Earth's Greatest Magus

Grand Magus McCabe, a seasoned warrior at the peak of the one cosmos realm, stood frozen under the weight of the dark elf’s presence. It was not just the raw power emanating from this mysterious figure that unsettled him but the cold, calculated calm with which the dark elf carried himself. The dark elf’s piercing violet eyes seemed to look straight through him, dissecting him as though he were a mere insect. When the elf finally spoke, his tone was unsettlingly serene.

“Tell me what I need to know… or else…” The words carried the weight of an ultimatum, not a negotiation. Above them, the looming shadow of the elves’ mothership served as a silent reminder of the destruction that could be unleashed at any moment. Thousands of lives—both magus and civilians—were at risk, their fates resting on McCabe’s next move.

McCabe’s pride screamed at him to fight, but the responsibility of command weighed heavier. Reluctantly, he nodded.

“What is it you’re looking for?”

His expression remained as calm as his tone when he replied, “A young magus, Emery Ambrose. They call him the Savage Magus.”

The name stirred something faint in McCabe’s memory, but it remained elusive. Hundreds of Magus were assigned to Valaryn’s planet, and he couldn’t place the name. He gestured for his officer to check the database, their fingers flying over the console.

After a tense moment, the officer turned with an answer. “He was supposed to arrive with the civilian convoy, but… he isn’t here yet.”

The dark elf’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Good. I believe you… Now, you will come with me.”

McCabe hesitated before nodding. “As long as you don’t harm the people… I’ll do as you ask.”

The elf inclined his head slightly. “Of course, Commander. If all goes well, we’ll be gone long before your reinforcements arrive.”

To McCabe’s surprise, with nothing more than a casual wave of the dark elf’s hand, the world around him shifted. In the blink of an eye, they were standing just outside the command center, right next to the teleportation gate. The shift in location was so seamless that it almost felt like a dream.

The dark elf grand magus didn’t wait for assistance. With a flick of his wrist, the teleportation gate hummed to life, glowing with ethereal light.

Before they could leave, a shout rang out, breaking the tense silence.

“McCabe! What the hell is going on here?!!”

The furious shout came from Major Slovak, storming into view, his face twisted in rage. The Major had been furious about being left behind during the civilian evacuation.

The commotion drew the attention of nearby Magus, who readied themselves to respond. But before any could act, they vanished, one by one, into thin air.

“Spatial magic!” Slovak shouted, his voice filled with shock and alarm as the realization struck him.

Sensing the imminent threat, Grand Magus Slovak wasted no time. He swiftly unleashed his domain, a surge of magical energy enveloping him in a protective aura, while he simultaneously cast a defensive spell to counter the dark elf’s looming attack.

The dark elf turned his attention to Slovak, and with a single, casual motion, he unleashed a powerful spirit palm that crashed into Slovak’s defenses like a tidal wave. The protective spells shattered, and the force sent Slovak hurtling through the air, slamming him into the outpost barrier.

CRACKKK!!!

The impact destabilized the barrier, creating a vacuum that pulled at the panicked civilians nearby. McCabe quickly flew into action, casting a powerful protective spell to stabilize the area and shield the crowd.

When he turned back toward the teleportation gate, the dark elf was gone.

#####

The dark elf Grand Magus arrived at the Homebase, his presence immediately sowing chaos. Dozens of magus who attempted to engage him were effortlessly erased from existence, disappearing without a trace as if they had never been there. The Grand Magus barely flinched as a few strikes landed on him, leaving only minor injuries.

Despite the chaos around him, the dark elf showed no interest in wasting time with these insignificant obstacles. Instead, his focus shifted, and he began a rapid scan of the base.

His keen senses swept over the area, covering the hundreds of thousands of civilians gathered in the vicinity. After a moment of concentration, he found what he was looking for—or rather, what he wasn’t looking for. There was no trace of Khaos.

With a sigh, he turned his gaze away from the civilians and toward the vast, endless stretch of the sandy desert beyond.

“I hope Agis did what I asked,” he murmured before vanishing once more.

#####

A thousand miles away, Emery raced through the sands of Valaryn, his heart pounding as he felt the unmistakable roar of the dragon behind him. Its presence loomed like a storm, unyielding and relentless.

From experience, Emery knew better than to engage it directly. Instead, he dove beneath the sands, using his divine sense to navigate the subterranean landscape. Yet, even here, the dragon pursued him endlessly.

Emery’s mind raced as he weighed his options.

The most effective way to escape would have been to use his Khaos Gate to leave the planet entirely. However, the situation was far more complicated. Shinta, Ha Ron, and King Rig were inside his domain, and their presence imposed certain restrictions on his range. Furthermore, he was still deep within the frontlines of the Vaalaryn conflict, further away from his destination. The planet’s unique atmosphere disrupted spatial magic, making long-distance teleportation much harder.

He planned to make his way to Homebase. If he could reach it and leave the planet’s surface, the interference would lessen, and he could safely expand the Khaos Gate’s reach. After multiple tactical maneuvering, Emery finally spotted a clear route toward Homebase. But then, a voice pierced through his thoughts, sharp and foreboding.

The message came from Chututlu, and its weight was like a hammer blow to Emery’s chest.