Legacy of the Dark Sage

To ensure both participants for the next match were in top shape, a thirty-minute break was announced following the match between Styx and Kairo.

During this time, some of the audience turned their attention to the ongoing Array Creation competition, while some recounted the match just now.

Most of the audience wondered why Kairo did not fight Styx using a long sword. They believed the match would have ended much earlier if he had done so.

Of course, some noticed Kairo trying to mold a long sword but failed twice. But they only thought it was because Styx had put a lot of pressure that he could not concentrate and mold a weapon properly.

Only a few actually realized that something had happened between the two.

The Conclave Council Members who came to watch the competition also discussed the match in their exclusive booth. Unlike the audience, they understood the exchange between the two at a deeper level.

"Styx used the same trick Kyran did in his match against Illias," Vaness said.

Noir nodded in agreement, "Yes. However, there is a little difference. Kyran changed the runes that directed the target of Illias's magic. The change resulted in Illias attacking himself."

"Hm," Sigma crossed his arms. "Doing that required materials. Styx clearly did not use any. But I did notice him maximizing the use of his magic energy."

"I see," Noir nodded. "You both possessed innate Earth magic and can better sense the fluctuations of earth magic energy in the surroundings."

Sigma looked at him and nodded, "Yes. But apart from that, I am not sure what he did exactly. He is too far."

"He made full use of his magic sense," Malek interjected.

They all looked at him.

"Then he directed his magic energy to disrupt the flow of Kairo's magic array," he told them.

Sigma frowned slightly, "That's a little strange.  Earth magic is naturally weak against Fire magic. Technically, earth magic energy will not be able to disrupt fire magic energy."

Malek looked at him blankly and said with a deadpan tone, "Are you doubting what I saw."

Black lines appeared on Sigma's head, "No. Of course not Head Master. It's just... err... nothing."

"Wait," Avrum spoke up. He looked at Malek with eyes glistening excitedly before turning his attention back to the rest of the council members. "Head Master Malek only said Styx used his magic energy to disrupt Kairo's magic array. He did not say anything about Styx using earth magic energy to disrupt Kairo's fire magic array!"

Malek smiled slightly. Avrum was half right. He did not mention Styx using 'earth' magic energy simply because there was no need to emphasize his innate magic. What Malek found rather interesting was Kairo's magic array. The latter used a fire magic array, yet its color was slightly different.

Sigma scowled, "Avrum, are you color-blind or something? The color of the magic arrays is already a dead giveaway of what elements are in play here."

Avrum tilted his head to one side, "Aw, Sigma, I think you are the one who's color-blind."

"Huh? Are you picking a fight?"

"Oh, wait." Ignoring Sigma's threat, Avrum continued, "Maybe not color-blind but shortsighted? Because as far as I've seen, whenever Kairo mold that long sword, his magic array had a green tinge in them."

"Green?" Noir repeated.

As soon as he repeated those words, the rest of the council members, except for Malek, Stella and Hugh, thought of something.

"N-No way," Vaness muttered in disbelief. "Green magic arrays represented many different magic types. One is definitely Wind magic, Restraining magic, Poison magic and many more. But..."

"It is Wind magic."

Stella, who had been silent since the start of their discussion, spoke at last. She looked at them with a bitter smile and added, "Kairo has two innate magic."

Most of the council members were shocked at this.

Malek nodded and said, "If my guess is correct. His Wind magic amplified his Fire magic."

"However, he is not using it just to amplify his Fire magic," Hugh also broke his silence and voiced his doubts. "He uses it to let his Fire magic have a more definite shape."

Avrum nodded his head thoughtfully, "No wonder Chairman Malia said Rake's wound was strange."

They turned to him with raised brows.

"You already received news from Malia yet did not tell us?" Sigma scowled at him.

Avrum laughed uneasily, "Ahaha... I was too focused on the match that I forgot."

"What else did she say?" Stella asked.

She did not know all the Conclave participants personally, but because they were part of the Conclave, she worried about them.

"She said not to worry since Kyran helped stabilize Rake's condition."

"That's..." Stella was speechless.

