Legacy of the Dark Sage

While Kesiah and Gaham lured the Legendary-level Knights, Gael remained in the temporary campsite and observed the Arch Magus-level Knights. The commotion brought by Kesiah and Gaham's appearance resulted in every knight and officer in the camp maintaining their vigilance. None of the lower-ranked knights and officers followed the Legendary-level Knights because they would have been left behind or even caused delays. Instead, they doubled the groups patrolling the vicinity while a few of them started their preparation to go to the fort.

There were still a few more hours before they began the operation, but because of Kesiah and Gaham's appearance, they decided to move up the time.

Gael did not mind the buzz around the camp, though. He preferred it even, because it made it easier for him to move around their shadows without being detected if they were this busy.

Yes, their perception and vigilance were at an all-time high, but Gael's movements were concealed by the shadows perfectly. The improvement in his shadow concealment ability was definitely caused by the improvement in their Master's magic knowledge.

Gael continued to observe the Arch Magus-level Knights— for convenience, he decided to refer to them as Arch Knights moving forward— for a chance to strike. He finally took action when he saw them enter a large tent, which he guessed was used as a meeting room.

As soon as the five Arch Knights gathered around a round table, where a detailed map of the fort was projected, Gael activated his Domain.

None of them could react in time before Gael's Shadow Domain swallowed them whole.

After that, he stayed inside the domain and subdued the Arch Knights, who tried to struggle their way out. With their Space-based Divine Armaments, they would not have any problem creating a separate space inside the Shadow Domain while looking for its weakness and leaving.

Unfortunately for them, Gael's Shadow's innate magic had adapted some of the Void's nature after becoming a Servant. Thus, their attempt at creating that space was useless. In over a minute, their Divine Armaments were already tainted by Gael's Shadow magic.

In just three minutes, Gael successfully took control of the Arch Knights' Divine Armaments. After that, subduing the Arch Knights had become easier. He did not even break a sweat.

Frankly, Gael was surprised at this. Previously he had to take a while before he could completely subdue a knight. That had been the case the first time he absorbed one. But now, it only took him almost five minutes to subdue. After that, he would only need another ten to thirty minutes to turn them into his Shadow Minions.

Gael shook his head and kept his excitement under wraps. He could not allow himself to wallow in his apparent easy win. After all, the reason he could subdue and turn them easily was because of his Master.

Without his Master's blessing, there was a good chance Gael would suffer a few injuries before he could turn the Arch Knights into his Shadow Minions.

After Gael successfully turned the Arch Knights, he ordered them to lead the rest of the knights and officers.

Frankly, Gael wanted to turn as many knights or officers into his Shadow Minions, but after turning the Arch Knights, he realized he could no longer add more minions. He supposed that he finally met the limit of minions he could turn.

Then again, maybe if he absorbed the lower-ranked knights and officers before the Arch Knights, he had an inkling that he could turn more than thirty or so before meeting his limit. From this, Gael guessed that his limit was not based on the number of minions, but on their levels. He also believed that if his mage level improved, he might succeed in turning more Arch Knights or a couple of Legendary-level Knights.

When Gael finished instructing the Arch Knights, he left to go after Kesiah and Gaham. He was worried that those two would meet some accidents and the Shadow Minions he ordered to follow them would not be able to help them in time.

Gael's worry was on point because, at that moment, the Legendary-level Knights had already caught up with Kesiah and Gaham.

One of the Legendary-level Knight with Space-based Divine Armament shortened the space around the two and cut off any possible escape route. After that, another knight pierced his wooden staff on the ground. The ground around Kesiah and Gaham trembled as several tree roots emerged from the ground and formed a wall made of entangled roots that imprisoned Kesiah and Gaham.

Kesiah's eyes glowed as she shifted her defensive Divine Armament into an offensive. After which, she attacked the roots at a dizzying speed as she tried to stop them from completely imprisoning them.

Gaham also summoned his Divine Armament and slammed his morning star on the entangled roots. With every accumulated momentum from his swing, the morning star grew in size and strength.

Gael's Shadow Minions could not provide assistance at that moment and were forced to hide in the shadows, looking for an opportunity to strike the enemies.

