Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

The group descended the dimly lit staircase and arrived at a sprawling underground chamber. It was quite an expansive area, supported by several thick stone columns.

People who had visited this place before were filled with exhilaration at what was to come, while the people who came here for the first time couldn't help but feel slightly anxious.

After all, they'd heard about the strange rituals that took place here. Add to that, the eerie atmosphere of the underground chamber, and they felt like they had stepped foot inside a dark and ominous world.

Yet, the allure of what lay before them couldn't be ignored. Or they wouldn't have chosen to engage in the ritual in the first place.

As soon as the last of the people arrived at the underground chamber, the secret passageway behind them closed shut. The walls slid towards each other, seamlessly merging back together and sealing the door.

Adam turned around and focused his Sphere of Resonance toward the sealed door. He couldn't help but frown as he thought to himself, It's completely sealed. And these bricks… they seemed to be reinforced by runes.

He then turned his attention towards Altan and found that the man was looking at him with a solemn expression. It was only for a split moment before he reverted back to his usual demeanor.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me," said Altan in a loud and enthusiastic voice as he led the group of Magi to the center of the chamber.

A large man-made bloody pool occupied the center of the dimly lit chamber. If one looked from above, they would see that the pool was constructed atop a large runic formation.

The runic formation was in the shape of an inverted pentagram!

Adam's heart turned cold when he realized the meaning of that runic formation. He thought to himself in alarm, As I thought! This has the Cult of Bones written all over it.
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These bastards are truly in league with the devils of Hell!!

His gaze then landed on Altan and his wife, Fern, and he wondered, Do they know what they've gotten themselves as well as all these guests into? If not… then Altan is stupider than I thought!

No, on second thought, he's just ignorant. Information about Nine Hells of Inferno, otherwise simply known as Hell, isn't that common to begin with, especially considering Tron is such a backward planet.

I was thinking of taking care of Altan and his wife later, but if this is how it truly is then I don't even need to lay a finger. Sooner or later, the devil he's offering sacrifices to will deal with him!

On the five points of the pentagram, five individuals dressed in black robes stood silently. The mana fluctuations emanating from them were no weaker than a Rank 2 - Mana Liquefaction Magus!

Five around the bloody altar, Adam thought to himself as he scanned the entirety of the expansive underground chamber.

His eyes narrowed when he sensed five more Mana Liquefaction Magi hiding at the edge of the chamber, their presence concealed by the darkness.

The aura of decay around them is strong, Adam confirmed that all ten of them were Magi from the Cult of Bones. This was the first time he was coming face to face with them.

Adam's gaze then landed on the other end of the chamber where there was another passageway leading upwards. Past that entrance, he could sense four more Mana Liquefaction Magi.

The youth's lips curled up into a cold smile as he thought, Fourteen Rank 2 Magi dispatched to deal with me… You damned cultists are making me feel honored!

But the silver lining in all of this is that the Rank 3 Magus, Olin Barrett, seems to be nowhere nearby. I reckon it would be insulting for him to be present when he's already sent so many of his underlings to deal with me.

For the time being, Adam didn't divulge the existence of so many enemies to Qamara. He didn't want to make her any more nervous than she already was.

"My honored guests, as you can see," Altan began as he spread his arms wide, gesturing at the large bloody pool that lay before him. "This is where the magic happens!"

He looked at all the people that he'd brought and smiled, "For those of you that already know, I reckon you cannot wait to get started."

His words resulted in a few Magi laughing out loud, urging him to begin the ritual already. Altan simply smiled in response.

He then looked at the new faces, the ones his wife had invited, and stated, "And for the ones that are new here, I guarantee you that you'll be rewarded with everything that we promised you!"

All the people gathered around him, watching him begin the ritual ceremony as he stepped closer to an altar where various items were kept. Meanwhile, Adam and Qamara stood a little farther away from the rest of the group.

The elf nervously glanced at Adam and mentally transmitted, 'Those five black-robed Magi have been staring at you since the moment we entered. They aren't even bothering to hide their hostility.'

'Relax, I have everything under control,' Adam assured her. In truth, however, he had already altered his plan a few times since stepping foot inside the Duskfall Estate.

There were a few variables that took him by surprise, leaving him with no choice but to change his course of action. And now that he'd confirmed that the ritual was, in fact, related to a devil, he had to alter his plan yet again.

Standing at the forefront of the group, Altan mixed some sort of dark powder with a crimson liquid and started marking his face and arms with them in an eerie and sinister fashion.

Then, he drank a mysterious black potion, anointing himself as the host of the ritual and strengthening his connection to the other side.

After his preparations were complete, he looked toward the far end of the chamber and loudly ordered, "Summon forth the offerings!"

The door on the other side of the chamber slowly opened, its sound reverberating across the entire chamber. A moment later, another individual wearing black robes emerged from the door, leading dozens of young women dressed in red.

These women that were being led to the blood pool, all had their faces devoid of any emotions. It was evident that they had been fed some sort of drug to bring about such an effect. They were no different than puppets being led by the puppeteer.

As the dozens of sacrifices approached the pool, seemingly of their own volition, Altan turned around and faced his guests with a beaming smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he proclaimed. "Let the Blood Renewal Ritual begin!"