Legacy of the Dark Sage

"This is impossible!" Patriarch Ernst exclaimed as soon as he took out the Courtenay magic detector.

Their family's magic detector could not compare to the army's current one, especially on its range and vast data on magic signatures stored in its memory.

However, it should be enough to alert Ernst if there was any major magic fluctuation inside the Courtenay land.

The Deputy Marshals also took out their devices. Even Lira took out her device to check.

"This...!" Ernst's expression turned grim as he looked at the magic detector in his hand.

To be precise, the expression of everyone who took out their magic detectors turned grim.

Their devices were abnormally silent which should not be the case.

They were having the meeting in the first place because their devices detected a large amount of magic energy on the island. After checking they found out the energy belonged to the baby Echidna. The amount was ridiculously high that the barrier around the island failed to contain it. That was why their magic devices should be showing an insane reading right now.

Ernst looked at the Courtenay member who barged in to report the incident.

"Tell me in details—!"

He stopped short when an immense yet silent amount of magic energy spread in the room, rendering their devices to burst.

It did not take long for him or the others to know who released the frightening aura because the man suddenly stiffened.

"Ack!" Letting out a stifled cry, the man's face distorted while he grabbed his head as if in pain.

"Show me what you saw," Haylee commanded.

Everyone inside except for Lira and Fye held their breaths as they turned to look at Haylee.

Her right hand was outstretched toward the man, and her sapphire blue eyes glowed with such ferocity it sent shivers up their spine.

"AAAAARRRHHG!" The man screamed, his eyes turning red and threatening to pop out of their sockets from the immense pressure of magic that rushed through his very core.

The pressure seemed to be scanning every part of his memory.

No. That was not exactly right.

He could feel his soul getting squeezed by the pressure while forcing out images of the scenes he had witnessed.

A smile slowly appeared on Haylee's beautiful face. However, unlike her usual angelic or sometimes impish smile, the one she was wearing right now lacked any mirth. Instead, it was filled with malice.

Haylee let go of the man, who fell to the floor unconscious. The Courtenay representative seated near the door was telling himself to help the man, however, he was frozen in fear.

"As of this moment, the Beast Hunt is canceled. Issue a retreat to all remaining factions within the vicinity," she declared without looking at Ernst.

"Y-Yes," the older man croaked a shaky response and turned to the representative beside him.

"Mannick, Ingrid, Imman, go to the island and make sure to keep that 'entity' inside."

"Yes, your Highness," the three responded at the same time. Without asking any questions, they stood up and left.

"Lira, contact my father, and Gael."

"I'm on it, princess," Lira replied, holding a glowing crystal disc.

"Fye, find a way to get them here as soon as possible," Haylee continued to give out orders.

Fye did not reply. He simply stepped back, knelt on one knee, and in the blink of an eye sank into the concrete floor.

The Courtenay representatives were frozen in their seats. They only had speculations about the new relationship between the Royal Family and the Royal Army, however, after witnessing the deputy marshals' submissive attitude toward the Crown Princess, confirmed it.

This placed the Three Noble Families in a very dire position in the future.

While the representatives were thinking this, however, Ernst was frozen because of Haylee's last order.

Yes.

Ernst was more worried about those people she referred to as 'them.' The three mages who visited the Courtenay Residence a few days ago and met with Emperor Euan and Haylee.

He was not privy to what they had discussed, but that was the least of his worry. What he was worried about were their unknown origin and otherwordly auras.

The appearance of those three mages was what drove Ernst to seek the Lumley Family's cooperation. As for the Montgomeray Family, he was still feeling them out. Their relationship with the Spirits made them hesitate to seek their cooperation.

"Ernst."

Haylee's call brought him out of his reverie. He looked at her with all the courage he could muster and replied, "Yes, your Highness."

"I know you have questions. But you don't have to worry too much," she said before looking at him. Her eyes still glowed, but the malice reflected on them a second ago was now gone.

She smiled at him and added, "I only have the empire's best interest at heart. Whatever happens today, I am on the empire's side."

"Y-Yes."

Haylee stood up and left the room, with Lira following behind her.

Ernst followed after a few seconds, his mind replaying what she had just said.

Especially when she said, the last part as if she only represented herself.

Meanwhile, on the island.

The silhouette that tried to smash the enormous red barrier with its right claws, jumped back after dealing a massive crack on it.

