Legacy of the Dark Sage

Back in the Blacksmith Order's main branch, four hours had already passed from the time Kyran started with his project.

Currently, he was almost done installing the updates in the second puppet's system.

With an expression of complete concentration, Kyran added layers upon layers of array formulas inside the puppet's energy core.

Previously, the color of the puppet's energy core was golden. However, it now had a purple tinge after Kyran upgraded its system based on the calculations from the Lost Manuscript of the Automata System and combining it with the Ancient Teaching of Void Magic.

The initial design of the energy core would allow the puppets to absorb magic energies from magic attacks directed at them. After absorbing the magic energy, the puppets could convert them as their own. It was similar to True Void's ability. However, compared to him, the puppets had a limit to the magic energy they could absorb. Else, their energy core would overload and explode.

Aside from this, puppets could not passively absorb magic energies.

They move based on the stored magic energy in their energy cores. Once their energy supply reached a certain percentage, they would automatically stop moving. It was how most Automasmiths who were also proficient in Array programmed their puppets.

Kyran's puppets were the same. For this reason, the initial design he had in mind would somehow give his puppets another way to replenish their energy supply.

After studying the Lost Manuscript of Automata System, he learned that there was a way for a puppet to passively absorb magic energies without worrying about overloading the energy core.

The current design of the energy cores of Kyran's puppet had adopted this concept. Thus, it was safe to say that his puppets now had an almost unlimited energy supply. Almost because Kyran's design was still in its initial phase, he was unsure if his design had no flaws.

Anyway, he could always adjust the puppet's system to remove any flaws.

'Hm?' Kyran suddenly paused as he sensed something trying to breach his Array.

Since he was the one who created the array around the room, he was aware of the weak spots in the formation. He did not bother to reinforce these areas because he did not want to waste his limited resources. Anyway, he was confident that they couldn't do so even when someone tried to exploit these areas and destroy his array unless their Array attainment was at the same level or above his.

When something trying to breach his Array managed to do just that, Kyran's eyes narrowed at once. He turned toward his right in a blink of an eye with his hand outstretched. Then he made a grasping motion as an invisible force shot from his hand and went straight to a spot to his right.

As if the invisible force had taken the shape of a hand, when Kyran made a grasping motion, the force grabbed something at the spot he had aimed.

Crackling sounds erupted as soon as the force grabbed something. Then, the whole room trembled as Kyran's array slowly became visible.

Black mists seeped out from the spot where Kyran had grasped.

Seeing the black mists, his expression turned blank, and without even batting an eye, he clenched his fists, and the invisible force exploded along with the black mists.

The explosion shook the whole Blacksmith Order's building, which shocked all the people, members, and customers alike.

"W-What's happening?"

"Are we under attack?"

"What was that explosion?"

"Who dares to attack the Blacksmith Order when the President is not around!"

"Did someone fail in crafting?"

The members inside the Blacksmith and Array Specialists Department exclaimed one after another.

"T-The explosion came from Disciple Tyr's workstation!"

It was unknown who said it, but all members looked at the workstation's door as soon as he did.

True enough, though there was no visible damage from the outside, the fact that a glowing gold array formation was suddenly visible around the door meant something happened inside, which triggered the room's array to appear.

"H-How come there is an array formation in Disciple Tyr's workstation?"

Someone suddenly exclaimed in disbelief.

It instantly caused all Array Specialists to gasp in astonishment. After all, it was impossible to have a smaller array formation inside a larger formation unless that small Array was part of it.

"That's not important! Disciple Tyr needs our help!"

"But he said not to disturb him."

"Who cares about that? What if something bad has happened to him? Can you face Chairman Noir's questioning?"

Even when some of them said this, others had already run upstairs to check.

BOOM!

However, before they could reach the room, the thick metal door to Tyr's workstation exploded as a black shadow was blasted out and flew to the other side of the mezzanine.

BAM!

The black shadow slammed on one of the walls, which crumbled instantly.

Some members who saw the shadow and heard it slam on the wall then got buried in the rubble could not help but flinch, just imagining how bad that would have hurt.

However, just as they were sympathizing with the shadow, suddenly, the black shadow burst out from the rubble and jumped to stand on the mezzanine's rail.

"You f*cking assh*le! What was that for?"

It was then they finally saw that the black shadow was a huge man wearing a gray cloak that covered his whole body. Even his face was hidden under the cloak's hood.

"Who the hell are you?"

