It's been decades since the appearance of the runes in Axel's world.

After their discovery and the first investigations by some brilliant minds, their usage extended across Orixe and Eden.

Even though the methods used to create them and other related information are kept secret by the top organizations, anyone with a high enough level of cultivation would be able to get their hands on an inscribed item without much effort.

In the first years, the Esvert managed to get ahead in the research of the runes, followed by the Guburg and their tattoos, while leaving the Yuoko struggling with them.

But after the appearance of Sacro, a new faction under the direct command of Heaven, the greatest experts on the rune's field joined it, making this new power the reference for this field.

In Orixe, where the sacred archway rested, Sacro created a fortress surrounding it with the best materials and building techniques available in the whole world.

This fortress had the name "Castelo." Its structure had been built with base stone, a material found in the deepest layer of the underground. Those who have reached those depths and have witnessed this material in its natural state claim that the world's foundation itself is made of it, as once you descend enough into the underground, you will only find this type of material, and the more you dig into it, the stronger it becomes until you become unable to destroy it.

Castelo serves not only as the world's first line of defense but also as the main base of Sacro. Because of this, most of its members live there.

From it, cultivators' groups travel across the world to help solve problems, investigate the world's functioning, or commerce with the rest of the factions.

Inside Castelo, in one of the highest towers of the main castle, there was an office. A man in his forties sat behind a desk as he heard the reports from his subordinates.

"... and because of that, we will have a delay of about three days, but we trust that we will be able to make it work before the deadline anyway." the subordinate said.

"Before the new deadline, you mean, right? Because I have to remind you that you have already delayed this project for more than three months." The man said while looking up from the documents on his table to look at his subordinate.

The cultivator trembled slightly after hearing these words, before talking again.

"I'm sorry, Elder Nathan. When we estimated the first deadline, we didn't expect to find so many problems with the power supply, and the fact that more than half of my team members are new to this kind of project doesn't help at all." The man tried to justify himself.

"That's not my problem. We had three other teams interested in taking on this project, each with brilliant people on it, and we chose yours because we thought it was the best option.If you are unable to complete the task by the deadline this time, we will pass it on to the next group and reassign you to a less important task."Nathan said seriously.

"But Elder Nathan..."

"No buts. If you have time for excuses, you have time to continue working. Get out of here immediately before I decide to send you to investigate the icy snakes of the north ocean." Nathan threatened his subordinate.

"Yes, Sir," the man said before leaving the office as fast as he could.

As he left the room, two other people entered it.

"Wow, you sure were angry. If someone were to tell me twenty years ago that you would be shouting at someone because he missed a deadline, I wouldn't believe it." Travis said as he entered the room.

"Man, I fucking hate that guy. He's completely useless and got his position because his father is a big shot inside the Yuoko. If I become the leader of Sacro one day, I will make sure that people so incompetent don't reach important positions by any means," Nathan complained.

"Well, I'm sure you will become the leader one day. After all, your cultivation is only comparable to that of the top cultivators in the world." Marianne said, while laughing.

What she said was true. After all these years, Nathan managed to increase his cultivation by a large margin, reaching the peak of the eighth stage a few months ago. Because of this, he became one of the most important figures inside Sacro, and some even appointed him as the next leader of the faction.

"Well, cultivation is not the only parameter to determine who will be the next leader. There is also..." he tried to say before they heard a voice inside their heads.

"My children, the time has come. Sacro shall create an army with its thirty most powerful cultivators to cross the sacred archway and confront a great evil once again." The voice of Heaven said.