Earth's Greatest Magus

At dawn, a group of intimidating men visited Terra City through the teleportation gate. There were twenty of them, but six stood out as grand magus figures. Among them were Barry Croft, patriarch of the Croft family, his son Vinsier Croft, and the Nephilim emissary. The rest wore silver military uniforms, all bearing the mark of the Croft military forces. The air around them crackled with power and tension as they marched through the city gates, their presence casting a shadow of dread over the city.

When they were stopped; one of the grand magus unleashed his battlefield domain, instantly incapacitating all the Terra guards, saints, and magus. The alarm sounded, and two dozen elite magus guards, led by Magus Grisa, along with a dozen half-blood magus from the Twilight Hall led by Chief Beowlf, swiftly arrived to confront the intruders. Behind them, more than two hundred warriors stood ready, but none were allowed to approach the scene.

Magus Grisa, recognizing the identity of the intruders, stepped forward and spoke with a polite but firm tone. “Senior Council, may I know the reason for your visit?”

Barry Croft stayed silent, as his son Vinsier took the lead. With a voice dripping with authority and contempt, Vinsier declared, “Your lord has committed a grave crime, and we have come to demand justice. Now, take me to him!”

The Terra guards, outmatched and overwhelmed, barely managed to maintain their composure against the formidable Croft forces. However, Magus Grisa, standing tall and resolute, responded bravely, “My apologies, but my lord is currently in an important meeting. Please wait, I will speak of your arrival.”

Unwilling to accept such a deferential yet obstructive answer, Vinsier’s impatience flared. With a curt nod, he signaled for an attack. Instantly, one of the cosmos grand magus leaped forward, his palm glowing with lethal force aimed directly at Grisa. But before the strike could land, a figure emerged with swift and decisive action. Chief Beowulf, the White Wolf, unleashed a powerful defensive spell. His ice element magic materialized into a formidable barrier, shimmering with ethereal light.

BAMMM!!!

The impact was colossal. The ice barrier absorbed the brunt of the grand magus’s attack, shards of frost scattering like glittering diamonds in the air. However, the sheer force of the strike was too much even for Beowulf’s powerful defenses. The White Wolf was thrown back, skidding half a dozen steps before he could regain his footing, his face pale but resolute. The display of power starkly highlighted the disparity in their strength.

What followed was a swift activation of the defensive formations and turrets surrounding the portal gate. The high-grade cannons whirred to life, their barrels swiveling to lock onto the Croft forces. A battle was imminent, the tension escalating with each passing second.

Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, her presence commanding immediate attention. Lilith, the Black Salamander, landed gracefully between the two forces, her dark robes billowing around her. Known for her formidable power and reputation as a dragon grand magus, she was a sight that both inspired and intimidated.

The Croft forces, fully aware of who they would be facing, had come prepared. Among their ranks was one of their strongest three cosmos elders. An old but fierce-looking man stood at the initial stage of three cosmos, the architect behind the Croft’s formidable military might.

Lilith’s eyes gleamed with amusement as she regarded the old commander. “You must be Commander Gauger,” she said, her voice dripping with a mix of respect and mockery. “I have heard quite a bit about you. There was a time I wanted to have a match with you.”

She paused, a wry smile playing on her lips. “But now, I think you might be too old for it.”

It was clear that Lilith was taunting the man, her tone laced with a calculated arrogance. Barry Croft, unwilling to let his elder engage in an unnecessary battle for the sake of other factions, finally stepped in. His voice, dripping with authority, cut through the tension.

“Do you really want to fight?” Barry Croft.

As soon as he spoke, Magus Grisa received a troubling update through their radar. The Croft forces had come with extensive preparations. Three imposing Croft warships had maneuvered into Terra City’s orbit, their ominous shadows casting a pall over the city below.

Barry Croft’s smile widened with a hint of malevolence. “We have enough firepower to flatten this tiny city. Now, I ask again… Do you?”

Lilith, unfazed by the threat, casually answered with a smile. “No, you are mistaken, Lord Croft. I am here to take you to see the Terra lord.”

