Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2413: Diversion

Emery could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him as he assessed their predicament. Unlike the mindless fury of the dragon, the elven forces above were methodical, their movements precise and deliberate. Whether through tracking spells, enchanted artifacts, or innate abilities, they were closing in, and it was only a matter of time before their underground sanctuary was discovered.

Thirty minutes had nearly passed since the distress beacon was activated, but there was still no sign of reinforcements from the Citadel. Emery strained his senses, but the desolate desert remained devoid of any approaching allies.

Meanwhile, Grand Magus Archie lay slumped on the ground, his breaths still shallow and labored even after 30 minutes of recovery. His once-formidable presence had been reduced to a frail shadow of its former self, as the lingering effects of the Red Demonʼs Cosmic Flames continued to ravage his body from within. Unlike Emery, who had only suffered an indirect attack, the elderly magus had borne the full brunt of the assault. It might take days before he could regain even a fraction of his strength.

Princess Mirielʼs voice broke the tense silence. ”What should we do?” she asked, her usually composed demeanor tinged with worry.

Emery let out a deep sigh, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. The person before him not only stood in a higher realm but also possessed far greater knowledge of the ongoing war. That she would entrust such a crucial decision to him was both a compliment and a burden fraught with potential disaster.

”Weʼll hold out as long as possible,” Emery replied firmly.

Emery needed to stall for time—time for reinforcements to arrive, and time for Lyanaʼs soul possession to succeed. In the meantime, he focused on aiding Grand Magus Archie.

He carefully cast his healing spell, his hands glowing with potent nature and aquatic energy, their soothing essence battling against the remnants of the Cosmic Flame ravaging the elderly magus. To bolster the effort, Emery administered a high-grade pill, hoping it would help Archie regain consciousness and muster enough strength to fight, even if only for a short while.

The ground above them trembled violently, each quake louder and closer than the last. The elves had begun their excavation, and Emery could feel the urgency pressing down on him like a vice. Time had run out.

Without hesitation, he summoned his [Spatial Gate], the familiar surge of energy rippling through the air.

As anticipated, the moment the spell activated, the elves pinpointed his location with uncanny precision. They had come prepared, deploying artifacts specifically designed to disrupt spatial magic. The interference sent shockwaves through his spell, throwing it into disarray. While Emery managed to force the portal open, the spatial distortions severely hindered its accuracy, reducing its range to a fraction of what he had hoped.

”Spatial anomaly detected! Thirty miles to the east!” shouted a dark elf on the surface. ”Is it him?” demanded another elf, a Grand Magus with a deep scar running down his face. ”Yes! Weʼve also detected Lady Azulaʼs beacon!” ”Inform the others! Do not let him escape!” barked the scarred-faced elf, his tone laced with urgency and command. Thousands of dark elves blanketed the area, and their forces spread like a web, with dozens of Magus-realm elites among them. Their innate skill and advanced tracking technology left little room for error; it took mere minutes before they closed in on the target.

Emery was running across the desert with the unconscious dark elf commander, Azula Raine, her body tightly bound in his enchanted vines. He had underestimated the efficiency of their search. Even with his divine sense active, their speed and coordination left him surrounded in no time. ”Chief Hulu! Heʼs alone! There should be two others! This is a diversion!” one of the dark elves exclaimed, scanning the perimeter. ”Leave the others to the other clans,” growled the scarred Grand Magus, Chief Hulu. ”Our Lady Azula is the priority.” Emery stood his ground as the elves tightened their encirclement. The scar-faced leader strode forward, his gaze burning with anger and purpose. ”Release my Lady, and we shall grant you a quick death.” In response, Emeryʼs expression hardened, his confidence unwavering. ”If you want to see your Lady in one piece... then open a path for me and stay a hundred miles away!” To drive his point home, Emery ruthlessly tightened the vines around Azulaʼs body. The crushing sound of constricting tendrils reverberated through the air, and a weak groan escaped her lips. The sight of their commander in agony sent a ripple of fury through the surrounding elves. Weapons were drawn, energy flared, and emotions surged, yet none dared to attack. It took a tense moment before the scarred Grand Magus finally spoke, his voice resolute despite the clear anguish in his eyes. ”I spared you once before, but not this time! we are all ready to die!”

Emery quickly calculated his options, considering ways to manipulate the situation further. However, before he could utter a word, a deafening roar shattered the air. All heads turned skyward to see the crimson dragon barreling toward them, its massive wings stirring the earth and scattering loose debris like a storm.

”Get that dragon off my back, or I swear Iʼll kill her right here and now!” Emery shouted while tightening the vines further around Azula, her pained gasp adding weight to his threat.

The scarred Grand Magus hesitated, visibly torn. ”Release her now!!!” he said through gritted teeth, ”and Iʼll clear a path for you!”

Emery sneered, his eyes flashing with defiance. ”Huh! Iʼd rather die with your precious princess than surrender!!”

Before their negotiation could conclude, the dragon arrived. Its blazing eyes locked onto Emery as it descended, claws bared and maw aglow with fiery intensity. ℟ἈＮОВЕ§

True to its nature, the creature obeyed no commands but its masterʼs. The moment it confirmed its target, it unleashed a ferocious attack. The ground quaked as the dragonʼs flames surged forward, threatening to consume everything in its path. Chaos erupted, and Emery found himself in the heart of a deadly standoff between the relentless dragon and the desperate dark elves.

As the crimson dragonʼs flames raged, the scarred Grand Magus acted swiftly. He lunged forward, his movements precise and driven by desperation. Emery caught between fending off the dragon and holding onto his leverage, found himself at a disadvantage.

Despite his best efforts, the scarred Grand Magus managed to wrest Azula from the crushing vines. Her unconscious form was pulled into his protective grasp, and with a sharp command, he ordered his forces to retreat.

Emery clenched his fists, frustration mounting. With the captive lost, he shifted his focus entirely to the escalating battle. He unleashed a relentless barrage of spells, combining natureʼs wrath with the chaos of Khaos energy. The battlefield erupted into a violent storm of power, but the odds remained overwhelmingly against him.

Eventually, Emeryʼs defenses gave way. A devastating strike from the dragon pierced through his final barrier, its flames engulfing him in a blazing inferno. The fiery brilliance of his body consumed by the flames marked what seemed to be the tragic end of his stand.

”That human is dead!”

”Thatʼs what he gets for capturing our Lady!” one of the dark elves shouted triumphantly.

Their cheers of victory echoed across the battlefield, but they were soon interrupted by an urgent report.

”Chief Hulu! Weʼve located the other target—fifty miles to the west!”

The scarred Grand Magus barely acknowledged the report. His sole focus was on Azula. Without hesitation, he turned and carried her toward their base, ensuring her wounds would be treated. Meanwhile, across the desert, three figures emerged from the shifting sands. It was Emery, flanked by Grand Magus Archie and Princess Miriel. The diversion plan had worked—Emeryʼs true clone had drawn away the elven forces and the dragon, giving the trio the critical opening they needed. With their enemies; both the elven forces and the dragon diverted far away from him, Emery could cast a proper [Spatial Gate], its energy shimmering brightly. This time, his accuracy was perfect, and the three stepped through the portal to a safe zone near the incoming reinforcements. It was General Wayne himself who led a force of one hundred magus, all determined to arrive in time to save their two allies locked in battle against the infamous Red Demon.