The Chimera was a legendary beast that looked like an enormous lion, with a goat's head protruding on its back and a snake for its tail.
It was bigger by a few feet than the Manticore, and its main element was Fire. But it could also use poisonous attack through its tail, albeit not as lethal as the Echidna or the Manticore.
When Kyran arrived at the Chimera's location, he confirmed its seal was still intact. However, the poison from the Manticore's flames that reached its territory caused it to feel agitated.
The Chimera was immune to poison, but the seal could dissolve if exposed to the poisonous air for too long. In any case, the Chimera was agitated not because it feared the toxic air but because it could not wait for it to have its seal removed.
At least, that was how Kyran interpreted it.
Without wasting time, Kyran charged in and knocked out the Chimera in one hit. This time, he did not use his Draconic magic and only used his normal strength. Nevertheless, one hit was enough to render the Chimera unconscious.
Kyran took out a memory soul stone and let it absorb and memorize the Chimera's magic energy. He planned on leaving the stone in the Chimera's lair. This way, Kyran could let the others think the Chimera was still on the island.
The range of Ingrid's and Imman's magic sense probably could not cover the whole island. But Kyran sensed them moving around the island, building fortresses.
So far, the two were still in the south area going west, but if they closed in on the Chimera's location, they might check if it was nearby.
After all, they probably did not want to deal with the Chimera at this point. The threat of Kyran suddenly appearing behind their back would keep them away from confronting the Chimera. Else, they would end up dealing with a pincer attack.
To be honest, Kyran had thought of killing the Royal Army's deputy marshals to cripple their main forces. But after meeting Mannick, he changed his mind. If, in case, he killed Ingrid and Imman, the Anima Novitiate would definitely doubt Mannick.
Kyran also did not want to stage Mannick's death. After all, having him remain in the Royal Army benefited him. As for Neo, Kyran would still have it infiltrate the Royal Family as 'Tyr.' The Royal Army's leadership might have returned to the Royal Family, but there were still things the Royal Army was unaware of. That much Kyran was sure. Especially now that he found out the Anima Novitiate could call for the 'outsiders' as if they were partners.
After reinforcing the Chimera's seal, Kyran sent it to his domain. Then he telepathically talked to the Manticore, instructing him to keep an eye on the Chimera.
When all of that was done, Kyran and True Void returned to the Echidna's location.
[What now, Void Halfling?]
True Void asked as soon as the Echidna appeared in their field of view.
At the moment, the Echidna was silent, with the Chains of Ercé pierced its scales from different points. Reddish green blood oozed down its scales, and its head hung low as if all the fight it had earlier got drained by the chains.
[The Echidna looks docile now. Do you want to try and make it into your Sigil?]
Kyran shook his head at True Void's suggestion.
The Echidna was far more special than the Manticore and the Chimera. This Kyran had confirmed after making the Manticore his Sigil.
The Manticore and the Chimera did not have the Sovereign of Savagery's mark. With the Echidna being one of that person's greatest creations, that guy couldn't leave its creation unmarked.
For this reason, Kyran could not turn it into his Sigil casually. He first had to remove the Sovereign of Savagery's seal. Or else, once he used the Sigil on the Echidna and his Draconic energy and forcefully overwrote the Sovereign of Savagery's seal, the latter would definitely 'sense' Kyran.
Kyran did not want another Sovereign gifting him another mark.
One mark was enough.
Besides, Kyran still did not know why the Royal Family agreed to use the outsiders' legendary beasts in today's Beast Hunt. They should have expected something like this to happen and placed proper countermeasure.
They did place a countermeasure. However, it had been useless.
'...'
Okay, their countermeasure was actually not at fault. To be honest, the barrier the Courtenay Family created on the island was powerful enough to keep the rampaging legendary beasts inside. Except if they let it be, the casualties would not be limited to the Royal Army but the Conclave as well.
That was why Kyran had to step in. Now that he thought of it, the situation had gone from bad to worse because of his meddling. He was the one who destroyed the Courtenay Family's countermeasure after all.
Sighing inwardly, Kyran pushed the thought to the back of his mind. Truth be told, he would rather suffer the consequences of his meddling today than let Neo get destroyed. There was also the deal he made with Chairman Hugh. Because of it, he now considered the whole Mercenary Hall his people.
