Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Everyone felt their hearts gripped by fear when they gazed at the Crimson Grasslands stretching before them.

Eleiney covered her mouth, almost tumbling to the floor. However, Arthur was quick to support her. He, too, didn’t look all that good.

”W-what… what the hell is happening?!” Biden blurted out, his eyes wide with shock and apprehension.

”Weren’t we just going the other way? So, then how…” Even Edward was at a loss for words.

Truth be told, this was the first time he had lost composure in the Second Trial. Not only was the Sanguine Forest teeming with powerful and bloodthirsty creatures, but the terrain also altered their perception.

While everyone was reeling in shock, Merlin stood at the back of the group, calmly observing everyone’s expressions.

His lips gradually curled into a wide grin.

So… what are you going to do now?

He wondered, feeling greatly entertained by seeing his party members suffering. When he turned to his—no, Adam’s—students, he took even greater pleasure.

Needless to say, they were horrified. The thought of surviving in a place designed to keep them lost was too overwhelming to even begin to process.

Surprisingly enough, at their moment of desperation, the party members all turned to the madman, causing his grin to freeze.

”You…” Aiden was flabbergasted by that reaction. ”Why are you smiling like that? Don’t tell me… is this all your doing?!”

”Aiden, shut up!” Eleiney reprimanded her friend.

Arthur turned to him and scoffed. ”He’s always smiling like that.”

At least, that brief moment had lightened everyone’s mood a little. Finally, Edward turned to Merlin and asked solemnly, ”Do you have a way out of this mess?”

Merlin shrugged. ”Who knows? I might. I might not.”

”Be serious.” Edward’s expression turend grave. ”The conealment spell is going to run out soon. At that point, the beasts will spot us. And if we don’t find a safe place to camp, we’ll get stuck in a vicious cycle of fighting and getting lost. So please! Do you have a solution or not?”

Merlin arched an eyebrow, sensing the sheer desperation in his childhood friend’s voice. Gradually, his smile turned deeper, and he said:

”Why so serious?”

”That’s it! I’ve had enough of him!” Biden gnashed his teeth and stepped toward Merlin, adamant on getting a solution out of the madman one way or another.

But before he could even reach him, Kahn suddenly blocked his way. He looked at the dashing youth from the Tower of Daybreak and spoke faltly, ”This is not the time for infighting.”

Seeing the youth fuming with rage and annoyance, Kahn’s eyes narrowed. ”What’s gotten into you, though? Do you think Merlin has the solution to every one of your problems?”

He leaned in closer and coldly added, ”What is he, your father?”

”You son of a bitch!” Biden viciously grabbed Kahn’s collar. He was about to strike him in the face when suddenly Edward appeared beside him and grabbed his hand.

”What is wrong with you? Calm down!” he roared.

Charlie then stepped forward, pushing Biden away from his friend. ”Do you seriously wish to start a fight right now? Because if so…”

He grabbed a material component from his pouch, ready to ignite a spell.

And within mere moments, Party A and Party B were suddenly at each other’s throats, hurling insults at each other and threatening to fight.

Merlin watched everything unfold with a wide grin on his face. He slowly raised his hand, coated his thumb and middle finger with spiritual energy, and then…

Snap!

Something seemed to ’snap’ inside the young Magi’s mind. Their eyes glazed over for a brief moment before they gained clarity once again.

When they realized what they were currently doing, they were horrified. Immediately, they took several steps back, gazing at one another in fear.

”What.. What the fuck just happened?!” Biden was stunned.

Kahn, meanwhile, had a deep frown on his face as his gaze shifted between Biden and the red crystal in his hand. It would seem that he was about to cast a Fireball!

When realization dawned on him, his heart sank.

And right at that moment, Eleiney muttered in a shaky voice, ”A mind hex!”

When everyone heard her words, their eyes were filled with horror. Then, they turned to the Sanguine Forest, and in that moment, they knew…

This was the real culprit.

Not only did the forest have the ability to alter their sense of direction, but it could also antagonize them!

Right at that moment, the familiar obnoxious laugh echoed inside their ears.

”Fafafa! It would appear none of you have artifacts that protect you from mind-attacks,” he said with a wide grin.

His eyes flickered with a mischievous glint, and he couldn’t help but taunt, ”So much for being students from the Four Pillars. Ah, pity.”

Merlin then turned to Michael Isaac and added, ”Except for you, of course. Your mental defenses seem to be stronger than these people’s. Good for you, big man!”

The middle-aged man was too busy recovering from the shock and horror of what he had just witnessed to respond to Merlin’s praise.

”How did you do it?” Edward asked with a grim look on his face. ”How did you cancel out the forest’s mind hex on us?”

Merlin arched an eyebrow, then truthfully explained. ”Ah, it’s a simple trick, really. You just need to be proficient in your usage of spiritual energy. You see, you have to mold it like mana and then…”

Suddenly, he paused. A moment later, he grinned in an exaggerated manner and continued, ”Anyway, it will take a long time to explain. And it would seem we’re out of time.”

”Mold spiritual energy like mana?” Edward was perplexed.

Eleiney stepped forward and pressed, ”Merlin! What did you mean by we’re out of time?! Don’t tell me...”

Hearing her words, everyone’s heart skipped a beat. They involuntarily reached out for their weapons, assuming the worst. All of them turned to Merlin, paying rapt attention to his following response.

Merlin scanned everyone’s faces, then finally shifted his gaze to Eleiney.

”The concealment spell has already worn off,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. ”It would appear that this wicked forest not only messes with your sense of direction, but also your sense of time. Even I fell for something so... simple.”

Before the party members even had time to react…

Countless bloodthirsty eyes had already locked onto them.