Legacy of the Dark Sage

Nolan summoned several black spikes with gold and silver accents, which flew in the air, attacking Ruin's summoned black beasts.

The beasts Ruin summoned, resembled a one-horned wolf, a medium-sized beast found in Archadia possessing wind magic. However, Ruin's beasts had larger frames, and instead of wind magic, they spat out black flames. Obviously, these beasts were not native to the Human plane but to one of Ruin's planes.

Two one-horned black wolves appeared on each side of Nolan and breathed out black flames. Without so much of a movement, ten by ten inches of hexagonal-shaped black plates materialized around Nolan, instantly forming a barrier to block their attack. After which, silver-colored concentrated magic shot off from the plates and pierced the one-horned black wolves' bodies.

,m The wolves let out pitiful roars before disintegrating in the air.

Ruin evaded some of the black spikes that flew toward him while watching his summoned beasts being chased around by the rest. His expression turned livid, seeing how these black spikes could easily pierce and destroy his beasts as if they were made of paper.

Although Ruin's summoned beasts appeared to be created from the mist, the truth was they were not. The mist-like energy covering their bodies was attributed to them being scourge beasts. After all, his beasts were long dead and had become nourishments to his magic.

Ruin found Nolan's magic perverse. At the same time, he sensed the latter's magic level was high. If not the same with him, after being suppressed by the Sovereign's Cradle, maybe even higher.

'A Sage?' He wondered with a frown. 'Could the Human plane have produced a Sage while already possessing a Sovereign?'

A plane would only produce one Sovereign at a time. The reason behind this logic was still being debated in the Lower and Higher planes. One said it was because a plane's natural energy and resources could only sustain one Sovereign. Another said it was to preserve the law of balance. If a plane produced a Sage that could advance to a Sovereign when it already had a Sovereign, these two would destroy the plane's balance.

It was similar to an old saying: A servant cannot serve two masters. The servant being the plane, while the master was the Sovereign.

Regardless of the reason, when a Sage was born, it usually happened after a Sovereign died. Obviously, the Human Plane's Sovereign was still alive and kicking for the Sovereign Cradle to activate. Howcome there was also a Sage?

As for the existence of the Soul Emperor and the Void Master, Ruin was aware their existence defied logic. The Human plane's balance would not be affected by their presence because they possess ancient magic. Their level would not be measured using normal standards.

The Human plane really was special. Not only was it able to adapt the magic laws from other planes, thus, not restricting outsiders like Ruin from summoning their magic, but it was also where a human wielding ancient magic could appear.

While Ruin was bothered by Nolan's level, the latter was also deep in thought.

Nolan's experiences in the Tower of Tribulations made him aware that the five specialties of a mage were a general concept in all the Lower planes. There were slight differences, mainly with a plane sometimes favoring one of these specialties over the others. An excellent example was the Beast plane, where most of their mages were Summoners.

However, some planes were not limited to having five specialties. Such planes were located in the Higher planes, like the Dragon plane.

In any case, Nolan found Ruin's magic and specialty different. Could this guy's native plane locate in the Higher planes? If it was, then dealing with this guy without the Sovereign's Cradle would be tricky.

Unbeknownst to Nolan, Ruin's native plane was indeed located in the Higher planes. Unfortunately, because of the great War of the Sovereign that happened more than a thousand years ago, his plane was destroyed, and all surviving natives were forced to find a new plane in the Lower planes to conquer.

Ruin's native plane was called the Demon plane.

*

Approximately one hundred and fifty kilometers from the east, Euan and Mannick, with fifty thousand army soldiers, were on their way to the Regis Estate. Their speed was very fast, running more than two hundred kilometers per hour. If they could maintain their speed, and nothing happened along the way, they would arrive in less than an hour.

Sitting inside the leading carriage were Euan and Mannick. Euan's expression was unreadable while he looked out the window.

It was already dark outside, and soon all nocturnal medium-sized forest beasts would wake up and start their hunt. Euan was not worried that they would encounter them because, given their number advantage, it would be too easy to deal with them. What he was concerned about was getting delayed in the process.

The talk he had with Mannick opened Euan's eyes to many things. He already knew how deep-rooted the corruption in the Royal Family and the Royal Army was, but he was still shocked.

What shocked Euan the most was the possibility that his daughter had already been corrupted by the 'inheritance' she received in the Winfrey Ancestral Lands.