Styx and Addie were from the Mercenary Hall, and Kyran would not leave them to die. Aside from this, they had the potential to achieve a higher level. Kyran was not about to waste that.
[So, then what? Are we going to just stand here and watch it?]
Kyran regarded True Void with a dull look.
'I'm still thinking,' he told him.
[What? You still haven't thought of a way to deal with the Echidna? After everything you told Azaloth about wanting to take all these beasts and making them as your Sigil?]
'As far as I remember, it is you who told him I want the legendary beasts alive. I only told him I want to tame them.'
[Details, details. Who cares about the details.]
Kyran gave him a blank look. He sounded like Nolan.
[Anyway, just take the Echidna to your domain and think of what you want to do with it there.]
Kyran shook his head, 'I can't. To be precise, I can't afford to do that.'
[Why not?]
With a sigh, Kyran finally decided to tell True Void the truth.
'If I sent the Echidna to my domain, that person would notice it.'
[That person?]
'The Sovereign of Savagery.'
[...]
Kyran did not wait for True Void to digest this information thoroughly. He willed some of the shape-shifting plates, placed them on his shoes' soles, and jumped, hovering in the air as he approached the Echidna.
[T-T-T-That guy is here?]
True Void asked in an unusually timid voice.
Kyran smiled bitterly and nodded, 'Yeah. I told you there are outsiders here and one of them is the Sovereign of Ruins. As for the other two...'
He paused before continuing, 'Echidnas are not rare in other planes, and there are other Sovereigns who own one as a pet. But after checking the energy the Chains of Ercé absorbed from this particular Echidna, I recognized its signature, which came from that guy.'
[Oh my goodness...]
'Don't worry. I won't let that guy take you.'
That was right. The Sovereign of Savagery was not interested in Kyran but in True Void.
It all happened when Kyran trained in the Beast plane, which happened to be the Sovereign of Savagery's plane. The latter found them and took a liking to True Void while looking like a 'furball.' Apparently, True Void could not merge with the shape-shifting plates back then because of the plane's magic rules and was forced to appear as a furball.
In the end, Kyran and True Void were forced to run around the plane to avoid the Sovereign's clutches. It was not easy. Because that guy practically had eyes all over the Beast plane.
As a Sovereign, that person could not meddle in the Beast plane's affairs; instead, it could take anything it fancied.
Kyran completed his training and escaped the Beast plane because of the Tower of Tribulation's unique system. But not until hearing the Sovereign of Savagery's vow of finding him and taking True Void.
'The last one... well, I am not sure which of the Sovereigns we encountered in the Myedeo plane it is yet.'
True Void gulped nervously.
[Seriously, Void Halfling. I never expected all these guys to get here so soon. This is why I told you to keep a low profile. You made far too many enemies.]
Kyran ignored him.
It was not his fault most of the Sovereigns took an interest in his affairs. It was all because they were all curious how a 'new' Void Master appeared even after all the plotting the Soul Emperor and the Sovereign of Ruins did to ensure Caelan would not be able to pass on the Void core.
Kyran stopped ten meters away from the Echidna.
The Echidna lifted its gaze, and upon seeing Kyran, its supposedly dead eyes suddenly burned with madness as it hissed in anger.
KWWWIIIISHHH!
The Echidna's poisonous breath seethed from its mouth as it glared at Kyran.
Kyran, on the other hand, hovered unaffected even when the poisonous air reached him.
For the next few minutes, Kyran remained unmoving even when the Echidna hissed at him. True Void knew he was lost in thought and did not bother him. Instead, he vigilantly kept an eye out for a possible ambush.
Finally, Kyran spoke and asked, 'Hey True Void.'
[Yeah? Have you come up with a plan?]
'I think so.'
[You 'think so'? Oi.]
'I can't say it's a plan in dealing with the Echidna. But I'm thinking of using it as bait.'
[Bait?]
True Void repeated. But then, his imaginary eyes widened as he soon realized what Kyran might be planning.
[Oi! Oi! Oi! You're not really thinking of...?]
'Yes,' Kyran replied without affirming whether True Void did guess his plan correctly.
[No! No! Absolutely not! Do you think that guy will take it nicely on being baited using one of its creations? No. That guy will definitely go ballistic!]
Kyran smiled slightly, his eyes turning reddish-purple.
He said, 'Don't worry. I have a plan. But first, I need to create a new world.'
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