Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

While the great battle between Adam and the formless fog raged on the surface of the former's spirit sea, far below in the depths, Valerian lay submerged, gazing upward with a complex light in his child-like, topaz eyes.

The formless fog was a powerful entity, far stronger than a Mana Core Magus. Its exact strength was unknown. Yet, in the face of the Eternal Soul Lotus, it was like a snowflake melting under the fierce, radiant light of the blazing sun.

There were several factors in this battle that led to the current situation. First, the formless fog possessed an incorporeal body that could bypass its victim's physical body and directly invade the mind, then the soul.

Second, the entity seemed to be truly incapable of inflicting physical damage to its victims. However, mental damage was far more difficult and insidious to defend against.

So what if the entity could not deal physical damage? With its ability to invade minds, weave intricate illusions indistinguishable from dreams, and devour souls, it was far more dangerous than what most creatures of similar strength could ever be.

Lastly, and what was arguably the most important factor, Adam's existence was a bane to entities such as the formless fog. He, who was the wielder of the Eternal Soul Lotus, possessed impeccable mental defenses.

Those who dared enter his spirit sea to devour his soul would find themselves devoured instead. Just like the formless fog was now.

Valerian watched as a great vortex formed around Adam, with the white lotus at its center. The formless fog's body was slowly, inexorably ground to shreds by the whirling force before slowly being absorbed into the lotus.

The young dragon could feel Adam's rage and hatred through the familiar bond they shared. He had never seen his big brother become so furious before. He didn't know what the fog had done to Adam for him to become so angry.

It was simply quite shocking for the young dragon to see Adam channel all that hatred and fury into raw strength and devour a powerful horror of the spirit world.

A mere Mana Vortex Magus bringing down a creature that could very well rival a Mana Seed Magus? What a ridiculous thing! The notion was simply absurd, laughable even.

And yet, it was happening before his very eyes…

Valerian's topaz eyes sparkled with awe and wonder as he watched the battle unfold. But at the same time, he felt sad, lost, and helpless.

He lowered his head, looking away from the battle—the outcome had already been decided anyway. As he floated in the depths of Adam's spirit sea, he glanced at his tiny paws with a sad look in his eyes.

I'm tired, he thought.

I'm so tired of being powerless.

I'm tired of being weak.

I'm tired of being unable to help my brother.

Valerian closed his eyes as he silently floated in the depths.

I want to be stronger…

So much stronger…

***

After a long time, the battle above was finally over.

The formless fog, a powerful entity of the spirit world, had been slain by Adam. No, it would be more apt to say that it had been devoured by Adam.

The creature's form was quite peculiar. It was an incorporeal fog with no true flesh or bone. In its case, the physical body and the spirit body were one and the same. That is why it had been able to invade its victim's mind and soul with its entire body.

And that is why it had been completely devoured by the Eternal Soul Lotus. After all, this legendary artifact could only devour spirit bodies, and not physical bodies.

Regardless, the formless fog was no more. Adam had granted it the most brutal death imaginable, slowly tearing its soul apart, prolonging the agony until the creature was drowning in unbearable pain. Only then did he finally consume it.

After that battle, Adam's consciousness finally gave way.

From clashing with the cultists in the underground tunnels of Ravenfell, to leading the contestants to safety… from defending his estate against an invading army of Magi, to enduring a desperate duel against Felix and the brutal clash with the four-armed monster, only to be caught in the violent crossfire between the two.

And at last, breaking free from the formless fog's insidious illusion, and preventing it from invading his mind, only to wage a furious battle within his own spirit sea to finally devour it.

His strength was gone. His body, mind, and soul were utterly drained. He was riddled with injuries, both physical and psychological. At long last, despite his desperate attempts to stay awake, the crushing weight of exhaustion claimed him.

The battle of Ravenfell wasn't over yet. There were people who still needed him. The millions of mortal residents of the city still hadn't been evacuated. There was so much to do…

A gray light flashed within the crumbling walls of the abandoned temple, and in the next instant, a furry, gray cat appeared. He stood next to Adam's unconscious body. He lowered his head and gently licked the youth's blood-stained cheeks.

"Rest now, dear brother. I will stand watch."

I can at least do that much… He thought inwardly.

He raised his head and glanced around the interiors of the temple with a curious look. Aside from the gaping hole in the ceiling, a handful of shattered pillars, and faint cracks webbing the walls, the rest of the structure remained intact, though every surface bore the weight of centuries, perhaps even millennia, and carressed by the ravages of time.

Cracked pillars lined the sides, supporting what remained of the high-vaulting ceiling. Faded murals of gods and giants were etched on the walls, while the far end was occupied by a raised dais, perhaps once an altar, now buried under the dust, debris, and snow.

Beyond the dais was a small, arched door that led to the underground section of the temple. Valerian briefly glanced at it before turning around and facing the main entrance of the temple. He tried his best to avoid looking at the corpses hanging from the ceiling. They scared him deeply.

As he walked towards the entrance, he couldn't help but think with some joy, The spirit world…

I'm finally here! Brother said he would take me once I advanced to the second rank, but who would have thought?

Stepping through the towering doors, the cold wind assaulted him from all sides. He looked at the skies of the spirit world with sparkling eyes. They were glittered with countless colors, and delicate white specks drifted across them like distant stars.

So beautiful…

As the young dragon was lost in the beauty of the spirit world, he suddenly felt someone's gaze.

And it wasn't Adam's…

Valerian's heart was gripped by dread, and his body stiffened in that instant. He slowly lowered his head, his black vertical pupils constricting.

Out there in the distance, amidst the swirling blizzard and the drifting snow, a lone figure stood. Gaunt, elongated limbs that ended in bony claws, its body wrapped in filthy, white fur, and two white horns jutting from its skull, spiralling backwards like a crown.

Though its eyes were crudely sewn shut by black threads, Valerian could feel its gaze fixed upon him.

The four-armed monster… had returned!