Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Capítulo 1299: Marden’s Gambit

This fucking psychopath!

Marden cursed inwardly as sweat poured down his face. Pain was an old friend, and so it was manageable.

But the dread…

Even the Cult Leader hadn’t evoked such terror inside him. Marden couldn’t even see the man’s attack. One moment, he was talking to him, and the next moment, he had collapsed to the ground, miserably lying in a puddle of his own blood.

For a brief moment, a horrifying thought entered his mind:

Is he… going to kill me?!

But soon, he started to calm down.

There was too much at stake here. There was no way the hidden ruler was going to kill him over something so trivial. After gathering his thoughts, he finally relaxed.

He exhaled a deep breath, then said in a steady voice:

“I apologise for the disrespect, my lord. It wasn’t my intention.”

Seated on the throne, the hidden ruler’s eyes flashed with boredom. He rested his chin on his hand and muttered, “Go on.”

“…I beg your pardon?” Marden asked, head still lowered.

“Go on. Show me your blood magic,” said the mysterious ruler.

For a brief moment, Marden’s eyes flashed with rage, but he quickly strangled that emotion. Any emotional intent displayed before such a powerhouse was easily noticeable. Still, he couldn’t help but feel extremely agitated.

Bastard! So that’s why you cut off my legs, he thought to himself.

Forcing a smile on his face, he said, “Of course, my lord.”

Then, weaving a set of hand seals, the blood that had pooled underneath him came alive. It transformed into dozens of thin tendrils that shot towards his severed leg.

Watching this, the hidden ruler’s eyes flashed with a flicker of amusement.

Soon, the blood tendrils drew Marden’s severed legs closer to the stumps. Before long, the severed legs had fully attached themselves to the ghastly injury. Following that, the blood vessels reconnected, the muscles and tissues were healed, and finally, the bones had begun fusing.

Within a few moments, not a single drop of Marden’s blood remained outside. Not even a speck could be seen on his clothes. Through blood magic, he had absorbed his spilled blood and healed his injuries.

Marden slowly got to his feet. There was a slight loss of sensation in his legs, but even that would be fine in another minute or so.

“Interesting,” said the hidden ruler. “Your skills are not bad. I see why you’re a part of the Cult’s… what was it called? Inner Circle?”

“Yes, my lord,” Marden stated, head still bowed in deference.

“Hmm.” The hidden ruler hummed softly. “So why are you here?”

“I carry a message from the Lord,” Marden humbly said.

“The Lord?” The hidden ruler asked with an arched brow. “You dare refer to someone else as ‘Lord’ in my presence? Tell me, are you tired of living?”

Marden felt a chill crawl down his spine. The more time passed, the more he found it difficult to hold a conversation with this man.

“I apologise—”

Thud!

His words got caught in his throat when he felt another sharp pang of pain radiate through his body.

Marden’s gaze landed on his severed hand, blood gushing out from the clean cut.

Once again, he was shown the difference in power between the two!

“Choose your words wisely,” said the hidden ruler. “Or next time it’s going to be your head.”

Marden’s face turned cold, but in the next instant, he forced a humble smile. “Yes, my lord. I apologise once again.”

Weaving another hand seal, he grabbed his severed hand and then reattached it. A few moments later, there wasn’t any spot of blood left on the marble floor.

He bowed once again, then said, “I bring a message to you, my lord.”

The hidden ruler’s eyes flickered with amusement once again. “From whom?”

“…From the Cult Leader,” Marden muttered in an even voice.

“Go on.”

Marden took a deep breath, then continued. “The time is nigh, my lord. The Cult Leader wonders when you’ll begin the next stage of the plan.”

“Oh?” Suddenly, the temperature within the throne room fell drastically. “Is he telling me what to do now?”

Marden’s heart skipped a beat. “Of course, not, my lord. He simply wishes to know when you’ll begin.”

The hidden ruler deeply looked at Marden, his dark eyes emotionless. Several moments of tense silence permeated the room, until finally, he spoke again:

“What’s the rush? There’s still enough time for the next planetary alignment.”

“I see,” Marden softly murmured. “Then I shall relay this message to him.”

The hidden ruler lightly chuckled. “Tell that bag of bones that Yen-Lu will usher in a new war before the end of this year.”

