Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2677: Temporal Duel 6

Over the last two years, Vayarel had mostly recovered from his injury; thus, for Dark Emery to possess the body, he required the full consent of the Grand Magus.

This time, Emery’s soul did not grant many new benefits to the body—yet it carried with it the full power of Khaos.

A tide of shadow swelled across Vayarel’s frame the moment Emery entered him. The black mists coiled over his arms, swirled around his shoulders, and pooled along his legs, cloaking the three-cosmos body in a writhing shroud. Within moments, wounds began to knit themselves together at unnatural speed. Torn flesh sealed, bruises faded, and the weary tension in his movements vanished.

Void Blade formed in his grasp, and without hesitation, he hurled himself into the fray once more, striking down the undead with surgical precision.

The power of Khaos not only sharpened his edge but also enhanced his spatial manipulation. He began distorting the battlefield in subtle ways, bending distances, twisting angles, allowing Morgana and Livi to move with greater freedom.

At one moment, a wall of darkness would appear to block an undead’s swing; the next, a stretch of ground would ripple, pulling an enemy just far enough for Morgana’s hellfire to strike home. Vayarel, driven by Emery’s will, took the opening, closing the distance in a blur of black wind. The Void Blade flashed twice.

CRACK!

One undead’s head separated cleanly from its body. The corpse toppled, twitching once before dissolving into motes of fading energy.

Talaro’s expression tightened, a flash of irritation cutting through his usual cold amusement.

”Hmph... if only I had more time to fully refine those corpses,” he hissed.

The Light Emery, still locked in direct combat with the dark elf, allowed himself the briefest moment of relief. The others were holding their ground; for now, they could survive without his intervention. That meant his focus could remain fixed entirely on Talaro.

The embersword in his right hand burned bright while glowing roots coiled protectively along his left arms, reinforcing his guard. His gaze sharpened, locking onto the dark elf.

”Give up,” Emery called out. ”Your accomplice is dead. The only way you leave this trial alive... is through me.”

Talaro’s lips curled into a smirk, sharp and mocking.

”Hah! You think you’ve already won? That I’ll just hand over my Khaos Gate? Don’t flatter yourself.”

At this stage, both seemed to have guessed the mysterious figure’s true intention.

With his heightened divine sense, Emery saw it clearly—the sky above, and the spatial rift that had been torn open by the might of Supreme Karat. Beyond that rift, where they had once thought the exit lay, was something else entirely: a third layer.

”Within you lies the key to break this realm.”

It was now clear—a far stronger combination of temporal and spatial manipulation would be required to shatter the final layer. That explained why the mysterious figure had brought Morgana and Kronos to this realm. Hence, the reason Emery had to devour Kronos’ essence.

Now, only one thing remained—the third gate.The Death Gate, sealed within Talaro.

The dark elf seemed to grasp the situation as well, yet his confidence did not falter.”Haha... even if you defeat me, how will you ever unite the three gates? I will never teach you the technique—never!”

Emery had heard this threat before. This time, however, his answer came with unshakable certainty. ”I wasn’t sure before... but now I am. I don’t need you to teach me the technique.”

Talaro’s smile widened into mocking laughter.”What a bluff! All you’ve ever seen are the supporting runes and incantations. Even a genius would take weeks to unravel the formations!”

Emery chuckled, his tone calm yet cutting.”No... I said I don’t need YOU to teach me. Someone else will.”

The dark elf froze, realization dawning on him.

”Yes,” Emery continued, his eyes narrowing. ”All I need... is to kill you... And when your gate becomes mine, your guardian will tell me the technique.” ᚱÃNȮʙΕᶊ

The words silenced Talaro completely. It was, in truth, a deceptively simple solution.

While the two exchanged words, the Dark Emery—still in Vayarel’s body—cut down another undead. Only five remained now, and the tide of battle was shifting.

Talaro’s confident facade faltered. His gaze darkened, lips moving in a whisper.

”My Lord... why have you forsaken me?”

Emery called out once more, his voice carrying across the battlefield.”Talaro! Surrender the gate!. If you do, I will consider sparing you.”

The dark elf’s head lowered, as though in deep prayer. Then, slowly, his expression twisted into something far more dangerous. When he lifted his eyes again, there was a wicked smile carved into his face.

”You think you know everything,” Talaro said softly. ”You think you’ve won... I will show you... How wrong you are. I am the chosen one. I alone will escape this trial.”

He raised his hands, summoning the five remaining undead to his side. They moved instantly, abandoning their scattered skirmishes to form a tight line in front of him, like sentinels awaiting orders.

Talaro’s hands moved in rapid gestures, opening another spatial gate. This time, the energy rippling from it was far heavier, colder, and older.

First came a colossal hand, pale as moonlight and as still as carved marble. Then the rest of the figure followed—a corpse towering nearly ten meters high, dwarfing even the giant race. Its skin was etched with glowing rune tattoos, the markings winding across its body like ancient scars.

Emery’s eyes widened. He recognized the race immediately.

It was a celestial race.

Not just any celestial, but the first ancient explorer, Eldran Solus.

Unlike the other undead Talaro had summoned, this one had been preserved with painstaking care. Strips of talisman paper, each covered in precise, intricate sigils, clung to its body like a second skin. As Talaro chanted in a deep, resonant voice, the talismans began to glow, pulsing with an ominous light.

A wave of dread swept through Emery. He didn’t need to guess what would happen if the ritual was completed.

”We must stop him—now!”

Morgana and Livi reacted instantly, hurling streams of fire toward Talaro, while both the light and dark Emerys surged forward in a pincer attack.

The five undead guardians stepped forward as one, their sheer presence halting the charge. Blades clashed and sparks flew as the two Emerys fought to cut through the wall of corpses.

The giant race undead was the final obstacle. Its sweeping strikes sent shockwaves through the ground, forcing the two Emerys to split. The light Emery invoked Soaring Wind, leaping high and weaving through the air, while the dark Emery bent space itself, slipping between moments to close the distance.

But they were a heartbeat too late.

The talismans on Eldran Solus flared to life in a blinding flash. The corpse’s eyes snapped open, glowing with an otherworldly blue light. Power rippled outward in a wave so heavy it made the air itself distort.

Emery felt the pressure in his chest spike as an all-too-familiar resonance tore through the field.

”Temporal Law,”

Emery’s heart sank. He understood now.

This was no mere undead. This... this was Talaro’s key to escape the realm..