Chapter 24: The Next More Recruits

Both Seed and Leroy cast both Protection Mist and Mother Earth within their Runes respectively to raise their defense power and to be protected from any forms of powerful magic. Sean then attacks with his Tokkosho while Lene shoots explosive tasers to make Tsubame shoots projectiles with her twin fans. Suddenly, the Bone Dragon unleashes its Final Flame without using the Rune to damage the group. Thanks to Seed's Protection Mist from his Flowing Rune, they nullified the magic.

"Your protection magic really works on it, red head." Sean smirked in delight as Lene counters with the same magic using her Divine Dagger Rune while casting Flying Arrow which is more effective against the undead and darkness.

Suddenly, Seed's sword is unexpectedly glowed much to their surprise and Lene sees this.

"What's going on, Seed?"

"I don't know... my weapon glows for a moment." Seed replied in a shock as his sword transforms into a black sword resembling one of the black swords during Jowy's final spell Hungry Friend from his Black Sword Rune.

"No kidding your sword becomes black colored." Sean reacted until both dodges the Bone Dragon's bite as Seed unleashes a powerful assault by taking multiple slashes in a red aura as the last blow contains a charging slash, blasting it out in a flash of light.

The Bone Dragon immediately disappears in darkness and Seed's sword reverts back into a normal weapon. The group noticed that Yuber is gone after summoning and Zelstan sees him.

"That man disappeared after you beat that horrible creature."

"So this is combination number five. Is it because of Lene using the spell similar to Lord Jowy's final spell? Yeah... I remember Lord Jowy is using his most powerful spell from his Black Sword Rune which is the Hungry Friend and Lene's Flying Arrow bore a close resemblance into it. I think that she and I were in complete sync." Seed mumbles after learning within his Rune Combination which is the Darkness Fiend.

One of the soldiers inform Lene that Adelbert had been withdraw his forces after the group manage to get through. They were relieved while Lene looked at the Rune on her right hand and remembering about what Yuber had said to her that wielding the True Rune is to become accursed and she herself becoming an accursed person and became upset about this.

Back at the Higheast Palace, Lars and the others had discussed about the enemy's next move is where Adelbert decided to eliminate Lene in the war battles. He even let Lene to get rest tomorrow morning after fighting against the monster summoned by Yuber. He was glad that South Window is now safe in their hands. Seed had been overhearing their discussions and noticed how upset Lene is after Yuber had informed her about the True Runes due to his hatred against them.

During the night, Lene was in her sleeping clothes while wondering outside of the Palace. She looked on her right hand while getting upset because of Yuber's words as Seed came to see her.

"Can't sleep in the night, Lene?"

Lene nods while looking at him and becoming sad as she emotionally responds to his word.

"Is he telling the truth that the True Runes would become immortal? I hate to see all of my loved ones are gonna die in natural causes while me had never been aged. Could someone know about all this."

"Lene, I think I should tell you everything regarding about at my time. Didn't you know that both Lord Riou and Lord Jowy also obtained half of those True Runes?" Seed said and finally decided to tell her everything. "Yuber was right about the True Runes, they are powerful Runes but at the cost of becoming immortal. Culgan and I had saw Lord Jowy utilizes the Black Sword Rune before he joined us to battle against Lord Riou and his Allied Army while having alliance with Gorudo and his Matilda Knights. He wouldn't say to us about his personal reasons for using that Rune just to save Lady Jillia. I always have questions in my mind despite I was acting ruthless to my enemies."

"You can't sleep too because of the incident earlier?" Lene said while looking at him which Seed looked on his sword and becomes troubled after transforming into a black sword which he tells her.

"It's probably from your incarnation Rune, Lene. It seems connected because your Rune is the incarnation of the Rune of the Beginning. Due to the fact is the combined powers of both the Bright Shield and Black Sword Rune. Maybe because I was very loyal to Lord Jowy and why my sword had turned into a pitch black in a red light. Now I understand... cause you and I we're in complete sync because of our love between us."

"..."

Therefore, a moving sword appears on both of them which Seed defends her while wielding the sword as it spoke.

"Don't feel upset about that, young lady. Your Rune is just like me. I'm the Star Dragon Sword and I'm the incarnation of the Night Rune who is also one of the 27 True Runes. You're not gonna have an immortality if your Rune was just an incarnation."

"Wait a second, you're the weapon that Viktor had used. But I don't understand of how you knew about Lene's Rune." Seed points out about the weapon which Viktor had previously used which it replies.

"Her powers enables her to use the combined powers of both the Bright Shield and the Black Sword Rune which is the Rune of the Beginning. Because of that power, she is able to resurrect dead people and why the current wielders wouldn't have this ability cause they wielded half of its power."

"Now that makes sense..." Seed said became understanding about the weapon's explanation and he mumbles about Jowy's current fate. "Despite our deaths, if Lord Jowy dies in the duel to the death with Lord Riou and that would mean he is dying. He would give the Black Sword Rune to Lord Riou as it means to complete the entire True Rune and Riou never used that Rune after he mourned over his friends' deaths."

