Carter didn’t fell for Rune’s word.

Not immediately.

His hand remained half-raised, his fingers slightly curled as if already imagining the weight of the ring in his grasp. But instead of immediately accepting the deal, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Rune with sharp and calculating gaze.

"Interesting," he murmured. "But tell me, Rune Elisar... why should I believe you?"

The question hung in the air, cutting through the fragile stillness.

Around them, the warriors on both sides stood frozen in their place with their weapons ready and their magic simmering just beneath the surface. No one dared to move. No one dared to interrupt.

Rune didn’t answer right away. Instead, he let out a long, slow breath, and something in that single motion shifted.

Even Grace, watching from outside through the projection, felt the weight in it and the exhaustion of the quiet, buried pain.

For a fleeting moment, it didn’t even feel like an act.

"I didn’t always think this way," Rune began in a low, steady voice that was carrying something deeper beneath it. "There was a time I believed this ring was worth everything."

His fingers tightened slightly around the jade band.

"It gave me power," he continued. "Knowledge. Strength I didn’t have before. It made me someone capable of standing where I am now."

Carter said nothing. But his gaze didn’t leave Rune.

"So yes," Rune admitted. "I used it. I relied on it. And for a long time... I thought I could keep it no matter the cost."

Then a faint, bitter smile touched his lips as he added, "But the cost kept rising."

The words landed heavier. Sharper.

"My Master is dead because of it," he said quietly. "Hunted. Killed... for what he left behind."

A flicker of tension passed through the Magik Realm’s warriors.

Rune’s voice didn’t waver as he continued, "My team was captured. Tortured. Locked away for years... because I carried this."

His grip on the ring tightened further.

"I lost my home. Became a fugitive in a world that wasn’t mine. Spent years running... hiding... surviving."

Silence pressed in from all sides as everyone listened.

"I told myself it was worth it," Rune went on. "That I could protect it. That I could protect them." He let out a quiet breath. "But I was wrong."

The admission echoed, clear and unavoidable.

"There’s a limit," he said. "A point where power stops being worth the price." His gaze lifted, meeting Carter’s directly. "And I have reached that point."

Grace’s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched. Because she knew Rune was walking a dangerous line - Truth mixed with just enough intent to deceive.

And that made it convincing... dangerously so.

"I could keep fighting for this ring," Rune continued. "Keep risking everything. Everyone." Then he shook his head faintly. "But not at the cost of the people I care about."

His voice hardened just slightly as he glanced subtly toward Carter’s forces. "They may not mean anything to you. But to me... they are not expendable."

A heavy and measured silence followed, but then Carter’s lips curved and he spoke slowly, "...I see."

The skepticism in his gaze hadn’t vanished completely. But it had cracked just enough because Rune’s words aligned too well with what Carter already believed.

Rune Elisar was a warrior who valued loyalty, who held onto attachments, who would sacrifice power for people.

In Carter’s mind, that made him predictable, weak, and entirely believable.

"You would give up such a valuable power... for them?" Carter asked, his tone laced with faint amusement.

Rune didn’t hesitate.

"Yes."

It was a single word, firm and certain.

And Carter bought it, not fully but enough. "Very well," he said at last and a subtle shift rippled through both sides. "You have a deal."

Carefully controlled relief passed through the Magik Realm’s formation, and Carter’s gaze flicked briefly to the High Lord.

"And you," he said. "Don’t mistake this for mercy."

The High Lord remained still, silent... watching.

"I’ll let you leave today," Carter continued. "Every one of you." His voice darkened as he added, "But don’t grow comfortable, because I will come for you next."

The words echoed.

"I’ll take your seat," Carter added. "And your realm."

It was an open challenge.

The High Lord’s eyes didn’t waver as he replied, "If you can."

The air tightened again, but Carter only chuckled softly. "We’ll see." Then, he turned back to Rune and extended his hand.

"Now," he said. "The ring."

Everything stilled as the moment had come.

Rune took a slow step forward, the jade ring glinting faintly in his hand. But before he could take another step forward, he stopped.

Carter’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Is there a problem?" He asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Rune hesitated, just enough before he spoke, "There’s... one more thing."

That was enough to shift the mood instantly. Carter’s expression darkened and he warned, "Don’t push your luck, Elisar.

"This ring is the only leverage I have," Rune replied calmly. "If I’m giving it up... I need something in return... other than our original deal."

There was a pause, and then curiosity flickered in Carter’s eyes and he asked, "What is it?"

Rune lifted his free hand and a holographic image flickered to life above his palm, showing the ancient book.

The moment it appeared, Grace straightened. Her eyes were fixed on Carter’s face as she watched him, observing his reaction.

And Carter, he did react. It was subtle, almost imperceptible. But it was there.

A flicker passed through his eyes and his expression tightened for a second before everything was gone in an instant.

But he still wasn’t fast enough for Grace to not notice it. And if she had any little doubt left, it was dismissed by 2025.

[Reaction detected. Subject recognition confirmed.]

"Why do you want that?" Carter asked, his tone now sharper.

Rune didn’t hesitate as he answered with truth, "I’m looking for a way to mend the Earth’s veil."

Carter burst out into an open, mocking laughter. He actually looked amused. "You are trying to save that planet?" he said. "That worthless, collapsing world?"

His gaze turned almost amused. "It’s already beyond saving."

Rune didn’t respond. He just simply watched... waiting.

Carter waved a dismissive hand and said, "I don’t have it. Haven’t seen it for a long time." He shrugged and then added, "I don’t even remember where it went."

Outside-

Grace’s eyes hardened.

[Statement: False.]

2025’s voice was immediate, clear and certain.

Without wasting a second, Grace sent the information to Rune through the link.

"He’s lying."

Inside-

Rune’s fingers tightened around the ring.

His expression didn’t change. But something in his stance did... subtly, dangerously, and Carter noticed.

"What?" he asked, a hint of irritation slipping through.

Rune lifted the ring slightly higher, and then, he closed his fist around it tightly, making it’s faint glow flicker.

Carter’s eyes sharpened instantly. "Careful," he said.

But Rune didn’t back down. "If I don’t get the book," he said, his voice turning cold, "you don’t get the ring."

The air shifted again, becoming even more dangerous if even possible.

"You wouldn’t dare," Carter said, but this time, there was no amusement in his tone, only warning.

Rune met his gaze without flinching.

"Try me."

A thick and oppressive silence fell over them for a moment before Rune spoke again, his voice clear and loud.

"If I don’t get that book right now-" His grip tightened further, causing energy to crack faintly around the jade surface. "-I will destroy this ring."

The threat echoed through the entire battlefield.

And this time, no one doubted him.