Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

"Ughh…" Adam grimaced, slowly opening his eyes and having them adjust to the dark cave once again.

He instinctively knew that he was back inside his physical body. His five senses reacted vastly differently now than when he was independent as his soul body.

A flash of terror gleamed in his black eyes as he gazed at the towering silhouette hidden in the dark before him.

Casting space-type spells without the need for any spell components… It is far stronger and more terrifying than I had expected! He thought to himself in alarm.

Although, in Syvarin's memories Adam had seen how respectful the man was toward this giant white snake, he hadn't yet comprehended the level of power the serpent had attained.

Only now that he saw the snake casually locate his physical body in the material world, create a portal, and then force his physical body to merge with his soul body did he realize just how mighty this being was!

While Adam was gazing at the white snake, it was curiously looking at his dorm room through the portal.

"So this is Tron, eh?" It hissed. "The mana density is quite meager on your planet. I suspect the Mana Core Rank to be the highest attainable level for the planet's inhabitants."

"Hmm?" Suddenly the white snake's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as it gazed into the portal. "Interesting…"

Following that, it willed the portal to close. As everything returned to normal, it turned his attention back toward Adam. "Hmm, indeed, you're just a Mana Liquefaction Magus. From the looks of it, you're not quite far from the next realm."

Adam was completely at a loss for words witnessing what had transpired earlier. So much so that he wasn't able to observe the snake's reaction while it was peering into the portal.

It was only when it directly spoke to him that he snapped out of his daze. He gulped involuntarily as he got to his feet. With his head lowered respectfully, he nodded. "Y-Yes, my lord."

The next moment, one of the countless scales on the serpent separated from its body and hovered before Adam. Under the youth's dumbfounded gaze, the white scale transformed into a humanoid figure.

It was an old man with a hunched back. He wore a white robe and wielded an unassuming wooden staff in his hands which he used to support himself.

He had no hair on his body except for the long white mustache that drooped past his chin. His eyes were a piercing topaz with vertical slits at the center.

If Adam hadn't seen his alteration magic, he would have for sure mistaken the old man for a genuine human being.

The white serpent ignored the youth's stupefied look and slowly walked toward him, his staff tapping the ground with every step he took. He looked like a completely harmless grandpa, but the truth was far from it.

"How fascinating," said the white snake, or rather, the old man. "Your soul body is stronger than your physical body. I've read about cases where the soul body is slightly stronger than the physical body, but in your case, the difference in strength is one entire rank."

Adam froze, not daring to move an inch. He felt like he was being scrutinized by an apex predator. Although he couldn't feel any hostility from the old man, it didn't stop him from being nervous.

The old man raised his wooden staff and poked Adam's chest. "You've got quite the sturdy body, Adam Constantine. It's very strong compared to other Mana Liquefaction Magi, especially considering the fact that you're human."

He paused for a moment and started walking around the youth, intently observing him. "But it's strange. Even though your physical body is very robust, it should not have been able to hold a soul as strong as yours."

The old man stopped right before Adam, gazing deep into his eyes. "I wonder why that is…"

Adam nervously laughed, "H-Haha, perhaps I'm special?"

"Hmm, you are special, no doubt." The old man nodded his head ever so slightly. "But I find it peculiar nonetheless that your soul body was able to vastly exceed the limits of your physical body."

Adam's back was drenched in a layer of cold sweat. The old man's speculation was on point and he couldn't help but wonder, He won't find out about the lotus… right?

Just as he thought that the old man would press further, thankfully the latter had changed the subject. "I noticed that the blood flowing through your veins is indeed resistant to most poison. As expected of Syvarin, I suppose."

Adam felt very grateful at that moment for the Five Elemental Codex for having transformed his blood invulnerable to poisons. If not, the old man before him would have caught his lie about Syvarin's supposed inheritance.

Before the old man could further pry into the secrets of his body, he asked, "Great Serpent, I—"

But before he could finish, the old man tapped his staff on the ground, interrupting him. "You may refer to me as Lord White."

