Legacy of the Dark Sage

Ruin clapped his hands as he looked at Cade who appeared several meters away from his original spot.

"Impressive," he said. "If I didn't know better I would have thought you had 'warped' just now. That is an impressive split second movement technique."

Cade's glowing body returned to normal as he deactivated the Regis Blessing. Red steams was coming out of his body as if he was on fire. He fell on one knee, his breathing came in short gasps. It was obvious the dragon blood's power had taken a huge toll on his body.

Although Cade could unleash 70% of the dragon blood's power, he could not sustain it for more than five seconds. If he overused it his body would have really be set on fire from the enormous amount of magic stored in the dragon's blood.

Nevertheless, now that he had used it, he would need at least ten to fifteen minutes to regulate it again. If Cade could circulate his magic energy, he would not have to do this. All he had to do was direct the magic energy in his body to stabilize the dragon's blood and he could activate it again. Alas, with a damaged core, he could no longer circulate magic energy. As for how he could still use his innate magic, it was actually the dragon blood in his veins that was attracting the magic energy in the surrounding. As long as he applied the runes of his innate magic in the surrounding magic energy, he could easily mold shields and weapons.

But all of those was not of importance at the moment. Because in his current state, he was practically an easy target. If Ruin decided to attack now, Cade would die in one normal attack.

"Now where was I?" Ruin continued as if he had not been interrupted. "Right, the new Void Master having the physique that hag had coveted in the past. As my prey, I really want to torture him to death, but knowing my old friend succeeded in achieving the ultimate physique a mage could have, and my prey possess it, if I kill him now, I will not be able to enjoy the upcoming war!"

Cade looked at Ruin. He had no idea of the things the latter was spouting. However, he did not need to be on the loop to understand that it concerned matters outside the Human plane. A huge event that involved all Sovereigns. Apart from this, Cade had an inkling that what happened in the past could be related to it. Just the fact that Ruin confirmed he had been in the Human plane and even fought the Dragon Lord before was enough for Cade to see a connection. Others might not be able to see the connection with too little information, but it was easy given Cade's insight. Nevertheless, Cade could only take note of this information. Given his current situation, he could only rack his brains on buying some time until he could reactivate the Regis Blessing again, while also ensuring Ruin did not discover his condition.

Since the latter loved to talk, Cade did not mind indulging him.

"You speak as if he will participate in that war."

Ruin raised his brows as he looked at Cade. "Oh? Are you finally talking to me? Hahaha!"

Before Cade could respond Ruin already continued talking. He really loved to talk!

"Of course he will join. He can't help but join. If not, the whole Human plane will be-," Ruin suddenly paused as if a thought crossed his mind. He tilted his head to one side and said, "Ah, but the Human plane already has a Sovereign. So which plane will he represent?"

Cade frowned. Bits and pieces of information he and his fellow Tower of Tribulation participants had heard or seen during their time there came flashing in his mind.

Sovereigns fighting to conquer planes that had no 'Sovereign' ruling over them. War plaguing the realms, all in accordance to the Higher Beings' whims. The war that drove the Human plane on the verge of extinction, with demons and other foreign beings entering the plane trying to occupy it. A certain 'Dark Sage' who brought chaos to the higher realms.

'This...!'

"Then again, he did succeed in saving the Lignum plane a few years back. He could become that plane's Sovereign..." Ruin's voice trailed off as another thought crossed his mind. "But has he become a Sovereign?" His expression distorted, his red eyes flickered dangerously. "If not, that will spoil everything."

Suddenly, the air crackled around him as red thin fissures resembling lightning appeared. These fissures were a visible manifestation of his rising magic pressure.

Feeling as if a huge boulder had slammed down on him, Cade gritted his teeth and clenched his fists while he fought to stay upright. However, the increasing pressure from Ruin was something Cade in his current state could not handle. His other knee buckled and he was forced to kneel on both knees. As if the gravity around him had been multiplied several times, his bones creak and his upper body was also forced down. He could only fight the pressure by bracing both his arms on the ground. But relying only in his body's defences was strenous.

"Play time's over. I need to see whether he has broken through. If not, I'll just torture him to death. But first, a present..."

Ruin took a step forward. However, that single movement distorted the space between him and Cade. The next moment, the former was already kneeling before the latter.

Though Cade managed to conceal the excruciating pain his body was enduring by wearing an indifferent expression, the moment Ruin appeared, his eyes widened and his pupils contracted, betraying his indifference.

