Legacy of the Dark Sage

In the Ancient Magic book's introduction, four families could birth a mage that possessed Ancient Magic. While requirements were to be met before that happened, Kyran wondered if it had any real significance when one would eventually absorb all of them to become the Realm Scion.

'Wait.'

Kyran briefly stopped his train of thought and looked at the Ancient Magic book again. Was he being overly confident that the Ancients knew everything about Ancient Magic? They might not be aware of the Realm Scion and were simply researching how to create an artificial magic core that could store Ancient Magic Energy.

As Kyran thought this, another doubt he had always had surfaced in his mind.

Kyran had always been skeptical about the Ancients' motivation for creating artificial Ancient Magic Cores. They might have started researching it out of curiosity, but somehow, he sensed a deeper reason. He arrived at this conclusion because it was hinted that they were aware that their research would cause The Fall.

Even when they knew what would happen, they still decided to go through with it.

In the end, the inevitable happened, and their clan fell. They were not completely wiped out, as confirmed by Kairos, who, according to his inherited memories, indicated that the Four Greatest Minds were still alive.

Kyran could not use the Ancients hidden within the Tower of the Ancients as evidence of their clan's survival due to their precarious predicament, wherein they would perish once Time caught up with them after departing the tower.

The same reason applied to the King of the Ancients. His soul might have survived, but surviving as a soul could not be considered living.

As the King of the Ancients crossed Kyran's mind, he thought of True Void, who was still unconscious.

Cyneah said Haylee helped her control the Macabre Glacier and contain the corrupted soul of the King of Ancients. However, Kyran could not help but wonder if the latter had already succeeded in absorbing True Void's soul. This was the only reason Kyran could think of why True Void could not regain consciousness.

Kyran leaned on the wall and heaved a deep sigh. Without True Void, it was impossible for him to compete or fight on equal terms with mages above a High Sovereign. In fact, he could not even use Void Magic properly, given his delicate condition.

'The Void State has an excellent effect, but the penalty after using it is counter-productive if I won't be able to absorb magic energies and use Void magic for weeks.'

Kyran closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind.

Discovering how to reveal the contents of the Grimoire of Nothingness was good and all. However, because of this, he was once again reminded of all the inconsistencies in the history he heard or learned.

"Sort it out later and focus on completing the formation first," Kyran muttered softly after a moment's pause and opened his eyes. He glanced at the book and grimoire for the last time before returning them to his storage pouch.

He stood up, grabbed the huge pen, and returned to work.

Outside, Ruin sat leisurely on one of the tree branches nearby and intently observed the enclosed dome hiding the portal.

Even without using his magic sense, he could guess what Kyran was doing at the moment. However, he found it strange that

his prey

, who usually create complex array formations in the blink of an eye, was taking too long this time.

Was the array formation this time overly complicated than average that even Ruin's brilliant prey had difficulty completing it?

No.

Ruin was unable to prove this. Yet, he had a vague feeling that his target was enduring a problematic condition. This feeling was further confirmed after hearing that his prey asked the Crepuscule Clan to provide materials that he would use for the array formation.

'The movement of the magic energies around him are also unusual...' he thought with narrowed eyes.

'Ah~ah...'

Ruin leaned back on the tree and closed his eyes.

'This is annoying. Since when did I care about the condition of my prey?' he grumbled and closed his eyes.

To be honest, he felt restless after escaping the Crepuscule Auction House. While he was confident his prey would find a way to escape, he knew it would not be easy, and his prey would likely have to pay a huge price.

It could not be helped.

Kyran might be a vessel of two Ancient Magic Cores and was immune to the Fate Codes. However, he was still relatively weak in terms of experience and knowledge.

A mage's experience and knowledge played a huge role during confrontations. No matter how powerful and equipped one was, if the other were more experienced and had greater knowledge, the latter would still have the highest probability of winning.

Ruin opened his eyes. He could not ask his prey how he escaped nor could he show concern.

After all, would a higher existence care what happened to an insect?

Kyran was Ruin's prey. So it would be strange if the latter showed even a tiny bit of concern.

...

Ruin's brow furrowed after realizing his train of thought.

'Tsk, annoying...' he thought and closed his eyes again.

Nevertheless, his mind continued to drift toward his prey's unexplained condition. Moreover, he did not want to admit it, but the truth was, after Deus's apparent 'death,' he had been feeling... empty.

That was the real reason he had been restless recently. It was also the reason he decided to find his prey and propose a better partnership using the Merck Clan as cover.

'...Have I been using this body for too long that my thoughts have been muddled for some time?'

It went without saying that the body Ruin was using was Kyran's creation. It would not be surprising if he were affected by its natural

algorithm

— as Kyran called it. Ruin's essence was connected with the automaton's energy core, but for him to be able to move it effortlessly, it still relied on its algorithm.

Ruin opened his eyes, and a faint glint reflected on them. Convinced that he was being affected by the automaton's natural algorithm, he knew it was time to find a way to retrieve his original body.

Ruin sat up and looked at the enclosed dome once more.

'...He said he's working on stabilizing the portal, did he?'

Thoughts started to whirl in his mind.

*

The first event of the conference ended after the first faction concluded their report. They did not even mention any of their achievements, but it was not like it was the first time.

In previous conferences, the first faction rarely shared their clans' achievements. Obviously, it was unfair, but none of the other factions or tribes complained.

More like they could not complain.

The first faction was The Emperor's faction, after all.

Moreover, all powerful clans, including the Dragon Clan, were part of it and no one would dare oppose it.

Of course, they could not really include the Dragon Clan because everyone was aware that their inclusion under the The Emperor's faction was in name only.

It was common knowledge that part of the agreement The Emperor and the Dragon Emperor (Dragon King at that time) had when the latter requested amnesty to have his clan return to the Higher Realm was for them to join the former's faction. However, in case of war, The Emperor could not force the Dragon Clan to join. The Dragon Clan would join only during an emergency where the Higher Realm was at risk.

After The Emperor dismissed the congregation, the clans and tribes met accordingly to finalize the deals they had secured from others.

In one of the private resting rooms, the Solis Clan prepared to conduct such deals; Ames, Attor, and Eissen met with the Clan, who found the grimoire rumored to be written by the Four Ancient Minds.

There were six participants inside the room, with three representing each clan.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Opposite the Dragon Clan was the leader of the Numen Clan, Libb, and two representatives from the same clan. They wore uniformed light red robes with the crest of their clan, which looked like an open book, stitched delicately at the right side of their sleeves. Find adventures on empire

One of the Numen representatives placed an old box at the center of the table and gently lifted the lid.

Ames, Attor, and Eissen watched in silence as a faint light flowed from inside the box, and the Numen representative removed the lid.

The moment the grimoire was revealed, Ames, Attor, and Eissen immediately frowned. They tried to conceal their reaction, but it was impossible to do so completely.

Libb and her group misunderstood their reaction as displeasure and immediately opened their mouths to soothe their moods.

However, Ames raised her hand to stop them and apologized first.

"Please excuse us," she said, "We are just... surprise after seeing the

grimoire

."

"We assure you that our findings are accurate. Although we have yet to confirm its contents, this grimoire is definitely related to the Ancients," Libb started.

"I believe you," Ames replied with a wry smile. 'It is impossible not to... when it emits the same energy as that annoying b*tch.'