Earth's Greatest Magus

The air in Ruins City Outpost was heavy with despair and unease.

Emery stood at the edge of the outpost, his own anxieties mirrored in the restless winds that had begun to whip through the camp.

Over 500,000 civilians—a mix of battered refugees and stragglers from Citadel City’s 8th, 9th, and 10th batches—had gathered there, a fleeting sanctuary amidst the chaos of their collapsing world. Huddled in makeshift tents or leaning against crumbling walls, they wore the scars of their arduous journey. Torn clothing, hastily wrapped bandages, and hollow, sleepless eyes were all telltale signs of their despair. As the weary masses paused for rest, Emery’s anxiety only grew.

First came Lyanna’s cryptic message—another threat had emerged, a group seemingly targeting him. She couldn’t identify them but speculated they were likely from outside the planet. Her information was vague and speculative, but troubling nonetheless.

Then, the ground beneath the outpost began trembling in irregular, disconcerting rhythms. Anomalous tremors, soon joined by fierce winds, ripped across the region, sending tents toppling and stirring fears among the already shaken civilians.

Emery immediately sought answers, approaching Grand Magus Shahi, the one in charge of the Outpost. What he learned gives some clarity but does not ease his anxiety.

“The military command has decided to evacuate the planet,” Shahi explained, “The Valaryn have agreed to use their last resort to annihilate the enemy forces. But understand—this is a double-edged sword. That’s why we’re evacuating.”

Standing beside her was Grand Magus Agave, a Valaryn native whose face betrayed an unusual unease. “The Eternal Lord has awakened,” Agave murmured “Our home… is lost.”

The shaman, his voice laden with sorrow, recounted the tale of the god who had descended upon Valaryn a millennium ago.

At the time, he had been merely a boy, yet the horror of that event remained etched in his memory as vividly as if it had happened yesterday. He shuddered at the recollection: the being’s arrival had demanded a terrible price—80% of the Valaryn population had been claimed in a single, devastating act. Shahi interjected with further context, outlining the broader situation. “There are 364 galaxies within the Nixar Expanse. Valaryn is just one of a dozen planets on the brink of annihilation. For 50 years, the military command has poured resources into holding this ground. But the losses… they’ve forced our hand. Now, the mission isn’t to save Valaryn—it’s to devastate the enemy as much as possible, and Valaryn has agreed to break the valerian seal and awaken their ancient god”

“Ancient god? More like a demon,” Emery can’t help to comment.

“It was a holy sacrifice,” Agave added solemnly before breaking into a whispered chant.

Emery’s heart sank as he heard the shaman speak of the seal’s activation and the terrible price it demanded. “Our princess has made the sacrifice,” the shaman intoned solemnly “May her soul live in peace among the ancestors.”

Princess Miriel, the valiant grand magus, had willingly given her life for her people. His mind flashed to his brief encounter with the princess. His initial impression of her had been far from pleasant. Yet, learning that she had chosen to lay down her life in a desperate bid to save her world stirred an unexpected respect in him.

For a moment, Emery stood silent. His mind raced with thoughts of Earth and his own people. Could such a fate befall his home someday? Would his friends be forced to make sacrifices like these?

As they spoke, another tremor shook the ground beneath them, this one more intense than the last. In the distance, part of the outpost wall crumbled, sending dust and debris billowing into the air. Screams erupted from the refugees, further amplifying the sense of impending doom.

Agave’s expression turned grave. “We should have had at least five days before this reached us… but it’s happening faster than expected. We must leave immediately.”

Shahi turned to Emery with urgency. “Can you use your spatial magic to help with the evacuation?”

Emery nodded, the weight of the task settling over him. Moving over 500,000 civilians was no small feat, and the teleportation spells would take a considerable toll on him. Each trip would take at least two hours, and with a distance of over 2,000 miles to cover, not to mention the other civilian batches in between, the entire operation would take at least twelve hours. It was a monumental effort, one that would exhaust him to his limits—and if unforeseen enemies emerged during the process, it could prove disastrous.

Despite the added risk, he knew that time was of the essence.

For the acolytes, the plan meant sacrificing potential points, but this was no time to dwell on such concerns.

After a brief rest, Emery began the grueling task of transporting the civilians. The mission commenced, every second feeling like a battle against an unseen enemy.

#####

Across the Nixar expanse, in the heart of Elven-controlled space, the Elven Space Station Tel’Isil buzzed with activity. Hundreds of elven ships came and went, each carrying out the delicate task of expanding their reach into new sectors. Amid this controlled chaos, Third Cosmos Dark Elf Commander Kalorth surveyed the operations from his command deck. His task was a critical one—he was responsible for coordinating reinforcements, ensuring that the most needed sectors received assistance in the ongoing conflict. His cold, calculating gaze flicked across the strategic displays, monitoring the unfolding chaos.

One of his officers provided a briefing on the ongoing situation in Valaryn. However, sending reinforcements to such a unique planet proved to be a significant challenge. The volatile atmosphere prevented most ships from entering, and deploying their advanced warships would only attract the full force of the human military forces, forcing a complicated engagement.

As the officer deliberated on a solution, an unusual group arrived—a cadre of elite magus, emerging through a mysterious spatial channel known only to the Elven High Command.

“They are the Voidstalkers,” one officer whispered, his voice tinged with both awe and fear. “Why are they here?”