Legacy of the Dark Sage

Flos's reaction was reasonable. After all, Kyran had used the Dragon Steps instead of warping, which the previous Dark Sage was infamous for.

Unlike the Dragon Steps shown by the man whom Obstruction went after, Flos noticed Kyran's movement was far more refined, as if those steps were how he typically moves rather than a technique he had activated.

But another cause for Flos's fright was how the magic device in his hand reacted when Kyran used those steps. He already guessed the humanoid dragon was not really a dragon but a human who likely received a blessing from a dragon.

Kyran was likely the same, albeit his blessing was stronger.

"I see," Flos muttered as he recalled a rumor he had heard while researching how to use his dragon relic. "I heard a dragon race had come into the Human plane while the last War of the Sovereigns was ongoing. According to the rumors, the leader of that race took an interest in a particular clan. He then bestowed a blessing to them. Even when that dragon race returned to the Higher Realm, that blessing remained and was passed on to the clan's future generation. So that rumor is actually true, is it not? And you, are part of it."

An amused smile appeared on Flos's face that was hidden under the enormous clematis-looking headdress.

Flos's remark was spoken softly, but with Kyran's heightened senses, he heard him perfectly. Nevertheless, Kyran ignored him and kept using the Dragon Step.

Usually, Kryan would not be able to stay midair without manipulating the items he installed at the soles of his shoes with his magic sense. But because of the Dragonc Steps, he could defy gravity to a certain extent and remained afloat for a couple of seconds before taking another step.

Because of this, by the time Flos was done talking, Kryan was already thirty meters away from him.

The magic device in Flos's hand trembled violently as the eye moved and looked directly at Kyran. The slit on its eyes emitted such a potent murderous intent as it started at him.

Flos was oblivious to this since he could not see the eye. Moreover, the device was emitting a blinding light. Still, he sensed how ominous the energy it emitted had grown to the point that even he, as the owner, was affected.

Without bothering for pleasantries, Kyran moved. He closed the gap between them and raised his left fist. He exerted all the weight he could muster in his fist while utilizing the Draconic magic energy before sending out a powerful punch.

But Kyran did not aim at Flos. Instead, he punched at the magic device in his hand.

CRACKLE!

Kyran's brow knitted as he felt a massive pressure intercept his fist before it landed. The air around them crackled as he continued to force his fist forward.

BOOOOM!

A massive half-a-foot thick semi-transparent barrier appeared between Kyran's fist and the magic device that continued to emit a resplendent light. It was followed by a massive shockwave that spread out in every direction.

The might of the shockwave instantly reduced the land around them into ruins, and earth rubbles were blown everywhere.

"Err...!" Stella summoned a massive barrier to protect herself and Cyneah, who was only a few meters away from her, from the shockwave and the flying earth rubbles.

If it had been a normal class of magic power, her domain's influence would have stopped midway from reaching her. But this time, the shockwave was a clash between two Draconic magic. Thus her magic's influence was reduced.

After all, both Draconic and Time were Ancient magic.

The destruction of the land beneath them created a cloud of smoke that would visually impair a person's vision.

Flos is no different. He is a mage, thus, he focused on strengthening his magic sense rather than his eyesight. A mage would normally 'look' using his magic sense, not their eyes.

"Humph," Flos harumphed at Kyran's foolishness. Judging from what he could sense amidst the cloud of smoke, the latter was likely blown away from the shockwave. After all, he could not sense Kyran's aura nearby.

Flos suddenly felt foolish for even feeling a shred of fear after seeing Kyran's proficient use of Dragon Steps. Then again, his fear had more to do with how his dragon relic reacted to him.

Now that Flos witnessed the dragon relic's might once more, he felt assured. No matter how powerful of a blessing Kyran's clan received from the leader of the dragon race that descended upon the Human plane had been, it was futile in front of a genuine dragon's might— even if that dragon was reduced to a relic.

"Ignorant human," Flos sneered. "Getting ahead of yourself just because you receive the favor of a god. In front of real power, you are nothing. Know your place—."

BAM!

A fist landed on the barrier again, cutting Flos's words midsentence.

"What—?"

BOOM!

The shockwave that followed was far more powerful than the rest and cleared the cloud of smoke in an instant.

CRACK! CRACK! SHATTER!

Cracks appeared on the barrier, and Flos was once more given a fright. He was not given a chance to sort his emotions when the barrier shattered right after.

"You talk too much," Kyran muttered as his fist that had just destroyed the barrier came hurtling down on the dragon relic without pause.

Flos's eyes glowed and roused his magic.

In an instant, red vines shot out from the destroyed ground and went after Kyran. Their purpose was to bind his limbs before he could finish his movement.

