Legacy of the Dark Sage

Lucian frowned after seeing the Void Master's armor become a barrier and shield him against his attack. While he did not expect the latter not to use any counter-magic, it was pretty surprising for him to use such an energy-consuming counter.

As far as Lucian was concerned, the Void's nature to nullify attacks required a lot of magic. After all, it ignores the level and strength of the attack it nullifies. Lucian expected the Void Master to conserve his magic energy as much— and as long— as possible so he could use it at an opportune moment. Not that Lucian would ever give the Void Master that chance.

In any case, Lucian found the Void Master's move strange.

'...No. Rather than strange... his move is too weak.'

Lucian expected the Void Master to struggle before him just as he did when they first met in the Land of Desolation.

But for the Void Master to use such a last-resort counter-magic to protect himself from such a weak magic attack, Lucian found it a weak-ass counter move and was very disappointed.

'Hm?'

While Lucian was thinking this, he noticed a slight change in the barrier around the Void Master.

Just a while ago, the sound that permeated the air as Lucian's Light Blades bombarded the Void Master's barrier was the sound of objects disintegrating. However, that sound had disappeared while his attacks were still being nullified.

"...!"

Lucian's eyes widened as he realized that the sound had disappeared because the barrier's nature had changed!

A chuckle escaped Lucian's lips, and he waved his hand to stop bombarding the Void Master.

"So you can absorb magic energies from an active magic attack. The Void is truly a fascinating study."

From within the barrier, Kyran frowned after hearing Lucian's remark. Though he did not expect the latter not to notice what they were doing, he had hoped he would not realize it too soon— not even three minutes had passed when True Void started absorbing Lucian's magic!

True Void was also surprised. He tried not to alarm The Emperor by allowing a few light blades to hit the ground and produce a cloud of smoke. Using the smoke as camouflage, he believed The Emperor would not realize most of his attack was getting absorbed by him.

Whiiir!

Shaiha conveyed Kyran's thoughts to True Void once more, and he, True Void, nearly reverted to his miniature armor mode in shock.

'Are you serious?'

What Kyran asked True Void was not hard to do. True Void had done it a few times before, after all.

Shapeshift.

However, when True Void shapeshifted, he changed into another magic weapon— like the Macabre Glacier or Kessiah's armor. What Kyran requested him to do, however...

Whiiir!

Experience new tales on empire

Shaiha conveyed Kyran's thoughts again, and True Void wanted so badly to yell at the latter in frustration.

'Fine! I'll do it! Damn it. Don't blame me if you exhaust your magic energy because of this!'

Whiiir!

Though it was Shaiha who gave the signal, True Void almost imagined Kyran was the one who shouted, "Now!"

With The Emperor stopping his bombardment, True Void was not worried about undoing his current shield form. At the very least, Kyran would not be in immediate danger of getting hurt by The Emperor's attack again.

Kyran also moved. He circulated his magic energy and covered his body with the dark purple Void Armor, leaving only the head part visible.

True Void also shifted and copied Kyran's same features— up to Kyran's disguised face.

Basically, what Kyran asked True Void to do was to pretend as Kyran's essence. This was the first step of Kyran's counterattack against Lucian.

Because Lucian did not know that True Void had sentient, Kyran planned to have him act as an essence. To be precise, True Void would act as the essence, but Lucian would probably not know that.

In any case, compared to Kyran, True Void's magic energy was far higher at the moment, so it would not be a surprise if Lucian believed True Void was the main body and Kyran was the essence.

That would be the best scenario for Kyran. Still, he would not hold onto that hope and intended to move based on him being the main body and True Void the essence.

'Focus on diverting Lucian's attention,' Kyran told True Void.

With True Void shapeshifting into Kyran's essence, they did not need to be cautious about telepathically communicating with each other. Kyran only hoped that Lucian would not be able to decipher their conversation by analyzing the flow of the magic energy between him and True Void.

[I've noticed it earlier, but how did you know The Emperor's real name? Bah! Forget that. What are you going to do?]

True asked and summoned two black blades resembling the swords Kyran wielded. Though it was only a few minutes, he was able to absorb quality magic energy from Lucian, so molding weapons was possible, and he was not even using that much with them. Besides, if Lucian attacked, True Void could absorb his magic energy again.

'...'

To True Void's chagrin, Kyran did not seem keen on explaining what he had in mind.

[Argh! Fine! Do what you must. But you have to remember, I am no fighter like you! I can imitate some of your moves since I've been your armor countless times, but imitating and doing it while understanding the concept behind each move are two different things, got it?]

While True Void was conversing with Kyran telepathically, he had already charged toward Lucian, who had not moved from his spot.

From a distance, Deus, observing The Emperor and the Void Master, was quite surprised that the latter suddenly decided to make an essence.

Similar to The Emperor, Deus thought that the barrier used by the Void Master earlier consumed a significant amount of magical energy. Although the move was cunning and managed to absorb The Emperor's magical attack, he ceased his assault upon noticing this. The duration for the Void Master to absorb the magical energies was too brief.

But instead of conserving the magic energy he absorbed, the Void Master actually created an essence.

For what reason?

Divert The Emperor's attention?

How?

This might work if the Void Master could freely use his magic. But they were inside The Emperor's Dimension. How was he going to keep The Emperor's attention?

What about the Void Master's essence? What was it going to do while he kept The Emperor's attention?

True Void charged Lucian, swinging the two blades in his hand one after another at him just as Kyran would if it had been him making a move.

Unperturbed by True Void's attack, Lucian stepped aside and waved one hand.

"!"

True Void felt the shift of the magic energies around him and instinctively teleported back just in time as several blades of light struck the spot where he had been.

Kyran saw what Lucian did and felt his scalp go numb. He expected Lucian's control of the magic energy inside his Dimension to be staggering. But he did not expect it to be to the point that he could mold weapons at point blank to his target. If not for True Void's sensitivity to the magic energy movements around him, those blades would have pierced him before he could even react.

[That was dangerous—!]

Crackle! Crackle!

Light blades appeared just as soon as True Void reappeared after teleporting away.

'Absorb it!' Kyran reminded True Void.

[Easier said than done!]

Though True Void's response sounded like a complaint, he endured the first barrage of the light blades and absorbed the rest.

'Don't overuse your magic energy by teleporting all the time. That is what Lucian's aiming for.'

[... I get it.]

Lucian's eyes narrowed as he noticed a slight shift in the magic energies around True Void. However, he failed to analyze what caused it. Wanting to observe more, he attacked again, but this time, he mixed in balls of light explosions with the blades.

[Argh, damn it! I get that it is better to absorb his attacks, but it is still painful!]

True Void could not help but complain at Kyran. It was indeed painful because he had to allow some of the attacks to touch him in this way so he would not alarm Lucian that he was absorbing them again.

So far, Lucian seemed to think True Void could only absorb magic attacks in that Shield form. True Void wanted to capitalize on this misunderstanding. Thus, he had to be careful about how he absorbed Lucian's attack.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

'Are those swords only decorations? Use them, for goodness sake.'

[...]

True Void was ashamed at being scolded and was speechless. Could Kyran blame him? He never once had the experience of wielding a weapon because he was wielded!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

True Void used the black swords to cut through some of Lucian's attacks.

Meanwhile, Kyran made his way to Ruin.

Ruin was fighting with three defense-type automatons, and Kyran intended to use them to his advantage.