Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

The stone pillars were accurately placed throughout the second layer at about a hundred meters from one another.

However, it was a harrowing task to cover those hundred meters. Especially considering the party members had to plow through dozens of Mana Liquefaction-level blood beasts and countless more Mana Foundation-level beasts.

By now, Party A had become a cohesive unit. Edward was the main attacker, Michael was the main defender, meanwhile Biden, Chris, Mikar, and Lisa provided support.

Under Edward's leadership, the party had covered ground for an entire day. At the same time, they made sure to get their hands on as many blood cores as possible.

Retrieving all the cores from the corpses of the slain beasts wasn't viable. After all, every time they killed one beast, two more took its place.

They slaughtered blood beasts, climbed the pillar to recuperate their mana and stamina, tended to wounds, and then began their slaughter all over again.

The vicious cycle continued for twenty-four hours, yet Party B was nowhere in sight.

It was understandable, though. Although the wasp had taken merely a day to find them, that didn't mean that the party would also take a similar time.

The wasp had flown unhindered. Whereas, the Magi had to constantly battle blood beasts and stop by to recover their strength.

And now… the third day since they had entered the secret plane had already begun.

Currently, Party A had fought a vicious battle against a horde of blood beasts and managed to scale one of the stone pillars.

This had been their most dangerous fight yet. Everyone, including Edward, was severely injured. All of them lay sprawled on the top of the stone pillar, drenched in blood and gasping for air.

"Fuck!" Biden cursed in frustration.

He strained his neck and turned toward his friend, "Eddie… you sure this was the right idea? What if that bastard Merlin, you know… what if he's playing a prank on us?"

Hearing those words, everyone's expression darkened.

Although it had only been a short time since they had known the madman, they knew that playing such a cruel prank was totally within his means.

In fact, Merlin would take excessive pleasure in seeing them suffer. Such was the sadistic nature of that crazy rogue Magus.

Edward remained silent, his blue eyes flickering with a shadow of doubt.

Don't tell me… could he really do such a thing? He wondered.

But right at that moment, Michael's low yet firm voice rang through everyone's ears.

"Merlin would not do that to his allies," he said, his tone carrying a hint of confidence.

He managed to sit straight, then consumed an entire potion of healing in one go. Then, he continued, "I'd like to think of myself as a good judge of character."

Michael paused, recalling the first time he had met the eccentric youth. It was a few days ago, right before the First Trial had begun.

He then looked at everyone and clenched his fist. "We must have faith in our allies from Party B!"

Biden deeply looked at the middle-aged man. In the end, he heaved a long, helpless sigh. "I can't tell if you're a fool… or just hopelessly optimistic."

Michael let out a hearty laugh, and then immediately grimaced because of the pressure put on the wounds in his stomach.

He lingered for a long moment, then grinned. "It's a gut feeling. As long as we continue down our path, we will meet our allies very soon."

Edward couldn't help but faintly smile.

From his brief interaction with Merlin in the depths of Marian Lake, he could tell that Merlin had great expectations of him.

He was utterly disappointed at him back in the coral labyrinth. Not only had he said harsh words to Edward, but also one-sidedly given him a thrashing and humbled him.

Huh, how strange, thought the blue-eyed youth.

He reminds me of… Adam.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

Wait a minute…

Merlin was recommended by Adam to join our party. It can't be… right?

He was stunned for several moments before shaking his head.

What a stupid thought! There's no way Adam is Merlin. He would be instantly found out if he participated in this tournament.

Besides, there's no way Adam would behave in such a psychotic manner.

Edward took a deep breath, pushing the useless thoughts to the back of his mind.

After drowning several potions of healing, he rose to his feet and said firmly, "As soon as everyone's mana reserves are restored, we will leave for the next pillar."

Being an S-grade talent, he wasn't like the rest. But being the party leader, he had to place their needs above his own.

Edward glanced at his comrades, a grim look on his face.

They're going to take at least half a day to restore their energy reserves, he thought.

Only less than four days to go before the secret plane closes. By that time, how many blood cores will we have gained?

No, more importantly… will all of us even make it to the end?

He turned to the distance, gazing into the depths of the secret plane.

How many more layers do we have to traverse? He wondered.

If it's already so dangerous in the second layer, then what about the heart of the secret plane?

A foreboding feeling clawed at his heart. Moreover, he didn't know how far they were from Party B.

The answer to that, however, would soon be answered.

As it just so happened, before they even descended the stone pillar they were currently resting on, a large commotion erupted in the distance. And it came from the direction they were originally heading—the same one the wasp's arrow had pointed to.

Everyone abruptly turned to the source of the chaos, and what they saw… caused their eyes to tremble.

A storm of blood and flesh tore through the crimson grasslands.

At its eye stood Merlin Mathias!

His robes were tattered, his round crystal glasses were gleaming, and cards were spinning around him like a cyclone of death.

Each flick of his wrist unleashed a razor-sharp card, cutting through flesh and bone with merciless precision.

Behind him, Party B followed… less like comrades, and more like shadows in the wake of a force of nature.

They pressed forward through the horde of blood beasts, cutting down anything that managed to survive Merlin's initial onslaught.

And even though countless blood beasts still came at him, mindless and endless, none could stop him.

Seeing him unleash such bloody havoc with a maniacal grin on his face, the members of Party A could hardly believe their eyes.

No one knew who said it first, but the words that followed would go on to define the coppery-red-haired youth during the Grand Magus Tournament.

"Merlin the Mad."