Legacy of the Dark Sage

Although it was Kesiah and Gael who set up the trap, Kyran was the one who created it.

Simply put, the trap was a pre-made array formation that Kyran specifically modified to deal with the Legendary-level Knights.

'My minions will commence with the plan in one minute. Get ready,' Gael told them and returned to the shadows.

Kesiah and Gaham's task was to lure the Legendary-level Knights, while Gael would have to focus on subduing the five Arch Magus with Space-based Divine Armaments before dealing with the rest.

Kyran had placed the most troublesome task of the operation on Gael's shoulders. However, that was only the case if he was alone. With the assistance of his Shadow Minions, Gael could accomplish his task, so long as Kesiah and Gaham succeeded in luring all fifty Legendary-level Knights into the trap.

'It's time,' Gael told his minions.

Rustling sounds filled the air as the wind blew past the thick trees around the temporary campsite. Because of this, none of them noticed the shadows moved erratically— not even the Legendary-level Knights.

After a few seconds, several shadows flew past every location where a Legendary-level Knight was.

They reacted immediately and alerted their team, ordering them to go after the shadows.

However, they felt two familiar auras mingle with those shadows before they could complete their order. Because of this, they changed their minds and went after the shadows themselves.

It was evident that the owner of those auras was up to something. Nevertheless, the Legendary-level Knights were not bothered. Their confidence stemmed from their belief that the forces under those two had no means to defeat them. Even if they planned an ambush, bridging the gap in their level was not easy and would render their attack useless.

This was also the reason they changed their mind about ordering their team members to follow because they believed that the ambush prepared by those two was meant to reduce their number.

Their reasoning was quite sound. Unfortunately, they lacked in-depth intel on Achim and Kesiah's forces. And for that, they would be in for a huge surprise.

On another location, the battalion of Knights led by Mo marched toward the Armakean Border HQ.

Unlike Filren, who preferred a stealth attack, Mo preferred a head-on confrontation. He believed that showing their might at once could easily dictate the momentum of the battle.

Mo's belief was not wrong. As a matter of fact, King Aran employed this belief in every battle he waged and won without giving their enemies a chance to turn the tides.

There was a saying that a good strategy could make a weak empire seem stronger. However, in front of an overwhelming strength, a good strategy was as brittle as a thin glass.

Azikh, Gidan, and a few other Eidums were gathered at the tallest tower in the Armakea Border HQ. They were waiting for the arrival of the King's army.

They were all nervous and scared. Nevertheless, they believed Kyran would not ask them to stay at the border if their lives were at stake.

Besides, Azikh and Gidan were with them, and both had a confident look on their faces. The former might not be powerful, but his team was very skilled at sneak attacks, while the latter was proficient in combat. In any case, Azikh's team might not be capable of killing others in one strike, but they could unleash deadly poison without alerting their enemies. Gidan, on the other hand, had the experience of leading them and telling them what to do in case of emergencies.

Contrary to what the Eidums believed, however, Azikh and Gidan did not look confident because they had the ability to lead or turn the tides against the enemy. They looked confident because they witnessed how Kyran enhanced the defensive array of the border.

Like Nahir, both were dumbfounded at what Kyran did. They were, once more, reminded of the latter's abnormality.

"The Armakea King's army is fast approaching!"

An Eidum shouted from the tower near the gates.

Azikh and Gidan narrowed their eyes after hearing this and focused their attention ahead.

"No matter what, do not falter in front of the enemy!" Gidan shouted.

No one responded to his cry. However, it was evident from the resolute look on every Eidum that they acknowledged his words.

Five minutes later, everyone in the tower could already see the King's army.

Back in Larkring, at the King's castle, the lock-on targets bombarding the fissure finally stopped.

A cloud of smoke covered the area surrounding the fissure, making it a little hard for anyone to see what happened to the figure about to step out of the crack. Nevertheless, the fact that the fissure was still there meant they should not lower their guard just yet.

"Again!"

The leader commanding those knights stationed in the key points of the formation ordered another round of attack. Following this, the lock-on targets crackled to life as they started to absorb the magic energies in the surroundings once more.

Though the natural flow of the magic energy in Somuli was very thin, the lock-on targets were not affected at all. They absorbed the magic energies in the surroundings at a steady pace.

Before the cloud of smoke dissipated, the lock-on targets were ready to be fired once more.

Not even a minute passed when all lock-on targets were prepared to shoot.

Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!

Crackling noises filled the air as reddish-purple sparks emerged on the surface of the veil, covering the whole castle.

After which, the magic energies that the lock-on targets had absorbed blinked. Their sizes decreased in the blink of an eye.

Sizzle! Sizzle! Crackle!

Soon after, cracks appeared on the surface of the veil as it started to crumble.

No.

It was not crumbling. Rather, the cracks disintegrated in the air.

King Aran, who had been staying in the Throne Room from the day he ordered his subjects to deal with Achim and Kesiah's rebellion, finally opened his eyes.

He was well aware of the commotion happening around the capital. But he felt there was no need for him to do anything. After all, the castle was the most fortified structure in Armakea. As for the military district, most of the Knights were there. Only someone with a death wish would attack the district.

Alas, it appeared that those people causing the commotion were not entirely incompetent.

Ever since the day Aran received the news of Achim and Kesiah's rebellion, he had been feeling a terrible inkling. An inkling that if he succumbed to their momentum, his country would end up in a sea of flames.

For this reason, Aran did not waste time and ordered Filren to stop Achim and Kesiah's rebellion at once. In the end, Filren failed, and Aran was forced to dispatch his subjects and Mo to deal with them.

Aran thought that he had the situation under control. But what was happening now?

Who dared step into Larkring and attack?

"We await your orders, Your Majesty."

The two knights standing guard below the throne faced Aran respectfully.

Aran's eyes glinted dangerously as he said, "Kill the intruders."

"Yes."

The two stood and lowered their heads before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Filren, who was still being punished, looked up at the dissipating veil outside the courtyard. His brows furrowed at the sight. After all, he never expected a day would come when he would witness the veil protecting the castle end up like this.

The knights around the castle were dumbfounded. Those stationed around the key points of the formation tried to activate the lock-on targets but to no avail.

As a matter of fact, they could no longer sense their connection to the lock-on targets.

Were they affected by the disintegrating veil?

That should not be the case. The veil was connected to the array's defense formula, while the lock-on targets were part of the array's offense formula. If the veil was damaged, then the lock-on targets should not be affected. Both defense and offense formulas might be written in one array formation, but they should not be affecting each other.

Or... could it be that the array formation had suffered as well?

But how?

The knights were not given a chance to dwell on the matter because they could now see the figure stepping out of the fissure amidst the cloud of smoke.

With no lock-on targets aiming at the figure, it walked with no hindrance toward the castle's main entrance.

When the knights saw this, they immediately left their post and planned to intercept the figure.

However, it was at that moment that two powerful auras appeared and blocked the path at which the figure traversed.

A gust of wind blew away the cloud of smoke, finally revealing the figure that came out of the fissure.

As soon as they saw the figure's appearance, the knights could not help but shudder.

Even the owners of the powerful auras were shocked.

Before them stood a person with black hair and dark eyes. A feature that was said to only appear in legends...

An Imon-spawn.