Legacy of the Dark Sage

The others were taken aback by Kyran's swift actions. His ability to take out four talents at the start of the match and summon a whirlwind of pure magic energy left them in disbelief. They realized that a frontal attack would not be enough, and their only chance was a sneak attack or to somehow stop his movements for a few seconds.

Alas, that moment's pause caused them a lot of trouble because Kyran never stopped moving while they devised a strategy to take him out in their heads.

Kyran used Dragon Steps to approach the closest talent from him. Like the first one he took out, that talent also reacted quickly. Instead of relying only on the defensive spells and the Draconic Arts of projecting their dragon limbs with pure magic energy, he also used Draconic magic to reinforce his armor and lower body.

Kyran's current target projected his dragon legs. From this, it was easy to know that his main strength was speed. Unfortunately, the latter's innate magic was not Air. If it were, his speed would have been enhanced further. This, however, did not mean that Kyran could take him out quickly.

Fire enveloped the young talent's legs as he used Dragon Steps to confront Kyran. Though he deemed a frontal attack would not be enough to take the latter out, it was not impossible. He just had to be faster, more decisive with his movements, and stronger.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The young talent launched a barrage of blazing kicks at Kyran when the latter arrived one meter in front. Because of the swiftness and strength of the fire element that enveloped his legs, its flames erupted with each kick and reached Kyran without any problem. He expected Kyran to stop and avoid the fire. Find your next read at empireNôv(el)B\\jnn

Once the latter retreated, he planned on summoning a huge wall of fire right at the spot where he would land.

"!"

The young talent's eyes widened as his expectations did not happen. This was because Kyran ignored the flames instead of retreating and rushed in at him.

Bam.

Kyran sent out a punch toward the young talent's face. But the latter reacted fast and put up his arms to block the punch.

"..Eh?"

The young talent was momentarily stunned because he was expecting Kyran to launch a mighty punch that could force him back a few steps or more. At least, that had been the case with the other talents. However, Kyran's punch was so weak that he barely felt anything when his fist landed on his arms.

His fist made a good sound, yes, but the force was way too weak...

"!"

Kyran smiled wryly as the Chaos magic's force passed through the young talent's forearms and went straight at the latter's chest.

"Guah!'

The young talent coughed out some spit as the flames on his feet disappeared. Kyran jumped back just in time as the latter fell face first on the ground, unconscious.

'So Chaos magic can be used like this too,' he thought with a faint smile. 'Cool.'

What Kyran did just then was control the Chaos magic energy to penetrate the young talent's defenses and only target his chest. After the Chaos entered the latter's body, Kyran released the accumulated suppressed force and attacked the lungs— at least, he supposed it was the lungs. He expected that using Chaos magic to attack their internal organs would also disrupt their magic energy circulation.

However, he did not expect that it would result in knocking even a dragon out cold.

Gasp filled the air from the audience area. The young talents inside the arena were the same. They did not know what Kyran did to take out another one of them without even breaking a sweat.

"You! What kind of... art are you using?" one of the young talents could no longer suppress his curiosity and shout in query. "Is it some kind of trump card against us dragons?"

Since they could not understand how Kyran's feeble move could make one of them unconscious, they started to believe that he was using some unknown martial arts— probably from the Human plane— that might have some advantage against dragons. After all, he was a descendant of a human who knew a lot about dragons.

Who knew what kind of martial arts he developed and left his family?

Kyran could not help but look at the young talent as if he was looking at an idiot. He expected them not to recognize the Chaos magic's energy. However, how did they even come up with the idea that he was using some arts to deal with them?

They were dragons, for heaven's sake. They were considered extinct in the Human plane. How could they come up with an art against an existence they had never seen?

While it was true that the Regis Archive had information about dragons, it did not include the Draconic Arts, spells, or techniques of other dragons.

No matter how genius one is, one can only create art against another with personal experience against them.

"...Are you right in the head?" Kyran could not help but blurt out.

The moment those words escaped his lips, the dragons in the audience erupted in protest.

It appeared that that offhanded remark took a massive blow to their pride.

Kyran sighed and looked at the other young talents who dared not approach him anymore. If this had been a real fight, they would have done everything to attack him, even if it caused them a limb or two.

However, this was only a spar. They were given two hours at most to fight it all out— ah, right— fight him to their heart's content. Because of this, they had the leisure to stand around contemplating what to do next instead of attacking him without a care.

Frankly, Kyran would have preferred it if they had recklessly come after him. But he also knew that continuing to dominate them could backfire against him and his people. That was why he did not go after a new target after taking out the last one. Besides, using Chaos magic was very exhausting.

Until Aillos started teaching him how to use it properly, Kyran could only envelope his body with its magic energy and use it like armor.

In any case, because of this, even if Kyran wanted to continue attacking the other talents, he could not. If he did, he would only exhaust himself faster and give the others an opportunity to beat him up.

"Taking out a few of us doesn't mean anything," another young talent said.

Judging by their sudden interest in a dialogue, they were buying some time while figuring out Kyran's art.

Kyran was not complaining, though. Since he also needed some time to catch his breath.

"You only took them by surprise because they know nothing about your capabilities and the art you are using," the young talent continued.

Kyran snorted and shifted his weight to one side before looking at the young talent in disbelief, "Again, with that art. And what was that? I took them by surprise because they knew nothing about my capabilities. Seriously? What were you all doing yesterday, then? Can I take it that you didn't even bother watching my matches because you think I am a pushover?"

A heavy atmosphere befell the dome at his words.

What Kyran said was not true, or at least in the part that they did not watch his matches. All of them watched. However, apart from the strange remark Dilitrio made, they did not think he would be a threat.

They were even convinced they could take him out in five minutes in today's match, and then they would go all out against each other.

"'Spar matches are meant for the rising talents of the clan to compare notes. Apart from that, the matches are intended to be used as a way to conclude a dispute between two tribes,'" Kyran suddenly repeated what Eissen said before the start of the match. "At first, I thought that all the requests I received were because all of you were itching to compare notes with me.

But it looks like that was not the case..."

"Stop right there—!"

"You have something against us," Kyran ignored the young talents who started to stop him from speaking. "That's why you are all so fixated on me."

As he said that, he took a step toward the closest young talent from him.

That talent immediately retreated as if he could only feel safe if his current distance from Kyran was maintained.

Kyran smiled wryly at the young talent and said, "Come on. You're hurting my feelings. I'm just trying to get closer."

[What are you doing right now?]

Before Kyran could say more, Aillos's voice suddenly sounded in his head.

'...I'm not trying to pick up a fight. I swear.'

[That's not how I see it.]

'...'

[I know you are trying to buy time while you rest, but you did not have to incite them.]

'...We'll all end up having a staring match for two hours if I don't.'

[Don't be absurd.]

Kyran chuckled and barely stopped himself because the others might misunderstand again.

"Sorry, I—."

"I'd like to forfeit the match."

Suddenly, a young talent from somewhere at the farther end declared her intention to withdraw.

"I will withdraw, too."

And soon, it was followed by another.

When these young talents declared their intentions to forfeit, the audience was in an uproar again. It was pretty strange how these noble dragons who barely reacted in yesterday's matches had reacted very strongly so many times when they had just started today's match.

Judging by these unexpected events, another rumor about Kyran was sure to spread.