CH19: Rune Tattoo
***
Before his reincarnation, one of the major projects True_Sage had been developing was something known as the Smart Tattoo Project—or Smart-Tat, as the team affectionately called it.
His homeland's military had issued a call for next-generation embedded technologies that could redefine the battlefield of information warfare—particularly in espionage, data security, and decentralised communication.
Numerous concepts were pitched to the brass at the Department of Defence.
One idea proposed a tattoo embedded with a proprietary barcode or QR code pattern. When scanned by a specialised device, the pattern would trigger access to a remote databank—hosted either on a private server or cloud storage system. Simple. Secure. But... underwhelming.
Another approach involved implanting a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip just beneath the skin—usually in soft tissue like the forearm or shoulder. A tattoo would then be inked over the site—serving purely as camouflage or a visual marker. Data could then be accessed with a compatible NFC reader or smartphone. Functional, yes—but lacking flair.
Alex's design team, however, wasn't satisfied with the safe route. They were tech visionaries—and unapologetic anime nerds. Inspired by the Ancestral and Totemic Tattoos often seen on orcs and barbarians in their favourite games and comics, they asked a simple question:
What if the tattoo wasn't just a key to power… but power itself?
Their proposed system involved tattoo ink laced with nanotech—specifically, nanochips capable of storing and processing data. The ink mixture also included conductive materials like graphene, which formed functional circuits within the skin.
The result? A living circuit—one that turned skin into an active electronic interface.
But the team didn't stop there.
These Smart-Tats weren't just data storage. They could be programmed with sensors, micro-communications, or even set to deliver viral code or disruptive programs when scanned—offensive and defensive cyberwarfare tools, right on your body.
Needless to say, their proposal wowed the generals.
With just a little corporate lobbying, the Smart-Tat Project was greenlit.
And in the final months before his unexpected reincarnation, Alex and his design team of anime-obsessed nerds had completed a working prototype.
-
Why was any of this relevant?
Simple.
Alex now lived in a world ruled by swords and magic—a world where Totemic and Ancestral Tattoos were real and deeply ingrained in the cultures of many races.
Wildkin species such as Orcs, Ogres, and Trolls bore ancestral tattoos passed down through bloodlines. These tattoos weren't decorative—they were sources of strength, enhancing the bearer's physical and magical capabilities.
And yet, humans had no such equivalent.
Back on Earth, he had nearly succeeded in creating Smart Tattoos for a mana-less world. So why couldn't he do the same here—where mana was abundant and magic was reality?
He retrieved the last item from his bag—a tightly rolled Rune Scroll.
"This is a Rune Tattoo Scroll," Alex announced. He paused, then smiled. "Rather than explain it, it's easier—and way more fun—to show you."
He turned to Merlin. "Can you teleport us to the outer ring farms? I've set up a demonstration there."
Merlin gave a short nod. His perception spread outwards in a wave, reaching for the location Alex had marked. Within moments, he locked on and opened a shimmering portal.
The trio stepped through into a humble stretch of farmland on the outskirts of the Enclave.
The land was plain—rows of tilled soil, wooden fences, and minimal infrastructure. Mundane crops were grown here in small plots. Surprisingly, they still used beasts of burden—oxen—to help with the work.
The Enclave certainly had magical tools that could replace these methods, but this settlement served a different purpose. It wasn't just about growing food.
It was about the people.
These farms kept the Enclave's ordinary, non-professional citizens—those neither trained in magic nor the sword—engaged and provided for. Occasionally, one of these mundane folk gave birth to a child with mage or warrior potential. They were the hidden seedbeds of new blood, and so they were treated with quiet dignity and support.
Alex had rented this small plot to test something special: his Rune-Tech version of the Smart Tattoo project.
Two large oxen stood at rest, each harnessed to a plough.
Alex stepped forward and guided them into motion, his movements familiar and controlled. The oxen obeyed, trudging forward and dragging their ploughs through the soil.
It quickly became obvious—one of the oxen was much stronger than the other. It worked faster, dug deeper, and barely strained.
Alex stopped them both.
"Grade 0 Spell: Sleep."
He muttered the incantation, and both beasts collapsed into gentle slumber.
Stepping forward, he pressed the Rune Scroll against the side of the weaker ox, just behind its foreleg.
The scroll flared to life, glowing with a soft but intense light.
When it faded, the ox's fur had burned away in a precise circle—and in its place was a Rune tattoo inked directly into the flesh. The symbol was elegant and alien, pulsing faintly with mana.
Zora leaned closer, brow raised. "That's a Rune... but it looks strange."
Merlin's eyes narrowed. "Is that... a Greater Rune?"
