Legacy of the Dark Sage

In the next few minutes before the start of the Array Creation and Solo Competition, all participants went to their respective sides.

Owen and Hamish immediately turned to Kyran for directions.

Kyran inwardly scratched his head. While he appreciated the trust these two gave him, he also felt guilty for lying to them. Both looked at him as a pillar of the Blacksmith Order because he was Chairman Noir's disciple. However, it was all a lie, which made Kyran feel bad.

Suppressing the guilt within him, Kyran focused on the matter at hand. He knew there was a good reason the head committee wanted to use three Advanced Arrays to test them in the competition. When the announcer said they would not provide the formulas, Kyran already sensed a conspiracy behind it.

They did not want to give the formula not because they wanted to test their Array knowledge but because they did not know the whole formula themselves.

Thinking back on the three advanced arrays, Absolute Barrier, Rive Effect, and Mass Regeneration, Kyran remembered the Defensive Array projection of his father's work during the deciphering match against the Courtenay Family.

He was familiar with the three Advanced Arrays' whole calculation. He could already guess that after sorting his father's array, the Royal Family believed these three were part of the Regis Estate's defensive array.

The Absolute Barrier had the same effect of rendering any attack useless. Similarly, the Mass Regeneration's effect was pretty straightforward. Anything within its area of effect would regenerate to its original form. It was similar to the effect of the Restoration Array, albeit the Mass Regeneration's area of effect was massive and had a reinforcing result. Then there was the Rive Effect. This array was a very cruel offense-type array. Once someone entered its area of effect, regardless of how powerful their magic and physical defenses were, they would turn into ashes. Kyran believed this was likely what the Royal Family thought to be the restriction and admission formulas in his father's array.

They likely mistook Cade's defensive array as a combination of these three advanced arrays.

Unfortunately, they were far off because all formulas in Cade's defensive array were far greater than these three Advanced Arrays. As a matter of fact, Kyran was convinced it was an original array that his father invented.

In any case, knowing this fact put Kyran in a dilemma once more. And the dilemma was pretty much the same when he was faced with trying to decipher his father's work or not.

If he did not show off his Array skills, the Royal Family might change their mind. But if he did, the Royal Family might round all of their 'unregistered' Array Specialists and study the formula he created. Then they could compare it to the Regis Estate's array and try to decipher it.

Kyran sighed inwardly. It seemed he could only aim for a 71 or 81% completion. Higher than that might be a problem.

But in order to win the competition and establish the superiority of the Blacksmith Order's Array Specialists, Kyran had to make sure Owen and Hamish could complete 61-71% of their arrays.

"Disciple Tyr," Hamish started. "I'll be frank. I am good with defense-type arrays. However, I have only heard of the Absolute Barrier. My skills are beyond that."

"The same goes for me," Owen chimed in, his expression grim. "I am good with support-type arrays, but a Mass Regeneration array was beyond me."

Kyran smiled bitterly and said, "It's not really a surprise."

He looked to the Royal Army's side and said, "Look. They are also having a very serious discussion about it."

Owen and Hamish looked at the Royal Army's representatives with a slight frown.

It appeared that the headcount they all knew about the number of Array Specialists in the empire was obsolete. If the Courtenay Family had produced three unregistered Array Specialists, the Royal Army definitely also had their own.

Then again, the Royal Family held all the records of the Array Specialists in the empire, so they might have concealed their numbers. They prioritized combat abilities as well, so they might have officers who also excelled in Array but were not given a license as Specialists.

Regardless, their Array Specialists seemed stumped at the three Advanced Arrays.

"What about you, Disciple Tyr?" Owen asked, looking back at Kyran.

Kyran shrugged and said, "Master Noir drilled a lot of Array theories and calculations in my head so I could more or less create those three. But I can't complete them. Three hours is just too short."

The two looked at him with a bitter smile. Didn't he realize that just the fact that he could create any of those three arrays was already amazing? They did not even know what formulas they had to use!

Kyran looked at them with a slight smile, "Look at your faces. Try to recall the rules. While each of us will focus on one array, they did not prevent us from helping each other."

Owen and Hamish's eyes widened as soon as he pointed out this fact.

That was right. The announcer did not mention anything about not allowing them to help each other. In their previous matches with the Three Noble Families, the announcer would always say this part.

"Then!" Hamish could not help but beam in excitement. Even Owen was grinning like a child who had just been given a new toy.

Kyran nodded his head, "I can teach you the formulas. But it will be up to you to complete the calculations."

Owen and Hamish nodded their heads, "Leave it to us."

Kyran smiled. He already knew their capabilities in learning. They were not the main talents of the Blacksmith Order, but their ability to absorb information was exceptional. Apart from this, they genuinely loved learning Arrays. This was a very good attitude of an Array Specialist.

"Alright. Since both of you already picked the array type you are good at, you can focus on those. I'll focus on the Rive Effect," Kyran started.

Owen and Hamish nodded their head.

As if on cue, it was at this time that the male announcer raised his hand and finally declared the start of the competition.

"The Array Creation and Solo Competition Quarterfinals will now begin!"

The audience erupted in cheers.

"Array Creation participants, you may now take any materials you require in the Materials cabinet. Afterwhich, please find an empty circle where you can start your work."

After saying what he had to the Array Creation participants, the male announcer completely ignored them and turned his attention to the Solo Competition side.

"Double elimination bracket, first match! Tyr of the Conclave against Major General Rivka!"

BAM!

The audience was shocked. They did not expect Kyran to be up for the first match of the Solo Competition!

Styx, who had taken a seat on the Conclave corner, was disgruntled. Was the head committee picking up a fight? Why did they call for Kyran at the start of the competition? He had nothing to do d*mn it. Why did they not ask him to go first?

On the other side, black lines appeared on Kyran's head. He, Owen, and Hamish were about to start their discussion when he heard the announcer call his name.

Just what in hell was the head committee playing at? Did they not want to test if he could create any of those Advanced Arrays? Why would they want him to fight the first match?

Were they being considerate and thinking it was better to let him fight in the first match than interrupt him midway through creating the array?

Kyran raised his head and glanced at the Royal Family's executive booth. He found the Crown Princess standing near the glass window, looking at him. She was wearing a very pleasant smile that could make any person smile in return. However, Kyran did not feel like smiling back. As a matter of fact, even from a distance, he could see the mischievous glint in her sapphire blue eyes.

This girl is messing with him.

Kyran could almost hear Nolan's voice spouting a string of very creative and profound words to describe and curse her at the same time.

"Participants of the first match, please enter the arena," the male announcer said while shooting Kyran an indifferent look.

Owen and Hamish looked at Kyran in concern. If he went now, they would have to wait until he ended his match before they could start their work. It would not be good for them! They only had three hours, and if even Kyran could not complete an Array in three hours, what more if it was them?

"Disciple Tyr..."

Kyran looked away from the VIP booth and returned his attention to Owen and Hamish. With a bitter smile, he said, "Don't worry. I'll be quick. In the meantime, you can listen to this guy first."

As he said this, he waved his right hand, and a silhouette of a person in a black robe appeared beside him.