Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1232: Like the Sun

Lucian’s defiant word echoed throughout the underwater castle.

Despite being far into the depths of Marian Lake, the man did not find it a task at all to communicate. His very words were infused with mana, allowing them to reverberate across the lake bed.

But when Lord Ink heard that answer, his eyes flashed with hostility. The colossal tentacles moved silently, coiling around submerged pillars and walls. They looked as if they were ready to lash out at any moment.

Despite the whisper of threat looming over him, Lucian remained calm and composed. He had a faint smile on his face as he gazed at this ancient creature through his sun-like golden eyes.

A suffocating silence descended in the underwater castle. Through his keen senses, Lucian picked up on countless shadowy silhouettes prowling at the edge of the castle, closing in. However, he was dauntless.

At last, after what seemed like forever, the giant kraken finally spoke:

”Human, I wasn’t asking you.”

That was it.

The kraken did not give Lucian the chance to explain himself anymore. It had already warned him once. That was all the courtesy it would allow.

In the blink of an eye, one of Ink’s enormous tentacles blurred out of existence. It moved with remarkable speed that betrayed its sheer size. And before Lucian knew it, the tentacle came smashing down on him.

The tentacle’s vast size left no room for the man to dodge. Furthermore, the speed at which it struck was so powerful that it was enough to critically injure a Magus at the Mana Core Rank!

Ink was no ordinary creature.

In the face of all of this, Lucian was unfazed. His golden pupils shifted as they tracked the giant tentacle coming down on him. At the last moment, his hand, too, turned into a shadowy blur, and then...

Bam!

Waves of dust and mana rippled outward from the point of impact. The grand pillars supporting the vast chamber shuddered. Dust and debris clouded the castle, and the merfolk gathered outside couldn’t help but turn grim.

Lord Ink, on the other hand, had a startled gleam in its eyes.

”You’re quite irascible.”

Lucian’s voice once again echoed in the vast chamber. From his tone, it was apparent that the kraken’s attack hadn’t quite done a number on him. His voice seemed quite nonchalant.

Lord Ink’s eyes narrowed, and it slowly raised its tentacle.

When the dust cleared, a tall figure with broad shoulders appeared, raising his one hand above him in a defensive posture. However, he seemed different from before.

Lucian had a faint golden aura surrounding his body, and the sun emblem on his forehead blazed with an otherworldly light. His golden eyes were sharp and cold as they settled on the giant kraken before him.

”I’ve come here to talk,” he said. ”But if you cannot be reasoned with, then I do not mind getting my hands dirty.”

Lord Ink was enraged. Its eyes flashed with a cruel light, and it said:

”Your arrogance is intolerable, human. You trespass in my domain and have the audacity to threaten me? Not even the Headmasters of Saratoga Castle ever looked down on me.”

As it spoke those words, a cruel and overbearing aura started to radiate from the ancient colossus. All of its tentacles coiled tighter, ready to attack at any moment.

Still, Lucian remained calm.

But the faint smile on his lips had vanished.

His lips parted and he muttered in a cold, authoritative voice:

”Do not compare me to the Headmasters of Saratoga, for they are my vassals. You find my arrogance intolerable? Then deal with it, for in these lands my equals are none.

He paused, his aura growing stronger and brilliant like the sun.

”I am Lucian. I am Emperor.”

The kraken’s countless tentacles, which were about to attack the blond-haired man, abruptly paused. Its eyes narrowed, flashing with a peculiar gleam as it closely observed the man standing proudly before it.

”You... are an Acadia?” It asked, its voice laced with suspicion.

Lucian raised his chin and proclaimed:

”I am the Acadia.”

Another bout of silence descended within the underwater castle, with both parties staring at one another unblinkingly.

Compared to earlier, the hostility in the kraken’s eyes had vanished. But the annoyance still remained. Meanwhile, Lucian stood unflinching, staring straight into the ancient creature’s eyes.

At last, Ink asked, ”What is your relation with Arnold Acadia?”

”My grandfather,” Lucian replied succinctly.

Ink’s eyes narrowed, and it couldn’t help but closely scrutinize Lucian’s mana—especially the sun emblem on his forehead.

The Emperor knew exactly what it was thinking about, and so, he said, ”Unlike my predecessors, I chose not to specialize in sealing magic.”

”I see,” said the kraken. ”So you are Arnold’s grandson and Gerald’s son.”

Lucian hummed in acknowledgment.

”Why are you here, Lucian?” the kraken asked again.

”I told you already,” said the Emperor, ”I came here to talk.”

”Then get on with it.” The mighty kraken grumbled, its countless tentacles gradually settling on the lake bed, once again coiled around pillars and stones.

Lucian, too, retracted his aura. He looked the ancient creature in the eye and said:

”I have heard stories about you, Ink. Ancient records state that you were a dear friend to the first Headmaster, Dendar Saratoga. They also state that you had an amiable relationship with my grandfather.”

”Get on with it,” the kraken said, its tone laced with annoyance.

Lucian did not mind the creature’s behavior, though. He had studied about Ink and knew that it despised the beings that lived above the surface.

In fact, it could be considered a miracle that Ink even agreed to live in Marian Lake and protect Saratoga Castle. It considered Dendar Saratgoa a close friend and wanted to protect his legacy.

If history had taught the people of Tron anything, it was that the beings who lived above and below the surface were eternally at odds. Hostile by nature, and never meant to be friends.

Peace could only be sustained because of the truce that was established thousands of years ago.

Lucian inhaled deeply, then said in a solemn voice, ”I know who you are, Ink, and I know where you’re from.”

He paused for a moment, then added, his voice ringing like thunder within the underwater castle:

”And so, I ask you to grant me passage to the cold depths of Tron. I wish to meet with the rulers of those who dwell in the deep.”