He then raised his head, his gaze seemingly passing through countless obstacles and settling on the vast, mystical lands of Yen-Lu.

“These lands have known peace for far too long,” he murmured, his voice low and cold. “It is time for that to end. All it needs… is a spark to ignite the flames of war.”

“Do you need our help?” Marden humbly suggested.

The hidden ruler found those words slightly amusing. “What is your flimsy Cult going to do?”

In the next moment, his words turned cold. “Teach the men from the unorthodox faction how to create jiangshis?”

Marden’s heart was gripped by terror once again. He couldn’t help but think in alarm:

He knows we’ve been dealing with the unorthodox faction?!!

“What’s the matter?” The hidden ruler whispered.

One moment, he was sitting on his throne. The next, he was already standing beside Marden.

Finally, his appearance was revealed. He was a tall man with long, jet-black hair cascading over his shoulders. His facial features were finely refined, and his dark eyes seemed to draw in all light.

Draped in loose silk robes that left much of his upper body exposed, he exuded an air of laidback composure.

But to Marden, this man was nothing but a ferocious beast in human skin!

“Did you think I wouldn’t know you have been interfering in my lands?” He asked again. Though there was a faint smile on his lips, his eyes flashed with blood-chilling coldness.

“Forgive me, my lord,” Marden lied through his teeth. “The Cult Leader told me that he’d already discussed the matter with you. I did not know that this wasn’t the case.”

The mysterious ruler arched an eyebrow. “Hmm.”

He stroked his chin and mumbled, “Are you lying? No, that shouldn’t be possible. You’re his puppet, after all.”

A moment later, his eyes narrowed. “I see. So that bag of bones thinks he can meddle in my affairs, and there won’t be any consequences?”

Though Marden appeared calm on the surface, inside, a wave of emotions was churning in his heart. He had never been so close to death as he was now.

He knew damn well… no matter what he tried, he would not last in a fight against the mysterious hidden ruler of Yen-Lu.

He was completely at the man’s mercy!

Right at that moment, the man’s cold words echoed in his ears. “Very well. I’ll kill you right now, then send your severed head to him. That should send a message.”

But soon, he wondered. “Or should I kill all five of you from the Inner Circle?”

Marden’s biggest fear had materialized.

He, no, the Cult of Bones had truly underestimated this man’s influence. They never thought that he secretly controlled not just the Arcane Alliance, but even the unorthodox faction!

Information transfer to and from Yen-Lu had always been difficult. And that was why such an error had been made on the Cult’s part. But to be honest, they had never imagined that a single man could hold dominion over the entirety of Yen-Lu!

Marden was mere moments away from being killed. He had to think quickly if he wanted a chance to live. Moreover, he knew that the hidden ruler was capable of achieving what he’d just claimed.

This man would have no problem slaughtering the five elders of the Inner Circle, even if they faced him together.

Damn it, Marden screamed inwardly.

This man intended to kill me from the very beginning! He was toying with me since the moment I set foot in this chamber!

Fuck, what do I do?! If I die now, then all my plans… my revenge…

No! I refuse!

“It’ll be useless,” he murmured.

The hidden ruler, who was about to behead Marden, suddenly paused.

“You can kill me and the others of the Inner Circle now, but it’ll be useless,” Marden continued.

With a calm look on his face, he finally turned towards the hidden ruler and looked him in the eye. “The Cult Leader will replace us the moment you kill us. He doesn’t have a shortage of Mana Core Magi.”

The hidden ruler deeply looked at Marden. Suddenly, his eyes flashed with a peculiar light. His lips curled into a faint smirk, and he asked:

“You… aren’t under his control, are you?”

Marden knew that his survival hinged on his following words and actions. So no matter how frightened he was underneath, he displayed the exact opposite emotions on the outside. In fact, he went beyond.

His lips curled into a smile, and he said, “Oh? What gave it away?”

The hidden ruler glanced at Marden for a few moments, then muttered in a low voice, “Most interesting…”

He lowered his raised hand, the one he was about to use to kill Marden. He took a step back, clasping his hands behind his back. His dark eyes flashed with intrigue, and he asked:

“So, what do you suggest?”

Marden involuntarily heaved a soft breath of relief. He paused for a moment, then answered in an even voice:

“I can tell you where it would hurt him most.”

Only one chapter today, guys. Been a busy day…