Adam nodded. He figured that the term 'Great Serpent' was reserved for the entity that resided in the heart of the Coil.

"Lord White, how can I form a contract with the Coil of Eternity?"

The old man gazed at the youth deeply and asked him, "Tell me, why do you seek the aid of the serpents of the Coil?"

Adam repeated the script he had prepared in a passionate tone, his eyes filled with righteousness, "I seek wisdom, my lord! In my world, snakes are feared, hunted, and misunderstood.

"But I know there is power in understanding, in forming bonds rather than destroying! I wish to summon your kin not as tools, but as allies!"

Lord White's eyes narrowed and he radiated a dangerous aura, threatening to swallow the youth whole. "Tell me the real reason."

Adam shuddered, his knees almost buckling. A drop of sweat trickled down the side of his forehead and he stuttered weakly, "F-F-For strength… I seek strength…"

"Hmm, that's more like it." The primal aura of danger disappeared in an instant and Lord White smiled amiably. It was as if the feeling earlier was nothing but an illusion.

"I've lived long enough to know that Magi rarely care about things such as friendship, love, and forming bonds. What they, regardless of their race, truly care about is strength."

Adam felt like he didn't have it in him to form a reply. His mind was still stuck in that feeling of suffocation. The menacing aura that Lord White radiated a moment ago would forever be etched into his mind.

He had never felt the fear of death so profoundly as he had in that moment.

"But what do you offer in return?" Lord White's words snapped him out of his daze. "The magic of this plane is not freely given. To call upon the Coil is to bind yourself to it. Our strength will become yours, yes, but so will our burden."

Adam mustered the courage in his heart and overcame the lingering feeling of fear that still echoed in the deep recesses of his heart. "I-I am prepared, my lord. Whatever the cost, I will bear it."

From Syvarin's memories, Adam knew that the serpents of the Coil would sometimes call upon the summoner to the plane and have them help them with various things.

It was a quid pro quo transaction. For every snake that a Magus summoned, they would have to do something in return for the summoned snake as well. The same held true if the Magus was summoned to the Coil.

The old man chuckled, "Bold words, young magus. Usually, a Magus would have to participate in a test to prove their worth, but since you're Syvarin's inheritor, that wouldn't be necessary."

He paused for a moment before solemnly stating, "Although, you will need to prove your understanding. So, Adam Constantine, answer me this: what does a serpent truly symbolize?"

Adam remained silent for a long time, thinking of the right words to say. He understood the weight of the question and knew that a lot depended on his answer.

For some reason, the image of the snake devouring its tail appeared in his mind and he was soon able to form an answer.

"Change. Renewal. A serpent sheds its skin to grow, leaving the old behind. It is a symbol of death, but also of life. It is a cycle, unbroken and eternal."
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Lord White nodded his head, approving of the youth's answer. The next moment, the gargantuan white snake—Lord White's true body—opened its maw and spat out a large scroll.

The scroll landed beside Lord White's clone. He tapped it with his wooden staff, causing it to unfurl. Adam was able to see many names written on the scroll. They were, of course, written in snaketongue.

These are the signatures of the summoners that came before me, he mused.

"A bond with the Coil is sacred," said Lord White. "Such a connection cannot be forged with mere words. It must be sealed in the oldest of ways."

He pointed at the large scroll and explained, "This is the Scroll of Coil, the eternal contract between your world and ours. Many have signed before you, some to greatness, others to ruin. Inscribe your name upon it with your mana, and the pact will bind you to the Coil of Eternity."

Adam's heart pounded with excitement and anticipation. He knelt down before the ancient scroll and gathered mana at the tip of his index finger. Finally, he signed his name on the scroll.

A wave of energy surged through the dark cave. The runes and symbols on the scroll flared to life, spiraling into the air like serpents made of light. They coiled around Adam, seemingly imrinting themselves upon him.

"It is done," Lord White's voice echoed, softer now but no less powerful.

"From this moment forth, you are bound to the serpents as we are bound to you. Walk wisely, Adam Constantine, for the Coil watches always."