Earth's Greatest Magus

The colossal godly spider let out one final, rattling shriek before its massive body slumped onto the cavern floor. Its many legs twitched violently for a moment before finally falling still. The battle was over.

As the beast’s lifeless form lay before them, the smaller spiders, sensing their queen’s demise, let out chittering cries before scurrying back into the dark recesses of the cave. The once chaotic battlefield fell into an eerie silence, save for the labored breathing of the survivors.

With the immediate danger passed Emery finally had a moment to assess the group. Of the original twelve members, three had retreated earlier, while three had fallen during the battle. That left only six—other than him, Ivaris, Kaelyn, and their two assistants.

“Damn! That was a close one!” Ivaris exclaimed, panting heavily as if he had just escaped death itself. His exclamation, however, was largely ignored.

Emery and Kaelyn stood facing each other, their gazes locked in an intense exchange. The fey girl’s wolf-like golden eyes examined his form, her expression laced with both curiosity and suspicion.

“Who are you really?” she finally asked, her voice unwavering. “You look like us… but not quite like us…”

Despite the sharp inquiry, Emery couldn’t ignore the familiar warmth he felt toward her. There was something about Kaelyn—about her presence—that resonated with him. A connection he couldn’t quite place. A part of him wanted to reveal everything, to find out what tied them together. But he was keenly aware of the many watchful eyes upon him. Instead, he merely said, “I’ll explain later.”

Ivaris stepped forward then, his demeanor notably different from before. The noble alchemist, once hostile, now seemed almost respectful.

“I am grateful for your help,” he admitted. “I didn’t realize you were a fey… I suppose that means you truly had nothing to do with my brother’s disappearance.”

Emery was taken aback by the sudden shift in Ivaris’ attitude. It was clear now that the fey clan’s reputation carried more weight than he had initially realized. However, Kaelyn’s expression darkened at Ivaris’ words.

“His identity as a fey is still questionable,” she stated bluntly. “And the fact that you’re even here… it means you were following us, weren’t you?” Her eyes narrowed. “State your true intentions.”

Emery exhaled a sigh. The fey girl had a strong personality, and she wasn’t one to be easily convinced. Deciding that honesty was the best course, he pulled out the map he had obtained from the giant, Graknar. He explained that he had merely been following the same clues left behind by previous participants.

With the loss of their companions and Horus Kreed’s cowardly escape, Ivaris and Kaelyn seemed to have little choice but to accept Emery’s presence.

Before they could move on, however, their attention turned to the corpse of the godly beast. The remains of such a powerful creature were bound to be invaluable. Unlike rare underground ingredients, there were no restrictions imposed by Skyroot on harvesting beast remains.

“How are we going to divide this?” one of the assistants asked hesitantly.

Kaelyn turned her head away, her expression one of clear distaste. “I have no interest in such vile, venomous creatures,” she declared, stepping away from the remains.

That left only Emery and Ivaris to discuss the matter. To Emery’s surprise, the noble alchemist waved a dismissive hand and said, “You can have it all. Consider it a token of gratitude for saving my life.”

While the others began moving ahead, Emery took a moment to carefully analyze the remains. The massive spider’s body contained several precious materials: its carapace, nearly indestructible, could be reforged into armor; its fangs, long and razor-sharp, could be crafted into powerful daggers and finally its venom sacs held a lethal toxin that further added to his collections. He stored everything within his domain.

As he was about to finish, his divine senses detected something unusual deep within the creature’s stomach. With a quick slice of his [Void Blade], he cut open the tough exterior and reached inside.

An item emerged from the putrid remains.

It was a wooden gourd, partially digested but still intact. Emery recognized it immediately—it belonged to the dead noble alchemist from before.

“I think this is called the Heavenly Gourd,” he murmured, wiping the filth away.

It had belonged to the fallen noble alchemist. Emery held the artifact up to the dim light, feeling the hum of magic within it. A Tier 7 artifact, but its true nature remained elusive. The only thing he could confirm was that it contained a liquid imbued with a faint, invigorating aura. The gourd held a power that had yet to reveal itself.

With a flick of his wrist, Emery stored the godly beast’s remains in his domain before catching up with the others. They continued deeper into the tunnels for another hour, navigating the labyrinthine pathways with care.

Eventually, they emerged into a vast chamber, unlike anything they had seen before.

The entire space was illuminated by an ethereal glow, a soft, pulsating light emanating from an expansive field of exotic plants. Their leaves shimmered like polished gems, their flowers brimming with an otherworldly essence.

Ivaris’ eyes widened in pure astonishment. “These are all rare plants! We’ve hit the jackpot!”

His voice rang through the cavern, filled with excitement. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, reaching out eagerly for the nearest specimen. However, the moment his fingers grazed the delicate petals, the plant crumbled into fine dust before his very eyes.

“What?! What’s happening?” he gasped, his hands trembling as he watched the once-pristine flora disintegrate into nothingness.

Kaelyn, who had remained composed until now, narrowed her eyes in realization. “These plants… they were already infected by the poison.”

Hearing this, Ivaris’ panic escalated. He frantically checked the surrounding vegetation, moving from one rare plant to another, only to witness the same tragic fate. Every leaf, every petal—reduced to dust at the slightest touch.

“No… no! This can’t be!” he cried out, his voice laced with frustration.