Legacy of the Dark Sage

Kyran and Leif followed Ias while he dealt with the puppets.

As they had guessed, after defeating a certain number of puppets, the number of puppets that would move would double and attack them. At first, Ias was still able to destroy the puppets with relative ease, while Kyran and Leif provided assistance from the rear. But by the time the count reached thirty-two, Ias had to put in more effort.

With the situation escalating, Leif's role shifted. No longer could she merely assist from the rear. She unleashed her true potential, casting powerful offensive water spells with precision. Her targets were the puppets that threatened Ias from his blind spot, a testament to her growing prowess. These spells, undoubtedly, were the signature of the Lacus Clan.

Leif managed to cast spells that would only be known to the Lacus Clan because she found a Lacus Clan Exclusive Book of Spells among Anahia's belongings. While they were waiting for Kyran's transformation potion to take full effect, she read the book and tried to memorize some of its powerful magic spells.

Since Leif was not a real Lacus member, she could not fully utilize the magic spell's attack. But she was a relatively powerful High Sovereign, and her affinity to water-based magic was so high that it compensated for the fact she was not a Lacus.

On the other hand, Kyran continued to provide assistance from the rear without increasing his output. This was not because he could not be bothered but more because he was busy studying the puppets and Ias's movements.

Like what Shaiha said, Kyran also found Ias acting similar to him. This similarity was not something that could be brushed off as them being part of the same clan— at least, technically.

Ias's attack pattern, level of aggressiveness, and way of speaking were so similar to Kyran's that he felt goosebumps all over.

Then again, rather than saying they were very similar, Kyran had an inkling that Ias was acting. What gave him this impression was quite simple.

Ias's attack patterns appeared limited. It was as if he only knew a certain number of Kyran's moves and used them to fight the puppets. Although Ias combined each pattern or even mixed and matched them, Kyran saw the same old attack patterns— as if Ias's programming only had those moves, and he had to make full use of them.

[Wait... what do you mean programming? Are you saying Ias is...?]

As always, Shaiha sensed Kyran's thoughts and was shocked at the conclusion he came up with regarding Ias's identity.

Kyran did not respond. Instead, he recalled how Ias remained by Cyneah's side when they were still at the platform. He also remembered how hesitant Ladon was about having anyone from their team join Leif's side. It was only when Cyneah told Ladon that Ias could join them that he agreed.

With narrowed eyes, Kyran turned his attention to the number of puppets that swarmed Ias.

"Nineteen left" he muttered.

[You mean nineteen more, right? It's already been more than an hour since the start of the fight and they only destroyed thirteen!]

Shaiha complained.

Kyran ignored her. He raised his hand as his eyes turned reddish-purple. Initially, he did not want to use his magic in front of Leif, but given the situation, he did not have much choice. Besides, Cyneah was there somewhere, and he was worried that they might meet an unexpected challenge and could not move forward.

There was also the possibility of the other groups that had yet to step onto the designated area getting entry passes to the seventh floor. What if they ended up teleported to where Cyneah's group was, and a confrontation ensued? Yes, Ladon and Thorn were with her, and they were more than capable of protecting her. However, that was not what Kyran was worried about.

It was the Macabre Glacier's sentient acting up.

When the tower granted Cyneah's group access to the seventh floor, Kyran had this strange feeling that it did this with the mirror in mind. Since the mirror would only react to the souls of the dead, and there were only puppets in the seventh level— at least, Kyran believed there were only puppets there— it would not really act up.

But what if there were other groups that entered the seventh level as well? What if a confrontation ensued between those groups and Cyneah's? If they would stop before anyone dies, then it might still be okay. But what if it was a fight to the death?

Even if the surroundings were thick with magic energy, would this type of raw magic energy be enough to satiate the Macabre Glacier's sentient?

Kyran still had many questions about the mirror's origin and purpose, especially after Caelan confirmed that he had sealed the Dark Sage's body inside it. As for the latter's soul, Caelan admitted he did not know where it went.

Of course, the sentient in the mirror was not the Dark Sage. However, that was not to say it could not be influenced by the Dark Sage. Even if the latter was only his body, he was still the Dark Sage.

In any case, Kyran was worried that being in the Higher Realm might aggravate the Dark Sage's body or something, and if Cyneah lost control over the Macabre Glacier because its sentient was deprived of real souls, the Dark Sage might use that chance to break free and look for its soul.

Kyran knew he was being paranoid with all these thoughts. But he had read far too many things about the Higher Realm's magic and knew a body without a soul could still move independently by using its own memory.

Ultimately, Kyran decided to use his magic so they could move more freely inside the tower. Besides, he believed the tower chose to send them there for a reason rather than sending them to another level.

As for witnesses like Leif and Ias, Kyran believed the former would not babble, and for the latter... well...

Dark purple discs appeared above Kyran's palms and flew straight toward the other puppets about to attack Ias. They slipped past their necks, slicing and destroying them in an instant.

Leif was too busy attacking one puppet to notice Kyran's movement, but the moment she heard crackling sounds, followed by a succession of explosions around them, she was stunned. Before she could grasp what exactly happened, she heard Kyran speaking.

"Leif, keep that puppet alive. Ias, once you're done. Detain the one Leif is fighting."

By the time Kyran finished giving his order, Ias had almost defeated the puppet he was fighting. Moreover, he had seen what the former had done, and his brain had almost short-circuited.

Leif, who had yet to recover from her initial reaction, was again stunned at Kyran's bossy attitude toward a member of the Dragon Clan. She wanted to remind him that while they were in a partnership with the latter, they still needed to show a certain level of respect, but ultimately, she was rendered speechless when Ias responded with a:

"Yes, Master!"

"Master—?" Leif gasped in shock.

Kyran sighed inwardly and looked at Ias with a wry smile.

Right.

Rather than calling him Ias, it should be Aki.

Once Aki defeated the puppet he was fighting, he went to help detain the puppet Leif was attacking.

By then, Leif had already recovered, and she looked at Kyran suspiciously. She and her father had guessed his identity was not simple. But for him to actually be acquainted with the Dragon Clan? Not to mention, one of their representatives actually called him master.

Wait.

The three Dragon Clan representatives did not seem to recognize Kyran earlier. In fact, Ladon and Thorn even treated him quite badly earlier. This meant they had not realized who he was. True, Kyran was in disguise, but... what about Ias? The moment Kyran gave an order, how did he realize his identity and call him master unhesitantly?

'More importantly... why detain the puppet I am fighting? Did he realize something different about this particular puppet?' Leif wondered, turning her attention to Kyran.

Kyran, seemingly sensing her gaze, also looked at her and smiled wryly. He said, "For the record, I didn't know Ias's someone I know until now, so don't give me that look."

Leif gave Kyran a hard look. Before saying anything she scanned the hall and looked at the puppets that exploded just then and frowned.

"You... what did you do just now?"

"That's not what you want to know."

"Of course it is," Leif replied, looking at Kyran again. This time, she did not conceal her displeasure. "Father and I believe your background might not be simple. But to think that you are related to the Dragon Clan... and..."

She looked at Ias, who by then had already walked over to Kyran's side like a loyal servant.

"... for a powerful High Sovereign to actually call you master. Who are you, Null? And why did you ask him to detain the puppet I'm fighting?"

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