Legacy of the Dark Sage

"What's happening?" Kairo realized that the direction of the whirlwind was not the only thing strange right now. He could even feel his flames weakening. To be precise, the momentum of the magic energies inside the fire whirlwind was decreasing.

What exactly had caused this?

Just then, Kyran's image flashed in Kairo's mind.

'It can't be!'

Kairo's eyes widened as he recalled Kyran's outfit. Because he had been preoccupied with completing his magic array, he did not pay much attention to Kyran's outfit. He only took note of the fact that the latter survived the bombardment of balls of flames unscathed. In that split second, Kairo accepted this outcome because he knew the Blacksmith Order's uniform had a certain immunity to fire. But he neglected the fact that the Blacksmith Order's uniform did not include dark blue and purple gauntlets!

Kyran must have created those while he was inside the cloud of smoke. And he told Kairo to activate his magic array right after coming out, not because he was acting pretentious but because he was waiting for it. The gauntlets might have a special means to counter his fire whirlwind!

Kairo instantly turned his attention to the spot where Kyran had been 'eaten by the flames. But when his eyes fell on the said spot, his scalp went numb.

Standing on the spot was none other than Kyran, unscathed. His arms were outstretched, and his gauntlets appeared to suck in the flames of the whirlwind!

Impossible!

Everyone in the audience, as well as, in the executive booths, except a few from the Conclave, was shocked at the scene in the arena.

Even the male announcer gaped with his mouth hanging open. He had a bird's eye view of what was happening in the arena, and while everyone saw Kyran look helplessly as he got eaten by the flames, he saw him standing gallantly amidst the flames. He even saw him raise his arms, seemingly unaffected by the heat of the flames.

That was right. There was not even an ounce of sweat on Kyran's face!

On the other hand, Kairo was practically sweating in buckets. Such a huge magic array consumed enormous magic energy, after all.

Apart from the crackling sounds in the arena and some movements on the Array Creation side, the function hall had fallen into an almost deafening silence.

That was why, when someone had spoken, it echoed throughout the hall clearly.

"Is that a magic item that has absorption capability?"

It was unknown who had said it, but the meaning of his words shook almost everyone out of their trance.

A magic item with absorption capability? Such an item was unheard of! But the gauntlets Kyran was wearing were clearly 'sucking' Kairo's flames. Could it really be an absorption ability?

These words also reached Kairo, and he snapped awake. He looked at the male announcer and said, "Weapons are not allowed! Tyr has violated the rules!"

Distracted by Kairo's accusing tone, the male announcer looked at him with a frown.

"The timer has not stopped. Thus, Disciple Tyr's gauntlets are not 'weapons.'"

The minds of the audience reeled after hearing the male announcer. They did not expect him to defend Kyran because of their earlier exchanges.

Kairo's expression turned ugly as he looked at Kyran once more.

By this time, the fire whirlwind's diameter had already shrunk to twenty meters, and they could now see Kyran clearly. Like before, he did not seem to have suffered from the flames. Apart from this, when someone was absorbing an active magic attack, they would likely show an expression of discomfort. However, his indifferent expression was still ever present. As a matter of fact, he even looked a little bored.

Was Kyran still a human?

Some actually started to harbor thoughts that 'Tyr' had already modified his body and turned himself into a puppet!

Kairo was starting to feel apprehension, especially when Kyran did not appear exhausted. Compared to the latter, he had already exhausted 70% of his magic energy reserves just to create the fire whirlwind. He could no longer unleash another powerful attack. Apart from this, he could only sustain his flaming long swords for another minute or two. Afterwhich, he and Kyran could fight in a melee.

But Kairo had already witnessed the latter's melee combat. He might have the advantage of a 'real' weapon, but Kyran's every move was equivalent to several lethal weapons!

Kairo was suddenly gripped with almost palpable fear. It tightened around his heart, and Kyran's image began to distort in his mind's eye. Slowly, the latter's visage was starting to resemble a demon.

