Legacy of the Dark Sage

Light gaped at Kyran in disbelief.

''That's it?'' Light repeated inwardly while gaping at Kyran in disbelief. To think that someone from a Lower Realm would act as if being promoted to the Higher Realm was not a big deal.

Light could not help but reassess the new Dark Sage because the first appeared to be his exact opposite.

The first Dark Sage would not bat an eye and destroy a plane if he could gain some benefits. It did not matter whether the benefits he'd reap were cheap or grand so long as it would help him advance.

Thinking of this point, Light came to a sudden realization.

'Could it be this guy doesn't know...?'

With narrowed eyes, Light coughed lightly and finally responded to Kyran, "It seemed you are unaware of what receiving benefits from the Higher Realm entails to a mage... no to a whole plane."

"Isn't it just higher quality of resources that could help a mage advance? If it involves the whole plane, then probably they too would receive a baptism of some sort and have their magic foundations improve, resulting in better chances of breaking through to the next level."

Light's expression turned ugly after hearing Kyran's matter-of-fact answer.

What Kyran had said summed up the benefits the winner of the war would receive pretty well. With regards to the 'higher quality of resources,' it meant higher quality magic stones. Maybe one could even receive magic crystals or rune stones, which possessed better quality magic energy, rare abilities or power enhancement.

Some mages were born with an innate ability. If a mage possessed an innate ability, they had a better chance of gaining the upper hand when fighting against a mage who did not have one. Still, it was not a sure win because most innate abilities could be countered. Since a mage could only possess one innate ability, it would be easy for others to get used to it if a mage used it several times.

But that could change if that mage got hold of a magic crystal or rune stone.

Magic crystals always come with an ability. If a mage successfully absorbed the crystal, they would acquire its ability. It did not matter whether the mage that absorbed the magic crystal already had an innate ability. They would gain a new ability to help them have more varying attack patterns in a battle.

The only downside to this was one would not know what ability the magic crystals had.

If a mage absorbed a magic crystal with the same ability as the mage's innate ability, it would only receive a boost. Nothing would happen if that mage absorbed a second crystal with similar abilities. One could only receive a boost after absorbing one crystal.

The same concept applies to rune stones, albeit better, if not the best. This was because rune stones come with rare abilities and power enhancement.

Rare abilities were considered good stuff. Although there were also rare abilities that appeared useless. It was not because they were weak but because their usage might be limited— which might disadvantage a mage in a battle of attrition unless that mage had more than one rare or regular ability— or the ability could only be used after fulfilling certain requirements.

As for the power enhancement, depending on what particular attribute the rune stone had, it might help enhance a mage's magic energy, magic or physical defences, magic output and more.

Another difference between the magic crystal and rune stone was that one would immediately know what rare ability the latter had. This way, if the mage did not need the rare ability in the rune stone— which was highly unlikely— they could exchange it for a different one. Of course, this was if a mage knew others with a rune stone. After all, rune stones were rarer than magic crystals.

As for the rune stone's power enhancement capability, it could not be determined. But that was unimportant because any form of enhancement it possessed could be a game changer in a battle.

Of course, all of these advantages were on the premise that a mage had a rune stone they could absorb. Since it was a rare item compared to magic crystals, it was practically impossible for a mage to possess two or more rune stones.

With these two being one of the few benefits a plane or a Sovereign could receive after their faction won the war, it was already a very good deal.

Apart from the magic crystals and rune stones, every beast available in the Higher Realm was a legendary beast. If one successfully killed one and dropped a rune stone, the ability in the rune stone could be an innate ability of that beast. One could also tame these beasts— of course, the beast should first acknowledge the mage's strength to tame one successfully.

As the saying goes, a powerful being would never bow down to someone weaker than them, and the minimum level of legendary beasts in the Higher Realm was at the Legendary— no pun intended.

Unless one is a Sovereign or higher, they might not be able to tame a legendary beast.

Then there was the highly advanced magic knowledge available in the Higher Realm. A mage discovering a new magic attack that could change the tides of a battle in the Lower Realm might only be a common attack in the Higher Realm. The same goes with Array, Alchemy and other branches of magic.

There were more things the Higher Realm had to offer, including a state-of-the-art weaponry system, high-quality materials for Alchemy and Array creations, and more. But the most appealing benefit of becoming part of the Higher Realm was having a chance to visit the top planes where the most powerful beings in the whole universe reside.

One good example of a top existence was the Dragons.

Rumored had it that if a mage managed to bond with one, that mage could possess the same abilities as the Dragon it was bonded with. If a mage could bond with one, their ability and magic prowess would receive a tenfold upgrade— maybe even more.

"You... You have no idea how huge the resources in the Higher Realm are compared to the Lower Realm! If you do, you will not call them 'just higher quality.'"

Kyran did not comment.

Frankly, his nonchalant reaction toward the benefits offered in the Higher Realm was not because he looked down on them. Just as Light said, he did not know the difference between the quality of each realm's resources possessed. But since the Higher Realm was called as such, they definitely had better quality compared to the Lower Realm.

To Kyran, this was to be expected. Thus he was not surprised.

Then again, if he knew what kind of resources the Higher Realm had, it might not move him either.

For one thing, the advantage of having only one innate ability did not apply to Kyran. Since he inherited Caelan's Void core, it came with the latter's innate ability. Although Kyran had not confirmed what innate ability he inherited from Caelan. There was also another inherited magic core— Zane's Draconic core. Kyran believed the innate ability that came with it was his abnormally sturdy physique. Since he was already a Regis, he already possessed a sturdy physique. But because Kyran inherited Zane's innate ability, his body was sturdier than the other Regis family member.

As for other rare abilities that one could inherit from a legendary beast after killing it and it dropped a rune stone, Kyran was not interested. No matter how many rare abilities or talents he had, if he was only one person, there was no point in possessing all of them. He would rather have that legendary beast become his Sigil and make full use of its abilities.

This was also the very reason Kyran would not be interested in 'trying' to tame a legendary beast. As long as he used the Sigil, he could easily subdue a legendary beast and make it his Sigil.

Last but not least, visiting other planes where the top existences in the Higher Realm reside might somewhat be appealing to Kyran. But not because of the possible benefits he could receive if he interacted with them. Based on Kyran's character, he would likely end up causing a ruckus and forcing them to attack him. Then he would absorb their magic attacks and take them for himself.

As for the rumor about the benefits of bonding with a dragon, Kyran was not interested. He possessed the Draconic core. As long as he studied it, he could be considered a dragon with a human body.

After a short pause, Kyran decided not to dwell on the subject of the benefits one would receive. After all, there was something he was far more interested in.

With a solemn expression, he looked at Light and said, "Putting aside the matter of benefits the winners will receive— tell me, who are the ones organizing the war."

The answer to this was what Kyran wanted to know most.