"Yes," Alex replied proudly. "But not just any Greater Rune. It's designed to bind to a living being—and enhance its physical capacity by drawing directly from ambient mana."
He dispelled the Sleep spell.
The oxen stirred, groggily rising to their feet. Alex urged them forward once more.
This time, the previously weaker ox surged into motion. Its steps were smoother, stronger—faster.
It ploughed effortlessly, leaving the other ox behind in both speed and precision.
Even the ox seemed confused by its newfound vitality. Its wide eyes and enthusiastic gait suggested it felt the difference.
It was like it had been reborn—young again, stronger than ever, and ready to work all day without strain.
Zora and Merlin exchanged glances, then turned to stare at Alex.
As if on cue, with a confident smile tugging at his lips, Alex continued his explanation.
"As you both know, the Fury lands border territories held by Wildkin—many of whom use Totemic Tattoos to empower themselves. That always puzzled me. Why do only certain Wildkin races possess such tattoos? Why don't the arguably more intelligent races—humans, elves, dwarves—use them?"
He paused, glancing at Merlin and Zora.
"These tattoos... they're much too similar to Runes. In fact, some in the magical academia already theorise that they are Runes—just in a different script, much like dialects in a different language. So why can't we replicate them?"
He let the question hang in the air a moment before answering it himself.
"That's when I realised something important. Orcs, Trolls, Ogres... these Wildkin who wield Totemic Tattoos all share one trait: incredibly strong and resilient bodies. Meanwhile, races like humans, elves, and dwarves—despite their intelligence—have comparatively fragile physiques."
He pointed toward the ploughing oxen in the distance.
"In that case, the answer became clear. The raw power encoded in these tattoos puts immense strain on the body. Without the necessary physical resilience, the bearer would break down—possibly even die."
Merlin gave a slow, almost unconscious nod. The logic was sound.
"But then I asked myself: why hasn't anyone solved this problem? Runes have been researched by humans, elves, and dwarves for millennia. Surely someone would've tried adjusting the power output to suit weaker bodies?"
He shook his head. "No one succeeded. Not until I completed the OmniRune Core and my affinity with Runes deepened... that's when I had an epiphany."
He held up a finger.
"The tattoos used by Wildkins are crude Runic Circuits. They lack the complexity needed to regulate the toll they take on a weaker body. Only an Array has that level of precision and control."
"But that brings us to a new challenge... Arrays are massive. You can't draw something that intricate on a human body. It's simply too big and too complex."
Then came the smirk.
"Well... that used to be the case—until I created my Greater Runes."
Merlin's eyes gleamed with sudden understanding.
"You compressed an Array Circle... into a Greater Rune."
Alex grinned. "Exactly. I call it the Rune Tattoo."
He gestured toward the ox again. "This one's a Strength Tattoo. It boosts physical strength by twenty to fifty percent. And this is just the beginning. I plan to create Rune Tattoos for other attributes—Agility, Endurance, Vitality, Perception... and more."
He crouched slightly, growing more animated.
"One more thing. I also modified the Detection Spell used by Enchanters, Forgesmiths, and Runesmiths. Normally it's used to check how many enchantments or runes an item can support."
He straightened, pride in his voice.
"My version can scan living beings—animals, people. It determines how many Rune Tattoos a body can safely bear. A quick scan after I emerged from seclusion showed that the average person in the Tower could support three Rune Tattoos."
Zora's eyes widened in realisation. "That means—"
"With the right combination of tattoos," Alex said, "someone could overwhelm their peers at the same level—or even take on those ranked higher."
"Exactly!" Zora chimed in. "It would be a complete game-changer!"
Alex nodded, his grin widening. "And these are just Tier I Rune Tattoos. As I grow stronger and more skilled, I'll develop higher-tier versions—more powerful, more refined, more... revolutionary."
He turned to Merlin, now visibly eager. "So, Master—did I meet your expectations?"
Merlin remained silent, his gaze shifting back to the previously old and tired ox. The beast was ploughing with the energy of youth, each motion fluid and powerful. If a single Rune Tattoo could do this...
What could two accomplish?
Three?
Four?
His mind raced—not with excitement, but with possibilities... and consequences.
What if the bearer wasn't a beast of burden?
What if it was a professional—a trained mage or warrior?
In a battle between equals, Rune Tattoos could be the deciding factor. With multiple tattoos, a talented individual could even defeat opponents far above their level.
But then Merlin's eyes narrowed.
He'd noticed something Alex hadn't.
"Tell me, Alex," he said slowly, "can your Rune Tattoos be used... by non-professionals?"
***