Just as Kairo was about to fall into despair, Deputy Marshal Imman's order rang in his head.

'That's right. The Deputy Marshal had given me an order!' Kairo's eyes, which had started to lose their glow, suddenly turned bright. As a soldier, he had to fulfill what he was ordered to do! He was not allowed to succumb to his fears.

Grinding his teeth and reigning in his fear, Kairo finally decided.

So what if Kyran's melee was formidable? Kairo's mage level was still higher. Regarding lethality, his sword's flame attack would be more fatal upon contact than melee attacks. Kyran might be able to strengthen himself using his innate magic, but that did not matter.

Support magic was still just Support magic, and it would never win over Offense magic!

And Kairo's thinking was his undoing.

While Kyran was busy absorbing the flames, Kairo seemed to disappear just to reappear behind Kyran.

It was not teleportation nor space manipulation. It was simply Kairo utilizing his Wind magic.

He raised his hands that held the flaming long swords to his right side and aimed at Kyran's neck.

Kairo was not ordered to kill Kyran. He had aimed at his neck but would only use the blunt side of his swords to inflict a devastating blow. At least, the latter's neck was not protected by the Blacksmith Order's uniform, and his flames would be effective.

Alas.

Because Kairo was too focused on winning as soon as possible, he had forgotten a very important detail.

DING!

"What—?"

Kairo's swords were flung back after hitting Kyran's neck, which appeared to be as solid as metal!

"Oi, I'm not done yet. Stay put."

Kyran's low voice sounded colder in Kairo's ears.

Without even looking back, Kyran's flung his left arm behind, hitting Kairo's cheeks with the gauntlets.

"Gwah!" Kairo spat out a mouthful of blood. A few teeth flew out of his mouth as he got thrown to the side.

The force of Kyran's punch was so strong that when Kairo fell to the floor after getting thrown twenty meters, he skidded for another fifty meters before stopping.

Kairo was already unconscious, blood trickling down his nose.

The whole gallery fell into another silence. Their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

What the hell was that punch? They had seen Kyran kick Kairo, and the latter flew a few meters but did not lose consciousness. Yet this punch actually threw him farther and even wasted him. Just how powerful was Kyran's punch? During his fight with Osman, he had not used his left hand. Could it be his left was more powerful than his right?

[Void Halfling! You used your left! The left! Isn't Tyr supposed to be right-handed?]

'Ah.'

Kyran froze after hearing True Void's reminder. He was too focused on helping True Void absorb the fire whirlwind as fast as possible he made another slip! Kairo was leaning more to the left, and hitting him with his left seemed appropriate; he did not think much about it!

'Just finish eating,' Kyran could only say.

[Too late. The magic array's disappearing. You knocked him out. Tsk. Tsk. You are a real handful, you know?]

'...'

True enough, the fire whirlwind had started to disappear.

"I have underestimated your physical strength, Disciple Tyr."

A soft and mellow voice broke the silence.

[Gah! T-T-That woman is—!]

Kyran sensed True Void tremble. But he ignored him and looked at the owner of the voice.

The Crown Princess, Haylee.

"A punch that could subdue even a Grand Master. Your physical strength is remarkable."

Kyran smiled slightly, "Don't get it wrong, princess. It's all thanks to my Strengthening magic.

"Besides, this newly crafted item weighs at least 200kg each. It can easily knock anyone with low physical defenses out cold," he added while lifting his arms to flaunt his gauntlets.

Haylee looked at Kyran with a smile. Her blue sapphire eyes glinted as she said, "And you can actually lift such a heavy item."

Kyran shrugged, "I used my magic to strengthen my muscles."

"Is that so."

"How else would it be?"

"For a second, I thought you were using some kind of strengthening technique."

Kyran's eyes contracted at once. Even True Void appeared to have gotten cold.

"Right. Speaking of strengthening techniques, I am suddenly reminded of a clan which possessed an almost heaven-defying strength because of it."

"Oh? Which clan?"

Haylee's smile widened, "Who else am I referring to but the Regis Clan?"