Obstruction's eyes lit up from Flos's words.
That was right.
What that woman 'Neah,' was trying to do at the moment could change everything. If she succeeded, they no longer needed Kyran.
Because Cyneah wanted to consume the Macabre Glacier, the result of her endeavour would dictate ng end of this battle. It goes without saying that if she succeeded, Flos and Obstruction no longer needed Kyran.
Their main target had always been the Macabre Glacier. They needed Kyran because he was the new Dark Sage who inherited it.
Nevertheless, Kyran's innate magic was not compatible with the mirror. Thus, they needed Layla because her innate magic was the best fit for manipulating the Macabre Glacier— Soul magic.
As a matter of fact, Flos did not require Layla perse to control the mirror. As long as he could find a mage with an innate Soul magic, then it would be fine.
Unfortunately, Soul magic is Ancient magic. In this generation, there would only be one inheritor of that magic.
That was not the case in the past. But that was a topic for another time.
Flos and Obstruction's current concern was who would end up 'controlling' the Macabre Glacier. Once they found a clear winner, they would do everything to take that person with them.
Regardless if that person was willing or not.
Of course, if Layla could take over Cyneah's body once the latter's 'essence' returned to her with the former still occupying it, they need not worry. Layla was a willing participant in their cause. Though they did not know her real motives, as long as they could have the Macabre Glacier, everything else did not matter.
Alas, Flos and Obstruction's expectation of Layla was not looking good. She might have regained some control over Haylee's body. However, she could not do anything besides simple movements in front of the original one.
While Haylee was only an essence, she seemed to have grown a separate sentient from the original. Layla would have noticed she was an essence from the start if not for this. But because Haylee had her own sentient, Layla agreed to transfer the Soul core to her. Only after that succeeded did Layla discover Haylee was only an essence.
In the end, Layla kept this truth from Haylee and only told her that she had to find someone to make her 'complete.'
But Layla did not care about all those things and focused on creating a protective barrier around her Soul core.
She knew Cyneah wanted to consume the Macabre Glacier.
It might appear futile, but Layla discovered Cyneah's body constitution was actually very special. She could absorb magic energies in the surroundings and summon Soul magic without a magic core.
One could say that Cyneah is a living magic core.
In any case, because of this, she could attract the Macabre Glacier's energy. But instead of absorbing its energy, she wanted to consume it.
Though the process and its meaning appeared the same— it was slightly different.
When a mage absorbed a magic item, they took it into their body as is. But when one consumed a magic item, one would integrate it and change its form.
Obviously, Cyneah decided to consume the mirror to free all the souls it took. Since she only targeted the mirror's energy, all excess within it would be removed.
Layla would have laughed at Cyneah's attempt if not for the Macabre Glacier's unprecedented reaction.
Even now, the Macabre Glacier shooked violently, and the ghastly face on the surface of its mirror continued to squirm.
Nevertheless, Layla was not concerned about that. Like Obstruction, she was far more concerned about True Void's awakening.
Few knew that when Caelan fought the original Dark Sage, True Void had yet to turn into the ultimate weapon fully. It had regained a sentient, but it could only manifest itself into 'something.'
What that something was, Layla did not know. She also did not care.
In any case, back then, Caelan managed to subdue the Dark Sage, who was using the Macabre Glacier. If True Void came in its complete form, Kyran would not have problems subduing the mirror.
'It doesn't matter,' Layla thought through gritted teeth as she looked up at the center of the Grand Array, where True Void was finally taking on its form.
But looking at how the obelisk had turned into several hovering blocks of dark purple material, Layla wondered if True Void even had a real form. Because for as long as she remembered, she had never seen True Void appear in the same form.
The three times Layla had seen him, his form had been different.
Keeping this thought aside, she looked toward Flos and Obstruction, trying to gauge what they would do. But what she saw nearly made her vomit blood.
The two were calmly watching True Void take on his form!
Before she could shout at them, Layla caught sight of Kyran, and her eyes lit up.
Since Flos and Obstruction were distracted, they did not see how much Kyran was in pain.
Kyran's expression remained stoic, but his complexion had turned pale, and his normally straight posture was slightly hunched forward.
'He is affected by what True Void is doing!'
This was not exactly a surprise. Since Kyran was considered True Void's owner, anything he did would greatly affect the former. Judging by Kyran's condition, Layla guessed he could not keep up with True Void's demand for magic energy!
Layla's guess was not far from the truth.
Kyran was truly having difficulty complying with True Void's unruly demand for magic energy. They were connected even when they were far apart. Thus, Kyran could sense how much True Void wanted to absorb more energy, and since he could not do it alone, he was now forcing Kyran to help absorb more.
'True Void! Damn you, are you planning to get me killed?'
Kyran tried to convey to True Void. He did not know if the latter would receive it, but it was worth a try.
[What are you talking about? Because of your indecisiveness, I can't stop absorbing magic energy!]
To Kyran's surprise, True Void actually responded. However, he did not understand his reply.
'What in hell are you even saying?' He almost blurted in pain.
[GAH! Seriously, you! What am I going to do with you? I am called True Void for a reason!]
Zephyr's words once again flashed through Kyran's head. His eyes widened in realization as he said, 'Don't tell me you—.'
[And why did you even think of an obelisk as my form? My goodness! And I mean my goodness! My master had a better imagination than you!]
'You can take on any form!'
[Duh. Did you only realize that? Now, do something about this! Do you think I enjoy looking like this?]
He did tell Kyran before that a piece of him could destroy a nation! Did he not take him seriously?
But Kyran stopped listening to True Void's rant when he said the word 'duh.' It was all the confirmation he needed.
Now Kyran understood why True Void appeared like an obelisk. Unconsciously, he might have been thinking of the obelisks Caelan had created in the Lignum plane.
True Void kept saying he had a majestic body, and apart from the Chaos Palace, Kyran thought the obelisk looked majestic.
Now that Kyran thought of it, the land where the obelisk was pierced looked similar to that of the Chaos Palace. Since he initially thought of the latter, True Void might have turned into it. However, after Kyran rejected the idea, True Void transformed midway. Thus, the image of an obelisk on a piece of land.
Crackle! Crackle!
True Void's body began to gather and take on a real form.
The cubes and rings that circled and merged with him also blended into his body. In a blink of an eye, True Void finally took form.
"This...!"
"How could it be...?"
Flos and Obstruction exclaimed, respectively.
It was not only them who looked surprised.
Cade, Jared, and the rest observing the scene from afar were also shocked.
Because True Void suddenly turned into a huge mirror.
A mirror that looked very much like the Macabre Glacier!
Inwardly, True Void conveyed his disgust to Kyran.
[Are you kidding me? My first appearance after so many years, and you actually turned me into that horrible thing? You have a sick taste! Really sick!]
Kyran did not respond. But a playful smile appeared on his lips.
Seeing True Void's appearance, both Flos and Obstruction were confused.
Even Layla looked at it in confusion. She was suddenly reminded of how Caelan had the ability to absorb things. Or, to be accurate, the Void could absorb anything and everything.
"Could Caelan have succeeded in absorbing the Macabre Glacier and integrated it into True Void's?"
Her words were spoken softly. However, they conveyed the very same thoughts Flos and Obstruction had.
Unbeknownst to them, this was the effect that Kyran aimed for when he willed True Void to change form into the Macabre Glacier.
He wanted to trick them into thinking that True Void already absorbed the real one!
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