Legacy of the Dark Sage

"The Conclave concedes this match. Please stop!"

Stella's voice echoed from the executive booth.

Without waiting for the female announcer to declare the winner, Styx jumped to the arena. He summoned his magic array and a translucent bouche shield appeared before him.

The female announcer frowned at once and reprovingly said, "Stay your hand."

However, Styx ignored her and growled at Kairo, "Move!" He pushed the bouche shield toward Kairo to keep him away from Rake.

"Humph," Kairo sneered and sidestepped, avoiding the shield.

Rake, who received a powerful blow from Kairo's flames, dropped to his knees before falling head first on the ground. He was still conscious but it only made it worse.

A translucent bucker shield appeared before Rake's head hit the ground.

Two Conclave members also rushed into the arena and checked Rake's condition.

"Ninth match, Royal Army wins!" The female announcer still declared, albeit her voice was full of indignation toward Styx.

Styx looked at Kairo.

If looks could kill, Kairo would have been dead by now.

That was how piercing Styx's eyes were. At the moment, he was thinking up several ways to assassinate Kairo.

"S-Sorry..."

Rake's weakened voice brought Styx out of his mullings. He looked at him and said, "Don't speak."

"His condition is not as bad as Deo's but we'll need Chairman Malia to check on him," one of the two Conclave members said.

The other one took out a stretcher and they prepared to transfer the wounded Rake.

"I'll check on them after the competition," Styx told them and stood up.

However, Rake grabbed his arm and tried to pull him.

"Oi! Stop moving!"

"You'll aggravate your wounds."

Rake ignored the two and looked at Styx meaningfully, "T-Tell Tyr... K-Kairo's s-sword... t-they d-don't feel like m-molded f-fire," Rake told him with much difficulty.

Styx's mood worsened upon hearing his words. He shot a look at Kairo, who already went back to the Royal Army's corner.

"H-He needs to be careful..." Rake added as the two Conclave members finally managed to transfer him to the stretcher.

Styx looked back at him and squeezed his hand,  "You don't have to worry. Circulate your magic energy and heal your wounds as much as you can."

"T-Tell him."

"I will."

Styx watched as the two Conclave members took Rake out of the hall. He glanced one last time at the Royal Army's corner before leaving the arena. As he approached the bench, he found Kyran also looking at the Royal Army's side. The latter's expression remained indifferent, and he even appeared calm. However, Styx knew inside, Kyran was seething with anger. Just like him.

Before Styx could relay Rake's message, Kyran beat him by saying, "Kairo is not an Elementor. He's a Transmuter."

Styx's brows furrowed in disbelief.

Transmuter is one of the hardest mage specializations to master. One of the reasons for this is the nature of the innate magic of a mage. Mages who possessed innate magic whose nature can be 'shaped' are the only ones who can choose this specialization. However, even then, it would be very difficult to master.

Because of this, what Kyran said about Kairo was impossible.

Kairo's innate magic was Fire. One of the magic whose nature could not be shaped.

"You'll be up next," Kyran changed the subject while looking at Styx. "Are you planning to take out Rivka?"

"Yes."

It was at this moment that the Crown Princess stood up and made an announcement.

"The Solo Competition has now concluded."

The moment she said this, the gallery went into an uproar.

Even Styx looked at the Royal Family's booth and roared, "It can't conclude like this!"

From the Royal Family's booth, Haylee addressed the audience before raising her hand.

In an instant, the hall fell silent.

"Judging from the condition of both Ganza and Osman, they will not be able to continue. Thus, they will have to retire. With this, we can declare that the participants moving to the Quarterfinals will be, Major General Kairo, Major General Rivka, Styx, and Tyr.

"They are the quarterfinalist of the Solo Competition."

The gallery once again erupted into hushed discussions.

"You can't be f*cking serious!" Styx roared and already took a step toward the executive booth.

However, Kyran stood up and grabbed him by the arm to stop him.

"Calm down, Leader Styx."

Styx looked at him and growled, "Are you okay with this? I haven't even fought twice! No, I haven't even won a match and now I'm a quarterfinalist? "

"The same goes for Rivka. He only fought senior Rake and it was a draw remember," Kyran reasoned.

"No, I don't! And I don't f*cking care! I don't accept this!"

"It's already been decided. I don't really care what they are up to, but now that the competition has concluded, don't you think it's best to go check on the others?"

Kyran's reminder somehow lessened Styx's anger but only a little.

"Tsk," he clicked his tongue in annoyance and marched out of the hall.

Kyran took a deep breath while watching Styx's retreating back. After a few seconds, he looked toward the Royal Army's corner where more army officers had gathered.

Currently, these officers were checking Ganza and Osman's conditions.

Just as the Crown Princess said, the two could no longer participate in the competition. Kyran had made sure of that. However, their real condition should not be easily 'judged' from afar. How did they know the two could no longer continue?

Kyran smiled wryly. He did not believe they knew their real conditions. Most likely, they decided to change their tactics.

In any case, the Crown Princess was doing a good job in sowing discord between the Conclave and the Royal Army. It would not surprise Kyran if some army officers would get attacked by 'unknown' people one of these days.

That was something Kyran had to prevent. They could not make a move like that.

Not yet.

With this in mind, Kyran looked at the Royal Family's executive booth. There he found Haylee smiling down at him.

Neither of them made an attempt to look away.

After a few seconds, Haylee closed her eyes and returned to her seat.

Kyran also looked away and left the hall.

In the Conclave's executive booth, Stella had seen the subtle exchange between Kyran and the Crown Princess, and her expression immediately turned grim.

It was not only her who saw it. Malek, who was standing beside her, had also seen it.

"Milord," he started, but then paused as he was unsure what to say next.

They already knew the Crown Princess was interested in Tyr. In Malek's opinion, the former's interest in the latter was only related to his Array talent. But Stella might not see it that way.

It was for this reason that Malek did not want Stella to come here.

Thinking back, he only agreed to let her visit for a day. Unfortunately, she did not return to the Tower of Conclave and stayed for another day. If not for Malia's assurance of keeping her safe, Malek would have gone to take her back.

However, who knew that in the span of a few days, something would happen between Stella and that rascal, Kyran?

Malek would not have realized it if Stella did not make that scene during their meeting. The way she acted against the person who would heal Hugh, was very strange. Then she actually admitted that she was jealous of that person!

To be honest, Malek almost had a heart attack after Stella's admission. But what made a huge impact on him was the rascal's reaction.

That rascal actually dared to run!

Malek had the impulse to capture Kyran then and torture him to death!

How dare he play with their lord's feelings?

Crack!

Malek snapped out of his thoughts after realizing his grip had destroyed the headrest of the chair in front of him.

Clearing his throat, Malek said, "Milord, it is best to return to the Tower. It is not wise to expose yourself in front of the Royal Family."

"I know," Stella replied. She also did not mean to speak up earlier. However, she had been worried for her people and spoke up without thinking. Nevertheless, what was done is done. She could not do anything about it.

"But, I can't go back yet," she said and looked at Malek apologetically. "The Crown Princess is up to something. I have to be here in case something happens."

"We will take care of it," Malek insisted. "You have to understand. If the Royal Family found out you left the Tower. No, if they even realize you have a means of leaving the Tower without them knowing, it will not do good for the Conclave."

Stella looked away and clenched her fist. She knew that too. But she was worried about the Crown Princess's schemes. She could tell the latter was up to something.

The decision of the quarterfinals was too suspicious.