Chapter 416: Chapter 415- Pathetic

Twenty-three hours had passed.

Adrian stood on a tall ladder, carefully painting runes on top of the last plantation. It had been almost a full day since he arrived, and at last, everything was nearing completion.

He had already marked the other plantations, turning them into living structures that could defend themselves the moment mana flowed into the runes. They had tested the retaliation system several times, and “surprised” didn’t even begin to describe their reaction. Those fire beams and solar pillars carried enough raw force to wipe out a small battalion in an instant.

Along the way, Adrian had also installed the artifact that would give the crops the light they needed. The laborers helped set up the reflector, while Adrian himself fixed the artifact in place.

And naturally, he had to explain to the farmers and magicians how it worked—how long it could run, what to do if something malfunctioned, and how they could maintain it on their own. Everyone listened closely, writing down every detail.

They understood that these artifacts could be the difference between survival and extinction. This invention would reshape food production forever, freeing them from heavy manual work and unreliable sources of light.

Raven watched him from a distance, admiring the way he spoke to people—calm, clear, never losing his temper even when he had to repeat the technical parts over and over.

His ability to manage everything so smoothly was the reason they were able to rebuild and modify the plantations at such an incredible pace. And because of the golems he provided, the soldiers actually had time to rest before returning to patrol.

“Haah, finished with this one,” Adrian muttered as he hopped down from the ladder and wiped his sweat with the back of his hand.

Raven walked up to him with a towel, gently helping him wipe his face. “You did great. Once you wrap this up, let’s have a meal.”

There was only this last plantation left to connect with the artifact. After that, he needed to check each one—something he hadn’t been able to do while working nonstop. And then, finally, he would be done.

“I can’t promise about dinner,” Adrian sighed. “In an hour, the system will try to reconnect me with my world. I can’t miss that chance. If I do… who knows how long I’ll have to stay here.”

Raven already knew the system had been struggling to send him back—and the moment she learned that, a small part of her felt happy. Adrian was always welcome here. She would have been happy if he stayed for as long as he wanted.

But reality reminded her that this wasn’t his home. There were people waiting for him on his planet, and he was just as eager to return to them. So she pushed down her own feelings and silently prayed that the system would work and send him back safely.

“Well… at least some tea?” Raven asked, her tone softening.

Adrian smiled. “Yeah, I can have some tea.”

Raven smiled back and opened her mouth to say something—

When a thunderous blast shook the dome.

**BOOOOOM**

The sound came from outside. Everyone spun toward the source, just in time to see fragments of a golem flying through the air, blown apart into dust and broken pieces.

Adrian’s frown deepened. “That golem…”

It wasn’t supposed to fall apart like that. Not this fast and easily.

Heavy thuds shook the ground as the remaining golems marched toward the source of the blast. Their iron steps rolled like distant drums—

Then the night ripped open again.

**BOOOOM**

**BOOOOM**

**BOOOOOOM**

One after another, the golems burst apart before they could even swing an arm. No resistance. No counterattack. Each explosion scattered their stone limbs like someone was crushing them from the inside out, forcing them to self-destruct.

“Adrian…” Raven’s voice trembled as she watched him stride forward.

But he didn’t stop.

The brown-haired rune master walked straight into the storm of dust and debris, unshaken. Raven and a squad of soldiers rushed after him, hearts pounding, weapons drawn, waiting… bracing… for the army that had to be behind such overwhelming power.

A battalion.

A monster horde.

Something colossal.

It had to be.

The dust slowly thinned…

The air grew heavy…

Every soldier felt the pressure settle on their shoulders like a mountain.

And then—

A single silhouette stepped out.

Just one.

A tall, thin man emerged from the haze, every step echoing like a hammer on stone. His face was charred, skin darkened as if it had survived fire after fire.

Deep wrinkles hung off his features, giving him a hollow, almost ghostly look. His grey armour was cracked and scorched, clinging to a frame that seemed too fragile to hold such strength.

But his aura…

It moved like a storm—thick, crushing, ancient.

Raven stiffened and stepped beside Adrian, her hand instinctively drifting toward her weapon. The soldiers behind them struggled to even stay upright. Sweat rolled down their temples as their eyes locked onto the lone figure, unable to blink, unable to breathe.

One man had walked through their defenses.

One man had torn through their golems like they were made of sand.

And now he stood before them, silent…and observing.

“So… you are the one who has decided to play their messiah.”

The stranger’s voice dragged across the air—heavy, coarse, ancient.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “What are you supposed to be?”

A low hum escaped the being before he answered, “I am Adam… or at least, what remains of who I once was. And you…” His dim, burnt eyes sharpened. “You must be Avirin.”

Adrian stiffened. “How do you know that name?”

Adam lifted his arms and crossed them loosely, as if the conversation bored him. “I see beyond your skin. I look straight into your soul. The legendary Runesmith who proved so useful ages ago…” His lip curled slightly. “Now helping these traitors?”

Raven’s aura erupted like a wave of darkness. “Say that again and see what happens.”

Her pressure hit the soldiers behind her, forcing them to take several steps back. The sheer weight of her killing intent left no doubt about how she felt.

But Adam didn’t even glance her way.

She wasn’t worth his attention.

His eyes remained locked on Adrian.

“Tell me, Runesmith,” Adam continued, tone almost casual, almost curious, “what do you hope to gain by aiding these people?”

Adrian didn’t flinch. His voice stayed steady, sharp.

“What exactly do you gain from harming them? And since you appeared the moment I finished the plantations… I’m assuming the attack three days ago was your doing?”

The being didn’t even blink. “Correct. That ancient creature was under my control. I sent it to crush this pitiful attempt at survival these pathetic insects are clinging to.”

“You—!”

Raven lunged forward, but Adrian caught her arm just in time, pulling her back before she slammed into the barrier surrounding the dome.

Her eyes burned with fury, her aura crackling so violently that the air itself seemed to ripple. The ground trembled beneath her feet as she glared at Adam with a hatred old and raw.

“Pathetic?” she hissed through clenched teeth. “You call us pathetic?”

She took a step forward again, and Adrian had to hold her tighter—because one more inch and she might have torn through the barrier or through herself. Her fury wasn’t just anger; it was everything she had endured—loss, blood, fear, survival, every night that forced her to keep breathing when the world was falling apart.

Adrian tried to calm her, but her trembling arms and clenched jaw told him she couldn’t hear anything over the storm roaring inside her.

And he understood.

Adam’s words weren’t just insults. They were stepping on every sacrifice these people had made. Every corpse they had buried. Every hour they spent fighting just to stay alive.

It felt like he was mocking the graves they had cried over.

Mocking the friends they had lost.

Mocking the pain they carried every second of their waking lives.

The soldiers behind them looked just as shaken, fists trembling, faces twisted with anger and helpless rage. That single word—pathetic—cut deeper than any blade could.

Isabelle stepped forward to hold Raven.

Adrian then took a step closer and scowled at the being, “You are not going to harm these people, not now, not ever. I don’t know what’s your grudge against them but that doesn’t matter to me. These people are under my protection now and no one can harm them.”

The man hummed, cupping his chin he asked, “You believe something like this barrier could actually protect them?”

As he said, he slowly slashed his hand downward, completely splitting the barrier.

Adrian’s eyes widened as he saw the last line of defense getting easily taken down.

Adam sighed as he said, “First and last warning, Runesmith. Step aside or die.”

Adrian’s response was an axe in his left hand and a revolver in his right.

°°°°°°°°°

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