Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery spent several hours battling the relentless streams, his body crashing and tumbling through the swirling vortex over and over again.

Each trip left him battered, his flesh nearly torn apart if not for the constant regeneration of his [Sylvian Armor]. The cold water stung his skin, the crushing force threatening to rip him apart, but Emery’s determination kept him going.

“Again!”

Despite his inability to find an exit, Emery’s efforts were not in vain. Slowly, he became more attuned to the currents, growing familiar with their chaotic patterns. Every time he was thrown from one tunnel to another, VIA would help keep all the data, helping him analyze the maze of swirling water. Piece by piece, he was finally able to map the layout of the tunnels.

It became clear that the tunnel streams, while appearing natural, were anything but.

Emery found that the streams ran in parallel, divided into over 300 sections that pushed and pulled each other, creating a continuous and seemingly infinite movement. However, the design of the tunnels was far too precise to be a natural formation. Someone had deliberately shaped each tunnel with exact measurements—its size, length, and angle—ensuring the streams never stopped, creating the perfect balance between chaos and order. The name “Infinity Seamount” now made perfect sense.

As this realization struck him, Emery felt a sudden surge of understanding. The streams, the vortex, the calm center—they were all interconnected, reflecting the flow of nature itself. Inspired by this newfound insight, Emery sat down in the lotus position. He closed his eyes, letting his senses reach out to the currents around him. His mind focused on the relationship between the extreme vortexes and the calmness of the deep sea within the chamber. In this tranquil state, Emery began to comprehend the deeper nature of the currents, tapping into the flow of energy that coursed through the seamount.

[You have successfully comprehended the law of Water.]

[Your comprehension of the Law of Nature has improved.]

[Law of Nature: 41 (42%)]

When Emery opened his eyes, three days had passed.

He was relieved to find that Klea had broken free from her frozen state. Her skin was no longer pale, her energy vibrant—Klea had clearly gained much from her experience, her mastery over ice and water now even stronger, making her far more resistant to the cold than before.

Noticing Emery’s calm demeanor, Klea sensed that he, too, had made progress. She asked,

Emery didn’t respond with words. Instead, he summoned his [Sylvian Armor] once more, and his wings of light spread wide as he prepared for yet another attempt. Without hesitation, he dove back into the swirling currents.

This time, things were different.

His newfound understanding of the Law of Water allowed him to move with the currents rather than fight against them. His body flowed with the streams, adapting to their varying speeds and pressures, weaving through the maze with far more grace than before. His movements became fluid, the swirling water no longer his enemy but a guide.

As Emery swam through the currents, VIA’s data mapped out the entire maze, guiding him toward the exit. Every twist and turn, every tunnel, every shift in the currents was now familiar to him. He could sense the flow, anticipate the changes, and adjust his course accordingly. But just as he neared the path to freedom, the pressure from one of the larger streams intensified. A heavy current slammed into him, blocking his way forward. Despite his best efforts, Emery was forced back once again, thrown out of the tunnel and into the safety of the central chamber.

VIA presented Emery with half a dozen alternate routes, meticulously mapped out from the data they had gathered. Each led toward the exit but, frustratingly, every attempt ended in failure. It felt as if an invisible barrier was pushing him back or that an overwhelming force was pulling him into the swirling vortex, making escape seem impossible.

Klea asked.

In response, VIA projected a detailed holographic map of the tunnel system. Afterward, Emery shared his findings using his [Soul Walk] ability. It allowed Klea to experience the disorienting force firsthand.

It took only a moment for Klea to discern that a formation was embedded within the streams, its complexity hidden in the layers of flowing water. As she delved deeper into its intricacies, breaking it down bit by bit, another realization hit her—an insight into the very structure of the formation. While Klea was engrossed in her newfound understanding, Emery shifted his focus to the other mystery of the seamount: the bubble-like barrier that separated them from the deadly currents outside. Drawing from his previous understanding of the currents, Emery focused on the 32 streams pouring into the chamber and how they interacted with the space within. He began to map out their movements in his mind, noting how the streams balanced and countered one another. But this new insight went beyond just the behavior of the water. It revealed a more profound connection between the shapes formed by the Earth element within the seamount and the gravitational forces at work.

As he contemplated this relationship, Emery realized that the bubble barrier was not merely a protective shield. It was a carefully crafted equilibrium. The way the streams converged and diverged created a dynamic pressure system that maintained the chamber’s integrity, allowing it to exist in a state of calm amid the violent forces swirling outside.

One day… two days… three days passed.

Each day, Emery became more engrossed in the intricate relationship between the water’s weight and movement, the shapes of the mountain, and the pull of gravity. The seamount was not just a random formation but a masterful confluence of elements, creating a natural spatial barrier.

With each moment spent contemplating this synergy, he became increasingly convinced that this newfound understanding would greatly enhance his ability to connect his dark and light domains.

Unfortunately, the ten-day deadline loomed, a limit that had been imposed without clear explanation. Then, as the final day approached, the answer revealed itself.

Emery noticed a subtle change in the currents. The once-violent vortex that had trapped them began to lose its force. The streams slowed, and then, in an instant, they ceased altogether.

As the extreme currents finally subsided, transforming the once-tumultuous seamount into an empty shell of its former self, Emery knew it was time to make his move.

Holding Klea’s hand, Emery swam upward back to the Shambala Kingdom where the Supreme Being awaited them.