Earth's Greatest Magus

Even with hundreds of warriors dispatched to the space station and outpost, the Golden Mansion remained heavily fortified. A few thousand saint warrior guards, fifty magus, and three grand magus were stationed to protect it. Lord Hassa, aware of Ravi’s cunning and the likely involvement of external forces, believed the traitor would not dare infiltrate the vault without substantial backing.

Summoning one of the grand magus, the commander of the palace guard, along with Isaiah and Nayef, the spirit master, Hassa prepared a formidable response team. Tessa, fueled by righteous anger, led the way, closely followed by Emery, who remained vigilant to ensure her safety. Over twenty magus formed a protective entourage around them as they made their way to the vault.

The golden construct of the vault was imposing, a testament to the Karat clan’s wealth and power. As they entered the basement, the group was struck by the eerie emptiness. The space, usually bustling with activity and guarded by a dozen magus, was devoid of any signs of life. The tension was palpable, each step echoing ominously through the corridors.

Approaching the vault door, they found it unlocked. The head of the palace guard drew his sword and prepared to enter. Grand Magus Nayef, standing beside him, extended his divine sense into the vault to assess the situation within. Isaiah remained close to Lord Hassa, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.

What appeared within sight were the vast outer halls of the vault, resembling a sprawling warehouse. The vault spanned a few miles and housed countless valuable gems, rare materials, and critical documents. Despite the apparent invasion, the place seemed untouched, with no trace of either Ravi or the guards.

“He must have entered the inner vaults!” Tessa said, her voice tinged with urgency and frustration.

Grand Magus Nayef shared his observations, noting the eerie absence of the magus guards’ bodies. More troubling was the lack of any signs of struggle. The vault was too clean, devoid of blood or battle residue. He speculated, “It’s near impossible for all the guards to betray the faction. They must have faced someone exceptionally strong or possessing unique abilities.”

The situation was complicated by the vault’s lack of surveillance devices, meaning there was no recorded footage of what transpired. Moreover, the vault was constructed with a special material that blocked spirit readings, rendering it impossible for Emery to create a portal through the walls or to use his abilities to detect movement within.

The commander of the palace guard swiftly issued orders, directing ten magus to remain behind and guard the entrance while the rest pressed forward to secure the inner area. The gravity of the situation was evident in Lord Hassa’s voice as he urged them to move quickly.

“There are many important items inside; we need to enter before they gain access to them!” Hassa said, his concern palpable.

The group hastened down the miles-long corridor, their footsteps echoing ominously. They reached the door to the inner vault, which was ominously ajar. As they stepped through, Grand Magus Nayef’s voice broke the tense silence.

“I found Ravi! There is one person with him,” Nayef declared, his senses honed and focused.

Emery followed and stepped into the vast inner hall. The chamber was immense, filled with over a hundred pillars, each displaying a unique and priceless item. The air was thick with the aura of powerful artifacts, the collective energy almost overwhelming. With just a glance, Emery could tell that none of the items were below tier 7. This was a treasure trove worth billions of spirit stones.

Scanning the room, it became clear that several items were already missing from their pillars. Emery’s eyes locked on Ravi, who stood beside a man cloaked in darkness. Ravi held a precious-looking sword, its blade gleaming menacingly under the vault’s magical lights.

The sight of Ravi, their once esteemed champion, now aligned with a mysterious figure, fueled a mix of anger and betrayal within the group.

Tessa’s voice rang out, filled with righteous fury, “Ravi! You dare to steal from the faction! Surrender now and face the consequences!” Ravi turned to the group, his expression a mix of restlessness and defiance. “You all came much faster than expected…’ he muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness.

Facing Lord Hassa, he started to tremble as he said, “My Lord, I am guilty… but this is all your fault!’ He glanced back at the sword in his hand, its blade shimmering ominously. ‘If you had granted me precious treasures like this, I would have been strong enough to match Isaack… but no… you lost your faith in me… you wasted my potential!’

Lord Hassa sighed deeply. He remained calm, his disappointment hidden behind a stoic facade. ‘Capture him,’ he ordered.

Grand Magus Isaiah, was ready to act, prepared to move forward. But Nayef, his senses attuned to the dangerous presence beside Ravi, issued a warning. ‘Watch out for the man next to him… he might be two cosmos realms, but his cosmic energy is off the charts.’

The man in the dark cape suddenly raised his staff, and the space around him rippled ominously. Shadows twisted and writhed, coalescing into dozens of skeletal creatures clad in ancient armor, each exuding the aura of a magus. Alongside them emerged a few towering ten-meter-high giants, their forms crackling with dark energy, standing at the peak of the magus level.

“A summoner!” gasped one of the magus, eyes widening in alarm.

Emery, positioned at the rear of the group, scrutinized the unfolding scene with a keen eye. The summoned creatures, though undeniably formidable and intimidating, did not seem a match for the multiple grand magus warriors Lord Hassa had brought with him. What truly set Emery on edge was Ravi’s demeanor. Despite the overwhelming odds, Ravi did not exhibit the panic one would expect in such a dire situation.

A terrifying thought struck Emery, and he swiftly extended his divine sense to probe deeper into the unfolding chaos. His intuition had been right—there was more to this confrontation than met the eye.

Isaiah, the strongest among them, was in the midst of forming his dagger to strike at the advancing creatures. But suddenly, his weapon veered off course, heading in an unexpected trajectory. Emery’s eyes widened in realization, and he shouted a desperate warning, “Watch OUT!!!”

The air hummed with deadly intent as five daggers flew through the chamber, each with a precise and lethal aim. One dagger targeted each of the grand magus, another sped toward the group of magus warriors, and the last one, with unerring accuracy, hurtled directly at Emery. Prepared for such treachery, Emery managed to dodge the dagger, the blade slicing the air mere inches from his face. However, the others were not as fortunate.