Legacy of the Dark Sage

Scents are close to impossible to sense. They are one of those awareness that can easily bypass and even trick one's senses.

One intriguing instance of a magic attack transformed into a scent was how Deception's Illusion ensnared Kyran during the war in the Ylfaen Kingdom.

With her using one's sense of smell as her Illusion's trigger, it was nearly impossible for Kyran to defend against it, especially if it was scentless, once it infiltrated his system. His Void magic was adept at countering magic attacks that could cause status effects because they were still made of magic energy and could easily be detected.

However, defending against an attack that influenced one's sense of smell was still challenging.

The reason was simple: by the time the Void magic energy circulating in his body found any trace of magic energy that triggered his sense of smell, his brain would have already registered the scent's effect and fallen victim to it.

Another factor that made Deception's Illusion magic effective against Kyran was its origin.

Illusion magic was derived from one of Soul magic's nature. It went without saying that since Void magic was weak against Soul magic, the effect of Kyran's natural immunity from any status effects was significantly reduced.

Kyran's harrowing experience with a magic attack triggered by one's sense of smell made him extra careful when dealing with it. He added an enhancement formula to his clothes that significantly increased his smell-related attack awareness. The formula was normally inactive, unlike the rest of the enhancements, which were always active.

This was because the formula's effect allowed him to see any scentless and formless magic attacks around him within a specific range.

Such an effect was nearly impossible unless he gathered enough energy from different types of magic.

Kyran activated this formula the moment he detected a faint malicious intent behind the amicable smile from the Venom Dragon Tribe's talent. As soon as he did, he detected a faint scent coming from him.

After confirming this, he checked the arena's barrier and noticed one of Aillos's aides reinforcing the barrier around the arena.

'If I remembered correctly, that aide is...'

Kyran remembered the names of Aillos's aides and the tribes they originally belonged to.

Long silver hair and lime green eyes, Aide Attor, head of the Clan's Health Division and a member of the Venom Dragon Tribe.

It appeared that Attor was aware that his tribe's talent would use smell-induced poison that could easily travel in the air in seconds. To prevent the audience from being affected by it, he created another layer on the arena's barrier that could easily counter the poison.

Kyran appreciated that Attor created that layer because his family was among the audience. Even if his family had built up their poison immunity, there was no telling if they would not be affected by the Venom Dragon Tribe's Poison. After all, poison or venom from beasts and plants differed significantly from Poison magic. The latter's potency was far graver than the former.

As for the dragons, Kyran could not care less. Their natural immunity to any status ailments and venom was more significant than a human could ever possess. Someone like Avrum, whose innate magic was Poison, might be the only human who could have better immunity.

"What's this?" the Venom Dragon Tribe's talent raised his brows in fascination while observing Kyran. "It seems like you have a very interesting enhancement formula on your equipment."

The Venom Dragon Tribe's talent, Dilitrio, calmly observed the gentle surge of magic energy around Kyran. These magic energies were gathering at a point on his upper clothes, near the center of his chest, and from there, a faint formula could be seen.

If one were good at reading the flow of magic energy and could clear the excess magic energy that swirled within, he or she would be able to discern the formula's image. If they also had enough Array Knowledge, they would be able to understand the formula's effect by reading the rune writings that made up the image.

"Instead of using Draconic magic to enhance your five senses, you have used Array to create a unique formula that increased your sensitivity to smell-induced magic attacks. I read you're quite well-versed in Array, but it looks like the details on that information are still underestimating your proficiency." Dilitrio's smile widened before adding, "Your equipment's enhancement is quite ingenious."

Kyran did not react to Dilitrio's words. However, he was inwardly surprised that the latter saw and understood the enhancement formula on his clothes.

As far as he knew, the Venom Dragon Tribe was well-versed in Alchemy due to their affinity to Poison and magic energy from medicinal plants. However, he did not expect someone from them also to have deep knowledge of Array.

Although a mage could learn Alchemy and Array, it was rare to have a deep knowledge of both, like Kyran.

