Earth's Greatest Magus

The Red Demon’s expression twisted into a sneer as he raised his burning spear high, the weapon glowing with intense crimson energy. Sensing the impending shift in their enemy’s tactics, Major Kouga called out with urgency, “Stay close! Keep the formation tight!”

All quickly heeded his call, closing in around Agis. Major Kouga, Grand Magus Archie, and Dopa formed a triangular front, each taking one corner to intercept the Red Demon. Grand Magus Miriel stayed behind Archie. Helga positioned herself just behind Dopa. Only Emery lingered at the rear, observing and calculating his next move.

Agis chuckled mockingly at their stance. “Foolish!” he sneered. “Resistance is futile!” With those words, he charged, his burning spear aimed directly at the elderly Grand Magus Archie, who immediately braced himself to meet the attack head-on.

In response, Archie unleashed his defensive technique. His crimson lightning sword aura ignited, forming a wall of blades that sparked and hummed with intense energy. The Red Demon’s spear struck with the force of an avalanche, smashing against the hundred sword aura like a hammer on iron. The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the impact so powerful that it shook the ground around them.

BAMMM!!

Archie’s face contorted in strain as he pushed back against Agis’s overwhelming force. With a pained grunt, blood sprayed from his mouth and feet skidding across the desert sands as he fought to regain his balance.

Instead of finishing off the elderly Grand Magus, the Red Demon pushed forward toward his true target—Princess Miriel, the weakest among the five.

The princess’s face blanched as she watched, helpless, while her intricate mirror defenses shattered under the dragon’s relentless assault, each gleaming shard falling like broken stars, leaving her exposed.

What made it worse—Agis hadn’t even raised his spear yet; he was holding it in reserve for the two who chased behind him, driving both Dopa and Kouga aside to clear his path toward the defenseless princess. His spear gleamed in the night, poised to strike down the Valaryn heir with merciless intent.

“My Lady!!!” Archie’s shout tore through the chaos, but he was too far away to intervene. Emery tensed, his mind racing. He knew this was his chance to act, readying a spatial spell to close the distance. But before he could cast it, a sudden, unexpected rescue arrived.

Dark purple chains shot forth like serpents from the ground, latching onto the Red Demon and even the dragon. The chains coiled tightly around them both, sinking deep into flesh and scale, dragging them back with a forceful pull. It was Grand Magus Helga’s special technique, the [Soul Suppression Palace]. Massive stone pillars rose from the earth, adding weight and pressure to the chains that bound them, each one vibrating with a dark energy that pulsed with restraint.

Agis, the Red Demon grunted, glaring at the chains with raw fury. “Huh! Not another one of these chains!”

The soul chains, infused with dark energy, lashed out with a fierce grip, their touch embedding a searing soul attack that would weaken even the strongest of foes. Yet, the Red Demon, with a violent shrug, tore through them, breaking free in a heartbeat. Helga’s chains, so formidable to most, barely seemed to faze him.

In that split-second of freedom, he twisted his body, blocking another wave of Dopa’s and Kouga’s strike. With a quick counter, he retaliated, his sheer force sending both Grand Magus hurtling backward.

A glint of fury flashed in the Red Demon’s eyes as he aimed his spear at Helga, his voice a low snarl. “You’re first, then!”

With a burst of speed, he charged toward the spirit master. Helga quickly reacted, summoning another massive stone pillar that erupted from the ground before her. She doubled the soul chains, purple energy radiating from the rune that glowed on her forehead. The chains spiraled out, thick and fast, each link saturated with soul energy as they snapped toward the Red Demon, aiming to capture him once more. Her face was etched with fierce concentration, her every fiber pouring into controlling the spell with precision.

The chains, however, only managed to snare the Elder Crimson Dragon. The beast thrashed, trapped by the binds that clamped around its limbs and wings, grounding its powerful flight. But the Red Demon had already vanished from sight.

