Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1002: Wild Card

While Daneliʼs party had chosen to safely camp among the branches of the trees, the other party, Merlin had sensed in the third layer, had taken a different approach.

When the four Mana Core Magi had created this secret plane, they designed it with a series of escalating challenges, each more difficult than the last.

But alongside these obstacles, they also embedded hidden solutions.

Yet, such answers were never obvious. Only capable, clear-minded Magi could uncover them.

In the chaos of battle, a panic-stricken mind would always overlook the path to safety. But a wise Magus would always find a way out.

As the old saying goes… since time immemorial, dangers and opportunities have always walked hand in hand.

Edward and Aiden, found themselves in a cavernous underground chamber. The hall was lit up by tourches, its dim light casting a warm glow on the people present.

”So, how exactly were you able to find us?” A beautiful elf with ash-blond hair and silver eyes stood at the center of the hall, gazing at the newcomers with narrowed eyes.

Since they went to the same institution, Aiden was the one to carry out this conversation. Edward was simply there to provide weight to his words.

He was, after all, the greatest talent of the Tower of Daybreak.

”One of our party members has exceptional scouting abilities,” Aiden said truthfully without revealing too much of the… truth.

Qamara Feno, daughter of Councilor Nylian Feno, deeply looked at Aiden.

Then, her gaze shifted to Edward, and she spoke flatly, ”Something tells me he isnʼt the party member youʼre talking about.”

Edward couldnʼt help but frown at that statement. ”What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

The beautiful elf replied with an emotionless face, ”Your presence is not suitable for a scout who, according to me, should be proficient in stealth and concealment.”

She paused for a moment, then added, ”Even without trying, you radiate an aura akin to a… storm.”

Edward awkwardly scratched his chin. ”Is that so? Well, I guess Iʼll take that as a compliment.”

Qamaraʼs lips twitched.

”…It wasnʼt a compliment.”

She then ignored Edwardʼs stupid reaction and turned to Aiden, her eyes flickering with conflicting emotions.

”Youʼre one of Adamʼs pupils, arenʼt you?”

After the Duskfall Incident, Qamara did not know how to feel about Adam.

A part of her admired him, while another part detested him.

A part of her hated him, while another part of her…

”Ah, yes, I am,” Aiden replied with a proud smile on his face. He puffed his chest a little and added, ”Iʼm one of three—”

”Get out.”

Qamara coldly cut him off. She then turned away, leaving behind her parting words, ”Donʼt make me repeat myself.”

Aiden and Edward were stunned. This wasnʼt how they had expected for things to go.

Even the members of Qamaraʼs party—all hailing from Saratoga—were taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.

Aiden went to the same prestigious instituition as them. Moreover, he was also the Dark Kingʼs pupil.

Shouldnʼt that be all the more reason to help him?

”Hey! What the hell does that mean?” Aiden cried out loud, but he received no response from the beautiful elf. ”Donʼt you at least want to hear what we have to say? Youʼre so rude!”

Edward deeply looked at the elfʼs departing back, thinking to himself with disbelief, Could it really be true?

Those rumors about Adam and Qamara…

No matter how he looked at it, this seemed like a quarrel between former lovers!

In the end, he cleared his throat and spoke with disappointment, his voice loud enough for everyone in the chamber to hear:

”I guess you donʼt want to challenge the monster at the heart of the secret plane.”

He sighed, then patted Aidenʼs shoulder.

”Letʼs return,” he said. ”Weʼll make do with both our parties and Daneliʼs, I suppose. On the brighter side, this means there will be more blood cores for all of us. Haha, so everything worked out just fine in the end.”

Qamara froze in her footsteps. She slowly turned around and gazed at the pair with narrowed eyes.

”What did you just say?”

Edward concealed the mocking smile about to form on his lips and waved his hand nonchalantly.

”Oh, itʼs nothing you need to bother with. After all, youʼre not going to join us, are you?”

With that said, he turned around, dragging Aiden with him.

”Come, little Aiden, we have a lot of preparations to do,” he said, his tone once again loud enough for everyone to hear.

”Hey, donʼt call me that! Thereʼs not much of an age gap between us!” Aiden grumbled.

”Alright, little Aiden, I wonʼt.”

”You!!”

Qamara watched everything unfold with a detached look on her face. In the end, she heaved a long, helpless sigh.

”Wait,” she said softly.

Edward turned around and asked innocently, ”Oh? Did you want something?”

Qamara ignored the urge to lash out at him and silently walked towards the pair. ”Letʼs hear what you have to say.”

Hearing the words he wanted to hear, Edward grinned. He then lightly elbowed Aiden and gestured.

”Go on, little Aiden. Explain to her our plan.”

Aiden snorted in displeasure, then turned to Qamara.

”So, hereʼs what weʼve planned…”

***

Their sixth day in the secret plane was spent preparing for the battle against the abomination that lay in the heart of this mystical realm.

Four parties, each made up of six Magi: Party A led by Edward, Party B by Eleiney, the third by Qamara, and the last by Daneli.

After coordinating with one another, discussing everything they needed to discuss, and playing out countless battle simulations, they were finally ready.

The seventh day had finally arrived.

Through various concealment spells, the four parties traversed the third layer and advanced toward the heart of the secret plane.

Each group took a position at one of the four cardinal points, encircling the entitiy that lay in the center.

When they deactivated their concealment spells and made their presence known, they looked extremely grim.

After all, the abomination before them was exactly that… an abomination.

And as they laid eyes upon it, it, too, turned its murderous gaze upon them. An overbearing pressure descended upon the participants, making them shudder in horror.

Thirty-six young Magi stood against an abomination at the peak of the Mana Liquefaction Rank.

And among the young Magi was a wild card, one usually represented in a deck of cards as the… joker.

The final battle of the Second Trial had begun!