Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2885: Zodiac Prince

Since his academy days, Zach’s goal had never changed.

He had always wanted to follow in his late father’s footsteps—the legendary dragon warrior who had become one of the Magus Alliance’s most feared heroes on the battlefield.

For Zach, life-and-death combat had never been something to avoid.

It was the hammer that forged him.

Each battlefield hardened his body and refined his soul. Endless wars, dangerous missions, and relentless training shaped him into the warrior he had become today.

His unyielding valor, extraordinary talent, and the overwhelming power of his dragon bloodline allowed him to rise rapidly through both cultivation and military rank. When he finally broke through into the Grand Magus realm, his achievements on the battlefield quickly distinguished him from others.

Not long afterward, he was promoted.

Zach Talon became the youngest Major in the Magus Alliance military.

With higher rank came greater responsibility.

And greater danger.

He was constantly sent to confront stronger enemies, more brutal battlefields, and missions that ordinary grand magi would never survive. Yet those challenges also brought him opportunities—rare rewards, secret techniques, and the chance to temper his bloodline further.

Recently, Zach had reached another breakthrough.

His dragon lineage had evolved.

[Bahamut Prime]

The advancement pushed his bloodline to Rank 8, granting him the power needed to step into the Second Cosmos Realm.

With that breakthrough, Zach successfully completed the fifth stage of the Cosmic Bridge and entered the ranks of the Union Elite Top 100. It was there that he first heard whispers of a rising challenger whose name had begun spreading across the Virtual Palace.

Twilight Wolf.

When Zach learned the identity behind that alias, he felt both excitement and anticipation.

Now, standing in the arena across from Emery, Zach felt that same thrill burning in his chest.

”This fight is exactly what I need!” Zach declared as draconic flames erupted around him.

Emery smiled.

”No,” he replied calmly. ”I won’t be your muse anymore.”

He raised Excalibur.

”This is the day you finally lose.”

With that declaration, Emery ready to unleashed his half-primal transformation.

At the same moment, Zach slammed his massive sword into the ground.

A wave of crimson flames erupted around him.

[Bahamut Transformation]

Crimson scales spread across his body like living armor while blazing dragon fire roared behind him, forming the terrifying silhouette of a colossal dragon.

The true fight had begun.

HOWLL

A thunderous howl erupted from his chest as the power of the Star Devouring Beast surged through his body. Dark primal energy coiled around his limbs like living shadows, and the overwhelming pressure of the ancient beast forced even Zach to instinctively brace himself.

The dragon prince’s eyes widened slightly.

”Such a beast... incredible.”

Then they moved again.

Both warriors charged forward.

The clash exploded like thunder.

Steel collided with steel while fire and darkness erupted across the bridge. Each strike carried terrifying power, yet neither side managed to gain the upper hand.

Both were forced back.

Both were wounded.

Realizing brute strength alone would not decide the battle, Zach changed his approach.

Instead of relying purely on physical attacks, he began weaving draconic flames into his combat style. Massive serpentine fire constructs emerged from the battlefield, roaring through the air as they attacked Emery from multiple angles.

Emery quickly discovered an unexpected problem.

His half-primal transformation, while vastly increasing his physical strength, interfered with his ability to cast complex spells. The wild energy of the Star Devouring Beast made delicate spell control extremely difficult.

Watching Zach summon two enormous draconic flame entities to assist him, Emery briefly considered summoning his own allies—Killgragah and Daurgototh.

But when he attempted the spell, nothing happened.

The failure cost him dearly.

Whether it was his lack of concentration or the Virtual Palace recognizing the Khaos guardians as independent entities, the summoning simply refused to activate.

That single moment of distraction proved disastrous.

Zach seized the opportunity instantly.

BOOOMM!

A massive explosion erupted as Zach’s flaming strike slammed directly into Emery’s defense.

Emery was thrown backward through the air, his body engulfed in burning draconic flames. The fire clung to his flesh like a living curse, continuing to burn even after the initial attack ended.

These were True Dragon Flames.

To extinguish them, Emery had to summon the restorative power of the Elysian Tree, allowing its natural energy to wash over his body and cleanse the lingering fire.

Yet Zach did not give him time to recover.

The dragon prince charged forward immediately, continuing his assault with relentless pressure.

Emery responded by activating his Battlefield Domain, attempting to slow Zach’s movements through spatial compression.

Zach answered in kind.

His own battlefield domain manifested—but unlike Emery’s wide area control, Zach condensed his domain entirely within his draconic aura. The concentrated field acted like armor, allowing him to resist the crushing pressure of Emery’s domain.

Emery’s eyes flashed with fascination.

What an ingenious use of domain power.

The two resumed their sword exchange.

Clash after clash echoed across the arena, sparks and flames exploding with every collision.

Once again, neither side gained a decisive advantage.

Yet another problem soon surfaced.

Excalibur.

The divine sword began resisting Emery’s movements again. This strange reaction had occurred several times during his training—whenever he attempted to channel primal beast energy through the blade, the weapon seemed reluctant to cooperate.

Zach, by contrast, demonstrated perfect harmony.

His dragon bloodline, greatsword, and combat techniques all flowed together seamlessly.

Again and again, Emery was forced backward.

Cuts appeared across his body, though his agility prevented any fatal injuries.

Still—

He was losing ground.

”No...”

Emery tightened his grip on Excalibur.

”I won’t lose again.”

He forced the sword to respond through sheer will.

Emery tightened his grip on Excalibur, forcing the legendary blade to remain steady in his hands through sheer willpower.

”Obey me!!”

The thought echoed in his mind as he gathered every ounce of strength he had left.

Without hesitation, Emery activated his Fourfold Dawn Mirror Shield. Four radiant barriers manifested around him in rapid succession, forming layered defensive panels that shimmered with twilight light. The shields would not last long against Zach’s relentless power, but they would buy him the time he needed.

Within those few precious seconds, Emery began channeling all the primal energy inside his body into a single technique.

Deep within his soul, the Star Devouring Beast stirred.

Then it roared.

The ancient beast’s will surged through Emery’s veins, filling his arms with savage power as the technique began to form.

[Star-Rending Cleaves]