"I don't wish to act arrogant because you're a noble person. I will be entrusted to you so that I will find someone who wanted to wield me." The Star Dragon Sword decided to be in Lene's possession so that he could find someone who is worthy to use the weapon.

"Lene, I think I will accompany you if you wanna go out of your own. This is how your father had entrusted me for." Seed said decided to accompany her which she nods.

"Yes..."

"You need to cheer up, Lene. It will be wasted your beautiful looks if you're always getting upset." Seed smiled while teasing her which he leaves her.

Lene watches him leave whenever he teases her nicely and she continues to look on her Rune so that she can find a right potential to use the Rune. The next day, Sean looked to see Kharam arrived at the palace along with Skyla and along with him it's their Captain to see Lars and Tougou. Both Lene and Seed are travelling in different town. At Kuskus Town, they meet Himura, a wandering samurai as he looked at Seed's sword which is powerful enough to sharpen and decided to join at Lene's side. Then they travel to Coronet Town where they meet Hyube Prime, a descendant of Georg Prime and the master of Iaijutsu.

"Hey, young lady. Your face looks troubled or something. Is someone bothers you?"

"No, not really..."

"I apologize for making such as fuss, My name is Hyube Prime, my ancestor is a powerful Iaijutsu who now became as a travelling military soldier who lent his strength to someone involved in the war games." Hyube said finally introduces himself to Lene. "You must be the princess of Silveria Kingdom, am I right?"

Hyube looked at the sky within the ocean and seeing his decision to join at her side.

"You have a strong desire to fight, young lady. I think hiring me is a better option, I know how humorous my ancestor is but I'm like him who is very strong. What do you say?"

"You think so."

"Yeah, of course... I'd like you to tell you something important." Hyube said and he faces Lene. "Once this fight is over, I'm gonna wield my sword for the sake of the royal princess. As payment, not to give up the fight. I sworn to battle on your side, right?"

Hyube finally joins at Lene's side and decided to stick up on her group.

They later meet the trader named Frankie at Two River City who decided to join at the reform Higheast Army and letting his brother to take his place. Then, a lycan named Sheen. At the Forest Village, they meet Elisa, a professional singer who shows to Lene her singing and decided to join the group to find three other members of the band. At Radat Town, they meet an female aristocrat named Miranda who wields a rapier and a hunter named Kraven. Therefore, most people are there to see two people from the Silverian Kingdom which happens to be both Cyril and Cedric.

"I need to find King Lars... Did anyone know where is the King of Silveria. I can't believe that wretched bastard son Doug had overthrow him."

"Lene, who are those two guys? They look like both Kiba and Klaus when they are in our side in the Highland Kingdom." Seed pointed out on both of them which Lene knows who they are.

"That was Cyril, Seed... He is the respective leader of the Silverian Kingdom and he is very loyal to my father. He is known as Thunder God of Silveria."

"That put a ring into it... He sounded a lot like Kiba when he spoke to Riou like that." Seed smirked over explanations but Lene goes to see Cyril. "Wait, Lene..."

"If you were looking for my father, He was in the Higheast Palace."

Cyril was surprised to see Lene's appearance and was happy to see them okay. Seed looked on to see them.

"Lene, you have become a fine beautiful princess. It seems that Lars is indeed teaching you in military combat. I would expect that Doug would make a blood war throughout both Dunan and now he plans to infiltrate Harmonia as well." Cyril said as he looked at Seed and noticed him he's from a different country as he informs her. "This young lad who looks after you, seems to had a disposition to cause more trouble. You have to observe him well."

"Yes... Seed is not going to hurt me." Lene said knowing of his presence and Cyril decided to join at her side.

"I decided to join with you because of our loyalty to your father Lars. I must stop all the misdeeds made by Doug."

"Me too, your highness."

Back at the palace, Seed was annoyed when some people really thinks he's the enemy and becoming heelish towards her as Lene sees him.

"Who does he think he is?! I'm trying to redeem myself and now they still think I'm a real threat...!"

"Don't say that, Seed. They noticed you because of your horrible temper. It is already on the history books because of your ruthless demeanor."

"Now you were saying that I'm ruthless, Lene..." Seed grunted angrily.

"How can I say this to you if you were acting too harsh?"

As both of them had an intense argument until someone shoots an arrow on Lene only for Seed to tackle her to the ground.

"DAMN IT!" Seed angrily raises his brow when that arrow shot comes from Darius.

"Despite your behavior, you're still able to save the princess."

"Darius..."

"Adelbert is about to infiltrate this palace to destroy the Ashitares. It was directly ordered by our current King, Doug Ashitare."

As Darius leaves, Seed was angered since they wanted to eliminate Lene's family and wanted to take destruction of Higheast.

"..."

"Lene, we have to inform your father about this, quickly." Seed said while helping her up as he looked at the sky and vowing to protect her and her family from any forms of killing attempt as he angrily states while clenching his fists. "I maybe ruthless to my soldiers as the 3rd General of the Highland Kingdom. I maybe an enemy but I won't allow them to kill you and your family. Both Highland Kingdom and the Higheast Province are one of the same country that I ever lived. I will protect you at all costs!"