At the same time, Flos summoned the red vines; the ground shook, and a massive flower that looked like a venus-fly trap emerged with its mouth wide open. Its aim was obviously to eat Kyran alive.

The dragon relic in Flos's hand was not idle either. When the barrier shattered, the slits on the eye inside turned gold as it shot out a concentrated energy beam to intercept Kyran's fist.

The slit on Kyran's reddish-purple eyes, which turned silver, flashed as he roused more than 40% of the Draconic magic in his body. He believed this was the first time he would use this much after returning from his training.

To be honest, Kyran did not want to exert this much Draconic magic because he did not know if his body would hold. While he heard from Zephyr, which True Void also seconded, that his body was already comparable to a 'baby' dragon because of the Elixir he sipped, he had a feeling that the Draconic magic in his body was far more powerful than a baby dragon could handle.

And just as he had guessed, the moment he released more than 40% of Draconic magic, Kyran felt the bones in his body creak from the immense pressure. Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth and endured the increasing pain. He let his fist collide with the incoming beam from the eye while releasing raw magic energy in every direction.

BOOOOOM!

Another massive explosion occurred from the collision of Kyran's fist and the energy beam. Aside from that, the raw magic energy he released eradicated the incoming red vines and the massive venus-fly trap that emerged on the ground.

"Wha— ngrh!"

The might of the explosion sent Flos flying backward.

"Ngh...!"

Even Stella was forced back a few feet in midair while maintaining the barrier around her and Cyneah.

On the other hand, Cyneah, who was still exerting all her energy into attracting the Macabre Glacier's energy into herself, was shocked at the might of the clashing magic energies around her.

She first experienced a powerful clash of magic energies during Osric's siege at the Tower of the Conclave. However, that seemed like child's play compared to now. Her magic sense was pretty powerful, which was why she managed to feel the difference.

Apart from this, Cyneah knew Kyran was one of the owners of those powerful magic. But what surprised her the most was the fact his magic felt different.

Layla was also shocked. However, unlike Cyneah, who only sensed a sudden change in Kyran's magic, Layla knew the latter was no longer using Void magic. After all, she recognized the power that he exerted just now.

Although Layla could not confirm it because, for some unknown reason, she could not sense Kyran's aura, she recognized his punch was filled with Draconic magic and not merely a result of raw strength enhancement because of the Regis Blessing.

Layla had witnessed Zane throw so many of those punches that she would recognize it just from the sound it produced!

'It can't be... D-Dual magic?' Layla thought, her mind reeling at the sudden realization. 'Not only that. Both his innate magic are Ancient magic!'

She then sensed an impending danger as she realized how dire her situation was.

It was one thing to deal with two Ancient magic users. But three? No, that was not exactly correct. Technically, they were still dealing with two magic users, albeit one of them possessed two!

Flos, who had just regained his balance, could not help but reel in shock. How could a punch shatter his relic's barrier?

Before Flos could recover his wits, a figure appeared before him, its feet inches from landing on his head. Kyran had once more appeared without him noticing!

How could he do that?

'Not good!'

Flos knew he would not be able to dodge. Thus, he braced himself for the impact.

Nevertheless, though Flos could not react in time, the dragon relic was different.

Even if Kyran's aura was concealed by the Shaiha, making it hard for others to use their magic sense to 'see' him, the dragon relic relied on its experience. Or, to be precise, the dragon eye relied on what it experienced while still alive.

Obviously, the dragon relic was unaware of the Shaiha's existence in Kyran's body. But that did not prevent it from predicting his move.

The dragon eye released the full extent of its pressure, which instantly bore down on Kyran.

Again, Kyran endured the pressure, but he did feel the bones on his leg creak in complaint after receiving the brunt of it. After all, the dragon eye exerted pressure to ensure his kick would not land on Flos.

Kyran's eyes flashed. He circulated the Void magic together with the Draconic magic in his body. The moment the Void magic filled him, the effect of the dragon eye's pressure disappeared.

It was then that Kyran discovered the pressure released by the dragon relic was not an innate reaction but an ability or skill. It was because the Void's nature could nullify any ability or skill directly affecting Kyran.

With the dragon relic's effect removed, Kyran's feet finally landed a solid hit.

BAM!

Crack!

"GAH!"

Flos felt his neck crack as the kick landed, shattering his magic and physical defenses. After that, he went hurtling down to the ground like a meteorite.

BOOM!

The ground exploded as Flos landed on the ground. Everything had happened too fast that he could not even react in time.

Clouds of smoke filled the ground from the impact of Flos's fall.

Kyran did not stop. He took another step and arrived directly where Flos had fallen.

However, amidst the thick cloud of smoke, thick tentacle-like vines emerged and struck Kyran in all directions.