Earth's Greatest Magus

As the other four chosen participants ascended the mountain path leading to the Skyroot inner estate, Emery headed in the opposite direction. His thoughts were consumed with concern for Livi, whose condition had been fragile since their last encounter. He had to ensure she received proper care.

The journey back to Pardera’s capital city was swift, though cumbersome. With a strict no-flying policy enforced within the city limits, Emery was forced to traverse the distance on foot. But as the Azure Cloud mansion came into view, he was struck by an ominous sight. A swirling mass of dark clouds churned above the estate, their blackened edges crackling with arcs of cosmic lightning. The oppressive atmosphere pressed down upon the surroundings, filling the air with dread.

His breath caught in his chest. He knew this phenomenon all too well.

“A cosmic tribulation…” Emery whispered, his eyes narrowing in alarm. “Someone is attempting to break through to the Grand Magus realm!”

His pace quickened, urgency driving him forward. Within moments, he reached the estate gates, where a growing crowd of onlookers had gathered. Murmurs of fear and astonishment rippled through the spectators as they pointed skyward.

“No… It can’t be!” Emery thought, his unease growing.

Bursting through the gates and into the estate’s courtyard, Emery’s worst fears were realized. Hovering midair, bathed in an ethereal glow of cosmic energy, was Livi. Her eyes were closed, her expression serene despite the raw, volatile power swirling around her.

Emery extended his divine sense to confirm what his eyes were already telling him. Livi was the one undergoing the tribulation.

The realization filled him with both awe and dread. He recalled the harrowing memory of witnessing his senior Heorgar’s tribulation—a trial fraught with terrifying storms, unrelenting desolate beasts, and opportunistic Grand Magus interlopers seeking to exploit the chaos.

His mind raced as he tried to assess the situation.

Suddenly, Livi’s form began to shift. She rose higher into the sky, and her human guise dissolved, replaced by her true form: a majestic, divine beast cloaked in shimmering, goat-like fur, her frame radiating power. A dark flame-like aura encased her body, pulsating in rhythm with the brewing storm above.

“Father, what should we do?!” Shinta’s voice broke through his frantic thoughts.

Emery glanced at his daughter, her face pale with worry. He could see the fear in her eyes, the same fear gnawing at his own resolve. Livi was not just fighting for ascension—she was battling for her very survival.

He clenched his fists, determination hardening his features. He would do whatever it took to ensure her success and protect everyone in the mansion. But before he could act, an unexpected voice interrupted.

“Haha, you’re in big trouble now,” came a casual chuckle.

Emery turned to see Grand Magus Soltz strolling out of the mansion with an air of amusement as if this was all some minor inconvenience.

“Senior!” Emery exclaimed, desperation in his tone. “Please, help us!”

The old man only laughed, his nonchalance infuriating in the face of such peril.

“It’s too late already,” Soltz said, shaking his head.

“Too late?!” Emery’s voice rose in disbelief. “The first lightning strike is about to hit!”

Without waiting for further explanation, Emery made a snap decision. “If you won’t help, then I’ll handle the lightning myself! Just protect the others!”

But as Emery prepared to act, Soltz grabbed his arm, his grip surprisingly firm. “Stop. They are here!”

Before Emery could respond, he noticed movement above. A group of five figures had appeared, each dressed in the distinct uniforms of Pardera Kingdom’s enforcers. Their presence exuded authority, and their aura marked them as cosmic realm experts.

The five enforcers surrounded Livi, their formation precise. Emery watched in alarm as they began casting a restraining spell, shimmering chains of energy wrapping around her form.

“What are you doing?!” Emery shouted, his anger flaring. He was ready to fight his way through to Livi when Soltz tightened his hold, leaning in to whisper.

“Don’t interfere,” the elder warned, his tone suddenly serious. “If you act now, your traveler identity will be exposed. Let them handle it. They know what they’re doing.”

Reluctantly, Emery held back, his teeth clenched as he watched the scene unfold. The enforcers produced a glowing sphere, an artifact that pulsed with power.

The storm above reached its crescendo, and the first bolt of tribulation lightning struck. Emery braced himself, but to his astonishment, the artifact absorbed the majority of the strike. Only a fraction of the energy passed through to Livi, enough to challenge her without overwhelming her.

The process repeated, each subsequent bolt of lightning met by the artifact’s shielding power. The tribulation dragged on for nearly an hour, the tension palpable. Emery’s divine sense remained locked on Livi, monitoring her condition with laser focus.

Finally, he felt it—a surge of energy radiating from her core. Livi’s power expanded exponentially, her form glowing with the unmistakable brilliance of cosmic energy. She had succeeded.

Livi had ascended to the next stage, transforming into a creature of godly potential.

But before Emery could feel relief, the enforcers acted again. With her breakthrough complete, they fully restrained her, binding her in glowing chains. The five descended into the courtyard, their commanding presence silencing the gathered crowd.

The leader of the group, a stern-faced man with an aura of authority, spoke sharply. “Who is responsible for this transgression?”

Emery’s stomach sank as he turned to Soltz, only to see the elder nonchalantly point at him. “it’s him…”

“I told you before,” Soltz said with a smirk. “You’re in big trouble.”

Realization dawned on Emery. In the Tartarus realm, where cosmic realm experts were commonplace, summoning a cosmic tribulation within city limits was an offense—akin to flying within the capital. The disruption it caused to the populace and the deployment of enforcers made it a serious violation.

Emery stood stunned as the enforcers issued their judgment. Because of the commotion caused, the inconvenience to the kingdom’s enforcers, and the potential danger to the citizens, he was slapped with an exorbitant fine or risked prison time.

As the crowd dispersed, Emery could only glare at Soltz, who seemed thoroughly entertained by the ordeal.

Avan