Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Marden's eyes reflected the fiery inferno raging in Corvid Quarter. The entire district was engulfed in flames, and the legion of zombies awaiting his command had been reduced to ashes.

The previous explosion, where the gates descended from the skies and largely contained much of its force, was still within Marden's expectations. He was, after all, a man who always moved with contingencies in place and expected the worst.

A Magus had far too many tricks up their sleeve. And considering it was Mana Core Magi he was dealing with, he didn't doubt that any of the Acadian spellcasters fighting in the mountain range up north possessed some kind of spell capable of containing even such a massive detonation.

But this… the complete annihilation of Corvid Quarter, blown into smithereens? That was something he had never anticipated.

No one should have realized that there were zombies silently gathering in that district. In fact, no one should have recalled any matter related to that district. After all, its existence had been erased from people's minds.

The Forgotten Rune was a one-time-use artifact. Though it was classified as a Grade 4 Artifact, it had, in fact, several Rank 5 Spells from the School of Enchantment inscribed into it. Moreover, rune magic itself had been employed to amplify the potency of the artifact, elevating its power greatly.

This insidious artifact subtly warped the minds of its victims, making them accept lies as truth, even when the truth stood right before their very eyes. It could also tamper with memories, reshaping fragments of the past to suit the wielder's design. And with an amplification of rune magic, its reach extended over an entire city.

The Cult of Bones used this artifact in places that were extremely pivotal to their grand plan. More notably, they had used the Forgotten Runes at the six sites where the otherworldly portals were scattered across Tron. They had wielded it in Blackshore, and most recently… Corvid Quarter.

It was an artifact capable of warping the perceptions of even powerful Mana Core Magi. It was considered almost impossible for them to realize that they had been enchanted. And for Magi weaker than them… they would most definitely not realize that they had been enchanted at all.

And yet, someone had been able to see straight through the enchantment. That is why Marden was so stunned at this sudden turn of events.

In fact, he didn't even care that one of the three plans that the Cult had set out to do in Ravenfell had been thwarted. He was more interested in the person who had seen through the Forgotten Rune's magic.

"…What are the chances?" he muttered under his breath as he gazed at the vast mushroom cloud of dust and flames rising into the sky.

For a few moments, he was completely stunned. It was only when he noticed movement in the north that he finally snapped out of his shock. He turned towards the mountain range, his eyes narrowing.

The giant gates had disappeared, and so had the pillar of flames. Marden sensed several presences stirring in the north. He couldn't help but frown at that realization.

Four, he thought.

I sense at least four of them. And one of them died… Acadia? Yes, that is good.

He was satisfied with that outcome. The death of the Emperor Emeritus carried far greater weight than eliminating the other Mana Core Magi. And with Marcus Blackwood's fall, the blow dealt to the Empire would be nothing short of devastating.

But still… not being able to realize his plans that involved the legion of zombies in the Corvid Quarter left a bad taste in his mouth. He had, after all, been planning for it for a long, long time. Pulling strings from the shadows and subtly bending Magi to do his bidding, only for it all to go up in smoke.

He heaved a long and heavy sigh as he slowly descended from the sky. His gaze landed on Blackwood's lifeless body, his lips slowly curling into a faint smile.

Defeat is also a part of life, he thought.

But at least I've accomplished part of the Lord's design.

As for my failures… heh, those could be forgiven, especially if I deliver the corpse of the Headmaster.

Oh, what a magnificent undead he would be.

As he neared the ground, his movements were calm, almost casual. No one would have believed he was deep inside enemy territory. He wasn't even bothered about the possible retaliation of the surviving Mana Core Magi.

They wouldn't have been able to harm him when they were at their peak. They most definitely wouldn't be able to harm him now that they were broken and bleeding.

Ah, but what a pity, he thought.

If only I could get my hands on the Emperor's corpse as well…

But that would be a foolish choice. Gerald's lifeless body was guarded by the four surviving Mana Core Magi, who were mourning his death. It would be far too risky to retrieve the body.

His feet softly landed on the ground. Hand clasped behind his back, he slowly walked toward the corpse lying before him. Ignoring all the hateful and fearful gazes the Magi in the distance were casting at him, he wondered:

Now, where is Adam Constantine? I haven't been able to sense his mana signature for a while now.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he thought, Did he escape?

The next moment, however, his expression returned to his usual.

Well, no matter. Even if he fled, he would never escape the clutches of that which is forgotten…

His lips curled into a cruel smile as he thought of the future that awaited Adam. One way or another, he would find himself standing before the doors of the Cult of Bones.

Marden stretched out his hand for Marcus Blackwood's lifeless body. The screams and the anguished cries of the Magi swelled the moment they realized his intent. Some of them even broke into a desperate sprint towards him.

They knew what he planned to do with their Headmaster. They would sooner die than allow their beloved leader to rise as a walking corpse.

Marden found their desperation quite amusing. What could a bunch of weak, pathetic, and grieving Magi like them possibly do to him?

Ignoring their futile cries, he finally took hold of Blackwood's collar. Just as the body was about to disappear inside his storage artifact, a dark blur streaked through the air and slammed into him with crushing force, pushing him into the distance.

Marden's feet tore across the ravaged ground, gouging deep marks as he skidded back. His arms were crossed in front of him. He had managed to block the blow, but his forearms burned with pain from the impact.

Worse still, he had been driven dozens of meters away from Blackwood's corpse. There was no question about it… whatever had struck him carried immense power.

And there was another thing, this one far more alarming.

I wasn't able to sense his presence at all, Marden thought, a grim look on his face.

He lifted his head and looked forward, his gaze settling on the bruised and bloodied figure now standing before Blackwood's corpse. Clad in tattered dark robes, the towering figure clutched a black staff in hand—the very weapon that had just hurled Marden away.

Realizing who it was, Marden's lips slowly curled into a smirk, and he said:

"There you are… Adam Constantine!"