Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Harbor Quarter.

A large crowd of Magi had gathered on the docks, waiting with baited breath as they gazed upon the naval battle taking place in the near distance.

In the beginning, the Cult's fleet had taken the city's naval forces by surprise. Things were about to turn very bad very quickly, but just in the nick of time, an unknown fleet had emerged from the depths of the sea, intercepting the Cult's forces.

With their help, Ravenfell's forces were able to swiftly deal with the Cult. However, as the battle progressed, the Cult's reinforcements also started to arrive by sea. Slowly, the scales started to tip in their favor.

But just when all hope seemed lost, the Dark King had summoned the Serpents of War. While the vast majority of them provided assistance to the Magi within the city, a few of them slipped into the ocean. And these few… were powerful creatures.

And now, after a battle that lasted almost the entire night, the city's naval forces were finally on the cusp of achieving victory.

A young Mana Foundation Magus stood at one of the broken piers and looked toward the naval battle in awe. He witnessed a powerful Mana Vortex-level serpent burst forth from the water and coil around an enemy ship. Then, he saw brave warriors jump into the enemy vessel and slaughter the cultists.

"Amazing…" he murmured in awe. His gaze shifted to the galleons with white sails, ones that were emblazoned with the symbol of the rising sun.

Seeing that mysterious banner, he couldn't help but ask in puzzlement, "That symbol… I don't think I've seen it anywhere before."

An elderly Magus standing beside him, bloodied and battered from the battle, followed his gaze and nodded. "Aye, this is the first time I'm seeing it as well. I don't know who they are, but if not for them… we wouldn't have come out on top."

"Who do you think they are?" Another Magus joined in their conversation, and many more gathered around them.

"I have no clue. Maybe the Emperor sent them?"

"The Emperor! Goodness Arcana!"

"Heh, why are you so surprised?" the elderly Magus smirked. "Isn't the Emperor Emeritus present here with us? Who knows… maybe the current Emperor might show himself as well."

"That's preposterous!" Argued the young Magus. "If he comes here, then who is going to protect Acryon?"

"Huhu, you little ones do not know the strength of Acadia," the elderly man chuckled. Then, he posed a question of his own. "Who says there is only one Mana Core Magus in the Capital?"

Just as he finished saying those words, the last of the Cult's ships sank into the depths of the Galestine, and its cultists along with it.

A few moments of tense silence ensued on the harbor. Most of the Magi's eyes teared up from witnessing the scene before them. And then, like a dam that had burst open, the people of Ravenfell erupted in cheers and applause.

The naval battle had finally been won by them! Thanks to the Twilight Brotherhood and the Serpents of War, they had slayed the cult's fleet and finally secured Harbor Quarter!

With that, all the districts of Ravenfell—except for the Northern Quarter—had been secured. The Magi standing at the docks cried tears of joy. Some screamed in delight, while others hugged one another. After a brutal battle that lasted almost the entire night, they had finally emerged victorious.

Their celebration, however, was short-lived. Just a minute after the city's naval fleet had clutched the victory, the ground suddenly rumbled. It was slow at first, but then the very earth started to quake.

Many people lost their balance and tumbled off the pier, falling into the ocean. It was as if an earthquake had struck out of nowhere.

And then they heard it…

BOOM!!

At that moment, Berger's Divine Meteor struck the ground like a celestial hammer, obliterating a large section of the Northern Quarter in an instant. The resulting shockwave and crushing pressure were so immense, so catastrophic, that their force rippled all the way to the Harbor Quarter.

"W-what… what is happening?!"

"Are we being attacked again?"

"Is it the Cult?!"

The people on the pier, as well as the ones on the ships at sea, immediately panicked, their faces shadowed by fear and nervousness. And then… all of a sudden, the night sky was illuminated by a blinding light.

Everyone subconsciously turned their heads in the direction of the light, and what they saw… took their breath away.

A colossal mushroom cloud of light and dust erupted from the earth, almost piercing the sky. For a brief few seconds, it was almost as though the sun itself had descended upon Ravenfell. And then, the light completely vanished, as if it had never existed at all.

Yet, its passing left a wound that would never heal, a scar etched onto the bones of the city and the hearts of its people.

"T-that direction… it's the Northern Quarter!"

"W-what the hell is going on?!"

The elderly Magus spoke once again, his eyes flashing with fear and reverence, "Such destructive power… Only a Mana Core Magus is capable of such a feat!"

***

Elsewhere, in the southern part of the city, Daniel Ranzenberg, who was leading two dozen Magi at the peak of the Mana Liquefaction Rank, suddenly commanded his horse to stop.

Everyone then turned around and gazed at the gigantic mushroom cloud of light and dust slowly dissipating.

Raidon, riding beside the Councilor, felt his eyes widen in sheer disbelief.

"W-what… what is happening to our city?" He muttered with bloodshot eyes, his tone laced with anger and indignation.

The city he loved, the city he grew up in, now lay in utter ruins. Buildings had collapsed, the streets were strewn with corpses, and blood flowed like rivers. Fire from the aftermath of spells ravaged most parts of the city, and now… something literally earth-shattering just happened in the Northern Quarter.

Daniel's eyes narrowed, and he subconsciously gritted his teeth. "Mana Core Magi… It seems they fought within the city."

He cast one final glance at the disappearing cloud, then turned around and commanded the horse to move forward. "Follow me! We have no time to waste!"

His men followed behind without hesitation, whereas Raidon and the dozen men from the Black Legion could only reluctantly follow.

The burly Captain of the Black Legion rode beside the Councilor, then asked the question that had been in everyone's mind:

"Councilor Ranzenberg, why are we moving away from the battlefield?! Shouldn't we be helping our brothers? What… just what are you planning? Please, tell us!"

Daniel remained silent for a long time, his face stoic as ever. At last, he spoke in a calm and steady voice, "Raidon, tell me, how many districts make up Ravenfell?"

Raidon frowned. He exchanged glances with his men and noticed that all of them had the same expressions.

Just what kind of stupid question was this?

As someone who grew up in Ravenfell, how could he not know?

"Six," he answered matter-of-factly, suppressing the impatience in his tone.

"Name them," said the Counilor.

Raidon's frown deepened as he intently glanced at the man. In the end, he answered nonetheless:

"Northern Quarter, Uptown Quarter, Downtown Quarter, Market Quarter, Harbor Quarter, and… and…"

Gradually, Raidon's face twisted into a dark frown as he murmured, "Northern, Uptown, Downtown, Market, Harbor, and… and… why… what is..."

A drop of sweat trickled down the side of his forehead, and he felt his blood turning cold. The same was true for the men following behind him. Fear gripped their hearts.

Something very insidious was at play!

A few moments later, Daniel's words rang like thunder in their ears:

"Forgotten the sixth district, have you?"