'Have you seen where the soldiers and elite mages from noble families you encountered came out from?' Kyran asked as soon as Reuben finished relaying their experience.
Reuben found Kyran's question odd, but he did not ask for clarification because he understood it right away.
[We didn't, I'm afraid. However, we did find their appearance sudden.]
Reuben recalled their encounter with those groups were often without warning. Obviously, they did not arrive there by normal means.
Max and Reuben were former elite members of the Templar Code. Their abilities are considered among the best in the faction, if not the whole empire. As such, their scouting abilities are top-notch. For this reason, it was surprising how they failed to detect the enemies before encountering them.
If they sensed their presence, they would avoid engaging in a battle. Their mage levels might be higher compared to their enemies, but the continuous battle would tire them out and exhaust what little health and magic energy provisions they had. When that happened, they would fall just like any other mages.
If Max and Reuben could find where those people had emerged, they could destroy their 'route' and prevent more of them from coming.
Kyran frowned at this piece of information. He hoped the two had seen the array where Layla's forces had come out from so he could have them change some of its calculations.
Rather than destroying the array, Kyran considered changing one of its formulas, wherein instead of them emerging right there, they would be transported again to the Misty Forest.
The reason he considered this move was simple. Destroying the arrays would only delay the enemies' gathering. It would not stop them. At most, they would only create a new connecting array.
However, if the connecting array had a formula that would transport them to Misty Forest as soon as it activated, they would appear there and be poisoned to death before they even realized where they were.
[Hm.]
Max grunted as if wanting to assure Kyran of something.
Reuben sensed what the big guy was trying to say and also said.
[We can search where they came out from and destroy it.]
'Rather than destroy, I need you to change one of its formulas,' Kyran said. He then explained what he had in mind, and the two listened attentively.
After hearing Kyran's plan, Max and Reuben gave their silent approval. They agreed with his reasoning that reducing their numbers was better than destroying the arrays.
Both were aware of how outnumbered they were against their enemies. If they could reduce the number of their enemies without using up their forces and resources, then it was considered a wise move.
'I had Zephyr and Byron's side look for arrays and destroy them,' Kyran continued to explain. 'This way, the enemies will not think we are not planning on using the arrays as a means to reduce their number.'
[Then we have to coordinate with them and plan which arrays to destroy and which to revise.]
Reuben responded after Kyran finished his explanation. Honestly, he was not really good at Arrays, but he had witnessed what Kyran could do. He knew they could never go wrong as long as he and Max followed the latter's instructions.
But first, they had to let Kyran know what the array looked like.
An amused smile tugged at the corner of Kyran's lips after hearing the latter's response. Having a subordinate completely understand a situation and devise a plan to adjust to it was truly nice.
Kyran was glad he did not kill Reuben.
[Hm.]
Max also grunted in agreement.
'I will tell Zephyr and Byron of the change,' Kyran told them. 'In the meantime, you two find a good spot to rest for a few minutes.'
Since the two would be running around, searching for arrays and revising some of them, they would need to restore their strength. Besides, when they found an array, there was no telling when a new batch of enemies would emerge. For all they knew, there could be new ones coming out from it before they could completely revise the array or even destroy it.
Max and Reuben's expressions turned slightly odd after hearing Kyran's order for them to rest.
After the incident where they met a Sovereign trying to recruit Kyran, who protected them from the former, the two started to warm up to him even further.
As Kyran's Sigil, they were already loyal to him. Nevertheless, they still had some reservations, especially when they were reminded of how they were 'threatened' to become his Sigils.
But since joining Kyran's side and seeing how he genuinely cared for his people, Max and Reuben started seeing him differently.
They were then reminded of Kyran's cruelty they witnessed during the assault in the Shaiha Ruins only because they first hurt one of his people, Zephyr.
'I'll send over some provisions,' Kyran continued while rummaging through his items. 'As for the materials required in revising the array's formula, I'll send them over as soon as I review the array. Make sure to share the whole formation to me.'
[We will definitely share a clear one.]
Reuben then paused as his brows furrowed slightly.
[Err... how can we share them?]
He knew Kyran could send them provisions with no problems given his Void magic's nature, but that was not the case with them.
Reuben looked at Max sideways and wondered if Kyran expected them to deliver a copy of the array by having one of Max's beasts bring a hard copy to him.
Max also seemed to notice this, and his facial expression distorted slightly. He mentally checked the new beasts under his command and was already trying to find a suitable one to deliver the copy.
Kyran's brow twitched slightly as he sensed Max and Reuben's thoughts. Did they not know that with the Sigil in full effect, he could easily see through their thoughts? As a matter of fact, he could also share his thoughts with them, but since he was the 'master,' he could opt not to.
'I'll know once you see one,' Kyran told them. 'You don't have to worry about anything else.'
[U-Understood...]
Reuben replied, although he did not understand it completely.
Without further ado, the two searched for a safe spot to rest.
After talking to them, Kyran turned his attention back to True Void and the movements nearby.
He sensed Zephyr, Bas, and Mera handling a few of them. However, their numbers did not seem to be decreasing. As a matter of fact, he felt it had increased by a lot.
This should not have been the case if the connecting arrays these people had come out from were in a ratio of 1:1. After all, they would need to replenish the main array's magic energy, and it would require several minutes before it could be used again. But if the ratio is 2:1 or even more, then this would explain how more of them had arrived in such a short span of time.
Basically, a 2:1 ratio meant that two main transportation array was connected to one connecting array. To be honest, given the Array knowledge in the Human plane, this would be impossible. But what else could explain how their numbers kept on increasing?
It was impossible for hundreds of connecting arrays to be planted around the Regis Estate's periphery. Kyran was positive his grandfather would not allow such arrays to appear near them.
Apart from this, connecting arrays could not be created in a short amount of time. Not to mention, Max and Reuben did not notice the appearance of the enemies until they were already there.
Kyran suddenly thought of something, and his expression turned grim.
Such a feat was not possible in the Human plane's Array Knowledge. However, what if someone among Layla's people was aware of Array Knowledge outside the Human plane?
Kyran recalled how his uncle Jared suspected that one of the Archmagus under Layla's control, Rantz, was someone who entered the Tower of Tribulations.
What if Rantz was not the only one?
Kyran suddenly felt an incoming headache. If this was true, why were they appearing now? Why did they not appear earlier and save them from all the guessing and such?
Kyran shook his head in exasperation.
If there were really members on Layla's side who entered the Tower of Tribulations, they might know how to create multiple transportation arrays in different locations that could connect to one array.
Apart from this, if Max and Reuben failed to notice the magic fluctuation that came with activating such an array, then the enemy array specialists also knew some advanced formulas that could conceal it.
'There is another possibility,' Kyran thought as his face darkened. 'What if the connecting array is mobile? If it is, it is easier to move around and have others come in different locations each time. This will prevent us from pinpointing the exact locations of a connecting array.'
This thought was truly a huge headache for Kyran.
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