The truth was that Euan only let her go to that place because it was necessary. As the first daughter with a Winfrey bloodline, she had to experience the Winfrey Family's Trial by Fire. According to the remaining elders of the Winfrey Family, Haylee's success would strengthen her magic.

When a Spirit attacked Haylee a few years back, it affected her potential in awakening her magic to the point that when she could finally attract magic energy they could not identify the nature of her magic. She could still use other magic but could not bring out their real potential. Thus, when Euan heard of it, he agreed, albeit a little reluctantly. After all, he was worried something would happen to his beloved daughter.

When Haylee returned, and her magic did receive a great boost, Euan was glad. They said her magic was Mind Manipulation, which he found strange, but that was the least of his concern. What mattered to him was his daughter returned safely.

Euan never expected that the inheritance she would receive was actually from the Soul Emperor!

First, someone who possessed the forbidden Void magic appeared. Then the Winfrey Family insidiously plotted to have the Crown Princess obtain the forbidden Soul magic.

Was it not the Royal Family who forbade the existence of this magic? While it was true they let the Tower Family continue producing a mage with Time magic, they managed to keep them under wraps. But what about the person who possessed Void magic? The Regis Clan tried to suppress that person, but it backfired due to the army's intervention.

Euan had pointed it out to Mannick, but the latter did not comment and told him not to let his prejudice hinder his judgment and go to the Regis Estate.

Mannick's words sounded like a foreboding to Euan.

"Aren't you going to ask why I decided to listen to your advice?" Euan suddenly asked. He stopped looking out the window and looked at Mannick, silently observing him from across the seat.

With unwavering and seemingly profound eyes, Mannick replied, "The only way for you to come to a conclusion is to see things yourself. It's not that you decided to heed my advice. It's because you deemed going to the Regis Estate is the right course in discovering the truth."

Euan did not respond. Mannick was right.

"Anyhow, not ordering the withdrawal of the army going to Noser shows your current stance."

"Haylee is my daughter."

"She is."

After a short pause, Euan added, "If what you said is true, then I have to stop her all the more."

This time, it was Mannick who refrained from responding.

Euan then directed his attention to the coach outside and telepathically ordered to speed up.

*

After ensuring Cyneah's safety, Kyran and True Void met with Malek, Hugh, and Noir.

They briefly discussed the Conclave's role in the upcoming battle. Since the Conclave had branches all over the empire, he asked them to stop the army branches in those cities in sending reinforcements to Noser. After that, he handpicked a few mercenaries to do covert missions targeting the army's supplies.

Styx and Dante were included in the team and would act as the leader and vice leader, respectively. Neo, Owen, and Hamish would also accompany them as their Array Specialists, who would counter any Array-related defenses the army had.

As for Malek and Hugh, the two would remain on standby and would wait for further instructions. Initially, it was only Hugh, but after Stella declared the whole Conclave would assist Kyran, Malek volunteered. Of course, he did this not because he had a change of heart but because he did not want Stella to volunteer herself. She possessed Time magic, which would significantly increase their chances of formulating the best strategy against the enemy. However, overusing it would mentally and physically drain Stella.

Malek heard from the previous Lord of the Tower that Time magic was not as mighty as it seemed. While a female Tower possessed the constitution to use Time magic, it was not without fault. Whenever Time Keepers forced Time to change, it would affect their time. Malek was afraid the time the previous Lord meant was synonymous with one's lifespan.

Would overusing Time magic reduce Stella's lifespan?

Thinking of this also made Malek wonder whether Kyran's use of Void magic had an adverse effect on his body. If it did, what would it be? Since Time magic affected the Time Keeper's own time, would using Void magic affect the Void master's… emotions, maybe? Could Kyran's indifference, at times, be a result of his Void magic slowly eating away his ability to feel emotions?

Regardless of the truth, Malek would not let Stella suffer for that rascal. Besides, she had lived within the confines of the tower. She would become a burden than be of help when the situation turns for the worse because she was inexperienced.

In a way, Stella's sheltered life was a great contrast to Cyneah's, who experienced the cruelty of the world at a tender age.

Kyran shared the same sentiment as Malek; thus, he did not say anything when the latter insisted that Stella would not take part in the battle.

After their meeting, Kyran finally addressed the matter regarding the Macabre Glacier. It was not that he was unconcerned about it that he put it aside, but because there was no means of dealing with it at the moment. To be precise, he could not think of a way of dealing with it with jusy him and True Void sharing ideas.