?

Chen Ji's face lit up with delight.

He knew the Rune Stone could not possibly be that simple!

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