A flicker of movement drew Helga’s eyes upward. He was there, high above her, his silhouette dark against the starlit sky, his spear held aloft with deadly intent. The weight of his swing tore through the air like a blazing comet, hurtling straight down toward her.

Helga’s eyes widened as the impending blow descended with terrifying speed.

Just as the Red Demon’s spear was about to cleave through Grand Magus Helga, Emery acted with lightning speed. He unleashed his [Spectral Gaze], a soul-piercing attack that momentarily halted him with an intense, disorienting flash that jolted his senses. In that split second, Emery conjured [Spatial Bending], stretching the space between Helga and her assailant, creating a crucial gap.

The Red Demon’s blade missed by a hair, slicing through empty air with such force that it cleaved the mountain in its path.

Helga, though encumbered, moved with resilience, using the loosened soul chains to propel herself backward and out of range. Her mental voice reached out to Emery, a whisper of gratitude amidst the chaos:

.”

“HELGA!!” Dopa, his voice thick with relief, surged forward to her side, taking his place as her shield once more. He planted himself firmly, his aura expanding in fierce defiance.

Meanwhile, Kouga and Archie launched themselves back into the fray and unleashed a coordinated barrage of attacks. The combined assault finally tore through the Red Demon’s defenses, drawing blood as they pressed in.

The Red Demon’s aura flared dangerously, radiating a searing intensity that seemed to seethe with uncontained power. “Good! Very good! You all deserve to witness my true strength!” he roared, his voice booming across the desert.

With a swift motion, he unleashed a towering, spiraling inferno—a flaming tornado that spun with deadly momentum. The vortex tore through the battlefield, the flames blasting apart Helga’s soul chains as though they were paper. Kouga and Archie were swept up and flung backward with a brutal force that hurled them through the storm of flames and debris.

The flaming tornado tore through the battlefield, its deadly force seemed unstoppable. Stood at the heart of the maelstrom, the Red Demon’s eyes gleamed with ruthless triumph as his flaming tornado surged toward the female spirit master with chilling intent.

Grand Magus Dopa, towering and resilient, launched himself in front of Helga, his face set with grim determination as he prepared to absorb the force of the deadly attack. His muscles tensed, and every ounce of his strength focused on bracing against the oncoming whirlwind. The Red Demon’s spear, swirling with flames and destructive wind, descended upon him with crushing power.

BAAAMM!!!

Dopa thrust his massive fist forward to meet the attack, and the spear’s devastating momentum twisted against him, its force exceeding even his formidable defenses. The spear pierced through, splintering bone and tearing through sinew. A sickening crunch echoed as the shockwave traveled up his arm, leaving it a shattered, bloodied mess to his shoulder. Blood sprayed out in a crimson arc as Dopa bellowed in agony, his scream of pain ripping through the battlefield.

Yet the infernal tornado was relentless. It kept surging forward, undeterred, and with the last of Dopa’s strength unable to stop it, the blazing inferno reached Helga.

Emery tried once more, casting his [Spectral Gaze] with all the focus he could muster, attempting to momentarily stagger the Red Demon. Yet this time, the Red Demon’s defenses held strong, his soul unmoved by the piercing attack. Desperation flooded Emery as he channeled [Spatial Bending], but the roaring winds fractured his spell, preventing him from distorting space fast enough to pull her to safety.

Helga stood her ground, meeting the imminent death with a solemn, resigned gaze. She closed her eyes as if offering her soul to the winds.

SPLATTT!!

In a sickening instant, the tornado consumed her, the violent winds crushing her form. Flesh and bone twisted, splintering apart until her body burst into a scarlet mist, torn asunder before her allies’ horrified eyes.

The Red Demon’s flames finally abated, leaving a blood-soaked figure in their wake. His cruel, satisfied grin gleamed as he turned his gaze to Emery. Now, those blazing, merciless eyes notice his presence.

“It’s you… annoying little ant… you are next”