"I'll create a path for you, Princess. Please go ahead."

Kesiah furrowed her brows. She might be a Servant now, but her memories and even sentiments from before becoming a Servant were still intact. She disliked the idea of leaving one of her people behind just so she could continue forward.

Was it not this very sentiment that made her decide to appear before Kyran and negotiate?

Nevertheless, Kesiah knew the importance of luring these Legendary-level Knights to their Master's trap. She also knew that their Master specifically instructed them to lure all Legendary-level Knights into the trap.

Thus, Kesiah shook her head, refusing Gaham's suggestion.

Her decision was greatly influenced by Kyran's instructions. Not to mention, she believed that if she went ahead and left Gaham, the Legendary-level Knights would split up. When that happened, even if Kesiah succeeded in luring those knights who went after her into the trap, those who stayed behind to make Gaham suffer would discover the trap and render it useless.

Although there was still a chance to turn the tides and force the remaining Legendary-level Knights into the trap, Kesiah did not want to wager on such an uncertain plan.

"No, we'll go together," Kesiah told Gaham as her eyes turned a shade of purple.

A thin purplish coating enveloped her dual sabers. This was the change her Divine Armament received after becoming a Servant. Utilizing the Void nature she now possessed, the blade of her sabres could easily cut through anything and stop them from regenerating.

The Legendary-level Knight who summoned the tree roots frowned as he sensed something was amiss. The other Knights also sensed something and aimed their Divine Armaments at Kesiah

Seeing this, Gaham roared before slamming his Divine Armament, which at that point had grown into a meter-wide blunt weapon, on the ground.

BOOM!

The ground before Gaham erupted, resulting in a massive shockwave that forced the rushing knights to retreat a couple of steps.

Some of the tangled roots were also destroyed by the shockwave. However, the knight persisted and continued to summon more roots.

But.

"What—?"

The knight was dumbfounded as he realized that the roots that Kesiah cut with her dual sabres could no longer regrow.

"Gaham!" Kesiah shouted as she finally opened up a path for them.

Gaham need not be told twice. He unsummoned his Divine Armament and followed after Kesiah, who was already running up ahead.

"What happened? Why did you stop summoning those roots?" A knight asked the one who summoned the roots.

"I... there is something wrong with the roots!"

"Huh? What the hell are you—?"

The Legendary-level Knights abruptly stopped their conversation when they realized Kesiah and Gaham had gained the lead on them again.

"Don't waste time talking! Deal with them first!"

It was at this moment that the Shadow Minions finally made their move.

The ground at which the knights stood darkened, making it seem as if it was not daylight. It was then followed by several black spikes, emerging from it and aiming at their feet.

"Tsk!"

Some knights jumped to avoid the emerging spikes, while a few used their Divine Armaments to destroy them, wrecking the ground in the process.

Because those spikes were summoned by the Shadow Minions, whose level was far lower than the knights, they were too brittle. They could not even scratch the knights' armor.

Nevertheless, the Shadow Minions did not mind since the sole reason they attacked was to buy time for Kesiah and Gaham. Not only that, when they summoned those spikes, they ensured that none of the knights would fall back. They were forced to step aside, but not retreat.

When all the spikes were destroyed, the Shadow Minions hid once more and watched as the Legendary-level Knights regrouped and followed Kesiah and Gaham.

The knights did not realize that the spikes just now were done by another group. Instead, they were convinced that those were Gaham's follow-up attacks.

After a couple of minutes, Kesiah and Gaham finally arrived at a clearing. They turned just in time to see the Legendary-level Knights gaining on them.

'Get outside the formation, Gaham. I'm more than enough to activate it.'

'Yes, Princess.'

Gaham moved aside at once.

Kesiah's eyes glowed reddish-purple as soon as all Legendary-level Knights entered the array formation's range. After that, a fifty-meter diameter dark purple array formation appeared on the ground. It emitted an ominous-looking faint purplish glow.

Upon seeing the array, the Legendary-level Knights realized that they had fallen into a trap. They immediately retreated, wanting to leave the range of the formation.

Unfortunately, their thinking had been too naive.