Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery’s mind raced. The explosion was not just a self-destruct mechanism—it was a clear attempt to eliminate evidence, a desperate move by whoever controlled these puppets

But as Emery prepared to face the two remaining puppets, he noticed a shift in their strategy. Sensing his newfound strength, the puppets abandoned their direct assault on him. Instead, they turned their focus toward the white tree, where the injured Damo lay vulnerable, and his forces were fighting.

A surge of rage and urgency flooded through Emery as he saw the puppets charging toward the tree. His voice boomed across the cave, echoing with a mix of fury and desperation,

“Don’t you dare think about it!”

Emery had anticipated such a scenario, but the previous puppet’s explosive end made him all the more anxious. Determined not to let them reach the vulnerable monk, Emery sprang into action with everything he had.

The primal transformation had significantly increased his battle power, but it came with a drawback. The transformation made it difficult for him to cast complex spells quickly. Spells like Energy barriers or gravity manipulation, which were crucial in slowing down the puppets, took too long to prepare in his current state. Realizing this, Emery chose to rely on his enhanced speed instead, hoping to intercept the puppets before they could reach the tree.

With a burst of velocity, he charged at one of the puppets. The force of his assault was immense, and he managed to land a devastating blow. However, the puppet reacted swiftly, using its considerable strength to grab hold of Emery’s arm and immobilize him momentarily. The puppet’s grip was unyielding, its intention clear—it aimed to buy time for its companion to complete its mission.

Emery roared in frustration as he summoned all his strength to break free. His powerful muscles flexed as he wrenched his arm from the puppet’s grasp, tearing the puppet’s arm apart in the process. Yet, just as he thought he had regained the upper hand, the puppet’s self-destruction mechanism activated.

“Dammit!”

KABBOMMM!!

The explosion from the self-destructing puppet was fierce enough to send Emery reeling, even with his enhanced primal form. The sheer force of the blast bruised his powerful, beastly body, but his focus remained unshaken. His eyes darted toward the other puppets, who were now closing in on the walls.

With Morgana engaged in battle against the Cyclops and thus unable to assist, Yama was the sole defender left.

The Talami hybrid charged forward, his resolve steeled. He unleashed his most potent ice spell, [Frozen Hell], an intense blizzard imbued with Khaos energy. Sharp, dagger-sized icicles whipped through the air, creating a formidable barrier.

Despite the spell’s strength, it only managed to momentarily slow the puppets down, its raw power blasting through the ice storm.

The puppet, undeterred, soared toward the walls like a falling comet, intent on igniting itself and causing maximum destruction.

Emery’s heart raced in panic, knowing he wouldn’t reach the puppet in time to stop it. He could witness the sacrifice unfolding.

He startled to see Yama, with unwavering courage, hurled himself at the puppet, using his own body as a shield. His sacrifice was a desperate attempt to tackle the puppet back as far from the wall as possible before the inevitable happened.

KABOOMMM!!!

The explosion thundered outside the walls, its shockwave wreaking havoc on the Abyss creatures and sending dozens of them tumbling away.

Emery’s heart raced with anxiety, fearing the worst for his allies.

As the dust and smoke began to clear, he was met with a surprising sight: a massive, protective shield of wooden plant matter enveloping Yama. Twik, his body having strengthened over the past months, had shielded Yama from the worst of the blast. The protective barrier had mitigated much of the explosion’s impact, preserving Yama’s life.

His buddy Twik appears hurt, but not critical enough to keep him from continuing to fight.

“Good job, Twik!!” Emery shouted, relief flooding his voice.

However, the explosion had an unintended consequence; it seemed to provoke even more Abyss creatures. The cave system began to teem with activity as tens of thousands of hellhounds surged across the ground, their snarls and growls echoing through the tunnels. Above, thousands of stone gargoyles filled the air, their menacing forms casting shadows over the battlefield.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Emery stood resolute, his determination unshaken.

With a fierce resolve, he rejoined the fray. His presence alone began to shift the battle’s momentum. The Cyclops, once an unyielding threat, started to fall one by one under the combined onslaught of Emery’s renewed vigor and the relentless efforts of his allies.

Just as the battle seemed to turn in their favor, reinforcements arrived, bolstering the defenders’

Yami, accompanied by five seasoned Magus—elite guards hired specifically for the moonbase—took charge of the relentless cleanup effort. Together, they systematically eradicated the Abyss creatures that continued to surge from the ruins.

Emery, leading the charge, directed the combined forces with precision, pushing back the encroaching horde and advancing towards the breached Abyss gate.

When they finally reached the gate, the sight that greeted them was dire. The once-sealed gate lay in ruins, its protective enchantments shattered, and a yawning fissure gaped wide.

Emery paused at the threshold, his eyes scanning the vast expanse beyond. What lay before him was a scorching realm, an inferno of seething, malevolent energy filled with millions of Abyss creatures. The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a glimpse into the chaotic world that had been unleashed.

Determined to prevent further invasion, Emery knew he had to seal the breach.

Lacking the intricate knowledge of formations required for a permanent fix, he opted for the next best solution. With VIA’s guidance, he employed his considerable comprehension of the law of space to construct a makeshift space barrier. This temporary patch was designed to stabilize the rift and hold the Abyss creatures at bay until a formation expert could arrive to properly seal the gate.

With the new teleportation gate set up at the Moonbase, the Magus enforcers arrived on the scene within just a few hours. Until their arrival, Emery had been unable to detect any further intruders, leading him to believe that the killer had likely escaped amidst the chaos.

As the enforcers began their detailed investigation, Emery surveyed the aftermath of the battle. The scene was grim and disordered, with the extent of the destruction making it increasingly challenging to uncover any solid evidence about the assailants.

Emery’s thoughts turned to his last hope: Damo. The young monk, who might have witnessed crucial details during the chaos, had yet to regain consciousness.