"I'll be taking your head."

Without any pause, Ruin raised his left hand that emitted a faint red glow. It was sharp and had a frighteningly cold aura as he swipe it toward Cade's neck.

Cold bits of sweat trickled down Cade's neck. He was frozen in spot as he watched Ruin's hand that had suddenly stopped midway. Still, the tip of the red glow had grazed him and blood trickled down his neck.

Cade watched Ruin's expression distorted as he lowered his gaze to his forearm.

Following the latter's gaze, Cade also saw the reason why he had stopped.

Black spikes with gold and silver accents had pierced Ruin's outstretched arm. Not only that, there were also similar spikes sticking out from all over his body.

"Not on my watch."

Cade's eyes widened after hearing a familiar voice he had not heard in years.

"You-!" Before Ruin could explode in anger, a black silhouette landed between him and Cade.

When the silhouette appeared, time seemed to have slowed around them.

Cade looked at the silhouette and barely make out a black mask covering his face. But Cade was not really interested in figuring out what the mask was. He was more interested to know the person behind it. Because the silhouette might have concealed his aura but for some reasons, Cade found his build and presence familiar.

'Don't tell me...!'

The silhouette wordlessly tapped Cade's shoulder, and something akin to a suction force pulled Cade from within. In the blink of an eye he was already in midair falling.

"F*ck!"

The familiar voice Cade had heard cursed.

"That kid... Don't go running on your own-!"

"Nolan!"

Nolan grabbed Cade the instant he appeared in midair. He looked at him with a wry smile and said, "You looked f*cked up."

Before Cade could respond, a thunderous sound reverberated below, forcing him and Nolan to turn their attention back to the ground.

At the spot where Cade had been, the silhouette, which now Cade saw was a man in black wearing a black panther mask, unleashed a powerful punch that seemed to tore through space. His target was none other than Ruin.

The man's punch was too powerful and sharp that its explosive force left several meters of ditch on the ground. As for Ruin, he was blown away several meters backward and was engulfed by a sea of dust.

"Tsk," Nolan clicked his tongue as he looked at Kyran, who was obviously disguised as the man in a panther mask. "I said not to do anything unnecessary! Just who did you get that temper from?"

Going back a few minutes, after warping at the edge of the Regis Estate's Outer Wall, Kyran and Nolan rushed to the Inner Wall. They did not encounter anyone on the way. It seemed the army camping around the estate's Inner Wall that Nolan had seen on his previous visit had left. Most likely, they were also summoned to go to Noser. Not that they were complaining. After all, they were pressed for time and did not have the leisure of dealing with them.

When the two arrived near the Inner Wall, they sensed clashing auras and the scene that greeted them was Ruin having a monologue while Cade was down on his knees, looking as if he had suffered severe internal injuries.

Nolan had warned Kyran not to do anything unnecessary. He said this because Kyran might look calm, but he knew the calmer he looked the angrier he was.

That was why when Ruin was about to attack Cade, Nolan immediately moved to stop the former's movement. Who would have thought Kyran had another plan. He suddenly warped and reappeared in between Cade and Ruin, exchanging places with the former to deal with the latter!

"I want to punch his annoying face just once," Kyran replied through gritted teeth.

True Void refrain from commenting because he could sense Kyran's seething anger. In any case, True Void could understand where he was coming from. Kyran had always seen his father as a towering mountain, unrelenting and strong. Seeing Cade in a tattered state must have shocked Kyran. It was also a testament of his father's determination to protect the clan.

BOOM!

An ominous aura exploded from the sea of dust. From within, flashes of red beam could be seen as Ruin's silhouette stood up.

Within the sea of dust, Ruin's face had been disfigured. His cheek was bloodied and torn, revealing flesh, bones and teeth underneath.

"WHO DARED INTERFERE WITH MY GAME?" Ruin shouted, his voice reverberated, sending the surrounding ground to tremble violently.

Nolan's brow furrowed, "Kid! Go!"

Kyran did not need telling twice, he approached them and pulled Cade along as he made a mad dash to escape.

"YOU!" Ruin bellowed upon seeing the newcomer that attacked him about to leave.

BOOM!

Before Ruin could take a step and destroy the space to catch up with the newcomer, an oppressive magic pressure erupted that caused him to stay rooted in spot.

"We're only changing players," Nolan said, his light blue eyes glinted malevolently. "I'll play your game."