There was a somewhat similar case with his uncle Jared. However, his Alchemy and Array knowledge was limited to the ones in the Lower Realm.

"You look surprised," Dilitrio continued with a shrug. "But don't compare us to the likes of your kind. We are dragons, and our capacity to learn magic is far superior to you from the Lower Realm."

This time, Kyran could no longer feign indifference. His brows furrowed as he glared at Dilitrio.

It appeared that in addition to being well-versed in Alchemy and Array, Dilitrio also possessed a rare innate ability that allowed him to read others' minds.

"That's right. I can read your thoughts, and honestly, I find it a little loud compared to your seemingly indifferent attitude."

'Did it ever occur to you how you appear to the audience right now? Read my thoughts all you want and comment on it. But the more you do, the more you appear like an idiot who mumbles to himself.'

"You!" Dilitrio's amicable smile distorted after reading Kyran's mocking thoughts.

Kyran smiled wryly as he looked at Eissen above.

"Aide Eissen, since the additional barrier is completed, we can start the match, right?"

Eissen glanced back at him and replied with a simple "Yes."

However, inwardly, he was surprised that Kyran noticed the additional layer being added to the arena's barrier.

"Thanks."

Even before Kyran finished talking, the swirling scent around Dilitrio had already burst out in all directions. In the blink of an eye, the center of the arena was already covered with his poisonous scent.

"Area Magic, Poison Air." Find more chapters on empire

'This is the first time I've heard someone actually speak the name of their move.'

"Shut up!"

Kyran could not help but chuckle at Dilitrio's outburst. He found the latter's attitude childish and wondered how old he was.

Then again, even if Dilitrio were the youngest among the young talents participating in the Grand Gathering, he would still be around a hundred years old.

To think that there would still be a childish dragon with that age.

The poisonous air spread to about a hundred-meter radius, ultimately covering the middle of the arena. Moreover, as time passed and more poison gathered in the middle, their sight was compromised.

However, the reduced visibility only affected the target of the Area magic. Dilitrio, who cast it, could still see his surroundings very clearly. At that moment, he watched Kyran struggling to create a barrier to protect himself from the poisonous air.

"It is futile," he told him. "My poison can quickly destroy any barrier you create. I've already gathered enough data about your magic signature and adjusted my poison so it can counter and destroy it."

"..."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Kyran did not respond. He continued to activate the formulas on his clothes and did his own thing.

"Hm?" Dilitrio frowned as he soon realized Kyran's thoughts had gotten silent.

Just a few seconds ago, the latter's thoughts were like a blaring noise that he barely managed to endure, but now there was nothing.

'This... is impossible. No matter how well someone conceals their thoughts, some faint noises will still be heard. Unless his mage level far exceeds mine, it should have been impossible for him to hide his thoughts completely....'

Dilitrio's thoughts trailed off as this realization hit him.

'Impossible. Could his mage level already exceed ours? Is that also how he managed to fight on almost equal footing with the rest of the tribes' talents?'

It appeared that Dilitrio's childishness did not only manifest in his behavior but also his trail of thoughts. Because of his childish imagination, his misunderstanding had gone off the trail.

The truth of the matter was nothing special.

Kyran's mage level did not exceed theirs. He did not even know what his mage level was.

What he did know was the convenience of Shaiha's concealment ability.

That was right. Shaiha could also conceal Kyran's thoughts from others. The only thing she could not hide was the remnant of magic energy that would appear whenever he used magic.

Dilitrio also misunderstood that the 'barrier' he believed Kyran was trying to cast was not to protect himself from the poisonous air but to 'hide' the remnant magic energy that flowed out of him.

Why would Kyran try to hide the remnant magic?

Simple, because they were remnant magic from when he used the Void to counter the poisonous air. Moreover, since the poison air could easily destroy the magic signature that Dilitrio thought Kyran possessed, he could not use Draconic magic.

As much as Kyran wanted to avoid using the Void, given his limited options, he had no choice but to use it. He only needed to ensure no one realized what type of magic it was.