Previously, Kyran had owed them for rampantly attacking the Mercenary Hall and the Tower of Conclave, which resulted in both establishments' defensive barriers getting destroyed. But now, it seemed they kept imposing on him and ended up owing him a lot.

Malek also frowned after hearing this. However, he refrained from speaking his mind in front of Stella. But if Malek had a say on the matter, he would point out that they ended up owing that rascal because he was always finding trouble for them.

For example, if Kyran had kept a low profile and avoided attracting the ire of the Lumley Family, the Blacksmith Order would not have given out discounted magic items. The Lumley Family would not have done something that forced the Conclave to ban them.

For short, all the bad things that were happening to them had been instigated by Kyran!

Malek cleared his throat.

Ah, but well.

That rascal indeed instigated all that, but the Conclave would have already fallen in the hands of the Royal Family if he had not done what he did. At least because of Kyran, the Conclave's military strength appeared to be on par with the Royal Army and the Three Nobles Families. Maybe even better.

However, Malek knew it was only an illusion. After all, Kyran was not really part of the Conclave. There was no real 'Tyr' who was Chairman Noir's genius disciple and a big troublemaker. Malek knew Kyran's preparation for saving his clan was almost complete. If not, he would not have told them his desire to hire the whole Mercenary Hall. In any case, Malek had an inkling that Kyran would make his move soon.

"That's good then..." Stella finally said after a short pause. Then she said, "Anyway, with Kairo having two innate magic, I am afraid there is more to what he could do than we could see."

Hugh nodded in agreement, "I think so too. As an Elementor, I feel that his magic attacks are lacking."

"Maybe he's not really an Elementor," Noir suggested. "I also found his attacks mediocre. It's as if, as long as he isn't using his swords, he will not be able to display his full strength."

"Uhm... Is it just me who thinks Kairo isn't the only one suspicious? I mean, that guy Rivka. I don't understand why he would avoid fighting Kyran. But recalling how ruthless Kyran had been with all his matches, even if someone paid me a million high-grade spirit stones, I would definitely avoid fighting him. Anyway, what if that Rivka is targeting Styx? Shouldn't we tell Styx to forfeit completely?" Avrum asked while looking at Hugh.

"That is the wisest thing to do. However, Styx is headstrong. Even if the odds are against him, he will not back down. And well... I've witnessed him grow in each of these encounters, so I am also reluctant to force him to forfeit," Hugh admitted.

"We'll just wait and see," Malek also said. "For now, I want to see more of Kairo's magic. He just might become a threat in the near future."

Meanwhile, in the Array Creation competition, after Owen satisfied his curiosity by talking to Six, he collected materials and started his ideas. On the other hand, Six approached Kyran and helped arrange the materials gathered around him.

"Master," Six spoke while separating each material according to their formula.

'Hm?' Kyran replied telepathically. He sounded a little distracted as he crushed the remaining materials lined up on the ground before him.

"The Solo Competition will resume in less than thirty minutes," Six replied. "Please leave this array to me and take this time to prepare for your match."

Kyran chuckled as he looked at Six, 'You think I'll lose to that guy if I don't rest?'

Six froze. Its eyes widened and contracted frenziedly before saying, "I would never dare, master."

Kyran smiled wryly at Six's response. Because the latter was incomplete, its facial expression was lacking. But if it wasn't, Kyran could almost see an incredulous and frightened expression plastered on its face.

'Then it's fine. Honestly, I am only doing this for show. I can leave it to you, but with so many eyes watching, they will definitely realize you are not an ordinary puppet.'

Six gasped. As if offended by something, it said, "I don't mind being called a puppet, master. However, if it is like that, they are disregarding your real talent!"

Kyran only replied with a smile.

What Six meant to say was that Kyran's creations were not just puppets but automatons. Unfortunately, Kyran believed his Puppet Mastery was still lacking; thus, he felt uneasy calling them automatons.

In any case, letting Six, an incomplete puppet resume the creation of an Advanced Array would definitely pose a problem. Kyran could almost see the Crown Princess's covetous eyes looking at his creation hungrily. When that happened, even he was unsure what underhanded tricks she would do to get him to create more for her.