Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 2103: His Successor

The Coil’s Summoners were few and far between.

The Coil of Eternity was a hidden and mysterious plane within the spirit world. One would not find it simply because they went looking for it. Even those who knew of its existence often had no idea where it could be found.

Then there were the serpents themselves. The serpents of the Coil rarely formed contracts with beings from the material world. The requirements to become a Summoner were high. Very high.

Yet that was not the only reason the Coil was so feared. It was the serpents. The Coil of Eternity was home to countless powerful serpents, each possessing strange and esoteric abilities that defied common understanding.

The serpents of the Coil were ancient, mysterious, and terrifying.

For generations, stories had circulated about the creatures that dwelled within the Coil of Eternity. Some spoke of serpents large enough to coil around mountains. Others claimed of creatures that could alter reality itself.

There were even tales of serpents whose powers could not be properly described in words. Whether those stories were true or not, no one knew. Perhaps that was what made the Coil so terrifying.

”An ancient existence slumbers in the heart of the Coil,” Nightmare said.

”...The Ouroboros,” Venia murmured. ”So the rumors were true?”

”Yes.” Nightmare nodded. ”He is very much real.”

The Great Ouroboros was the primary reason why the Coil of Eternity was so feared. And yet, despite the mystery surrounding them, the serpents of the Coil were held in tremendous awe.

Nightmare continued reading the story. She asked about the silver dragon in Davos and what sort of deal Venia had struck with him. She found it satisfactory.

Then she read something that gave her pause. ”A descendant of Miracle?”

”Very unexpected,” Venia said. ”I had to be very careful not to involve the girl in the story.”

Nightmare did not respond. She continued to read. She came across another point in the story, and her eyes narrowed.

”He also bears the mark of the underworld,” she said.

Venia nodded. ”The Pen is honest in its description of him - Man of Many Secrets.”

But the Somnia Matriarch’s mind was in a distant place.

In the Pen’s story, a supremely powerful, mysterious, and funny existence was mentioned. Then the Coil of Eternity. And now the mark of the Underworld.

The mark of the Underworld could only be granted by a high-ranking being in the divine kingdom of the Goddess of Death.

To think that Adam would have a connection with not only the Coil of Eternity, but also the Underworld was surprising even for an ancient being such as the Dragon of Nightmare.

”It would appear the boy possesses a formidable fate thread,” she said at last, putting away the parchments.

”Hence my reason for maintaining a relationship with him.” Venia nodded.

”But, Daughter.” Nightmare turned to Venia. ”What do you think will happen if Adam finds out about the Pen’s manipulation?”

The box sealing the notorious artifact trembled, seemingly mocking the two dragons. But a simple glance from Nightmare made it fall quiet.

”I did what I had to do,” Venia said. ”Or the boy would have never let go of Valerian. He is too selfish. Too greedy. He had to see for himself how helpless he truly was in the grand scheme of things. He is no longer in his backwater world.”

”Perhaps.” Nightmare looked toward the pond. A school of fish merrily swam underneath.

”There is a proverb among humans,” she continued, ”one which holds true even for dragons.”

Venia silently waited for her mother to continue.

Nightmare turned to Venia and said quietly, ”Honesty is the best policy.”

Despite her supreme control over her emotions, Venia’s brows couldn’t help but furrow ever so slightly. ”Mother, surely you cannot mean...”

Nightmare read her thoughts and shook her head. ”Not Adam,” she said.

She turned toward the grove where she could see Valerian chasing after butterflies. Venia followed her gaze, her topaz eyes turning gentle again.

”Not now,” Nightmare suggested. ”But perhaps when he is older. When he is more mature.”

Venia thought for a moment, then nodded. ”Better he hear it from me than find out by himself.”

”Good.” Nightmare nodded. She leaned back against the tree trunk and closed her eyes.

”Destroy the parchments. Take the Pen to the vault.”

”Yes, Mother.” Venia respectfully nodded and then left.

The Somnia Matriarch remained in her spot for several long minutes. The contents of the Pen’s story echoed in her mind.

That was one of the abilities of the Pen of Manifestation. Once it began writing about a person, it would glean almost everything about that person, including their darkest secrets.

The reason why the Pen kept referring to Adam as the Man of Many Secrets was because it could not uncover everything about him.

Or it did not want to uncover everything about him. That would be in line with the Pen’s personality. It always tried to get its wielder in trouble and make things difficult for them.

There were other strange things in the story as well.

Adam’s regeneration ability, for example. Even the Pen could not explain it.

Then there was the sudden increase in his spirit energy. It made little sense. Unless Adam was devouring souls to increase his own spirit energy. Yet the Pen had made no mention of anything of the sort.

There were simply too many unexplained things surrounding Adam Constantine.

The more Nightmare thought about it, the more questions arose.

What was Adam’s true identity?

Was there someone secretly supporting him?

Was some ancient existence standing behind him?

And why did the Pen itself seem unable to fully explain the strange things happening around him?

So many questions. And so few answers.

Yet there was one matter She was almost certain about.

That could not be a coincidence.

After all, she was someone who dealt with coincidences. She knew better than most that some coincidences were simply too improbable to be mere chance.

The insinuation of a powerful and funny existence in the story. Now, why would the Pen use such an odd adjective to describe a person?

Moreover, there was also a mention of a shapeshifting artifact of this ’funny’ existence.

On their own, these sentences meant nothing. But when connected with the other clues scattered throughout the story, someone as ancient and knowledgeable as the Dragon of Nightmare was able to connect the dots.

She arrived at an unexpected conclusion.

The Laughing God had found His successor.

And his name was Adam Constantine.