Published at 2nd of September 2026 5:50 am

Chapter 1980: Powerful Backer

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The emergence of the map changed everything.Well, that and the defeat Adam and Luca faced at the hands of Sandra — despite it being a part of an elaborate play.

To begin with, their reason to cross the mountains was to scout the lands beyond, so they had a better understanding of the secret plane as a whole. Additionally, they wanted to see the strength of vampires on the other side.

However, just Sandra alone had defeated them so brutally. And they knew that there were more like her. Not to mention the vampire king, who was the strongest of them all.

Adam would be lying if he claimed that he would have been able to defeat Sandra even if he was in his best condition. Moreover, he didn’t even have the confidence of escaping from her in the event that he lost.

What made Adam an expert at running away?Teleportation magic.

Where was he presently?In a dimension that prevented the usage of teleportation magic, which fell under the School of Summoning.

So, taking all of this into consideration, Adam and Luca, after long hours of debate, finally agreed that they had to advance to the next step, and only then could they go beyond the Lamiyan Mountains.

For that matter, they decided to return to Adventurers’ City, which just so happened to be the location where one of the two Xs was marked on the map.

Speaking of Sandra’s map, Luca was still very much against relying on it. Adam could see the wisdom in not trusting anything that came from the hands of an enemy. But then again, Luca didn’t trust anyone who was not a human.

"Constantine, I still think you’re making a mistake!" Luca growled as the pair hopped from one branch to another, making their way back to the city.

"This whole thing reeks of a conspiracy, I tell you!"

Adam groaned in exasperation. His companion just wouldn’t stop complaining about the map and the white-haired vampire, who had so easily defeated him with just a few words.

Currently, Luca was under the concealment of one of his artifacts, whereas Adam simply cast illusion magic on himself to turn invisible.

They wouldn’t want to be seen by the ravens after they "died" now, would they?

Adam shot Luca a question, one that made him ponder deeply.

"Have you ever wondered? Just as there are adventurers who have spent years trying to escape this secret plane, there must also be vampires who yearn for the same freedom?"

After a long moment of silence, Luca simply growled in response. They traveled in silence for a long time before he finally spoke.

"How long do you think you’ll take to form the Seed?"

"Should be able to do it within six months," Adam said nonchalantly.

Luca turned to look at Adam with slightly suspicious eyes. Although he couldn’t see him because of the invisibility spell, he looked in the general direction.

"You said you had no mentors here," he began, "so how are you so sure about the advancement?"

Adam snorted. "You’d suspect a bird if it flew the wrong way."

Luca pressed unabashedly. "So? Do you have some strong backing or no?"

"Of course not." Adam shook his head.

"Who’s going to back someone like me? Well, unless they see the extent of my talent or arcane prowess. But why should I reveal my cards to them? I’ve been doing quite fine on my own since I came here."

Inwardly, he continued: And I carry too many secrets with me.

So I don’t need that strong a backing.

Unless I’m too desperate, I probably won’t even join an organization.

He had wanted to join the Twilight Brotherhood, but after seeing their current state, he doubted there would be much use in joining them.

The Twilight Brotherhood was but a pale shadow of its former glory. Thousands of years of infighting had reduced what was once a mighty behemoth to little more than a carcass, clinging to the remnants of its former grandeur.

Adam did harbor some sentimental feelings toward the Brotherhood. After all, it had once been a force that commanded his respect, and one that he admired and looked up to. But sentiment alone meant nothing if the organization could no longer support his ambitions.

If anything, joining them in their current state might only drag him down. No matter how selfish his reasoning might have been, Adam had ultimately made his decision after a long period of deliberation.

He would not join the Twilight Brotherhood.

As for what would happen when that handler inevitably tried to meet him in the future... Adam would simply postpone the meeting. If necessary, he would drag it out for as long as he could. And if matters came to a head, he would make it clear, as politely as possible, that he had no intention of joining the Brotherhood.

Luca mistook Adam’s reply for a deliberate refusal to reveal the existence of the imaginary powerful backer he had assumed stood behind him. And so, the misunderstanding — and Luca’s caution — only deepened.

Adam scoffed. "Stop looking at me like that."

Luca was startled. "You can see me?!"

"My eyes see through all deceit, Paladin." Adam raised his chin smugly.

Luca simply rolled his eyes. He might be suspicious of his companion’s background, but he couldn’t help but admire Adam’s state of mind.

Despite Valerian being so badly injured, Adam having sustained injuries in the previous battle, and Genevieve having been abducted, Adam never let any of it show.

The man always had a smile on his face, as though he could wade through every trouble life threw at him and that smile would never fade.

"But you are confident in forming the Seed, yes?" Luca asked solemnly. "I may not be a Magus, but I know many of them die trying to advance to this realm."

"I’m confident, alright." Adam’s answer came without hesitation. "I’ve spent decades consolidating my strength at the Mana Core Rank."

"But... how are you going to advance without someone guiding you through it?" Luca couldn’t help but ask. "You should already know how dangerous it is."

"Don’t worry," Adam said easily. "I’ve had plenty of guidance on this matter."

He finished the rest of the words in his mind.

From some of the greatest Magi in this universe.

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