In an instant, Ane's magic energy surged out from her body, amplifying the veil that covered the city. An abnormally powerful hurricane descended below rendering the whole place into destruction.
The strength of the hurricane extinguished the flames summoned by the Fire Sprites. At the same time, they were thrown along the trajectory of the wind.
"Aaahh!"
"W-What is this wind?"
"S-Such a powerful wind! I-I can't control my body!"
The sprites' complaints echoed throughout the city.
Bas, Iss, Manti, and Mera were also affected by the wind. Not even their size could help them stand their ground against the wind. Nevertheless, the latter two pierced their claws into the ground and endured the lashing of the fierce wind, while the former two burrowed half of their bodies into the earth.
True Void also had trouble manipulating the shape-shifting plates and failed in his attempt to attack Ane.
Meanwhile, not everything— or everyone— was affected by the hurricane. The mages under Ane's side were protected by a light green barrier and were unaffected by the fierce wind. Even their fire spells continued to receive a boost from this barrier.
The hurricane's whip-like wind lashed out onto the surface of the barrier protecting Ezra and company. But the threat was short-lived because True Void's action from earlier finally took effect.
The suction force coming from True Void's opened mouth finally affected not only the magic energies but also the energy coming from the hurricane. To be more accurate, the hurricane was using the wind magic energies in the surroundings to sustain its fierceness, and this particular magic energy was basically part of the 'magic energies' True Void was absorbing. Because of this, it was not really a surprise that the hurricane's momentum would soon be absorbed by him.
Ane sensed her attack weakened by the second. She was expecting to destroy the barrier using the hurricane's fierce momentum but instead, her spell started to lose it and failed.
'What the hell is happening?' She wondered as she also sensed her magic energy depleting at an alarming speed.
An idea crossed her mind and she surveyed the city again using her magic sense. With her mage level, her magic sense covered a far wider range thus it took only a few seconds for her to check the city completely.
Ane had initially thought that Kyran Regis had come to Noser. They might have limited information about Void magic, but based on the Royal Army's initial encounters with him, they were able to surmise some of its nature.
With this in mind, Ane wanted to confirm if he had really come and wanted to report back to the Crown Princess. But while she sensed where her magic energy was being drawn to, she did not find a person but a strange-looking... toy.
In that instant, she recalled that the Regis Family had a few Array Specialists. It would not be odd if Kyran Regis had been taught about Arrays and could create magic items that complemented his magic.
Anyhow, Ane was not interested in Array so she did not know how he was able to create such an item. Frankly, she was not interested in what Kyran could do in general because she was not crazy enough to think of fighting him head-on. Even if she had the advantage in mage level, he was the new Dark Sage— a mage possessing the most fearsome forbidden magic in the empire's history.
Ane knew from experience that it was unwise to consider that the level of a mage with forbidden magic could be measured the same way as mages with 'regular' magic. Which was why if he was there, she would pull out from Noser.
Besides, the Crown Princess wanted to face him herself. Ane would gladly obey her wishes. However, since the cause of her predicament was only a magic item, then she would destroy it.
Ane's eyes glowed red as she whirled her staff. Several distortions appeared behind her as the wind gathered and formed several spears. She then aimed these spears at the point where she sensed the magic item was positioned.
But.
"W-What—?" Ane exclaimed in shock because as soon as the released wind spears entered the veil she created, they were unable to maintain their form and turned into pure wind magic energies that also got sucked in along with the hurricane's momentum.
It was only then that she realized that it was not only her attack that was being drawn in by the magic item but the rest of the mages below.
"Argh!"
"M-My energy is…"
? "W-What is going on…?"
The mages below's confused cry could be heard as not only were they unable to maintain the magic spells they were planning to launch toward the barrier but the magic energies in their body seemed to be leaking out.
No. Not 'leaking out.' It was being absorbed!
Anette, Ezra and the rest could not help but gape at True Void. To be honest, even though they were aware that he was the previous Void Master's magic weapon, because of his current appearance, they could not seem to imagine his supposed reputation of being the formidable weapon of the 'Dark Sage.'
Now that they were witnessing True Void's absorption ability, they were able to see a glimpse of his true self.
With Ane and her side's attack stopping, the Fire Sprites and Kyran's beast Sigils took this chance to kill as many mages as they could.
Seeing that their numbers were decreasing at a very stable yet frightening pace, Ane had not choice but to call for the rest of her people standing by outside.
Back in the temporary camp created by the noble families with Ane, the moment they received her command to move out, they immediately marched into Noser. Ane already warned them about the magic item Kyran left behind, but they were not afraid.
To them, such an item had a limit. They believed that as long as it absorbed enough magic, it would stop working. It might even explode from absorbing too much.
Anyway, they were all Grand Masters. Their magic spells were far stronger compared to the ones cast by the first group. If they let the magic item absorb their magic, it would only be a matter of time before it explodes, or if not, stop completely.
Alas, they would soon realize that they underestimated True Void's absorption ability. After all, he was a glutton with a bottomless appetite.
While this was happening in Noser, and the Courtenay and Lumley Families were enduring Soll's attack, the Conclave also defended their frontlines.
Contrary to their initial expectation that the Conclave would not have much trouble especially when Euan's army was there, they were met with an overwhelming number of mages and combat mages.
As soon as they were within range, they began bombarding the tower relentlessly. Hugh and the rest of the Conclave council members then discovered that the level of the enemy mages and combat mages were all Grand Masters. As a matter of fact, there were Exalteds added into the mix.
Because the temporary encampment was located outside the Tower of Conclave, it was not protected by the Saint-tier defensive array Kyran created. Instead, it only had a regular defensive array.
Nevertheless, the defensive array around the encampment was prepared by Mannick. Although his mage level was low, his Array knowledge retained that of his original self— the Sovereign Azaloth, also known as the most powerful Abjurer in history. Thus, Mannick was able to prepare a Saint-tier 'regular' defensive array.
This was one of the advantages of being an Array expert. As long as they had the right materials, their mage level did not matter, they could still create highly advanced Array formations.
Hugh and the rest of the Conclave council members stayed inside the large tent where they monitored the scene outside.
A projection of the map around the Tower of Conclave was laid on the huge table and green dots indicated their side as well as their location, while red dots were the enemies.
Hugh scowled as he saw the dense number of red dots on the map. No matter how powerful the barrier Mannick created, it could only protect them from magic attacks. It was not impossible for their enemies to get inside.
That was right. If their enemies realized that their defensive array could only do this, if they marched into the barrier without rousing their magic energy, they could pass through without any problems.
This was the predicament that Hugh and company were facing.
"We can only launch a preemptive attack," Vaness said solemnly.
Hugh sighed and nodded, "Yes."
Although he affirmed Vaness's words, Hugh did not seem to be keen on the idea.
"Although we have a Magus among us, outside are several numbers of Grand Masters. There are even Exalteds among their ranks, how can we even launch such an attack?" Malia asked worriedly. "Yes, we have several mages right here thanks to Emperor Euan's and sir Mannick's army. But their mage level was not enough."
The others did not refute her because what she said was true.
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