Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1875: Our Secrets

Genevieve’s mind went blank.

How had this zombie sensed her?

No. Even before that. How had it made its way down here when none of the others had?

If this creature could, then could the others as well?

All these questions — and many more — assaulted her mind and kept her rooted in place. Even as the zombie straightened its form and slowly walked toward her with a crooked smile, she remained frozen.

I acknowledge my fear.

I give it no command over me...

Genevieve’s eyes flashed with a sharp light.

She moved her hands in one quick and fluid motion and thrust them forward, activating a set of artifact rings on her fingers.

[Wind Blade]

[Mute]

Two spells merged into a silent killer and shot toward the zombie.

Much to her shock, however, the undead creature was surprisingly lithe for its kind.

It took half a step to the side and leaned its body, easily evading the first [Wind Blade]. Then it twisted its body at an unnatural angle and dodged the second [Wind Blade].

The two spells shot past the zombie and obliterated the wall behind it. Thanks to [Mute], the explosion made no sound.

Before Genevieve could launch another attack, the undead creature suddenly bent low, and then...

Zoom!

In the blink of an eye, it appeared right in front of her and reached for her wrists.

Genevieve was truly stunned by its speed. Undead creatures weren’t supposed to move with such speed and agility. Their strengths were... well, strength and endurance. Not speed.

Even so, she swiftly stepped back, trying to evade its grasp.

The monster caught one of her wrists, but missed the other. Genevieve conjured a dagger in her other hand and drove it toward the zombie’s head.

But its free hand shot out and seized the weapon-wielding wrist.

The zombie tilted its head and cast a curious glance at her.

Genevieve’s expression, unprecedentedly grim, performed a one-hand seal. At the same time, she activated another artifact to boost the effect of her spell.

Then, her lips parted, and a cold, majestic voice thundered into the zombie’s ears, echoing in a terrifying frequency.

[Release my hands]

The zombie’s glassy eyes trembled, and for a moment, they turned even more hazy and distant. But the flicker of shock in them was unmistakable.

Its body obeyed Genevieve’s words, and it released her hands.

[Step back]

Upon Genevieve’s command, the zombie’s body trembled violently, and it took a reluctant step back. Although it posed great resistance, trying to disobey her command, it still obeyed.

It raised its foot again to take another step back, but after a moment, it put its foot back in place.

Genevieve was inwardly thunderstruck that the monster had somehow managed to fight back her command.

Even a clear-minded individual at her level wouldn’t have been able to resist her command — especially not when her spell had been boosted with the help of an artifact.

But this undead creature had somehow managed to do the impossible!

Her eyes flashed with determination as she realized the true danger this monster posed. Without hesitation, she took a step forward and drove the dagger once again toward the zombie’s head.

Shatter!

At the last moment, the zombie tilted its head away.

The dagger, instead of stabbing its head, landed on its shoulder. But even then, it failed to penetrate its skin, and instead shattered.

Genevieve was about to launch another attack when suddenly, the zombie spoke again.

"Stop! It’s me!"

Genevieve’s eyes slowly widened.

That voice...

Under the light of the crimson moon, the zombie’s visage was faintly illuminated. Genevieve could see the patch of bone-white hair at the edge of its temple.

Impossible!

She froze once again.

She was certain that the creature in front of her was an undead monster. It looked like one, smelled like one, and even radiated the rotting aura of one.

And yet...

A flash of gray light briefly illuminated the dim chamber, and a cat materialized on the zombie’s head.

"Stop it!"

"Valerian!" Genevieve blurted out in surprise, and she finally lowered her hands.

Seeing that the woman had finally realized that they posed no threat, Valerian leapt off Adam’s shoulder and ran beneath the fissure in the ceiling. His topaz eyes flickered with alarm as he stood guard, watching for any monsters drawn by the commotion. Adam joined him.

Under Genevieve’s stunned gaze, Adam’s body began to twist and contort. His muscles writhed beneath his skin while his bones snapped and shifted back into place. The aura of decay surrounding him gradually faded, replaced by the vitality of the living.

Moments later, the grotesque zombie was gone.

Standing before her was the man she knew.

And yet, she couldn’t believe her eyes. She had read about master Alterers, who could transform into any creature they wished and would be indistinguishable from their targets. But those were masters. They were powerful Magi, and it made sense they could perform such feats.

But Adam was merely a Mana Core Magus, and that too, someone specializing in the School of Summoning.

How could he have transformed into a zombie so flawlessly?

Minutes later, after Adam and Valerian confirmed that they hadn’t been followed and that the earlier commotion hadn’t drawn any attention from above, they silently breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was quick thinking, Brother!" Valerian beamed as he hopped back on Adam’s shoulder.

Adam smiled faintly in response.

Not quick enough, he thought.

If it wasn’t for...

He realized something else about himself when he’d failed to transform into a zombie on time before the undead legions rose from the earth. But he had little time to dwell on it before Genevieve stepped in front of him, her eyes filled with questions.

"How did you do that?" She asked. "Are you... are you even human?"

For a moment, she’d truly believed that Adam was an undead creature capable of transforming into a human, rather than the other way around.

Adam smiled.

"I’m human, alright."

His smile slowly faded as he recalled how he had to resist her commands earlier. Usually, because of the Lotus, most types of enchantment magic didn’t work on him. Unless, of course, it was cast by someone stronger than him.

But he had to put in some effort to resist Genevieve’s words of magic.

"That’s some enchantment magic you’ve mastered," he said.

Genevieve looked deeply into Adam’s tenebrous eyes for a long moment.

In the end, she simply said:

"I suppose we both have our secrets, don’t we?"