Analytic

Richard cut the finished Mana Armament rune into five parts; although it wasn’t a set, this rune was spread across different parts of the body. Some of the segments were manageable, but the two parts on the back would require some assistance to attach.

Although this was her first time attaching runes to someone, Rosie carefully listened to Richard’s detailed explanation and made no mistakes. She applied the prepared ointments on the fragmented rune and its corresponding locations on his body before holding them in place with both hands, securely installing them in the proper positions. An intense light burst forth from the individual components, several dozen energy circuits searing into Richard’s body. The entire rune gradually sunk beneath his skin and melded with him, near-imperceptible patterns the only hint of its existence.

Richard clenched both his fists, sweat pouring from his forehead— the process of a rune melding with one’s body was...