Legacy of the Dark Sage

"Tsk," the man clicked his tongue and released his domain before Kyran could destroy it. True to what the latter had said, his domain was only at a Legendary level because of the cradle's restraining effect. Because of this, if someone with a similar mage level or higher were to destroy his domain, he would definitely receive a backlash— something he could not afford at the moment.

A backlash from a destroyed domain could be fatal. If he wanted to escape the Human plane's periphery without accident, he had to be in top shape. Else, if other Sovereigns ambushed him, it could spell trouble to all his planes.

After the man released his domain, Kyran roused his magic and created a Void barrier around the Conclave members and Army soldiers. The only ones who remained outside the barrier were him, Mannick, Max, and Reuben.

The three stood behind Kyran. Though the latter was in front, the three's stances could easily make them react to any sneak attack that would come at Kyran.

The space ten meters in front of them distorted and soon revealed the hooded-robed man.

"Loar did not mention your temper," the man complained through gritted teeth.

"You hurt my people," Kyran said coldly. "Being Loar's colleague doesn't exempt you from receiving what was due for hurting them."

Besides, there was a small chance that this man was not telling the truth. But Kyran decided to give him the benefit of the doubt since no one else knew he and Loar had met apart from a selected few. There was no way this man would know about Kyran if Loar had not told him personally.

The man did not respond, and though they could not see his expression because of his oversized hood, it was easy to sense his displeasure.

After a short pause, the man finally spoke, "You are clearly not a Sovereign, yet your mage level is unfathomable. It should be because of that, right?"

Instead of answering the man's question, Kyran diverted the topic by asking one of his own,  "How did you enter the Human plane?"

The man pierced his staff on the ground and leaned on it while crossing his arms across his chest. "Loar said you're quite a stingy person. I don't really understand it at first, but I think I do now. You don't like answering other people's questions and prefer to do that instead— asking questions."

If Nolan or True Void had been there, they would have agreed to the man's remark.

Kyran did not respond. He only looked at the man with a straight face.

When the man failed yet again to incite a reaction in Kyran, he heaved a sigh before lifting two fingers.

"There are two universally known ways of entering a plane that is already occupied by a Sovereign without triggering the cradle's appearance," the man started.

"First is if a native from the plane 'called' for that Sovereign," he paused as if trying to think of a simpler analogy. In the end, he said, "You can consider it as the native 'summoning' the Sovereign. In any case, the latter's strength would still be restricted. However, the Sovereign's Cradle will not 'appear.'"

[That is how the Crown Princess called for Ruin and the others.]

Mannick's voice sounded in Kyran's head.

Without looking at the latter, Kyran nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Frankly, he already guessed as much. White Lily also mentioned in passing that there was enormous magic energy within the Winfrey Ancestral Lands during the Crown Princess's Inheritance Ritual. It even manifested and shot up to the sky. White Lily felt that the concentrated energy was not part of the ritual. But she could also be wrong because of all the rituals she had witnessed; it was the first time it happened, and it was also at a time when someone succeeded. That energy light might have indicated that the inheritance had finally found its successor.

After hearing the man's explanation and Mannick's input, Kyran felt that the beam of light was probably a signal the Crown Princess sent to call for Ruin.

"The second one is through a rift that appeared on a plane, which connects it to a different plane. Of course, the premise is that the rift had been there before the plane birthed its Sovereign."

Kyran frowned at once. He remembered one of the things he wanted to do after infiltrating the Royal Family was to find the location of the rift that appeared a thousand years ago between the Human and Lignum planes.

Initially, Kyran guessed that the rift was in the Valley of Morte. He reasoned that the energy leaking out from that rift might have caused the beasts in that valley to mutate. His father's essence also exhorted him to close that rift before it posed any threat. In any case, in the oft chance that the mutation in the valley was not because of that rift, or if that rift was connected to a different plane, Kyran wanted to check the Royal Family's archive.

"From these two, how do you think I entered your plane?" The man asked Kyran in a teasing manner.

But Kyran was not in the mood to play along and replied with a question, "What's the third way?"

"Didn't you hear me? I said there are two—."

"—universally known ways of entering a plane," Kyran cut the man midsentence and repeated what he said. "You wouldn't have said 'universally' without reason. Besides, I can think of another way, but I want to hear your answer first."

"It's not wise to be a 'smart-ass,' Dark Sage."

Instead of replying with words, Kyran summoned several purple spheres around the man.

"Threatening another Sovereign is also a big NO."

Kyran raised his left hand but stopped short when the man disappeared again.

Mannick, Max, and Reuben immediately observed the surroundings and tried to determine where the man had gone again.

"Let's just say you're 'third way' is the correct answer."

The man's voice echoed in every direction, and it was hard to determine his exact location.

Kyran did not move and simply looked at the spot where the man had just been.

"I don't think you can do anything about it."

"Maybe. But at least it gave me an idea about some things."

The man chuckled and said, "You're annoying and have a very bad temper. However, I find you interesting. Let us meet again."

By then, the man's echo sounded faint. As if he was already a distance away.

Kyran lowered his hand and willed the purple spheres to hover around them just in case.

"A piece of advice, Dark Sage."

The man's voice spoke once again. However, it was already too faint and seemed to flow with the wind.

"The Sovereigns outside are part of the Radical Order. They aim to revolutionize the coming War. You have to be wise in choosing your allies. Anyhow, that Sovereign of Ruin is not part of any order. However, he is a loose cannon. It is best not to associate with him. You are welcome to join us, though. Let's meet again."

After a few minutes of silence, Kyran and the others deemed that the man had really left. But the things he said was something they could not ignore.

Especially to Kyran. After hearing the man mentioned a 'war,' he recalled how the Soul Emperor seemed intent on amassing her own army. Could it be that she was preparing for that? But what exactly happens in that war?

Max and Reuben glanced at each other and saw the confusion reflected on each other's eyes. The conversation between Kyran and the man left a deep impression on them. It even forced them to change how they perceive the things happening around them. It was as if a new door had been opened to them and they they had barely glimpse the vast expanse on the other side of that door.

"Do you know anything about what that man was talking about?" Kyran asked Mannick.

Mannick shook his head and answered, "Soon after my original self advanced, he fell into a deep slumber. My original self barely had time to create an essence that will watch over the Human plane."

Max and Reuben looked at them, their expression slightly distorted. Most would not understand the context of their conversation. But after what they had learned from the man, and the talk about Sovereigns and the like, Max and Reuben had more or less filled in the gap and managed to get the gist of what transpired between the two.

But understanding it did nothing to their sanity. As a matter of fact, it left them reeling in shock.

It seemed, the rumored black sheep Deputy Marshal of the Royal Army had a much higher and likely important existence in the world— or should they say the 'Human plane?'

Kyran sighed inwardly. He now had a better understanding of what was happening. At least, some of his questions had been answered.

But as his understanding of the overall situation finally took form, the more he also realized the truth of Caelan's reasons for not resenting the previous Soul Emperor.

Her ways were evil, but she did it for something much noble.

At least, that was what the Soul Emperor believed.

Nevertheless, Kyran had a different take on it. Regardless of the reason, what the previous Soul Emperor did was massacre.

Now, the new Soul Emperor was trying to do the same thing. There were slight differences, but basically, instead of indiscriminate killing, she chose genocide.

'And the target of her genocide is likely my clan,' Kyran thought, his expression turning colder.