Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery stood outside the command hall, the cold air biting at his skin as he waited for word from the Warmaster. In his possession were one hundred Tier 8 [Dual Refinement Pills] valued at nearly fifteen billion spirit stones in total. These pills were a gesture meant to build trust or, at the very least, buy him access to the kind of information that could help him get home.

He expected to be summoned within the hour.

Instead, what he received was a surprise.

A gust of cold wind swept through the corridor before the approach of a powerful presence. Emery turned, instinctively feeling the ripple of cosmic energy before he even saw her.

A woman stepped into view, tall and imposing. Her crimson armor shimmered in the lamplight. A sharp gaze assessed him with all the precision of a seasoned general.

“I am Feil,” she announced, her voice crisp and commanding. “Vice-Commander of this campaign. The Warmaster is otherwise occupied. He has asked me to receive your… product on his behalf.”

Emery hid his disappointment with a polite nod, but inwardly, he was taken aback. Was it that the Warmaster did not find the pills valuable enough to warrant his time? Or was the man so burdened with the northern front that he could not spare even a moment?

Regardless, Emery made the most of the meeting.

He opened a secure case, revealing the neatly organized rows of luminous pills—each one pulsing with latent alchemical energy. As he explained the refinement process, the duality mechanism, and their intended battlefield use, he noticed Feil’s expression subtly shift. Impressed.

“These will serve us well,” she finally said.

However, when Emery shifted the topic—asking subtle questions and showing interest in the Travelers, hoping to learn something about the Karat group or uncover clues regarding the enemy, the Oculus faction operating in this realm—her demeanor changed immediately.

“The Warmaster will brief all key personnel at tomorrow’s strategic meeting,” she said curtly. “That is all I’m permitted to share.”

Without another word, she turned and strode away, leaving Emery with nothing but the cold wind and more unanswered questions.

Emery sighed deeply, his breath forming mist in the air. The entire Pardera military was far more disciplined and closed off than he had anticipated. Even his casual attempt to stroll the fortress grounds was met with heavy scrutiny—every turn patrolled, every movement watched. Guards stationed at key positions probed his soul with divine sense as he passed, subtle but deliberate.

“They’re nothing like the royal guards back at the palace,” Emery muttered. “These soldiers are preparing for something serious…”

As he returned toward his assigned quarters, a ripple in the atmosphere suddenly caught his attention—barely a whisper, but distinct. His senses flared.

Then—

BOOM!

An explosion lit up the night.

A thunderous blast rocked the courtyard. A shockwave shattered several ice-coated windows nearby. Flames and debris shot into the sky as one of the parked warships erupted in a fiery blaze.

“What is going on!?”

Emery’s instincts kicked in. He rushed toward the fortress wall, hoping for a better vantage point. But before he could get close, a squad of Magus-level guards intercepted him. Their weapons were drawn, eyes sharp, magic pulsing under their skin. A towering figure in the lead—a Cosmic-level captain—stepped forward.

“Identify yourself!” the captain barked.

Not wanting to escalate the situation, Emery immediately revealed his alchemy badge. It only took a moment for his credentials to be verified, but even with that, he was sternly instructed not to approach the explosion site.

From a distance, Emery extended his divine sense.

There, amidst the still-burning wreckage, multiple Cosmic-level experts were battling. They all wore Pardera uniforms.

“They’re fighting each other?” Emery whispered, stunned.

The scuffle was brief but intense until a new force entered the field—a powerful pressure descended over the area, so heavy it nearly buckled the air itself. The battle came to a screeching halt as the Warmaster arrived in person, exuding a power so dense it eclipsed everyone else on the battlefield. With brutal efficiency, he subdued one faction of the fighters and had them apprehended.

Just like that, it was over.

No alarm was raised. No announcement was made. The remains of the warship were quickly sealed off, and a magical dome was placed over the wreckage. Emery wasn’t offered any explanation.

Later that night, he met with Ivaris and Horus, both roused by the incident.

“I heard it was a barbarian from the north who snuck in,” Ivaris whispered, scratching his head. “Sabotage, maybe?”

Horus snorted. “You two know nothing. Honestly, I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel safe surrounded by two clueless fools.”

Ivaris raised a brow. “Oh? Sounds like you know something.”

“I do,” Horus snapped.

Emery and Ivaris exchanged a glance. They didn’t need words—they both knew what came next. With carefully chosen phrases and just enough flattery, they began prodding Horus, feeding his pride and ego.

“You’re just making it up to sound important,” Ivaris said with a casual shrug.

“I’m not! My family—House Kreed—is one of the few briefed on this threat!”

Emery leaned in. “If it’s that serious, sharing it would help keep us all safer.”

Finally, Horus cracked.

The information revealed startling both Emery and Ivaris

“These travelers we are fighting… they are despicable. They’re fighting using parasites that can take over our bodies… I mean it. Even a Cosmic-level warrior isn’t safe. They slip in, hide within our own ranks… pretend to be one of us.”

His voice lowered. “That’s why the guards are so strict. That’s why they’re probing everyone.” His gaze turned mocking as he added, “For all I know… you two could be one of them.”

Emery’s eyes narrowed.

A parasite that could infest even the strongest…

Memories of the incident at the Serpent planet flooded back—the mysterious cosmic expert who infiltrated and harmed the serpent supreme.

“The Oculus faction…” Emery whispered to himself. “It’s them. It has to be.” It appears, the threat was worse than he thought.