The dragon's eye in the sky flashed with a blinding gold light, instantly sending everyone— except the Regis Clan— in the vicinity to fall to their knees.
"This is my first and last warning, humans fighting under the Soul Emperor's banner. Step inside the Regis Estate's Inner Walls, and I will descend into the Human Plane and destroy each of you."
A gentle yet piercingly cold female voice spoke that shook the land below.
Forced to his knees, Rantz was frightened by this turn of events.
When the eye appeared in the sky, one would first think it was an eye of a reptile. Its vertical slitted pupil that seemed to constrict around a kaleidoscopic golden eye was a common characteristic of a reptilian beast eye.
But knowing the Regis Family was rumored to have once been tied to a particular species of a legendary beast. They were sure that the eye in the sky belonged to a dragon— Rantz was no exception.
It was said that dragons no longer exist. However, some were convinced the Regis Clan were hiding a few dragons inside their walls. This belief was never proven, though. Even the Royal Family denied such claims. And because none of those believers could produce proof of their claims, their thoughts were considered nothing but baseless rumors.
Until today.
"You have been warned."
The cold female voice spoke again, and just as she appeared unexpectedly, she also faded into the clouds just the same.
Nevertheless, the fear and pressure she instilled in everyone remained.
On the other hand, Jared and the other Regis members had odd expressions on their faces. Not because they were taken aback by what just happened— although they were surprised just as much as the rest of the people from the opposing side— but because they were thinking about what that 'dragon woman' had said.
Did she have to specifically mention the Regis Estate's Inner Walls when she threatened the enemies? Could she not have said the Regis Estate? Because if the enemies were paying close attention to her words, they would think they were allowed to enter the estate's outer walls!
Before any of their enemies could recover, the Regis Special Force that started their attack from the rear had already completed their task.
Apart from reducing the enemy numbers, Jared tasked them to plant several magic items with array formation.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe array formation in these magic items included restraining formulas, status ailments— which included slowing the enemy movements, preventing them from gathering the magic energies from the surroundings, preventing them from naturally replenishing their magic energy— and, lastly, jamming their communication devices.
Truth be told, Myst and the rest, assigned to carry out these tasks, were momentarily stunned by the appearance of the dragon eye, but they recovered soon after and took the chance when the enemies were frightened out of their wits to complete their task.
"Master Jared," Myst's voice sounded in Jared's earpiece. "We're ready to move out."
Upon hearing Myst's report, Jared immediately roused his magic energy.
Amplified with the Regis Blessing, he activated all the magic items Myst and the rest of the Regis Special Forces had planted around the enemy's rear.
The whole land shook as the magic items activated at the same time.
Pillars of silver lights shot up in the sky as a huge array appeared on the ground and above.
"ARGH!"
"W-What is this?"
"M-My body..! I can't move my body!"
"Is this an array formation? W-Why does my body feel so... weak..."
Several wails from the surrounding groups resounded as the effects of the array formation fell on them.
Rantz, who sensed the ground trembling, snapped out of his reverie and was about to attack Jared when he found the latter had disappeared.
Just as he was about to locate Jared's location using his magic sense, he sensed a presence appearing behind him.
"With respect to the fact you appear to have been to that place, I'm taking you in custody," Jared whispered.
Before Rantz's body erupted with the blue flames to attack Jared, the latter's right hand swiftly landed on the former's nape, its force just enough to knock him out.
"Ugh—!"
Rantz fell to the ground, and the burning blue flames covering his body dissipated.
Jared looked at him and sighed inwardly. He initially thought this guy was too weak to be an Archmagus. But after knocking him out cold, he was convinced that the latter was never serious about this battle.
In the first place, Jared sensed this guy's hesitation. Now, he was more convinced that the reason behind the latter's hesitation was because of his conscience.
He might have seen or heard things that went against his morals, which was why he never used his full strength when fighting Jared.
Ultimately, Jared got the best of him, and for some reason, Jared felt he did not put up much resistance.
In any case, with the matter in the Regis Estate dealt with, they had one less location to focus on.
"Master Jared!"
A Regis member rushed out from the gates.
"We have just received news that Patriarch Aron and Young Master Kyran have left the Regis Terram and are coming here—."
Before he could finish what he was saying, the space between them crackled, and Aron and Kyran's silhouettes appeared before them.
Jared felt his heart almost jump out of his mouth in fright. He was still not used to Kyran's warping. But he kept a straight face and said, "What took you two so long?"
"Please brief me on the current situation, uncle," Kyran asked as soon as he and Aron appeared.
Jared nodded and looked at the member who had reported Aron and Kyran's arrival. He motioned toward Rantz's motionless body on the ground and said, "Take this guy inside and keep a close watch on him."
"Yes, Master Jared," the member responded and took Rantz. He lowered his head toward Aron and Kyran in respect before returning to the Regis Estate.
"The situation is bad," Jared told Aron and Kyran.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmFor the next few minutes, he briefed them on what had happened to every location— at least, the gist of what they currently knew— and also told them about the surprise attack in Ravenpass.
Kyran's insides churned upon hearing the situation in Ravenpass. Even Aron's expression turned grim.
Others would have already berated Jared and the rest of the Regis Special Force on why they were still in the Regis Estate and had not gone back to Ravenpass. But Aron and Kyran were different. They understood that the situation in the estate could not be dealt with in a short time because too many enemies also surrounded them.
The reason they knew about it was because Ames told them. She had the ability to see the situation surrounding the Regis Estate through her connection with the Regis Terram. Seeing the situation, she decided to help by coming out, albeit as a projection, to scare the enemies away. She had seen what Myst and the others were doing and decided to help. And because of that, they managed to resolve the situation quickly.
Going back to why Jared and the rest had not sent more people to Ravenpass, truth be told, Kyran thought it was a good call.
If they had gone there, then Haylee would have already taken and used them against him.
Because, unlike the people from the Conclave, Montgomeray, Courtenay, and the rest, Kyran had not yet marked the Regis Clan member to prevent Haylee from using her magic to control them.
"We have not received any update from our scouts that went to Ravenpass," Jared said as he continued telling them the situation. "But we already heard from the others."
"How's the situation in the Lumley Family Residence?" Aron asked.
He asked about them first because they were the first ones who got attacked. Their side was considered their weakest area, too, because they did not have that many capable mages that could fight against an army of Grand Masters.
"They met up with two mages— each from the Courtenay and the Lumley. The enemy was chasing them, but our people saved them in time. Right now, they are still figuring out how to overturn the situation."
"What about the Conclave?" Kyran asked.
When Ames told them that the previous Soul Emperor had never died, Kyran was worried about the situation at the Conclave.
However, if True Void were there, he would have snickered at him, saying he felt that way because Cyneah was there.
Jared shook his head, "Unfortunately, we haven't heard anything from our scouts yet."
Seeing Kyran's brow furrowed by his answer, Jared added, "Don't get me wrong. They have not arrived in the Tower of Conclave yet, so we haven't heard from them."
Nevertheless, Kyran's expression did not change from Jared's clarification. As a matter of fact, the bad feeling he had doubled.
"And in Noser? How are they?" Aron continued to ask.
"Both sides are still engaged in battle. They mentioned something about powerful legendary beasts defending the forefront, and among these beasts is a Quilin. A real Quilin."