Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2457: Lost

The star-devouring beastʼs furious roar shook the domain that had been restraining it, sending ripples of power across the entire space.

From across the shimmering lake, multiple figures stood on the edge, their gazes fixed on the solitary island where the beast raged. Among them was Shinta, her silver hair glinting under the ethereal light, flanked by her two friends—Ha Ron and King Rig—and Livi the Baphomet.

They had been residing in this domain for some time and were well aware of the beastʼs existence. However, this time was different. The beast showed no sign of calming; instead, its violent fury continued unabated, sending shockwaves across the terrain.

Tremors cracked the earth, and violent winds tore through the dense forests, toppling many trees. The Chizpurs scuttled in terror, while the orcs were in chaos. Hours passed, but the tremors did not subside.

Shintaʼs heart pounded in her chest. She knew her father had been battling tirelessly, yet now, not only was there no sign of him, but even the two Khaos Guardians were nowhere to be seen.

”Something has gone terribly wrong,” Shinta said, her voice trembling with anxiety.

She took a determined step forward, her eyes locked on the raging beast. But Ha Ron stepped in front of her, his face stern.

”Donʼt go… Even Master couldnʼt control the beast,” he said, his usually calm voice tight with anxiety. Beside him, King Rig nodded in silent agreement, his hulking frame tense.

Livi, the Baphomet spoke next, her voice softer but no less serious. ”Donʼt… If something happens to you… Master will scold me.”

Shinta hesitated, her gaze flickering between her friends and the wild storm of energy surrounding the beast. But her resolve hardened.

”If youʼre scared, then donʼt follow me!” she said defiantly before launching herself into the air.

Shinta soared across the lake, her silver hair streaming behind her. Ha Ron, King Rig, and Livi exchanged worried glances before following reluctantly.

As Shinta drew closer to the monstrous beast, the overwhelming aura of chaos pressed against her, threatening to crush her spirit. Yet, with unwavering determination, she tried to communicate with the beast. Minutes passed, but her words seemed to be utterly ignored; instead, the beast only grew further enraged.

At that moment, Shinta thought of using a skill once taught to her by her father—[Soul Walk]. Although she was not proficient in using the skill due to her temper, Shinta resolved to try her best.

Ha Ron and King Rig, growing increasingly anxious as they watched Shinta standing motionless with her eyes closed, began cautiously approaching the beast. However, to their surprise, there was indeed some connection forming—her mind had reached out through the turbulent energy.

And there, amidst the storm of rage and destruction, she felt it—a faint, familiar presence.

”Father… Father…” her voice trembling with a mixture of hope and fear.

The aura flickered in response, like a fragile light fighting against an endless darkness.

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Emery, in his primal beast form, drifted half-consciously through a violent void current. The crushing force of gravitational pressure threatened to tear his body apart as he was hurled against jagged rocks and swirling debris. Every movement was agony, his body wracked with pain, and his mind clouded and disoriented.

Through the chaos, a faint voice echoed in his mind—Shintaʼs voice.

His eyes snapped open, blurry and unfocused. His head was spinning, his chest heaving, and every fiber of his being screamed in pain. Flashes of memory returned—him pulling both himself and the dark elf Tolaro into the black hole.

”This... This is inside the black hole!”

His blurry gaze locked onto something ahead. Dark, crystalline rock fragments hurtled toward him at blinding speed. He instinctively tried to move, but his muscles locked up, frozen by the pain and crushing pressure. The sharp shards came closer, seconds away from impact—but at the last moment, he was yanked out of their trajectory.

It was Tolaro, the dark elf. The manʼs condition was dire: his bone armor shattered, his body was riddled with open wounds, his face pale, and one of his arms was completely gone. Despite his state, Tolaro growled through gritted teeth,

”Why did you shift back to your human form!! Dammit! You better have a way to survive in this place!”

Before Emery could respond, another massive chunk of crystalline rock came crashing toward them. Both of them twisted their battered bodies out of the way, narrowly dodging disaster. ŕ𝐚ΝỐʙĘs

Emeryʼs mind raced. He had no idea what had happened while he was unconscious, but it was clear now that the two of them were relying on each other to survive in this nightmarish void.

Shifting out of his primal form, his breathing was ragged as he fumbled into his storage ring, retrieving a high-grade recovery pill and swallowing it without hesitation. Simultaneously, he activated his [Ocean Heart Vest], its protective energy flowing over his battered body, reinforcing him against the relentless void pressure and accelerating his healing.

But there was no time to recover. The void tunnel around them began to tremble violently. Above them, cracks splintered across the walls, and streaks of black lightning arced through the air like serpents striking prey. Tolaroʼs sharp voice cut through the chaos.

”This void stream is collapsing! We need to get out, now!”

Tolaroʼs one remaining hand began to weave a spatial spell, dark energy swirling around his fingertips.

Emery could see the strain etched into Tolaroʼs face—the creation of a spatial gate in such a chaotic and unstable environment was nearly impossible. Sweat poured down the dark elfʼs brow as he barked, ”Cover me!!”

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Emery didnʼt hesitate. He raised his arms, summoning his Elysian roots. Glowing vines erupted from his palms, weaving into a protective barrier around Tolaro to block the incoming debris and violent energy surges.

But then, a bolt of black lightning crackled through the void and struck the golden roots. In an instant, the roots—as formidable as tier-6 material—disintegrated instantly into ash upon contact.

Emeryʼs eyes widened in shock, his skin turning pale as the crackling black energy danced toward him. Before the lightning could strike again, Tolaro roared, and a swirling portal of dark energy erupted in front of them.

Without hesitation, Emery dove through the portal following the dark elf. But instead of escaping, he stumbled into another tunnel, identical to the one they had just left.

The same swirling chaos, the same crushing pressure, the same deadly debris.

Tolaroʼs voice trembled with barely contained frustration and rage.

”This is endless!! Look what youʼve done!! You better help me find a way out of this mess!”