Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1024: Mortals and Magi

Ravenfell Arena, Northern Quarter.

The people of Saratoga prepared a brief ceremony right before the final duel of the Grand Magus Tournament took place.

It was presided over by none other than the representative of the Acadian royal family.

A middle-aged man with dark brown hair, streaked with silver at the temples, calmly walked through the arena with a gentle smile on his face.

Faced with the applause and adoration of the people in the crowd, he waved at them in a friendly manner. His striking blue eyes swept over their faces, enveloping them with warmth.

These were the people of his land. These were the people he would one day rule over.

Clad in white robes accentuated by golden embroidery, Cedric Acadia walked toward the small podium at the center of the arena. His white mantle trailed behind him, and the sun caught the gleam of his silver circlet.

As he stepped on the podium, the crowd gradually quietened down. They glanced at him with veneration and respect, and Cedric... he liked it very much.

With a barely concealed smirk appearing on his face, his voice, which was augmented by mana, rang through the vast coliseum, clear and commanding:

”People of Ravenfell, citizens of Acadia, and honored guests from every corner of this land.”

He paused for a brief moment before continuing, ”Today, we stand on the edge of greatness. We have witnessed fire and fury. Talent and tenacity. We’ve seen the best of our youth rise through the trials in the depths of Marian Lake and the blood-stained silence of the secret plane. Now only two remain.”

Instantly, the crowd was divided into cheering factions. They clenched their fists as they rose to their feet, screaming in anticipation.

”Merlin! Merlin!”

”Edward! Edward!”

Cedric Acadia patiently watched everything unfold with a gentle smile tugging at his lips. Only when the crowd calmed down a little did he continue.

”Two names carved into the hearts of the people. One, a prodigy raised in discipline, bathed in lightning, and forged in tradition. The other, a madman, a mystery, a storm wrapped in a smile, tearing through the expected with the unexpected.”

His lips formed a bright smile as he stretched his hands wide and declared, ”Edward Turner and Merlin the Mad!”

Once again, the crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers, this time even louder than before. The entire arena seemed to tremble from the sheer excitement being radiated from the audience.

The moment they had all been waiting for had finally arrived!

”So, let this final duel be a celebration,” Cedric said with great enthusiasm, ”not just of power, but perseverance. Not just of skill, but of soul.”

He paused for a few more moments, letting the anticipation in the air build up and reach the zenith, and then he added:

”To our brave finalists, fight not for victory alone, but for the spirit that brought you here. And to everyone watching, remember this moment. For years from now, you will say... I was there when legends were born!”

Cedric Acadia clenched his fists and passionately roared, ”Let the final trial be—”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a chain of thundering explosions that rang throughout the city.

Several explosions went out in quick succession across five of the six districts, including the one where the Ravenfell Arena was located.

These explosions were small-scale, only powerful enough to blow a hole through a limited layer of earth, but the sheer number of them caused a chain reaction and compounded several times over.

For a moment, it felt like an earthquake had descended on the city of Ravenfell. Many buildings and structures near the explosions instantly collapsed, and smoke and fire rose from them. In an instant, hundreds of casualties emerged.

As for the coliseum itself, it felt as if it was violently swaying and could collapse any moment now. Although because of the fusion of magic and engineering, it was very unlikely that the structure would collapse, the people in their state of panic would never find comfort in that.

As soon as the explosions occurred, utter pandemonium ensued, and all hell broke loose. The crowd erupted in a symphony of fear and panic. They rose to their feet and instantly scrambled towards the nearest exit.

Terror had gripped their hearts, and now all that they cared about was survival.

At the center of the arena, Cedric Acadia was immediately surrounded by a group of highly skilled Mana Vortex Magi dressed in black. These were the hidden guardians and protectors of the Prince, led by none other than the hunchbacked old man, Yaka.

”Your Highness, our worst fear has come to pass.” Yaka had a grim expression on his face as he stood beside the prince, glancing at the chaos around them. ”We need to leave this instant!”

Before Cedric could reply, suddenly he heard the sound of the countless bells originating in the direction of the Harbor Quarter.

Immediately, he, as well as countless other Magi present in the arena, turned their heads east. The situation was exponentially worse than it seemed.

First, the explosion, and now the alarm bells sounding from the watchtowers facing the Galestine Ocean.

”Your Highness, we need to leave this instant!” Yaka roared, his expression dire. ”The city is being attacked from the seas as well! We need to hurry and leave!”

Cedric’s eyes flashed with hesitation and a bit of reluctance as he gazed at the countless people in the audience running for their lives. In the end, self-preservation took priority. He gritted his teeth and followed his guardian’s advice.

However, just as he turned to exit the arena through a secret passageway that very few people knew of, a large shadow suddenly loomed over the arena. With each second that passed, the shadow seemed to grow larger and larger.

Cedric and Yaka raised their heads, and what they saw... made their hearts sink. In an instant, all hope of escape was snuffed out like a dying flame.

One by one, the crowd followed their gaze. Mortals and Magi alike turned their eyes skyward.

And there it was.

Their doom.

A colossal asteroid hurtled towards the arena, its roar splitting the skies.

Death was coming.

And there was no stopping it.