Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

”Just what are you trying to do?” The Joker glanced at Adam, who had altered his appearance into that of his master’s, with a very suspicious look in his eyes.

”You better not think of doing anything untowardly wearing my master’s face,” he sternly added.

”Don’t worry,” Adam assured him as he deactivated the spell, returning to his usual appearance. ”I’ll be using his face to enter a tournament.”

”Why must you disguise yourself to participate in the first place?” The Joker asked with an arched eyebrow.

”Ah, Mana Vortex Magi aren’t allowed to compete in the tournament, you see,” Adam waved his hand nonchalantly.

Seeing such brazen shamelessness from the youth, the Joker was dumbfounded. ”So you wish to cheat? And what? Bully those poor Mana Liquefaction Magi?”

Adam shrugged. ”What else? This is a tournament that takes place once every thirty years. I was planning to enter it as a Mana Liquefaction Magi, but you know how life is. Things rarely go according to plan.”

The Joker shook his head, unable to believe the words coming out of the raven-haired youth’s mouth. ”Shameless! Truly shameless! All this just so you can get your hands on the rewards?”

”Hey, don’t make it sound so bad!” Adam protested. ”I’m doing this out of necessity, mind you.”

Seeing the Joker’s eyes squinting in suspicion, Adam relented a little. ”Well… getting my hands on the prize wouldn’t be so bad.”

”Greedy and shameless!” The Joker scoffed. ”Now get out of my house.”

”Sure, sure.” Adam chuckled. He turned towards the distant plain and saw a herd of horses galloping across it. There, he could see Luna enjoying herself amongst them.

”All of those are Night Mares?” He asked curiously.

”Yes, and a few other species of horses that I’ve raised over the years,” said the Joker, gazing at the large herd running freely.

”Your mount seems to be having quite a lot of fun there,” he added.

Adam deeply looked at Luna for a long time. In the end, he revealed a faint smile. ”Yes, outside, she’s almost always restricted to the stables. But in here, she has all the freedom.”

Freedom… The Joker thought in a daze.

He involuntarily looked up, his gaze seemingly penetrating the spatial barrier.

I wonder when I’ll be able to go to the Spirit World…

He was an entity born from this secret plane. As part of an arrangement left behind by his master, he was unable to leave this place until he found a successor.

Thinking of that, he turned to Adam. In the past several thousand years, this raven-haired youth had shown the most promise.

Thus, the Joker had designated him as a potential candidate to inherit this secret plane. But before he could do that, he had to ensure that he followed his master’s arrangements.

The Joker’s face instantly darkened, and he thought, Everything about this lad is good. No, it is great!

But… he is greedy! Far too greedy!

How can I leave the secret plane to someone like him? Oh, great master, what a conundrum…

Seeing such a twisted expression on the Joker’s face, Adam’s lips twitched. ”W-What’s the matter? Are you alright?”

”Shut up or I’ll hit you!” the Joker growled.

”…I was just asking.” Adam pursed his lips.

He turned towards the herd of horses. Then, he crouched ever so lightly, applying strength to his legs before vaulting through the skies.

In but a few moments, he had already crossed hundreds of meters and landed before the herd.

The horses were alarmed by his sudden appearance, and in the next moment, they scattered everywhere. Only one horse remained.

”Did you have fun?” The youth walked towards her with a faint smile and gently patted her head.

Luna neighed excitedly. She fondly rubbed her head against Adam’s chest, eliciting a chuckle out of him.

”Ready to leave?” the youth asked her with a knowing smile.

Conflicted emotions flashed in Luna’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but subconsciously gaze towards the herd in the distance. They were waiting for her.

In the end, Luna turned to Adam and reluctantly nodded.

Adam deeply looked at her and revealed a gentle smile. ”It’s fine, Luna. You can stay here if you wish.”

The horse was visibly startled.

Adam shrugged. ”Once we reach Ravenfell, you will once again be bound to the stables. But here…” He looked around and smiled. ”You can run as much as you want!”

Luna was greatly taken aback. She stood on her hind legs and neighed gleefully. She then excitedly started to gallop around the raven-haired youth before fondly rubbing her head against him.

Adam let out a light chuckle. ”Go on, now.”

Luna deeply looked into his eyes, feeling immensely grateful to him. Then, she turned around and dashed towards the herd.

Midway, she stopped and turned around once again to look at Adam.

The youth waved at her and smiled warmly, ”Don’t worry. We will reunite again.”

Luna neighed happily and then joined the herd.

The Joker watched this interaction take place and couldn’t help but faintly smile.

Adam turned his head to look at him and asked, ”You mentioned something about me being the candidate.”

He paused for a moment before adding, ”This is related to me inheriting this secret plane, isn’t it?”

”Hmph!” The Joker scoffed arrogantly. ”Talk about inheriting this place once you’ve become a Mana Core Magus.”

Adam’s lips curled into a confident smirk. ”It will be sooner than you think.”

The Joker scoffed again, but inwardly he felt that it was quite possible. After all, the youth had become a Mana Vortex Magus before the age of thirty-five!

”Come now, Little Val. Time to leave.” Adam beckoned to the young dragon.

Valerian turned to look at the eccentric man and waved his paw, ”Goodbye, Sir Joker!”

”Farewell, little one.” The Joker smiled warmly.

Valerian turned into a gray flash of light and disappeared inside Adam’s spirit sea. The youth then looked at the Joker and bowed. ”Thank you… for everything.”

The Joker wanted to show a cocky attitude, but the faint smile on his lips betrayed him. ”Do not return until you’ve advanced to the Mana Core Rank. Then, I will test you one final time.”

Adam nodded with a faint smile. ”I won’t let you down.”

”Fafafa!” The Joker laughed out loud before snapping his fingers. ”May fortune favor you, lad.”

SNAP!

…

A wave of vertigo washed over Adam as he was teleported out of the secret plane.

It took a moment for him to gather his bearings. He looked around and saw that it was nighttime and that he was standing on the outskirts of Glassford.

He turned towards the central square of the city and smiled. ”Farewell,” he muttered under his breath.

Then, he turned to face the looming silhouette of the Murky Mountains. Without a moment’s hesitation, he began walking in that direction.

His heart pounded with anticipation, and a faint smile crept onto his lips.

It was time…

Time to check on the old man!