Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1965 When You See the Moon

A hauntingly beautiful castle stood atop a hill.

Its towering spires pierced the night sky, and jagged battlements crowned its dark stone walls. Ornate arches framed the tall, narrow windows.

Ivy crawled up the weathered stone, twisting around gargoyles and crumbling statues that watched over the ground with hollowed eyes.

Despite its grandeur, there was something deeply unsettling about this castle. Its beauty felt cold and lifeless, as though the entire structure had been frozen in time.

A heavy silence settled over the hill, broken only by the occasional cry of a distant raven or the howl of a wolf.

On a stone balcony at one of the upper levels of the castle, a figure stood silently, leaning against the railing.

He wore a rich, crimson doublet. Over it, he wore a dark, long-fitted coat that fell almost to his knees. A dark cloak hung over his shoulders, which were protected by ornate pauldrons.

His face was pale, as though drained of life. A sharp receding hairline framed his forehead. His eyes were those of a predator, crimson, cold, and dangerous.

Overall, his appearance was that of a powerful nobleman, elegant and refined.

But he was no man.

He was the king of this secret plane.

The Usurper.

Jacob de Vile.

A goblet of blood rested in his hand as he looked at the crimson moon in the sky, his eyes distant and dreamy.

The sound of wings flapping drifted in the cold breeze. Following that, a raven landed on the stone railing. It tilted its head and glanced at the vampire king.

Caw! Caw!

The Usurper shifted his gaze to the little bird.

A moment later, his lips parted, and he said gently, "I see. So that's what happened."

The raven's eyes gleamed with uncanny intelligence. After relaying its message, it spread its wings and flew away.

The vampire king let out a soft sigh. He brought the goblet to his lips and took a light sip. Then he returned his gaze to the crimson moon.

I will always be with you, my beloved.

A gentle, feminine voice filled with warmth echoed in the recesses of the Usurper's cold mind.

I will always be looking over you.

Think of me when you see the moon.

The voice of his lover kept repeating inside Jacob's mind, words she had said to him a lifetime ago.

The vampire king's lips curled into a wry smile, and his crimson eyes gleamed with yearning.

"Just looking at you from afar isn't enough, my love," he whispered to the moon.

"I need you here beside me. For eternity."

A ruby pendant hung around his neck. Within the beautiful red gem, a tiny orb of white light danced gently. Jacob reached out and stroked the gem with loving care.

"It's almost ready," he murmured.

"Just a little more."

The vampire king's gentle and loving demeanor was completely at odds with the legends that surrounded him. To the residents on this side of the mountain, he was evil incarnate. To adventurers, he was the mysterious beast of slaughter.

But here, in this quiet moment, there was no fearsome king, no bloodthirsty monster.

There was only a heartbroken man, gently caressing the pendant that held the remnant of the woman he loved, yearning for the day they would finally be reunited.

"Just a little more…"

Jacob stared dotingly at the crimson moon.

The sound of footsteps reached his ears soon. His gentle face slowly faded away, replaced by something cold, dark, and evil. His eyes drooped ever so slightly as they gleamed with malice.

"Your Majesty." A vampire greeted respectfully as he got down on one knee. "Your messenger requests an audience with you."

The Usurper nodded in response.

The vampire soldier left. Several minutes later, he returned with the goat monster, Carou.

Carou's arms were bandaged. Though his injuries had healed for the most part, he still had a pale look on his face. That had nothing to do with the wounds on his arms, but the failure of his mission.

He quickly got down on his knees and begged. "Your Majesty, I have failed you!"

"You have," said the vampire king, his words cold as ice.

Carou shuddered. Sweat poured from his face as he kept his head lowered. He saw droplets of sweat splattering on the stone floor. He gulped nervously as he finally gathered the courage to speak.

"The human with the Brand," he began in a shaky voice. "The High Priest and the Puppeteer seemed to have fought over him. But his whereabouts are unknown. He… he might be dead, but I'm not sure."

The Usurper did not speak. He brought the goblet to his lips and took another sip.

"A-As for the maiden," Carou spoke up again. "I have already spoken with Aramen. He should have delivered her by now. She should be on her way as we speak."

A soft sigh escaped the vampire king's lips.

It was but a small gesture, but it sent chills through Carou's body, nevertheless.

The Usurper placed the goblet on the railing. He finally turned around and faced the goat monster. With a cold look on his pale face, he commanded:

"Rise."

Carou forced his teeth to stop clattering in fright. He hesitated but a moment before quickly rising to his feet. "Yes, your majesty!"

He still kept his head lowered, not daring to meet his king's gaze. He noticed the vampire king take two steps forward and stand before him. His heart was gripped by terror.

But the vampire king's following words put his mind at ease.

"Do not fret," said the Usurper as he clasped Carou's shoulders. "You are the fastest, and that is why I deemed you a messenger."

"Yes, your majesty!"

The vampire king's lips curled upward, revealing his sharp canines. His left hand slowly slid behind Carou's neck, and his right hand had turned into a shadowy blur.

"But I have no use for those who fail me."

Thud!

Carou's lifeless body fell to the ground, a gaping hole torn through his chest.

The Vampire King glanced at the still-beating heart in his right hand with mild amusement. A moment later, however, he tossed it aside, having already lost interest.

His eyes were full of disdain as he gazed at Carou's corpse.

"Feed him to the wolves."

With that said, he headed back inside.

"Yes, your majesty!"

A moment later, the shadows on the balcony stirred. They spread across Carou's corpse, swallowing even the blood pooling on the stone floor.

And then, nothing remained.