Chapter 847: Beyond Fear

Chapter 847: Beyond Fear

Once Adam handed the two Mana Vortex Magi his identification documents, the tension surrounding Towar drastically settled down.

After all, earlier, they were under the impression that they were being attacked by a very powerful threat of the Mana Vortex Rank.

But now…

A new tension had emerged—one that was completely out of Adam’s expectations.

Once the people learned that he was, in fact, the Dark King, they surrounded him and gawked at him with stars in their eyes as if he were the most beautiful human specimen on this planet!

Adam would never be afraid of hundreds of powerful monsters and beasts surrounding him like this.

But when he saw these people surround him, their eyes flickering with a sense of worship, he suddenly felt a chill crawl down his spine.

What… Just what the hell? He was dumbfounded.

Fortunately, the two Mana Vortex Magi were quick to calm their men down. Then, they took Adam to the seat of command in the heart of the city.

Once inside, a grand banquet was held to welcome the Dark King. The Mana Vortex Magi of Towar, as well as a few Mana Liquefaction Magi, were gathered at this banquet.

Maids and servants continued to bring freshly cooked food and bottles of finely aged wine. This was a cause for celebration, after all.

The Magi in this border stronghold were crestfallen earlier because they were unable to visit Ravenfell and watch the Grand Magus Tournament, or catch a glimpse of the Dark King.

But as fate would have it, the youngest Mana Vortex Magus in the history of this world had made his way right to their doorsteps!

“Magus Constantine,” the bald Mana Vortex Magus was in a very jovial mood. He had never expected to host the most famous person in these lands today.

“So, mind telling us what you were doing in the Murky Mountains?”

“Training,” Adam replied casually as he tore a large chunk of meat from the bones. “It’s the perfect place for a Magus to train.”

Etiquettes be damned. He washed the food in his mouth by drinking large gulps of wine straight from the bottle.

No one in the banquet hall thought that it was rude or something unbefitting of a Magus of his station.

No, it was quite the contrary.

They thought that Adam was quite eccentric in his ways, and even looked up to him. Such was the influence of strength.

In the world of Magi, strength was the ultimate currency. Even the most uncouth behavior could be overlooked…

So long as one was powerful enough.

But Adam couldn’t help but wonder, The recpetion I’m receiving here is quite… intense. This is completely out of my expectations.

They aren’t treating me like a King… but a god!

Just what the hell happened here while I was away?

Although he was inwardly complaining, he couldn’t help but secretly feel good about it.

The two Mana Vortex Magi were stunned. “You… You were training in the Murky Mountains?!”

It was well-known just how dangerous the Murky Mountains were. So much so that even the Mana Vortex Magi didn’t dare to set foot in there.

And yet, here Adam was… casually telling them that he was training there.

Just what kind of madman would do that?!

“Uh-huh.” Adan nodded absentmindedly as he wolfed down all the food kept in front of him.

It had been a long time since he had had properly cooked food with fine seasoning on it. In the past several months, he had only been eating dried meat.

He would only set up a fire if there was no danger around, afraid he would attract unwanted attention. But that was rarely the case.

Danger was present in every nook and cranny of the Murky Mountains.

So he was only left with the option to eat dried meat, fruits, and plain water.

Not even wine!

He didn’t consume a single drop of alcohol after leaving Blackie’s mountain. He was constantly vigilant and alert of his surroundings.

The last few months had been hellish for him in terms of training. But on the brighter side, he had emerged vastly stronger than he was before.

After battling countless Rank 3 magical beasts, orcs, and trolls inside the Murky Mountains, he had consolidated his strength at the Mana Vortex Rank!

He had greatly tempered his body and mind. His battle prowess had soared to never-before-seen heights, and even his spell-casting had tremendously improved.

Entering those treacherous lands, albeit highly dangerous, was extremely rewarding.

“I wouldn’t advise a Mana Foundation or Mana Liquefaction Magus to train there, though,” he said casually. “At most, they must only stick to the peripheries.”

After emptying the glass, he grabbed a bottle and drank directly from it, finishing the wine in mere seconds.

“Puah!” His face melted from happiness. “That hits the spot!”

Then he quickly willed the lotus to clear his mind. “Right, just stick to the boundaries. But as for Mana Vortex Magi… you can venture in deeper and fight opponents of the same strength.”

He paused for a moment, shifting his gaze to the bald Magus. His lips curled into a faint smile. “Sure, the Murky Mountains are filled with danger… But beyond fear lies victory.”

All the Magi present in the hall paused whatever it was that they were doing. The Dark King’s words hit them like a ton of bricks.

Beyond fear lies victory!

Those words continued to echo inside their minds, making them ponder the wisdom concealed in them.

The blond Mana Vortex Magus sitting next to Adam revealed a wry smile, “But, Magus Constantine, not every one is like you… I’m afraid if we go to the Murky Mountains, eight times out of ten we would perish.”

Adam turned to look at him and shrugged. “I suppose so.”

His lips curled into a smirk, and he waved his hand, causing dozens of rolled parchments to appear on the long table before them. “But this should help you.”

“This is…”

The two Mana Vortex Magi grabbed a parchment each and read its contents.

Then, they froze in shock.

“This is the map of the Murky Mountains,” Adam said with a grin. He paused, then corrected himself. “Well, technically, it only covers the regions I’ve explored. But it should help you and your men venture deeper into those dark lands.”

The two Mana Vortex Magi were stunned. “You… You actually made a map?!”

Adam shrugged casually. “Most of the information comes from the orc tribes’ chiefs. The rest is from my own travels.”

The Mana Vortex Magi were stunned for a long time as they continued to read the contents of all the parchments.

Indeed, it was the most detailed map they had ever seen. It was far more comprehensive than the Empire ever possessed.

Every ravine, beast nest, and monster boundary was marked with startling precision.

There was also one more thing they noticed…

“What are these X marks?” asked the bald, old Magus, his voice uncertain.

Adam turned to him, his expression darkening. “Never go near those places.”

The bald Magus gulped. “What… What’s in them?”

Adam took a slow breath and solemnly stated, “You’ve heard the rumors about the Mana Core Beings, haven’t you?”

A heavy silence fell over the hall. Everyone’s heart turned cold.

“Well,” Adam muttered softly, his eyes distant.

“They’re not rumors. They’re real.”

Two more chapters coming up in a few hours.