Legacy of the Dark Sage

[AAAAHHH! You and you're recklessness! Why do you always risk your life like this? You don't even have an heir to pass on your magic cores!]

Kyran ignored True Void's complaints and aimed his swords at two soldiers in front.

The two soldiers were so busy fighting each other that they failed to notice Kyran's arrival.

Slash!

"Gah!"

Blood suddenly gushed out from one of the soldier's necks, and he fell to his knees with a loud thud.

Hack! Bam!

"Guh!"

The other one received a deep cut on his armor, followed by a powerful kick, resulting in him bumping into another soldier.

"Oi-!"

The two soldiers toppled over, with the latter soldier avoiding his opponent's slash in the process.

Without stopping, Kyran moved to the soldier who missed and ruthlessly sliced off his head.

The soldier did not even know what hit him before he was beheaded. Blood gushed out of his severed neck, flowing like a fountain to the two soldiers that fell to the ground.

The two soldiers were left dumbfounded as they bathed in the soldier's blood. They barely recovered their wits before a figure flashed before them. From their peripheral view, they saw something flash before two heads flew up in the air, followed by a bloody rain.

For the next few minutes, cries of death filled the air as more heads flew or fell to the ground. More soldiers started to take notice of the arrival of a third party, as more soldiers ended up with deep wounds or dead.

With the only light coming from the flames that resulted from constant fire magic attacks cast by their allies or enemies, they failed to recognize the figure. Nevertheless, few soldiers realized that the figure had only killed enemies, not part of the emperor's army. They were left reeling because, although most of their allies were also attacked, their wounds were not life-threatening.

Was it deliberate or a coincidence? Regardless of the answer, they immediately informed their superior. The figure's actions were too questionable; his motive was unknown.

The message these soldiers sent did not pass through the army's main channel because they had already switched to a new private channel under Mannick's order. It went directly to one of the four commanding officers reporting directly to Mannick.

After more than an hour of fending against the army's ambush, Mannick and his men regrouped and formed a defensive formation with the emperor in the middle. However, that was all they could do. Defend. They were unable to take the upper hand with their little number.

One of the commanding officers was Rivka, who was currently close to the center but was assigned to command the west flank.

Rivka had just blasted the head of a High Master, who managed to advance deep into their formation when he received several messages. His usually emotionless expression turned grim as soon as he read them, and he immediately ordered the men around to keep the formation before retreating to where Mannick was.

The center of the formation was divided into three sections. The first section, on the right side, was dedicated to receiving wounded soldiers, while the second section, located in the middle, was where their supplies were. Lastly, the third section was an open makeshift huddle area.

Euan and Mannick were currently in the middle section, with two teams of four members. They were huddled in front of a makeshift table with a map at the center of the formation. They were discussing a breakthrough plan against the enemy's encirclement.

The first team would scout the situation in the Regis Estate and Noser, while the second would check the status in the palace and the Three Noble Families.

If Lira was leading this ambush, it was impossible that the other noble families were unaware of it. At least Euan believed that if she acted according to Haylee's order, those noble families backing the Winfrey Family were definitely involved. If it were the case, the noble families who had ties with the Three Noble Families would also make a move.

Worst-case scenario, the noble families backing the Winfrey Family had already won over the Three Noble Families and were preparing to attack the palace.

Euan was worried that Iulia was in danger. After all, he had left her in the Courtenay Land, and the only one there was Ingrid, whose family supported the Winfreys for generations. The only thing that kept him from making any drastic move in returning to the Courtenay Land was Mannick's reminder that although Ingrid was there and the Courtenay might already ally themselves with the Crown Princess, the Conclave was also there.

Mannick's reminder did put Euan at ease. After witnessing the Conclave's performance during the joint military exercises, he was convinced that the latter would not succumb to any of the Three Noble Families or even Ingrid's ploy. He just hoped the Three Noble Families would not join hands, which would surely put the Conclave at a disadvantage. Besides, although the Conclave would not leave the empress on her own if they realized the current situation, there was no guarantee that they would protect her to death.

Too bad they could not check any updates on the current situation using the army's main channel. To be precise, Euan decided not to rely on it anymore since he did not know who else they could trust in the military. As a matter of fact, he believed Mannick was the only one he could trust right now. There was also a chance that the updates were being withheld to ensure Mannick, who was with Euan, would not see them.

Mannick could see Euan's distress but could not tell him that the Courtenay and the Montgomeray Families were not enemies. If he did, then he would have to explain so many troublesome things and might end up overstepping the boundary to how much he could meddle in the Human plane's affairs.

Alas, if only Mannick had a way to contact Kyran and inform him of the emperor's situation.

Or maybe not.

Maybe informing Kyran of the emperor's situation would be overstepping his boundaries.

While they were finishing up the plan, Rivka rushed in and said, "Deputy Marshal, I just received an update from one of our people near the west flank." He did not bother with formalities before saying what he came for, not because he was not respectful or that the update's urgency superseded formalities; rather, Mannick did not care about such formalities among his men.

Everyone in the huddle area looked at him.

Without waiting for Euan or Mannick to ask questions, Rivka continued, "An unknown person appeared and has been killing off soldiers one after another."

Euan's eyes narrowed at one, "Indiscriminately?"

Rivka looked at him and lowered his head before replying, "No, your Majesty. At least that person is not killing our people. Although they also suffered, the soldiers killed were all from the other side."

Mannick's eyes glowed at once, "The west flank."

Rivka looked at him and nodded, "Yes."

Mannick roused his magic sense at once and checked the west flank of their formation. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he sensed the unknown person.

To be precise, he did not sense him but noticed movements without leaving any aura traces. There was only one person he knew who could do that.

Meanwhile, at the west flank formation, Kyran continued to rain havoc. He moved so fast, weaving through the crowd while brandishing his swords. A trail of corpses or wounded soldiers was left in his wake.

Different magic attacks rained down on him, but he either ignored them or evaded them before killing or wounding the soldiers who dared attack him.

[Void Halfling!]

True Void suddenly called for Kyran's attention when he sensed Mannick's magic sense swept past them.

Kyran also felt it even before True Void had spoken. He stopped and sent out his magic sense to confirm Mannick's exact location.

In the center of the formation, Mannick felt Kyran's magic sense, and his smile widened. With the latter coming to them instead, things would be easier. Just as he was thinking this, he heard a voice speak in his head.

[Order your men to make way. If not, I might end up eventually killing one of them.]

'Alright,' Mannick replied telepathically.

Euan looked at Mannick and noticed the smile on his face.

"What did you find, Mannick?" He asked after sensing Mannick used his magic sense. Euan could also do the same, but he dared not to. If the intruder was placed there by Lira to mislead them and he tried to observe that person's movement, they would find his location and might launch a sneak attack. Although they could determine Mannick's location too, they would not launch a sneak attack at once because there was a probability that he and Euan were not together.

Mannick looked at Euan and said, "We'll hold the line. There is someone I want you to meet."