Legacy of the Dark Sage

The evacuation in the Crepuscule Auction House's inner and outer city was stopped because of the magic pressure that entrenched the whole plane.

Fortunately, there were hidden High Sovereigns among the visitors, who were compassionate enough to make a move in order to alleviate the magic pressure's effect and allow low-level Sovereigns to move. They expanded their Divine Sense to counter the magic pressure's effect while avoiding burdening the low-level Sovereigns.

Among these High Sovereigns were Alta, Leif, Mira, and members of the Ogen Clan who were staying there covertly.

Because of their assistance, Marigold's side could resume the evacuation, albeit their progress was still slow.

[The one exerting this magic pressure is The Emperor.]

Alta informed Cyneah through telepathy. The two, along with Leif, Mira, and two other mages from Marigold's side, were making their way to the dock using the underground route Kyran found while inspecting the outer city.

Now that the Crepuscule Clan was in a mess, there was no need to be overly cautious when talking. They could not just openly converse, given the subject of their discussion, but at least they did not need those covert signs so that they could talk to each other.

Cyneah frowned slightly at Alta's statement. She did not doubt the latter because she and her clan had recently suffered from The Emperor's wrath. The Emperor's magic pressure was still fresh from Alta's memories. Thus, she could recognize it well.

[While I don't doubt Null's abilities, I don't think he'll be able to escape unscathed once The Emperor arrives.]

Alta continued. Her voice trembled slightly in concern, belying the indifferent expression on her face.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

[With this in mind, I will return to the inner city after sending you three away.]

'!'

Cyneah turned toward Alta in concern.

Alta could not help but smile bitterly at the apparent concern on Cyneah's face. Though it had only been over two months since she swore to protect Cyneah, she could not believe how fond she had grown of the young woman. It was not one-sided, too, since Cyneah genuinely showed concern for Alta's well-being.

To be honest, Alta was convinced that Kyran only wanted to use her as Cyneah's shield if something happened and he could not be there to save her. Alta did not mind it since she owed Cyneah her life. If not for the young woman fixing her magic core, her life as a mage would have ended after The Emperor removed a thread of her soul.

But as Alta stayed with them and discovered what Kyran could do, she wondered if he truly intended for her to be Cyneah's shield. The things he prepared to ensure the latter's safety were so extensive that there was no way any mage— probably except The Emperor— could hurt her. Rather than a shield, Alta felt what Kyran wanted her to do was to be Cyneah's aide and even a friend.

To befriend a lowly human was something Alta never thought would happen to her. But at the moment, the concern Cyneah showed her was akin to what a friend would feel toward another, and it touched Alta.

Alta was a Blade Dancer, crafted and refined to be a weapon capable of annihilating any being that opposed The Emperor and his regime. Yet, following unforeseen circumstances, she and her clan found themselves indebted to Kyran and were now being reshaped as a weapon against The Emperor and his followers.

Although Alta had some initial reservations, she now embraced her new life. For this reason, she was willing to risk herself if it would aid the person who provided her and her clan with a new path forward.

[You don't have to worry. I am strong enough to fend for myself and allow Null to escape. At the very least, I will definitely make sure he can escape and return to you.]

'I am worried for his safety, as well. But I trust him. He will return to me, no matter what. So you don't have to worry and escape with us.'

Obviously, Cyneah knew Alta only wanted to return because she was afraid Kyran would not be able to escape unscathed when he came face to face with The Emperor. Cyneah was worried, too, but she knew Kyran would not have remained in the inner city if he was not prepared to face The Emperor. He probably did not have a way to win against him, but she knew he could escape from him.

Besides, Cyneah sensed True Void and the strange, perverted guy obsessed with Kyran in the Lower Realm. With those two with him, she had room to breathe.

[But—.]

'My husband is stronger than you think,' Cyneah replied with a smile. 'He did manage to escape from The Emperor before, and he was not as strong back then.'

[...The Emperor is not alone. There is another strong mage currently in the inner city.]

Alta told Cyneah, thinking the latter was unaware of Deus's arrival.

Cyneah did not reply, but judging by her serene smile, she was indeed aware and still believed Kyran would be fine.

[...I understand. I will follow your lead, Lady Sisi—.]

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Alta's response was cut short by the sound of explosions overhead. The corridor they were moving through trembled, and fragments of debris began to drop from the ceiling.

"Lady Sisi!" Alta protectively wrapped her arms around Cyneah as more debris fell from above them.

Mira did the same with Leif while the two mages guiding them summoned a barrier.

"This is not good."

One of the mages muttered while she observed the situation above them with her Divine Sense.

"Some of that woman's people already found our people and are engaging in battle here and there."

Alta and the others noticed how Marigold's side never mentioned Estrid's name and only referred to her as that woman. At first, they thought it was because they were cautious of others hearing them speak ill of the Crepuscule Clan's Head. But that should not be the case now that they were the only ones there.

Could there be more to them avoiding saying Estrid's name?

"We have to hurry!"

The other mage insisted and hurried them along as soon as the tremor above stabilized somewhat.

*

The commotion continued between Estrid's people and Marigold's in the outer and inner city. However, the tides were more on the former's side because they were not assisting in evacuating the unrelated people. Nevertheless, Marigold's side did not falter, and some unrelated people even started to help them after understanding the gist of the situation.

Moreover, most of these people had been living in the Crepuscule Auction House and had already heard rumors of another faction within the clan. Initially, they intended to curry favor with Lady Estrid by assisting her people, but when they attacked indiscriminately, they changed their minds.

They helped Marigold's side, but not because they had good intentions. Many also recognized Deus's aura and the fact that The Emperor was fast approaching. From this, they surmised the internal discord in the Crepuscule Clan, and The Emperor might have decided to step in. However, they had reasons to believe that if he did step in, he had no intentions of helping Estrid.

The Emperor exerting his magic pressure over the plane was one of those reasons.

Since Deus was already there yet, Estrid had not shown herself; they were convinced she was already incapacitated by the former.

Regardless of the truth, those unrelated people only acted in a way that would profit them. And at the moment, they did not believe that siding with Estrid, who seemed to have disappeared, would benefit them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

More explosions surrounded the plane as The Emperor's magic pressure intensified. As he drew near the plane, his magic pressure had gotten more concentrated. And no matter how high the materials that Estrid used to expand the small plane that the Crepuscule Auction House stood, it could not withstand the raw, undaunted power of a Supreme Overlord.

Meanwhile, the cracks that formed on the Void Domain's surface increased, and Kyran knew he would soon experience a backlash if he did not release it soon.

"There is no need to hesitate," Ruin told Kyran. "Since you decided to stay, just release your domain and fight without holding back."

As he said this, he cut more combat mages that swarmed them.

"No! No! No! Halfling, you are not seriously staying because you want to face The Emperor, right?"

"..."

Kyran knocked out the combat mages that attacked him without responding to True Void's ranting. He was not thrilled at the idea of facing The Emperor. But at the same time, he was not afraid if it came down to that.

CRACK! BOOM! BOOM! CRACK!

While Kyran was musing over what Ruin and True Void said, more cracks formed in his domain, and he could no longer ignore its destruction. He could warp once he removed it. But seeing Marigold and her people struggling against Estrid's people, he could not bring himself to leave them be.

It was not compassion that made him hesitate. He only did not want to be burdened by the thought of Cyneah feeling bad about their deaths after everything they did for them to escape.

Pushing all other thoughts aside, Kyran finally made a decision.