Earth's Greatest Magus

Desperation clawed at Ivaris as he surveyed the withered landscape, his chest heaving with frustration. They had fought tooth and nail to reach this place, braving venomous creatures, and treacherous terrain, only to find nothing but decay. He refused to accept such a loss. His hands clenched into fists as he stormed forward, frantically checking every plant within sight, overturning dried roots and running his fingers over brittle leaves, hoping—praying—to find something, anything of worth.

Then, through the gloom of despair, a glimmer of hope emerged. Just ahead, past the lifeless wasteland, something stood untouched by the rampant poison. It was like an oasis in a barren desert—an eerie yet mesmerizing sight. A group of towering, gnarled trees encircled a small crystalline pond, their twisted forms standing like silent sentinels. And within their ominous embrace, three flowers bloomed in defiance of the death surrounding them.

Kaelyn’s breath hitched as she took in their appearance. Seven iridescent petals adorned each flower, shimmering with an ethereal spectrum of colors, reflecting the dim cavern light like the surface of a precious gemstone.

“The Seven-Rainbow Flower…” she whispered, her voice filled with reverence.

Ivaris, his heart pounding with renewed urgency, stepped forward, eager to claim the miraculous blooms. However, before he could move another inch, Kaelyn’s arm shot out, barring his path.

“Wait!” she ordered sharply.

“Mistress, I only wish to take a closer look! I won’t touch them!”

But Kaelyn’s gaze remained locked onto the trees. Her usually composed expression was taut with caution. “These trees… they aren’t ordinary. They are the source of all the poison in this cavern.”

Ivaris stiffened, suddenly aware of the unnatural aura exuding from the twisted trunks. Their bark was dark as charcoal, webbed with pulsing veins of sickly green light. The roots, thick and serpentine, coiled like living things, exuding a faint mist that tinged the air with a sharp, acrid scent.

As Kaelyn spoke, a subtle shift occurred. The trees trembled, almost imperceptibly, as though they had sensed her recognition. Then, without warning, a burst of pale green mist erupted from their branches, rolling outward like a living fog. The poison was thick, clinging to the air with a ghostly luminescence.

Kaelyn pulled back instantly, her eyes widening. “Moves back!! That mist is deadly!”

Even from a safe distance, the acrid air stung their nostrils. Whatever those trees were, they were more than just toxic plants.

As Kaelyn prepared to analyze the situation further, Emery’s divine sense tingled, alerting him to an approaching presence.

Emerging from the shadows, Horus Kreed sauntered into view, flanked by his two assistants. His smirk remained as insufferable as ever, his posture oozing unearned confidence.

“You all survived,” he remarked, his voice dripping with false amusement. His gaze slid past them, falling upon the gleaming petals within the poisonous grove. His eyes gleamed with greed. “And what do we have here? The Seven-Rainbow Flowers… this is great!”

Ivaris’ blood boiled at Horus’ nonchalance. Fury surged through him as he stepped forward. “You lost all rights to any of these findings the moment you abandoned us!”

Horus chuckled, unfazed by the accusation. “Now, now, don’t be so dramatic,” he said, waving a dismissive hand. “You wouldn’t have found this place without my help. I’d say that entitles me to a share.”

It was then that Horus’ gaze finally settled on Emery, his smirk faltering slightly. His expression twisted with suspicion. “And who is this?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity and wariness. “You are that alchemist… the one who passed the Heaven and Earth Scales with a score of 92. What are you doing here?”

“That’s the guy who actually helped us while you ran like a coward!” Ivaris snapped.

Horus ignored him, his calculating gaze fixed on Emery. “I see… so you think he deserves the flowers more than me?”

Tension crackled between them. With only three stalks of flowers in this poisoned land, it was clear that Horus had no intention of leaving empty-handed.

But Emery remained calm. He had been closely following Kaelyn’s actions, probing the area with his own senses, and now he spoke.

“I might have a way to safely harvest the flowers,” he said smoothly. “Would that earn me a share?”

Horus’ expression darkened. He knew that if the others accepted Emery’s offer, he would walk away with nothing. His lips curled in annoyance. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can do the same thing myself.”

His smirk returned, as he gestured toward his two assistants—one a formation expert, the other a Stage 5 Cosmic Magus specializing in healing.

The pair activated their barriers, layers of protective energy forming around them as they stepped toward the oasis.

The moment they crossed into the poisoned mist, the reaction was immediate. The mist thickened, twisting unnaturally around them, piercing through their defenses like needles through cloth. They staggered, their legs giving way as they collapsed to their knees, gasping for breath.

Kaelyn sighed in frustration. With a flick of her hand, golden vines shot out, wrapping around the struggling assistants and yanking them back to safety.

“I told you all to wait!” she snapped.

Horus’ jaw tightened. His bravado wavered as he watched his so-called experts rendered helpless within seconds. He had underestimated the danger.

He considered another option—destroying the trees with brute force—but quickly discarded the idea. The risk of damaging the precious flowers was too high.

At that moment, Kaelyn stepped forward. Her cosmic aura flared as she chanted in the Fey tongue. Energy surged through the cavern, manifesting as luminous vines that slithered across the ground, wrapping around the ominous trees. As her magic touched them, the poison mist receded slightly, the toxic haze thinning around the flowers.

“She did it… The Fey really are incredible,” Ivaris breathed in awe.

But before they could move forward, Kaelyn suddenly gasped, her face paling. The vines she had conjured began to wither and snap apart, her spell failing before it could fully take effect.

Emery’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Can I have my turn now?”