Earth's Greatest Magus

It was clear that the two giants were powerless against the torment Graknar was enduring. They hesitated for several seconds, their massive frames tense with uncertainty, before stepping aside and allowing Emery to approach.

Emery cautiously advanced toward the suffering blue giant. Graknar’s formidable body was being consumed by eerie black flames, their dark embers crackling with a hunger that seemed almost sentient. The air around him wavered with heat, and even with his formidable Tier 7 [Tidal Heart Healing], a potent water-based spell, Emery struggled to suppress the flames’ relentless advance.

Gritting his teeth, he turned to Soltz for guidance, but the elderly giant simply shook his head solemnly. “Your water spell will have more impact than any of my earth-based spells. I cannot help.”

Despite Emery’s best efforts, the flames resisted, their ethereal nature making them difficult to extinguish entirely. His sweat mixed with the mist of evaporating water as the black fire lashed out, licking at his arms with sinister intent. He could feel the burn creeping into his skin, a sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time. But just as he was about to step back and reassess, a powerful surge pulsed from within his core.

The Elysian trees inside his domain had reacted. The sacred energy of his nature core surged through his veins, bolstering his strength and counteracting the deadly flames. With renewed determination, he channeled the full extent of his nature magic, and slowly, the ominous fire began to wane, dissipating like mist under the morning sun.

As the last embers flickered and died, the giant’s natural regenerative abilities kicked in, and Graknar’s ragged screams of agony turned into exhausted breaths. His massive chest heaved as his body began knitting itself back together, his scorched blue skin slowly regenerating.

While Emery continued his healing, VIA processed the residual energy left by the flames. Moments later, the AI provided him with a chilling revelation.

This was a Cosmic Flame, one of the primordial entities of destruction. As rare and powerfull as his Elysian Tree, Emery. Just like the one wielded by Agis, the Red Demon.

“No wonder it’s so powerful, Even a mere spark was enough to do this much damage.”

With the crisis averted, Emery turned his attention toward the charred remains of Kukujin and his two unfortunate assistants. The once-formidable alchemist and his followers had been reduced to nothing but blackened husks. Taking a deep breath, Emery raised a hand and flicked his fingers. The earth trembled in response, shifting to form a proper burial mound above their remains. It was a simple gesture, but one of respect.

As he finished, Emery retrieved Kukujin’s storage ring. As expected of an alchemist, it was filled with rare and valuable ingredients, many of which would be useful in his future endeavors. However, upon checking Kukujin’s pouch, he found it disappointingly empty.

Minutes passed, and finally, Graknar regained full consciousness. The towering blue giant slowly sat up, still weak but alive. He looked at Emery with deep gratitude before solemnly bowing his head.

“I owe you my life” he rumbled. “And we giants never forget our debts.”

Emery nodded, appreciating the sentiment, but he was already shifting his focus to what lay ahead. To his surprise, Graknar insisted on showing his gratitude immediately. He reached into his belongings and produced an ancient-looking parchment—a map, one passed down from his mentor.

“This is a map of this realm,” Graknar explained, unfolding the thick, weathered sheet. “It marks the locations of several places where rare plants and ingredients grow. Take it—it’s yours.”

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Emery’s eyes gleamed with interest as he examined the map. Dozens of markings littered the parchment, indicating places of potential importance. He quickly realized that many of these locations aligned with the strict rules set by the Skyroot Faction—the prohibition against harvesting juvenile plants meant that many previous participants had likely taken note of the special ingredients’ growth areas but had been unable to act upon them.

“Other alchemists most likely have similar maps. If you are going to use it, you need to move fast.”

Emery glanced at the countdown—less than eight hours remained before the round ended. There was no time to waste. He firmly accepted the map.

Graknar, ever the chivalrous giant, offered to accompany him, eager to repay his debt. However, Emery politely declined. While he appreciated the giant’s bravery, he knew that such a bold personality could just as easily attract trouble as repel it.

“Take care of yourself, and I hope we meet again in a better situation,” Emery said.

Without wasting another moment, Emery let VIA analyze the map, cross-referencing the marked locations with his current position. Within moments, a promising site appeared—the closest mark about 50 miles away, deep within a dense grove. He immediately set off, weaving through thick foliage with practiced agility, his senses alert for any sign of danger.

Upon reaching the location, he found himself in front of an ancient tree, its massive roots tangled around a rocky outcrop. At first glance, the place seemed unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, Emery spotted a delicate glow emanating from between the roots. With careful hands, he cleared away the dirt, revealing a cluster of translucent blue grass—the [Lunar Veil Mycelium], an incredibly rare tier 7 ingredient known to refine one spirit core.

His eyes widened in astonishment. This plant alone was worth the entire trip. He carefully extracted a portion, ensuring he left enough for future growth, and stored it safely in the pouch. The discovery proved the map’s value beyond any doubt.

Emery’s excitement grew as he checked the next marked location—a hill 200 miles ahead. However, as he closed in on the site, his divine sense detected movement ahead. Turning his attention forward, he spotted a familiar figure entering a cave in the distance—Kaelyn Silverleaf, accompanied by her two fairy assistants.

“Hmmm,” Emery muttered under his breath, watching them disappear into the cavern’s depths. “Should I follow her… or find another place?”