Earth's Greatest Magus

The second round of the competition transformed into a brutal test of strength and resilience. It was no longer just about skill; it was a battle of raw cosmic power. The cold energy emanating from the cauldrons grew so intense it seemed to pierce through flesh and bone, chilling participants to their cores.

Around him, participants unleashed their cosmic energy in torrents, wrapping themselves and their cauldrons in protective fields of flame and spirit energy. Emery, while possessing formidable soul power, struggled against the cold. His weakness lay in his lack of mastery over the Law of Flame, making it an uphill battle to maintain the necessary heat.

Beside him, Livi, the female Baphomet, was visibly struggling. Her swiveling horns flickered faintly with energy, and her once-brilliant flames wavered. “Master,” she called out between labored breaths, her exhaustion evident. “I can’t hold it anymore… Can I have the pill yet?”

Emery glanced at her with a mix of concern and hesitation.

The pill Livi referred to was one he had concocted during his travels—a potent creation from a rare tier-7 material known as Infernal Ivy. The celestial database had identified it as a powerful fire-enhancing ingredient, perfect for alchemical recipes requiring immense heat. However, while testing it on Livi, Emery discovered a severe drawback. The pill temporarily amplified fire energy but left the user drained and vulnerable afterward. It was not a risk he intended to take lightly.

“Please, Master,” Livi pleaded, her golden eyes wide with desperation. “Just one… or maybe three…”

Emery hesitated, weighing his options. The competition had reached a critical juncture, and failure here would mean elimination. Against his better judgment, he reached into his storage ring and pulled out a small vial containing the fiery pills.

But Emery’s elation quickly turned to dread as he noticed the effect the sudden heat surge was having on the concoction. The cauldron wobbled violently on its pedestal, the contents within boiling over with chaotic energy. The finely balanced equilibrium he had worked so hard to maintain was unraveling at an alarming pace.

Before he could even hand one over, Livi snatched the bottle with surprising speed and gulped down its contents.

“Livi!” Emery exclaimed, his eyes widening. “There were ten in there! You fool!”

Livi’s horns flared brilliantly as the fiery energy surged through her body, her normally subdued flames roaring to life in an inferno that enveloped her. The cauldron, which had been struggling to maintain its balance against the biting cold energy, suddenly found itself inundated with a torrent of heat. For a moment, the oppressive cold seemed to dissipate entirely under the sheer intensity of Livi’s power.

“This… this is amazing!” Livi exclaimed, her voice trembling with exhilaration as the power coursed through her. Her flames burned so brightly that the air shimmered, distorting the space around her.

But Emery’s elation quickly turned to dread as he noticed the effect the sudden heat surge was having on the concoction. The cauldron wobbled violently on its pedestal, the contents within boiling over with chaotic energy. The finely balanced equilibrium he had worked so hard to maintain was unraveling at an alarming pace.

“Livi, control your flames! Now!” Emery’s voice rang out sharp and urgent, cutting through the crackling roar of fire.

Livi turned to him, her expression one of blissful euphoria, but she was slow to react. The power was intoxicating, making her heady and unfocused.

Realizing he couldn’t wait for her to rein herself in, Emery acted swiftly. He activated his Prism of Light technique, his soul energy manifesting as a translucent barrier that encased the cauldron. The shimmering light acted as a buffer, shielding the concoction from the worst of the heat while also stabilizing its volatile energy.

The concoction had reached a critical stage. Emery’s eyes flickered with determination as he focused entirely on the swirling concoction, his hands deftly manipulating tools to fine-tune the mixture.

Inside the cauldron, the potion began to thicken, its hue shifting from golden to a vibrant crimson. This was the sign Emery had been waiting for—the liquid was condensing into its final form. A faint shimmer of light danced across the surface as the ingredients coalesced into a single, unified entity.

The cauldron trembled under the force of the transformation, the swirling energies creating a vortex of light and fire. Emery gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of his concentration into guiding the process.

The final moments were harrowing. Livi’s flames continued to rage, testing the limits of Emery’s control, while the frost energy from the test persisted in its assault. At last, the vortex subsided, and a single, perfectly formed pill emerged from the cauldron. Its surface gleamed like polished ruby, radiating a potent warmth that filled the air.

“Time’s up!” the examiner’s voice boomed, signaling the end of the round.

Exhausted but relieved, Emery slumped against the table, his body trembling from the effort. The cauldron was now still, the pill resting within its depths like a jewel.

The examiner approached, his sharp gaze inspecting the pill with meticulous care. Emery held his breath, his heart pounding as he waited for the verdict. “Eighty-one percent. Great quality. You pass,” Emery exhaled deeply, a wave of relief washing over him. He had passed the second round, albeit narrowly. As he looked around the arena, he saw that less than fifty participants remained standing. Many cauldrons lay cold and abandoned, their contents ruined by the unrelenting frost.

Of those who advanced, a handful stood out. Ten participants had achieved over ninety percent quality, and one individual had crafted a one-hundred-percent masterpiece—a feat that drew everyone’s attention.

Emery’s eyes followed the murmurs of awe to the source: a female alchemist working alongside two fairies. Her presence felt strangely familiar, but before Emery could discern why, a panicked voice broke his focus.

“Father! What’s happening to Livi?”

Shinta’s cry jolted him back to reality. He turned to find Livi collapsed on the ground, her body trembling. Her natural fur started to grow back, covering her human skin, and the part that remained was glowing faintly with fiery runes and radiating an unnatural heat.

Emery rushed to her side, checking her pulse and energy flow. Her body was in chaos, the excessive power from the pills overwhelming her natural balance. Without hesitation, Emery lifted her and carried her out of the arena, seeking a safe space to treat her condition.

As the commotion drew attention, the female alchemist who won first place glanced in their direction. She studied Emery’s retreating figure with a faint frown, her expression tinged with curiosity.

One of the fairies at her side leaned closer and whispered, “Sister… he’s registered as a beastman. Could he be the one the elder is looking for?”

The woman remained silent for a moment, her gaze lingering on Emery. “No… It can’t be him. He’s too weak.”

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