A smirk played on Barry Croft’s lips. “Good… lead the way.”

Barry Croft led the group, his demeanor exuding confidence as they flew into the Terra palace and entered the grand hall. However, Emery was conspicuously absent. Instead, an unfamiliar young magus with dark hair sat casually in one of the side chairs, sipping a beverage. Barry’s mind raced with questions.

“Who is this man? And where is that young brat?” he thought.

Moments later, Emery entered the hall, he casually walked toward the Terra throne. He sat down and greeted his visitors with a calm demeanor. “Ah, Lord Senior Council, I apologize for the delay. I was attending to an important guest.”

The mention of an “important guest” immediately put Barry Croft on edge. He wondered who Emery could be referring to, other than the infamous Black Salamander. “Huh, unless you bring a supreme figure, you could not escape this,” Barry thought, his mind churning with suspicion.

Two figures followed Emery into the hall, both older magus without much visible power. It took Barry a moment to recognize them as the renowned Golden City grandmaster apothecaries, Grandmaster Odoro and Grandmaster Hazard.

“Lord Barry, what is going on here?” asked Grandmaster Hazard, his confusion evident as he saw the senior councilman accompanied by so many powerful figures.

Barry Croft was stunned. If Emery had brought a combative expert like Lilith, Barry could still challenge them with force. But grandmaster apothecaries? They were untouchable experts, respected and protected. The realization that Emery would hide behind such figures irritated him deeply.

Calming his emotions, Barry addressed the room, “I am here on behalf of a friend, to settle a dispute… I hope Lord Terra would be wise to listen” he explained, his tone controlled. Unlike the patriarch, the Nephilim emissary had fewer restraints and shouted, “You little brat! You dare to kidnap our Lady Ishtar! Release her now!”

Emery turned to Barry Croft, his expression composed. “Lord Senior Council, is this really why you came?”

Barry Croft replied with a firm nod, “Yes… that is the right thing to do.”

Emery sighed deeply and responded, “Lord Council, if you believe so… then I will concur. You are, after all, a respected council member. Of course, I would leave her to your care… I will get her now for you.” Before sending Magus Grisa to fetch the captive.

Barry was a little surprised that Emery would comply so easily. As they waited, Emery spoke again, “Lord Senior Council, if I might be so bold… I suggest letting her faction come to take her instead… I mean, it’s wise not to be involved in this matter.”

These words sounded like an insult to Vinsier’s ears, and he cursed at Emery. Emery remained calm, ignoring Vinsier’s outburst.

Finally, Magus Grisa appeared, escorting the captive Grand Magus Ishtar. The woman’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the Croft faction, but upon recognizing the familiar Nephilim emissary, her demeanor shifted to arrogance. She turned to Emery with a mocking laugh.

“Hahaha, you don’t even dare to face this kind of faction, and you dare to mess with the Nephilim?!” Her words were belittling, but the Croft patriarch remained silent, wary of provoking further conflict.

Emery, maintaining his calm, addressed the emissary directly, “I must emphasize that Lady Ishtar has been treated as an honored guest during her captivity… I would not be held responsible for what happened with her after she left this place!”

These words only served to enrage Ishtar further. Despite her weakened state, she still managed to scream out her fury. “Hahaha!! I will return and repay your insult tenfold!! You just wait!!”

With nothing more he could do, Barry Croft reluctantly accepted the situation and took the weakened Ishtar away. The Croft entourage, along with their warships, departed from Terra City without further incident.

As the Croft faction departed, Emery turned his attention to the two grandmasters who had assisted him. He offered them his sincere thanks for being willing to witness the events and for helping him navigate the precarious situation without succumbing to unnecessary conflict.

Ronan, who had remained silent throughout the tense encounter, finally spoke up with a hint of a chuckle. “I can’t wait to see how this all unfolds…”

Emery remained silent, his gaze steady and contemplative, as he hoped that the intricate web of plans would unravel favorably.