Chapter 177: More Than Bone and Muscle, But a Brilliant Mind

Adam watched the Grand Witch’s expression change with hope and anticipation as he started to tell her what he was thinking.

"Even that Drakon child possessing the Flesh of the Matriarch of Fate was unable to break the seal."

The Drakon girl’s bloodline trait made her body almost immune to every element.

It was such a powerful trait that without any proper training, she was naturally very resistant even to intense mana pressure.

But even with that kind of body, no matter how long she had stayed in that pool, she had never been able to pass the seal and enter the Underworld.

He continued, stroking his long white beard again.

"As far as I know, the Eyes of the Matriarch of Death has no ability to break barriers or seals. It should only give him the ability to see and track mana. Unless he has another trait belonging to the Matriarch of Order."

That was also what Hecate was thinking.

"I’m not even sure if that would be possible," she murmured. She had never seen anyone carrying 2 ancient bloodline traits in the same body.

She turned toward the strongly burning campfire and took a deep breath.

Next, she blew gently toward the fire.

It wasn’t powerful, not a gust and not even a soft breeze. Yet the moment her breath touched the fire, it suddenly went out, breaking the seal holding the entrance just like that.

It wasn’t Adam’s first time witnessing it, but seeing it still filled him with awe, like always.

It wasn’t a spell. It was Hecate’s bloodline trait, the Breath of the Matriarch of Order.

It was the only Bloodline Trait that gave someone the ability to break any barrier or seal, and with enough mastery over the trait, they could even break any spell.

If Magna really had this trait, it wouldn’t be surprising at all that he had broken the seal so easily.

After the campfire went out and the seal was broken, Hecate didn’t waste even a second before calling her Shadow.

"Arthas."

Her shadow stretched across the ground, yet it did not even tremble as the man wearing black steel armor and long black hair suddenly emerged from it in front of her.

She looked at his face. "The seal is lifted. Go find the child."

As soon as he received the order, Arthas’s body disappeared from their side again.

Hecate waited only a few seconds before raising her hands toward the campfire and chanting.

"O Monolith of the Solitary Mountain, Scale that has balanced since before the First Rule, Breathless Mother of Law and Marble."

This time, she chanted the honorable names quite slowly, at least slowly enough for Adam to follow them.

As for the chanting words needed to activate the spell, no actual words came from her mouth. Instead, a kind of music, like many instruments blending together, formed the spell pattern instantly.

Right after that, the campfire suddenly burst back into flames, burning even stronger and more vibrantly than before.

Adam looked at the fire. Apparently, the seal had become stronger than before, meaning Hecate had once again improved the potency of her spell.

She was already an old hag, yet she continued getting stronger every time he saw her. It was quite surprising, and it also made him feel like he was really getting old.

"I feel like my time is coming closer and closer." He let out a heavy sigh, wondering when the time would finally come for him to die. Living that long had become quite boring.

He didn’t even get to enjoy a retired life, thanks to this Grand Witch who had put him here to guard the entrance and kept sending him children to train.

Hecate chuckled when she saw his darkened face.

"Don’t try to make me sympathize with you with those words. If you want a free life, first train someone to take your place."

Adam felt even more dispirited hearing that. "Is there even anyone you would consider capable of replacing me?"

He was the first Shadow in history, ever since the Shadow Witch contract spell had been created.

Even his Witch had died long ago from old age after he served her for a few human lifetimes, but his duty was still going on, only in a different form.

It couldn’t be helped, since he wasn’t only the most experienced one still living, but also the most knowledgeable one when it came to training the new generation of Shadows.

He was certain that this heartless Witch would force him to carry these responsibilities until his last breath. He had always been certain of it, until he heard the next words from her mouth, words he never thought he would hear.

"Actually, there is one with the potential, but you lost him." She turned around and started walking toward her Wyvern.

"What do you mean? That boy?" Adam was quite shocked but hopeful as well when he asked.

It was the first time he had seen hope that he could hand over his centuries-old profession to someone else.

But the boy was only a few years old, even younger than he looked, since Adam could tell just by feeling the lifeforce radiating from his body.

It was like an insult to compare a child of only a few years to someone who had accumulated centuries of experience.

Hecate came in front of the Wyvern’s head. Her body began to rise into the air, then slowly landed on its giant head.

She then took a few papers from her robe and threw them to him.

"Here is all the information about him that I have collected and organized so far. Read it and you will understand."

The papers floated through the air. The old man caught them with his bony, wrinkled hands.

While he read the words written on them, his expression started to change. His eyes widened.

"You vile Witch. Why didn’t you send me these before?"

Until now, he had only evaluated Magna based on his physical traits, since that was his job anyway. He would only begin evaluating their other qualities in the later trials, once they passed their first trial. It was something that hadn’t changed for years.

But now, seeing the reports about Magna, he finally understood that the boy wasn’t only bone and muscle. He really had a great brain and mind in his head.

Hecate laughed again, looking quite amused by the old man’s expression. "Just pray Arthas finds him alive and brings him back."

Next, with the Wyvern raising its body, they flew off into the sky.

Adam’s eyes remained focused for a while on the black dot flying through the sky until it disappeared. He then turned his attention back to the words written on the papers.

He paid special attention to the long paragraphs with large, bold headings.

New Activation Method for the Serene State Bloodline Trait

New Activation Method and Side Effect Removal for the Blood Fever Bloodline Trait

Improved and Revised Training Method for Shadow Reflexes and Reaction

After those came the even more incredible headings. His eyes remained fixed on them for a while without even blinking.

New Theory on Shadow Spell Activation

Greatly Improved and Revised Training Method for Shadow Spell Casting Speed and Power

New Shadow Training Method for Improving Memory and Imagination (Not Yet Verified)