Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 3089: Request

The pressure that followed was staggering.

The moment the soul attack fully entered his sea of consciousness, the surrounding space seemed to disappear beneath an overwhelming tide of spiritual energy. Emery’s soul trembled as the golden radiance around him intensified, and then something began to take shape within the depths of his consciousness.

Multiple flying structures slowly emerged from the sky, bursting through the golden mist.

Each structure was tall and slender, built with countless layers of intricate silver-white runes. Each one radiated an immense spiritual pressure that seemed capable of suppressing his entire soul.

There were eight of them.

There was no mistaking it.

Versa was an Eighth-Layer Spirit Champion, her soul cultivation having reached an extraordinary level.

Emery’s expression turned serious.

He threw up his defenses at once.

His seventh-floor Rainbow Pagoda materialized within his sea of consciousness, its seven radiant layers expanding rapidly as they confronted the approaching Spirit structures. The moment the two forces collided, a violent spiritual shockwave swept through his consciousness.

The Rainbow Pagoda trembled violently.

Cracks began spreading across several of its layers as the overwhelming pressure of Versa’s eight Spirit Towers pushed down from every direction. Emery gritted his teeth and poured more soul force into his defense, refusing to allow the pagoda to collapse.

But the pressure continued to increase.

His seventh-floor Rainbow Pagoda began to buckle.

At that moment, Emery’s innate bloodline ability activated.

[Emperor Focus]

A powerful force instantly spread through his consciousness, reinforcing his soul and sharpening his control. At the same time, the Mark of Divinity on his forehead flared brilliantly, its golden light piercing through the overwhelming spiritual pressure.

The two forces worked together.

Only then did Emery manage to stabilize his defense.

Barely.

Holding was one thing.

Escaping was another.

His physical body was still pinned, both arms firmly restrained by the two High Elves. Emery’s expression darkened as he gathered the Star-Devouring Primal Energy within his body.

The powerful energy began surging through his meridians.

His muscles tightened.

His bloodline roared.

The primal power accumulated rapidly within his body, ready to be unleashed in a single explosive burst.

Then, without warning, the assault stopped.

The eight Spirit Towers vanished.

The terrifying pressure inside his sea of consciousness disappeared so abruptly that Emery almost stumbled from the sudden absence of resistance.

His mind cleared.

At nearly the same moment, the two High Elves released their grip.

Emery immediately staggered backward several steps, his body still tense and primal energy lingering beneath his skin. He stared at Versa with a low growl in his voice.

”What is this? What are you trying to do?!”

Versa remained seated, her expression calm, though there was genuine sincerity in her eyes.

”Once again, I apologize. Everything I did was for the sake of the people of Kharzun Hold.... ”She added ”Before we begin this journey, I needed to know whether your mental strength was truly strong enough.”

Emery stared at her.

”Why?”

”Because I have a favor to ask.”

Versa slowly raised one hand.

A small object materialized between her fingers.

At first glance, it resembled a delicate silver compass, but Emery quickly realized it was something far more complicated. The circular device was crafted from pale silverwood and translucent glass threaded with faint lines of starlight. Intricate formation runes covered its surface, forming several concentric rings that slowly rotated around a small, glowing core.

It wasn’t a simple compass.

It was a formation plate device.

”This is the Star Plaque of Elunor,” Versa said. ”One of the three holy relics of my people.”

Her fingers tightened slightly around the artifact.

”It is also the very treasure that has kept Kharzun Hold’s defensive barrier standing for all these years.”

Emery’s gaze remained fixed on the strange formation device.

Versa extended her hand toward him.

Her expression became solemn.

”I wish to entrust it to you.”

She paused for a moment before continuing.

”And I hope you will lead these people safely to their destination.”

Emery couldn’t help but feel baffled.

What followed was a shocking revelation, one that Versa had apparently kept hidden from the dwarves for the past two decades.

”My health has never fully recovered,” she said quietly. ”That is also the reason the Scourge never truly tried to break into this settlement.”

Emery’s expression changed slightly.

Versa slowly reached for the buttons of her robe and began undoing them. She pulled the fabric aside, revealing the center of her chest.

What Emery saw made his expression turn grim.

A patch of dark, corrupted flesh covered the center of her chest, its surface twisted and unnatural. Purplish-black veins spread outward from it like the roots of a poisonous plant, branching across her pale skin and disappearing beneath the rest of her clothing. The corruption seemed almost alive, faintly pulsing with each beat of her heart.

”You...” Emery stared at the disturbing wound. ”You’re infected.”

The priestess calmly nodded.

”Yes.”

She didn’t sound afraid. If anything, there was a strange acceptance in her voice, as though she had already made peace with what was happening.

”I’ve managed to suppress it all these years, but I can’t hold it back much longer. My weakening body is also the reason Kharzun Hold’s defenses won’t be able to last much longer.”

Her fingers slowly closed around the Star Plaque.

”When my body finally fails, the Star Plaque will deactivate. Once that happens, the Scourge will be able to break through the barrier.”

Emery remained silent for a moment.

The revelation explained far more than he had expected. The reason the Scourge had yet to force its way into the settlement was likely because it knew the parasite within the priestess would eventually take over.

His gaze returned to the corruption spreading across her chest.

”Why me?” Emery finally asked. ”I’m just a stranger who knows almost nothing about your people.”

Versa closed her eyes for a moment.

”You are a stranger indeed.”

When she opened them again, her golden eyes were calm.

”In fact, I can see deception within you.”

Emery’s expression remained unchanged.

”But I see no hostility,” she continued. ”Whatever secrets you are keeping, I don’t believe you intend to harm these people. I believe you will do everything you can to get them to safety.”

She paused, her gaze becoming more focused.

”What’s more, I can see great fortune surrounding your fate.”

Emery’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”Great fortune?”

Emery fell silent.

This wasn’t the first time someone had mentioned something similar to him.

Could this be related to his path as Destiny breaker.

He didn’t know.

Emery considered the situation carefully.

In truth, he had already been instructed by the Magus Alliance to do everything possible to help these people reach safety. If he was going to take responsibility for leading thousands of dwarves through the Scourge-infested territory, he might as well receive something in return.

And this wasn’t just any reward.

A holy relic belonging to the High Elves, one of their three greatest treasures, was undoubtedly an extraordinary artifact.

Of course, Emery would need to be extremely careful when using it.

Fortunately, he had his Mark of Divinity and Astral Link. He was confident that he could examine the artifact thoroughly and avoid any potentially harmful backlash.

After thinking for a moment, Emery finally nodded.

”All right. I accept”