Contrary to what Kyran initially believed, what the Higher Being coveted the most from the Four Greatest Mind''s research was their human creation. After all, only those with a simr bodyposition to the Deity could possess the Ancient Magic Cores since he was the original Human. The artificial construction of the Ancient Magic Cores only came second.


    Regardless of what the Higher Being wanted, it was meant to surpass his limits and be a second Deity.


    At least, that was how Kyran understood.


    Setting aside the weighty matters of the Higher Being''s goal and the Four Greatest Minds'' research, Kyran focused on every word that escaped Diara''s lips, knowing that her words might help him understand the truth of why his innate ability and his missing mage level.


    "But even if we don''t improve our mage level as fast as the other mage ns in The Realm could, our understanding of magic is far superior to others. To the point that if we cast a basic fire spell, the magic output is equivalent to a middle-grade fire spell."


    "Why does it sound as if you''re boasting right now?" Kyran wondered offhandedly.


    Diara snorted, "I am only stating facts. Besides, you are not one to talk. As a human possessing not one but two Ancient Magic Cores, you inherited the experiences and understanding of all those humans who previously possessed them. You will only need to stimte the slumbering knowledge in them, and you could cast magic as if you have known them all your life."


    "I already know that much," Kyran admitted, mimicking Diara as he let out a derisive snort.


    "Well, you are still different from the rest of the humans," Diara continued, not one bit offended at Kyran''s attitude. "Because you also possessed our body."


    Kyran frowned at her words but chose not toment.


    Ancient Body.


    Ames had already told him about it, and frankly, he did not understand it well back then. But after meeting Diara and seeing the Ancients in action, he had a better understanding of the advantages of having an Ancient Body.


    "Mind you, it is hard to possess a body simr to ours when your bodyposition is that of humans. But then, your human body is the closest to the Deity, so I suppose it is unsurprising that you managed to adapt to the Ancient Body as well."


    Kyran''s frown deepened at her words. Heined, "Can we stay at the Realm Scion identity and not include the Deity? I can barely process what the Realm Scion should do, and now you''re telling me that my body is actually the closest to the Deity."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Don''t overreact," Diara replied. "It''s only your body that is simr to the Deity, after all. Now, bing one is a different thing altogether."


    "I know that," Kyran snapped back. "But if you keepparing me to some big guy out there... There is a limit to what information I''ll acknowledge."


    Diara sneered, "Acknowledge, huh? Suit yourself. But once you be the Realm Scion and fix The Realm. It will only be a matter of time before you reach the level of the Higher Being. As for bing a Deity... well, you can ask the Four Greatest Minds about that if you find them."


    Kyran''s eyes narrowed as he looked at her at the corner of his eyes.


    "I have my suspicions, but it seems like the Four Greatest Minds also survived."


    Diara did not respond. She only gave him a meaningful look before turning her attention back to what was happening below.


    "Finding where they are hiding is the real question, though," she said after a moment of silence.


    Kyran acknowledged her words with a nod.


    Kairos hinted at the survival of the Four Greatest Minds, as well as the possibility that they were hiding in the Tower of the Ancients or another Tower belonging to the Ancients. But Kyran was reluctant to ask because he felt that by meeting them, he would release more skeletons hiding in their closets. And he could not afford to deal with those anymore.


    After about three hours of cleaning, the Ancients were the only ones left in the area below the array formation.


    The Ancients then gathered around Kyran and offered their spoils of war. After that, they retired to the room Kyran requested Kairos to create where the Ancients could live until he returned.


    Kyran saw Diara and the rest of the Ancients off before visiting the ce where he had sent those chosen mages earlier.


    The room was not thatrge, but it was more than enough to imprison fifty people.


    Kyran was surprised to see that his chosen ones were all frozen.


    "I believe it is better to keep them in this state than let them roam around the ce freely," Kairos exined as his silhouette appeared beside Kyran.


    "Yeah, I think so, too."


    "So you are going to destroy the other portals."


    "That''s the n."


    "Unfortunately, I cannot help you deal with all those portals since I have no jurisdiction outside the tower," Kairos paused and raised his hand to summon a roll of parchment before handing it to Kyran. "However, I managed to draw a map of the outside space ording to the information we''ve gathered from every n representative since the tower became essible.


    This should help you locate all active portals."


    Kyran took the parchment and unrolled it. Just as Kairos said, it was a map drawn by hand. But unlike the doodles he had once seen, the map was well-drawn with proper coordinates.


    "You even know wrote down the coordinates."


    Kairos smiled, "You may not know this and probably not interested in knowing, but I was the navigator during our team training in the Tower of Tribtions."


    Kyran did not say anything and only studied Kairos for a moment. He could not put it into words earlier, but he felt ufortable whenever the older man smiled.


    But now he knew why.


    "Ste had your smile."


    Kairos was taken aback at Kyran''s offhanded remark.


    "...Is that so?"


    "I''m sorry. I''m sure you know that since you can watch over her from afar..." Kyran''s brow then furrowed as he finally made sense of his own words.


    "How are you able to watch over Ste?" he asked.


    Kairos raised his brows in surprise. But then he burst out inughter, finding the younger man''ste realization amusing.


    "You''re only raising that question now?"


    "I... was too focused on other things..." Kyran felt ashamed to admit his little interest in Ste.


    Kairos''s expression softened as he saw the younger man''s flustered expression. He initially felt a little angered about Kyran''sck of interest in Ste. But the fact that he failed to conceal his expression when he was very good at concealing his emotions made Kairos feel better.


    "The Tower of Tribtions, as I mentioned, was created after The Fall. It is located in anotheryer of the Human ne, which is simr to the ''world'' where the Spirits lived," Kairos started to exin. "The Human ne, as you know, is one of the remnantnds of the Land of the Ancients. Initially, the Tower of Tribtions was created to hide all the Ancients that survived in the Human ne.


    Unfortunately, the tower can only slow down the passage of time but cannot fully outrun it. Thus, in the end, all the Ancients hiding there died. Some managed to stay as remnant souls, but even they outlived their existence."


    "Except your predecessor."


    Kairos chuckled, "Yes, she can be considered thest one, though.


    "In any case, because of the Tower of Tribtions'' initial purpose, the Ancients created a device that allows them to observe everything that is happening on the main ne."


    "Finally, we get to the main point. That''s a lengthy introduction."


    "I had a feeling you''d be interested to know more about the Tower of Tribtions. Was I wrong?" Kairos replied with a good-naturedugh.


    "It is helpful," Kyran admitted with a slight smile. "This device... can only observe the situation in the Human ne?"


    "Ah~," Kairos let out a knowing smile as he finally understood why Kyran''s interest was piqued by how he could watch over Ste from afar. "That is right. I cannot do anything but observe. However, there is more than one instance where Nn sensed my presence and came to visit me."


    "That''s what I''ve been wanting to hear."


    "I can deliver your message, but it will cost you."


    "I''ll make sure to repay you as long as it is within my power."


    "I only hope for one thing."


    "What is it?"


    "If you decide to be the Realm Scion, please spare my daughter''s life."


    *


    Using the map Kairos provided, Kyran destroyed all active portals. Since he no longer needed to be cautious when using his magic, it did not take long for him to aplish what he set out to do.


    At first, Ladon and Thorn offered to help him when they realized what he wanted to do. However, after learning where the portals were located, they gave up the idea.


    Once all other n representatives were sent back to their respective nes and all other portals except the one leading to the Dragon ne were destroyed, Kyran and the rest of his group left as well.