- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 544
“Alright, now it’s time to add my blood.”
After placing the collected materials into the container on the raised platform above the circular ritual circle, Serana drew a small elf-made dagger from her belt, made a cut in her palm, and began reciting a necromancy incantation to commune with the Ideal Master.
As the incantation resonated, Serana’s blood blended with the three materials, releasing a unique wave of necromantic energy.
Blue energy streamed from the container, flowing down to the circular ritual, causing it to spin rapidly. A portal to the Soul Cairn opened.
“My mother… she actually succeeded in creating a portal to the Soul Cairn. This is incredible!”
Serana marveled at the sight of the portal. Valerica had managed to create a permanent, directional portal to the Soul Cairn—a feat that no one in Serana’s era had ever achieved.
It was clear that Valerica’s research in necromancy was truly extraordinary.
“By the way, Leo, I forgot to mention something. According to what my mother taught me about the Soul Cairn, the Ideal Master doesn’t welcome living beings into his realm—unless they are willing to offer part of their soul as a fee to enter.
So, either you wait outside while I go in to find my mother, or you’ll need to give up a portion of your soul.
If you’re willing to become a vampire, I could also share my blood with you.”
Just as they were about to step into the Soul Cairn, Serana suddenly recalled this detail and explained it to Leo.
Leo thought for a moment and then smiled.
“No need, I can handle this myself.”
The rule that only undead beings could enter the Soul Cairn freely had caught him by surprise. But it wasn’t a major issue—he had a way around it.
“Ghost Rider transformation!”
Summoning the power of the Spirit of Vengeance within him, Leo’s entire form transformed into a flaming skeleton engulfed in hellfire.
Did the Ghost Rider form count as an undead creature?
Absolutely. It was the very definition of an undead entity—dead beyond dead, with no trace of living energy, fully capable of traveling even to Mephisto’s Hell realm.
In truth, Leo could have also used the power of the Moon-Reading Dimension to force his way into the Soul Cairn, bypassing the Ideal Master’s barrier.
But his primary goal was to retrieve the Elder Scroll, and he didn’t want to risk losing it if a conflict arose.
“Leo, are you… are you undead too?”
Serana stepped back, staring at the blue-flamed figure of Leo in shock.
It wasn’t that she feared undead beings—she herself was one. What surprised her was how well he had disguised himself as a human, and also the instinctive fear she felt towards the flames enveloping him. Even as a Daughter of Coldharbour, she was not immune to a vampire’s natural fear of fire.
And the blue flames surrounding Leo felt even more terrifying than the fire he had used in his earlier spells.
“Of course I’m not undead. This is just a transformation spell that lets me temporarily become one.”
Leo’s skeletal mouth clacked open and shut as he explained.
Serana’s expression turned to one of awe:
“You humans are truly remarkable. Despite your short lifespans, you constantly come up with all kinds of amazing spells—even a spell to turn into an undead. I’m starting to think my father’s decision to oppose all humanity is really unwise.”
Indeed, after Leo’s transformation into Ghost Rider, he and Serana smoothly passed through the portal, arriving in the Soul Cairn.
Upon entering, Leo immediately sensed a powerful presence focusing on him.
He suspected it was the Ideal Master, but he made no outward sign of awareness, pretending instead to be absorbed in marveling at the strange realm alongside Serana.
The Soul Cairn was a dark, somber place. The sky held neither sun, moon, nor stars, only a thick layer of fog.
The blackened ground held numerous buildings, all in ruins, which Leo assumed had been wrecked during Mehrunes Dagon’s invasion.
As they walked through this realm, they encountered numerous wandering souls, most of them appearing lost and aimless.
If approached, the souls would respond to conversation, but their memories seemed frozen in the final moments of their lives, often unaware that they were dead and trapped in the Soul Cairn.
Moreover, the realm wasn’t entirely safe. Occasionally, powerful undead creatures would emerge to attack them, but Leo easily dispatched them with the flaming chains of hellfire he wielded.
Hellfire, with its ability to burn souls, proved to be the perfect counter against these undead creatures.
Though the Soul Cairn was vast, it was still smaller than Skyrim, and after a while, they eventually found Valerica, Serana’s mother, near a massive structure deep within the realm.
However, Valerica was trapped, confined within a powerful magical barrier surrounding the structure.
Serana could only speak to her mother through the barrier.
“Mother, you’re really here!”
“Oh, creator, Serana, how did you end up here?”
What followed was a long, emotional reunion between mother and daughter, filled with joy, arguments, and eventual reconciliation.
Leo stood quietly to the side, listening without interrupting.
Through Valerica’s explanations, he finally pieced together the full story.
A thousand years ago, Harkon had come across a prophecy that claimed he could end the sun’s reign and bring the vampires to power if he possessed Auriel’s Bow—the divine weapon of the elven sun god Auriel—and sacrificed the life of a Daughter of Coldharbour.
Driven by this, he became obsessed with finding the Elder Scrolls, intending to use their power to locate Auriel’s Bow and then sacrifice his daughter Serana to fulfill the prophecy, seizing control over all of Tamriel.
Valerica, upon learning of Harkon’s plan, vehemently opposed the idea of sacrificing their daughter for his ambitions.
When her efforts to dissuade him failed, she deliberately distanced herself from Serana to lull Harkon into a false sense of security. Secretly, she made a pact with the Ideal Master and devised a way to reach the Soul Cairn.
One day, she stole two of the Elder Scrolls while Harkon was distracted. She sealed one scroll with Serana in the Darkfall Cave and took the other with her into the Soul Cairn.
She had planned to return to Nirn and release Serana once Harkon abandoned his plans.
But things didn’t go as expected within the Soul Cairn.
(End of chapter)