Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday

Chapter 365: Lies and Deception

Carter’s warning landed across the hallway with a heaviness that had the Magik warriors gripping their weapons tightly, but none of them made a move. Instead, they all looked at Captain Elisar, waiting for his reaction.Rune let a small smile stretch across his lips. It was subtle, yet undeniable. And for some unknown reason, it unsettled Carter.

"Don’t worry. I won’t give you that chance." Rune spoke softly, but his words held a kind of surety that didn’t match the current situation.

Right at that moment, Rune finally heard the words inside his head he had been waiting to hear.

[Integration complete: 100%.]

The moment the system’s voice finished, everything changed. A surge of power erupted from the ring, but instead of spreading outward, it moved inward.

It rushed into Rune’s body like a flood breaking through a dam, violent and overwhelming. His veins burned. His senses sharpened to an almost painful degree. Every inch of his being felt like it was being torn apart and reforged at the same time.

His breath hitched slightly, and it took every ounce of his control to not his expression shift. The last thing they needed was Carter to sense something wasn’t right about this entire situation.

The thought barely formed before the intensity spiked again, threatening to overwhelm him completely.

For a fraction of a second, he nearly lost control. But at the very last seconds he felt another presence entering his body.

This one was softer, calmer, steady, and familiar.

This second stream of power flowed into him gently, weaving through the chaos inside him like a guiding hand. It didn’t suppress the jade ring’s power, but balanced it, smoothed and anchored it.

It was none other than Grace helping him through the integration.

Her energy wrapped around his, easing the strain, stabilizing the surge that threatened to break him apart.

And then, he heard her soft, clear voice inside his head.

"Relax."

It wasn’t a command, but the word still carried weight.

"Don’t fight it, Rune. Let it settle."

Rune exhaled slowly and did exactly as she asked from him. And almost instantly, he felt the chaos within him began to steady. Though it didn’t completely disappeared, it was still enough for him to get a hold on himself and not completely lose himself.

"Good," Grace’s voice came again, quieter now. "Now hand the ring to him."

"Elisar."

Carter’s voice snapped through the corridor, sharp and clearly impatient. His expression had darkened.

"You have delayed long enough," he said, his power already beginning to rise around him. "Don’t make me finish this myself."

The threat was real... immediate. He was done waiting.

Rune didn’t respond. Instead, he opened his palm fully and the jade ring sat right there.

And only the did he spoke the words Carter had been probably dying to hear at this point. "Let’s finish the exchange."

Carter’s gaze flicked to the ring. Then back to Rune. There was still suspicion in his eyes, but his greed overruled it.

"Finally," he muttered before extending his hand again.

The ancient book hovered above his palm, its worn pages carrying centuries of knowledge.

Both watched each other carefully as the moment stretched.

"Same time," Carter said and Rune nodded once. There was no hesitation, no resistance from either side as they started the exchange.

The book slid through the air toward Rune, while the ring left Rune’s hand and started gliding toward Carter.

Time seemed to slow.

Every eye in the corridor locked onto the exchange.

The distance closed—

Closer—

Closer—

And then—

Both reached out.

Both grabbed.

Rune’s fingers closed around the book.

Carter’s hand wrapped around the ring.

The exchange—

Complete.

The moment the book was in Rune’s grasp—

[Scanning initiated.]

2025 moved instantly.

The system didn’t wait.

Didn’t hesitate.

Data surged.

Pages flipped rapidly—not physically, but digitally—every word, every symbol, every hidden layer of information being captured at once.

Rune didn’t even look down.

He didn’t need to.

Because within seconds—

[Scanning complete.]

The entire contents of the book—

Copied.

Stored.

Secured.

Across from him—

Carter froze.

Just for a second.

As his fingers tightened around the jade ring.

He had it.

After centuries of searching.

Of planning.

Of waiting.

It was finally—

His.

A slow breath left him.

Almost reverent.

His grip tightened further, as if afraid it might vanish if he loosened it even slightly.

And then—

He smiled.

A wide, satisfied, almost manic smile.

"Finally..." he murmured.

His eyes lifted.

Meeting Rune’s.

There was triumph in them now.

Victory.

Absolute and complete.

Without warning—

He flicked his wrist.

Power surged.

The book in Rune’s hands—

Ignited.

Flames erupted from its pages, burning bright and fierce.

"—!"

One of the Magik warriors shouted, stepping forward instinctively.

But it was too late.

The ancient pages blackened instantly, crumbling under the unnatural fire. The cover cracked, the bindings dissolved—

And within seconds—

The book was gone.

Reduced to ash.

Then nothing.

The corridor fell silent.

For a brief moment.

And then—

"You—!" one of the warriors snapped, fury breaking through. "You backstabbing—!"

Carter laughed.

Loud.

Unrestrained.

"You actually believed me?" he said between laughs. "After everything?"

His gaze swept across them.

Mocking.

Amused.

"I’ve waited centuries for this moment," he continued. "Centuries."

He lifted the ring slightly.

Admiring it.

"And now... I finally have it."

His smile widened.

"There is nothing left to bargain."

The words hit hard.

The Magik warriors stiffened.

Understanding settled in.

Heavy.

Unavoidable.

He never intended to let them leave.

Not from the beginning.

Not even for a second.

And now—

Their only leverage—

Was gone.

Carter’s laughter faded.

Replaced by something colder.

More dangerous.

"Kill them," he said simply.

His forces moved instantly.

Weapons raised.

Power igniting.

The battlefield tensed once more, seconds away from erupting again.

But Carter—

Didn’t wait.

He was already focused on something else.

The ring.

He raised it slightly.

Studying it.

Feeling it.

Then—

Without hesitation—

He slipped it onto his finger.

The jade settled into place.

And Carter closed his eyes briefly.

Waiting.

For the power.

The surge.

The transformation.

The reward for everything he had done.

Everything he had sacrificed.

A second passed.

Then another.

Then—

Nothing.

His brows furrowed.

Slightly.

He focused harder.

Channeling his energy into the ring.

Trying to awaken it.

To claim it.

But—

Nothing.

No response.

No power.

No connection.

The ring...

Was empty.

Carter’s eyes snapped open.

The smile on his face—

Gone.