It charged back into the barrier after gaining enough momentum and slammed its massive claws on it again.

CRUMBLE!

This time, the barrier crumbled like a fragile glass.

KWWWIIIISHHH!

A deafening hiss echoed, resulting in the island shaking tremendously.

The nearby ships also felt the shockwave that came with it and shook. More cracks appeared on the now beaten-up barriers surrounding it.

About ten minutes earlier on the island.

After dealing with the whurtigers and the sabelking, Styx and the others took cover in the cave while the situation on the island worsened.

Neo also appeared afterward, telling them they were advised to stay in the cave for now.

Multiple translucent light brown shields covered the cave's entrance as Styx protected them from the relentless assault of magic energies.

Neo also reinforced the cave's ceiling to ensure it would not cave in on them.

"T-This..." Mitchel's mind reeled. "T-This level of magic energy is from the baby Echidna?"

"Oi, Neo. Any update from your master?" Styx chose to ignore Mitchel's question and asked Neo instead.

Neo shook his head, "None apart from what I already said. However, from what I understand of the situation outside the island. It seems the Head Committee issued an emergency meeting but the Conclave Council Members decided not to attend. They did have a meeting by themselves and it has not concluded yet."

"Emergency meeting, huh," Archel smiled bitterly. "So the island's situation has gone from bad to worse for them to issue an emergency."

"The Beast Hunt has likely been canceled. If they want us to stay here, they may be planning a rescue," Addie voiced her thoughts. "But... I don't understand. How did the baby Echidna's power increase in an instant?"

"True. This massive magic energy in the surrounding is worrying," Mitchel chimed in. "I can't help but think we are not dealing with only the baby Echidna anymore."

"Er... that's because we're not."

"If you know something, just say it," Styx growled at Neo.

"Er... Just know that master and the others are doing their best to get us out of here in one piece."

"The f*ck?" Styx glared at him. They had already established that bit and it was not the answer he was looking for. "You want me to dismantle you? Just tell us what else you know."

"Ahaha..." Neo laughed uneasily.

His master warned him about Styx and Addie discovering his identity, but not Archel and Mitchel. After meeting up with them though, he realized all of them were already aware of it. If not, Styx's words would have confused Archel and Mitchel. But they were not.

"Leader Styx, you may be an Abjurer and possess above-average Array knowledge, but you can't dismantle me. You'll only hurt yourself if you try."

"You..."

Addie, Archel, and Mitchel looked at him incredulously.

"I am not an Array Specialist because I chose not to undergo the process of becoming one. But my Array knowledge will not lose to any of the other Array Specialists in the order!"

"Oh, that is quite a generous declaration. You did not say you can rival my master's abilities. Impressive. But that is the very reason why you can't dismantle me."

"..."

It appeared Neo had a knack for rendering others speechless.

"Enough bullsh*ting. Tell us what you know."

Neo sighed. He was about to reply when they heard a shattering sound followed by the baby Echidna's deafening hiss.

CRUMBLE!

KWWWIIIISHHH!

The cave's ceiling trembled but with Neo's reinforcement, it managed to withstand the shockwaves that followed it.

"D*mn it," Styx cursed under his breath as three of his shields shattered from the shockwaves. He summoned additional shields and gritted his teeth. Maintaining the shields was draining his magic energy at a frightening speed.

RAWRGH!

Suddenly, a different kind of cry shook the island that brought shivers up their spines.

"T-That doesn't sound like the baby Echidna..."

"Just how many beasts left on the island can make such a loud cry?"

Addie and Mitchel wondered aloud.

Outside the cave.

After the red barrier shattered the black silhouette retracted its huge claws and charged inside.

Within the barrier, a huge red and black serpent beast, at least 50-meters long and five meters thick, with its torso and head in the form of a scaly beautiful woman looked at the incoming black silhouette. Its ruby-like red eyes glowed as it let out another deafening hiss and charged.

KWWWIIIISHHH!

Behind the black silhouette, a three-meter radius magic array appeared as something white emerged from it.

The serpent, which was the supposed 'baby' Echidna opened its mouth, revealing a set of massive fangs.

Red concentrated magic energy formed at the inside of its mouth and a beam of magic energy shoot out toward the descending black silhouette.

The white 'thing' that emerged from the black silhouette's purple magic array suddenly grew in size and enveloped the black silhouette.

Looking at the white thing... it somewhat resembled a massive furball!