Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1168: A Single Moment

There was a certain magical creature found mostly in the worlds of the Greater Universe. They were strange predators that assumed the form of mundane furnishings and objects in order to attract prey.

They were born with decent attainments in the School of Alteration. Technically, they could assume any shape, provided they retained the same internal volume. In order to effectively lure Magi, the most commonly took the shape of objects likely to be touched.

For example... a chest.

When this creature moved, jagged teeth appeared along the lid, and a thick, sticky tongue lashed out to grab its prey. Its body was coated in a viscous, adhesive slime, making it nearly impossible to pull away once caught.

It waited silently, patiently, blending in perfectly with its surroundings to lure its prey.

Some scholars agreed that these strange creatures were artificially created by Magi to serve as protectors against treasure hunters, while others speculated that they originated from the spirit world.

These creatures were known as mimics.

”Gegege!” The wooden chest let out a grating cackle as it chomped down on Adam’s head.

Oh, how long it had waited for a prey to fall into its trap. It had even feared that it would die from starvation. But here it was, biting down on an ugly Magus, just moments away from satiating its hunger.

”Gegege... gege... ge?”

But something was wrong. Something was... preventing its lid from completely severing the Magus’s head.

”Hehehe,” Adam chuckled coldly. ”Little bastard, did you think I wouldn’t know what you are?”

”Gege?!”

The mimic was stunned! Why was it unable to chop off the ugly human’s head? Just why? It could feel something... strong and unbreakable, preventing its lid from coming down.

Much to the creature’s horror, the unbreakable thing slowly elongated, forcing its lid upward.

”Gege! Gege!” The mimic screamed in terror, but there was nothing it could do to get out of its current predicament.

Meanwhile, Adam slowly pulled his head out from underneath the lid. His lips curled into a wide, menacing grin, and he said:

”Oh, how the tables have turned, you mimic bastard.”

”Gege! Gege!” The chest sprouted four tiny legs from beneath and scrambled towards the corner of the room, trembling in fear as it gazed at Adam’s grotesque visage.

Inside its mouth was a black staff with one end deep inside its stomach, and the other end embedded into the upper jaw of the chest, preventing the mimic from shutting its mouth.

”Hehe,” Adam chuckled menacingly as he slowly took a step forward.

”I haven’t eaten in a few days. How very kind of you to offer yourself up to me. I have heard that some cultures in the Greater Universe consider mimic organs tasty delicacies.

”Ah, that’s right, your skin can be used to make potions as well. Your adhesive secretions could be sold to Artificers, and your internal organs can be used to produce soaps and perfumes.”

It was clear that the mimic could understand Adam’s words. After all, the more he spoke, the more it shuddered. It was clearly scared for its life.

”Gege! Gege! Gege!” The chest jumped up and down, frantically trying to convey its surrender.

”Oh?” Adam scoffed. ”You want me to spare your life? But just a moment ago, you were trying to eat me. It’s funny how life can change in a single moment...”

Towards the end, his voice trailed off as memories of his glorious days in the Acadian Empire resurfaced in his mind. He was dearly loved by the people, hailed as the greatest genius of the continent. The Magi looked up to him. They wanted to be him.

But his life turned upside down in a single moment. The same people who admired him the most were the ones to drive their swords into his chest.

As anger and grief engulfed his heart, his lips curled into a brilliant smile.

”Ah, life can be so unpredictable sometimes, don’t you think?” He asked, his grin threatening to twist his hideous face apart.

”Gege! Gege!” The mimic was now truly scared. It couldn’t stop trembling.

The Staff of Calamity inside its mouth began to slowly expand, and it wouldn’t be long before it tore through the mimic’s body. At that time, it would all be over.

It had survived for millennia on this forsaken continent, and for what... only to die in the hands of an ugly madman?

No! It refused to die!

”Gege! Gege!” It seemed that the mimic would put up a desperate fight, ready for one final stand, and determined to die on its own terms, in a blaze of glory.

But in the next instant...

All sorts of treasures erupted from the mimic’s mouth, flying in all directions.

Adam was completely and utterly flabbergasted!

Coins, jewels, and rusted relics tumbled from the mimic’s mouth. These were the treasures that the creature had amassed over millennia. It’s what he used to lure in adventures and then eat them. Then, collect their treasures and use them to lure more prey.

Ancient scrolls, cracked tomes, amulets, and tiny artifacts from long-lost civilizations spilled out in a chaotic storm, each piece a fragment of history preserved through the endless passage of time.

Cornered by the threat of death, the mimic unleashed everything it had hoarded over the years. Each item was offered as a plea, a desperate attempt to please Adam, to earn his mercy.

Its body shuddered in pain, its mouth stretched unnaturally wide, yet still it poured out its entire existence, sacrificing everything in the hope of survival.

At last, after almost half a minute, the mimic had finally emptied out its contents. By now, there was a sprawling pile of treasures lying at Adam’s feet. The mimic then jumped frantically once more, calling out in desperation:

”Gege! Gege! Gege! Gege!”

Adam, on the other hand, was so stunned by the sudden turn of events that he did not even react until the mimic called out to him. He glanced at the creature jumping in the corner, then at the pile of treasure sprawled at his feet.

Slowly, his lips curled into a happy smile. He turned to the mimic and said in a cheerful voice:

”What did I tell you? Life can change in a single moment. Haha, you are forgiven!”

He then snapped his fingers, commanding the Staff of Calamity to shrink and return to his spirit sea.

At last, free from the imminent threat to its life, the mimic collapsed to the ground in visible relief.

”Gege...”