Published at 9th of February 2026 7:20 am

Chapter 1484 Same Question

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Nyle Damon felt a terrible headache, as if someone had brute-forced their way into his mind.

That was indeed the case.

After a brief moment of disorientation, he found himself standing on the surface of a vast, seemingly endless sea. The sky above was clear and pale blue. There was no sun, just a wide empty stretch.

But the water beneath his feet told a different story…

The surface of the sea rippled constantly. Small waves rolled in every direction, colliding and breaking into each other. The water was restless, as if something beneath it was stirring. The air felt suffocating, and a distant rumble echoed faintly across the horizon.

It felt like… a storm was coming.

Damon looked down at the dark, shifting water under his feet and felt a chill running down his spine.

"My spirit sea," he murmured in a daze.

He then raised his head and saw a hooded figure in the distance. He wore a dark-silver mask and looked calm and undeterred.

"You…" Damon's eyes narrowed. "You forced your way into my spirit sea?!"

"That appears to be the case," Adam said with a carefree smile.

Damon felt frightened only for a moment. But then, he burst into a maniacal fit of laughter.

"You fool!" He sneered. "You should have finished me off outside when you had the chance! Don't you know that inside one's spirit sea, the owner has the greatest advantage?"

"That is usually the case," Adam replied calmly. "But that advantage is forfeit when you consider one possibility…"

"And what's that?" Damon appeared before the raven-haired youth like a shadowy specter and swung his fist at him.

"The possibility of the invader's soul being far stronger than the owner's." Adam disappeared and then reappeared several steps behind the Councilor.

The murderous grin on Damon's face quickly vanished, replaced by fear once again.

Seven consecutive strikes landed on his torso in that split moment.

His spirit sea shuddered violently, reflecting the severe damage his soul had just taken. An attack like that in the outside world would have left Damon bloodied and battered. But here, his spirit body did not have the concept of blood or pain — only being and unbeing.

After Adam's assault, Damon's form became slightly more incorporeal.

Along with the soul-rending pain coursing through his being, there was immense disbelief as well. He couldn't help but wonder how strong the masked man's soul must be to deal such serious damage to his spirit body.

Damon had believed he held an advantage inside his own spirit sea, but it turned out… he was even more in danger here than he had been in the outside world!

Dark clouds began to gather over his spirit sea. They thickened and spread across the sky, swallowing the pale blue until everything was gray. Waves grew taller and rougher, crashing against each other violently.

The once-restless water turned chaotic in an instant.

Thunder rolled across the horizon, each distant boom echoing in Damon's chest. Lightning flickered inside the clouds, and the storm kept growing. The more damage his spirit body took, the worse it became.

His spirit sea was reacting to his injuries. It was losing stability. He feared that if he sustained more damage, then his spirit sea would be close to collapsing.

And when that happened…

Damon quickly turned around and fearfully gazed at Adam. "Just who are you?! Why are you doing this to me?!"

Adam wished he could take off the mask and give the traitorous scum the scare of his life.

But he didn't.

Firstly, he couldn't remove the Faceless Mask even if he wanted to. Right now, he had only made it manifest over his skin as an extra layer. And secondly, remaining anonymous would drive even more fear into the man's heart.

"I told you already," he said with a light chuckle. "I'm no one."

Before Damon could say another word, Adam continued, "As to why I'm doing this to you… let's just say I want you to answer a few of my questions. Now, Lord Councilor, won't you be kind enough to satiate my curiosity?"

"If you wish to know secrets about the Brotherhood or the Cult, then I can't help you!" Damon blurted out. "I've sworn a mana oath! Just ask me anything else! Please, I'm begging you!"

"Did Vulwin Preskin also beg for mercy before you murdered him?" Adam asked with a wicked smile.

Hearing those words, Damon's eyes gradually widened.

Adam chuckled. "So it really was you."

He stroked his chin and nodded in understanding. "I get it now. Pin the blame on the Old Man and turn him into an outcast, ensuring the Preservationists are driven further into the ground."

Damon's teeth clattered in apprehension. "Y-you… what is your relation with Berger Glynhorn?! Are you… are you from the Preservationists faction?! A new Mana Core Mgagus?! Wh-who the hell are you?"

Adam crouched before the frightened old man and said in a cold voice, "You keep asking the same question. Do you want another beating?"

Damon gulped. When had he ever been so humiliated like this before? He couldn't recall. But there was nothing he could do now. He was completely at the mercy of the masked man.

"Since you can't divulge secrets, hmm, let's see…" Adam stroked his chin. "Forcefully scouring through your memories is also a bad idea, since I can't have you die on me. Navigating around your mana oath is also tricky."

Those last few words provided Damon with a glimmer of hope. As long as he didn't die, he'd have a chance to get out of this mess.

A few moments later, Adam asked. "Alright then, why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?"

"…Huh?" The Councilor was dumbfounded at those words.

"Come on, you know... the way you behave, the way you move, your likes, your dislikes." Adam smiled. "Tell me everything about you. I'd like to get to know you better."

He paused, then added. "Oh, by the way, I'll know if you lie. So don't. Unless you'd rather turn into a vegetable, of course."

***

Several minutes later, the door of the run-down storehouse creaked open.

Nyle Damon stepped out into the night air. The forest was still, tall trees loomed on both sides, and leaves rustled softly in the wind.

He turned around and glanced at the Brotherhood's abandoned outpost, his lips gradually curling into a devious smirk.

The elderly man turned back around. He pulled his cloak around himself and started walking toward Springdale. He still had a few things left to take care of before he could leave the city.

Come sunrise, the Brotherhood would be in utter chaos.

But the faceless Magus would be long gone…

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