While the Conclave settled matters on their side, Osric's side quietly observed the situation and looked for an opportunity to attack.
Just as Kyran had thought, the Osric he 'killed' had been a dummy.
However, Osric's dummy differed from the ones used by the woman and the Array Specialists. His dummy could be likened to a medium where he channelled his consciousness, but also different from an essence. For this reason, Osric did not revive after being destroyed, nor did his soul suffer.
As to where the real Osric was, he was in a temporary encampment a few hundred meters outside the Tower of Conclave. The others prepared this encampment while Osric led the first wave of attack.
Inside one of the small tents, Osric, Lira and an Alchemist from the Boyd Family were gathered. The former two were engaged in a discussion, while the latter tended to Lira's wounds. Wounds she received after destroying one of the key areas of the Tower of Conclave's defensive array, which then led to the destruction of the latter's almost-invincible barrier.
For the record, Lira used her body as bait to force the Conclave and Army members to attack that spot. Ultimately, she would have died if not for Osric's timely assistance. The latter timed his attack from the outside to the attack made by the Conclave and Army members from the inside. Because the key area was already damaged, the strain it received after being bombarded on both sides ultimately led to the defensive array's collapse and destruction of the barrier.
After that, Osric left a dummy to continue with the attack while he took Lira to the rear and was treated. She had vital intel, and he could not afford to let her die.
It was good that the Boyd Family had a capable Alchemist, resulting in Lira's fast recovery.
At the moment, Lira's wounds had mostly recovered, which was why she could have a discussion with Osric without any problems.
A few minutes ago, when Lira was telling Osric what had happened to her prior to her rescue in greater detail, the latter sensed what was happening in the Tower of Conclave. He was surprised to sense Kyran's arrival. However, he did not panic and instead ordered the Array Specialists to activate the transmission array they had set up secretly and transport the whole main tower where Haylee's other half was hiding.
Unfortunately, the array formation took some time to activate, and they failed. Apart from this, the dummies had been destroyed, which gave Osric a huge headache.
Making one of these dummies used up a number of their resources, yet, Kyran destroyed them just like that. Although the dummies were still in the testing phase, they were supposed to be an alternative vessel for Layla's undying army.
Alas, such a notion was impossible now.
Knowing that the other alternative, which was to have 'Tyr' create high-quality human puppets, was already impossible had worsened Osric's headache.
But the dummies were the least of Osric's worries. He worried more about the fact that they failed to retrieve Haylee's other half.
Layla was already waiting for good news— that was why Osric was currently under much pressure.
In the end, Osric decided to talk to Lira and get more information on Haylee's other half and even Kyran— especially on information they could use against her.
"I don't know how he did it, but the new Dark Sage has already grasped his magic to a certain level," Lira said.
Osric nodded in agreement, "Yes. I already fought him once and attested to that. But now that we know he is working with the Conclave, it is easy to guess how he improved at such a short time."
Lira's brow furrowed, realizing what Osric was trying to say, "The current Time mage."
"We call her Time Keeper."
"I still don't understand how that bastard suddenly became the Conclave's ally," Lira said with a slight shake of her head. "Even the people we planted inside the Conclave did not find anything."
"That is unimportant at the moment," Osric cut her line of thought before she strayed far. "We must retrieve her Highness's other half as soon as possible. That boy's magic sense has covered the whole Tower of Conclave and even a few hundred outside it. As a matter of fact, I can sense his magic sense reaching even this place. If not for my protection around this place, he would have already destroyed this place."
Lira was surprised. She still could not use her magic energy because no one could undo the mark Kyran left her. If not for that, she would have noticed the latter's magic sense.
But that was not the reason she was surprised. She was surprised by the range of Kyran's magic sense. Apart from this, one had to know that magic sense could be considered a supportive ability of mages. However, how Osric talked of Kyran's magic sense sounded like the latter could use it as an offensive attack.
"You mean to tell that that bastard's magic sense reached that level?" Lira could not help but ask in disbelief.
"It doesn't matter what level it has reached," Osric said. "Let us focus on what we have to do."
He paused briefly before correcting himself, "No, let us focus on what we can do. His magic sense will let him know our movements and counterattack at once. How to infiltrate without being detected will be a hard task."
"That's... Yes. That will be hard," Lira agreed after thinking it through. "We can only lure him away before infiltrating the place."
"No," Osric shook his head, and his eyes narrowed. "We must lure her out."
Lira raised her brows as she looked at him in disbelief. "Her? That will be impossible."
"Humph," Osric snorted. "If I want to lure her out, she will be lured. But we have to devise a plan now before that boy decides to take her away."
Lira could not help but frown at that.
It was really annoying dealing with a person with Void magic. He could come and go as he pleased and destroy things he found annoying just like that.
Lira initially wanted to think that it was good that only one person in the world possessed Void magic. But the more she discovered the things one could do using Void magic, the more she felt envious and furious.
They had to have Kyran under control as soon as possible and let the Crown Princess continue with her plans.
Alas, Lira was unaware that Haylee had long fallen into a deep sleep and that Layla had already taken over her body. If she had known, her actions and decision-making would definitely be different.
Osric might know about it, which was why he did not mention Layla to Lira.
"Tell me what you've observed about her Highness's other half. From there, we may find a way to lure her out."
Lira frowned at Osric's request. She had only met Haylee's other half for a few minutes. It was too short, so finding anything about her would be difficult.
Nevertheless, since Osric requested it, she could only comply. She racked her brain and recalled what she had observed about the young woman named Cyneah.
After a few seconds, her face lit up after recalling something. She said, "I may know how to lure her out."
*
At that same time, the battle in Noser was coming to a close.
With Ane falling short in terms of Wind manipulation, it was not long before Zephyr completely overwhelmed her.
Such a turn of events was not exactly surprising.
Zephyr, in his Quilin form, had better control over his magic. His magic output and defenses far exceeded a human's understanding as well. Besides, he was a beast, and human's way of categorizing a mage's level did not apply to him. They might consider him at a Grand Master level when in fact, it was far greater than that. Most of all, Zephyr's magic was Air. Wind magic was only part of it, which was why, right from the start, Ane was already at a disadvantage.
Nevertheless, no matter how powerful Zephyr was, in the end, he could never kill a human. Thus, after overpowering Ane, he lets the beast Sigils deal with her.
Ultimately, Anette stopped the beast Sigils from killing Ane. They might still have a good use for her.
After Ane's defeat, they bound her, and then Anette sealed her magic energy.
With their leader down, the army of Grand Masters with her seemed like a headless chicken, not knowing what to do. With their group in disarray, the beast Sigils did not take long to kill all of them.
However, a few still managed to escape.
*
Aron, Jared, and some Regis Special Forces gathered a hundred meters west of the Lumley Ancestral Hall.
Among their ranks, the two members, one from the Courtenay Family and the other from the Lumley, were already with them.
"Based on our previous head count, there are at least five hundred Grand Masters surrounding the Lumley Ancestral Hall. Then there are a few hundred more at the rear."
A voice spoke from the earpiece that each Regis Special Forces, including the Regis Elders, Aron, and Jared, wore.
The Courtenay and Lumley mages were also given an earpiece to listen in on their plan.
"Very well," Aron replied. "Thanks, Raya. Stand by and wait for the signal. We'll start from this side."
"Copy on that, Patriarch."
Aron looked at the Regis Special Forces standing behind him. He only gave a short nod before they left to crash the line of defence of the enemy Grand Masters from the west rear.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