"An intruder?"

"H-HOW DID YOU GET INSIDE?"

Before the rest of the members could move toward the cloaked man, 'Disciple Tyr' emerged from the damaged door of his workstation.

With an expression that was hard to read, 'Disciple Tyr' looked at the cloaked man and said, "'What was that for?', as a member of the Blacksmith Order, if someone brazenly intrudes, it is my duty to apprehend and teach that person a lesson."

The cloaked man chuckled, "I see. You want to get even like this, huh. Let me f*cking tell you, even with this form I can—."

Something flashed inside 'Disciple Tyr's' workstation and flew directly at the cloaked man.

As soon as that something neared the cloaked man, the latter moved to the side and evaded its kick.

The kick of that 'something' landed on the mezzanine's railing and instantly shattered it to pieces.

The members of the order gasped as soon as they realized what that 'something' that had suddenly attacked the cloaked man was.

It was a metal-shaped human.

"Impossible!"

"I-Is that a—!"

"This— That— That's a human-shaped puppet!"

Their surprise was reasonable.

In the Human plane, puppet creation was rare. One of the reasons behind this was the cost of materials in creating one puppet was too expensive. Apart from this, only two known clans in the plane knew how to create a puppet system using Arrays. Even then, it was rare to have a member actually create a puppet system that could move flawlessly. Not to mention shaped that puppet into a human.

It was practically impossible to mold parts of a puppet that could look like a human. For this reason, most puppets were designed to look like beasts.

The puppet that attacked the cloaked man, obviously Nolan, was the first one Kyran completed.

At the moment, the puppet was programmed to attack anyone who Kyran considered an enemy. However, Kyran did not need to input the information because he had included a part of his magic sense into the puppet's energy core. Furthermore, this magic sense resonated with Kyran's thoughts, so a mere thought from him would be easily perceived by the puppet.

"Surrender yourself, intruder," Kyran told Nolan, his voice sounding expressionless like his face.

"Surrender, my ass. F*cking kid, I don't have time to play games. Missy wants me to take you to the tower."

Kyran's expression remained unreadable even after hearing what Nolan had said. Of course, he knew who Nolan meant. There was only one person who he called Missy.

But while his expression remained unreadable, Kyran's mind was working in full drive and was putting bits and pieces of what he understood of the current situation together.

'Nolan went to the Conclave right after leaving the Tower of Tribulation? As far as I remember, he doesn't want to involve the Conclave with my clan's affair. Meaning, there is another reason why he went to them,' Kyran thought.

Before Kyran could say anything, the inner door below burst open as more members of the order rushed in.

"We heard the explosion! What happened?"

"Is everyone okay?"

"Is it true Disciple Tyr is here?"

"Where is Disciple Tyr?"

"There! It's Disciple Tyr!"

"Oh my goodness! It really is him!"

The sudden change of focus of the outburst from the newly arrived members who were not part of the Blacksmiths and Array Specialists Department instantly gave Kyran a headache.

He was aware that his decision to attack Nolan earlier would attract attention. But he had thought by the time the rest of the members arrived, he and Nolan would have probably left. Kyran did not expect that the rest of the members would arrive almost in an instant.

Without looking at the people downstairs, Kyran turned and went back to his workstation while giving an order to his first puppet.

In an instant, the puppet moved and a magic array formed in its hands as it began to fix the broken rail and then the wall.

Nolan looked at the puppet with raised eyebrows. He was actually surprised that Kyran had a puppet. It was his first time seeing it, and he immediately realized that this puppet was something Kyran had made in the Tower of Tribulation.

[I'll go by myself. You can go back first.]

Nolan's eyes widened as he heard Kyran's voice in his head. He turned to look at the room right across, barely seeing Kyran's back. The latter had actually resumed with his work as if nothing had happened.

Chuckling, Nolan replied.

[Since when did you learn how to send your thoughts telepathically.]

[I've learned many things.]

Kyran replied without looking back.

[Oh, really? It makes me want to see how much you have progressed. Let's continue fighting.]

[No thanks. I'm not interested in fighting an essence.]

Nolan stopped short. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he said.

[Did you notice right from the start?]

Kyran did not reply and instead turned to look at Nolan, standing at the other side.

This was another reason why Kyran knew Nolan went to the Conclave for another reason.

As for where the real Nolan went, Kyran could only guess.

Nolan probably went to find Azaloth's inheritance without waiting for him.