Earth's Greatest Magus

The situation was dire, and Emery knew it.

He would’ve done the job himself—diving into the chaotic heart of the rift into the Eternal Void—but this version of him wasn’t his darker self. He lacked the specialized affinity, the hardened will, and the constitution required to survive such a volatile dimensional plane. One wrong step inside that unbound space, and even a Cosmos Grand Magus could be shredded into oblivion.

Above, the fortress groaned and shook beneath another wave of distant impacts. Explosions rumbled like thunder, dislodging bits of dust and stone from the ceiling. Muffled roars, the clash of steel, and shrill screams echoed from far beyond the chamber.

Time was running out.

“I can do it… I’ll do it,” said Veyarel suddenly, his voice taut but resolute.

Emery turned sharply toward him. Veyarel’s hands trembled slightly, and his brow was slick with sweat. He was still nursing a deep soul wound, one no elixir had been able to mend. Entering the Eternal Void could unravel him entirely—but there was no one else. No other soul could navigate that dimensional fracture.

Before Emery could protest, Veyarel stepped forward. He gathered his fragmented strength, his robes fluttering from the rift’s magnetic pull, and plunged into the swirling spatial gate. Sparks of energy arced across his silhouette—then he was gone.

Emery exhaled slowly, praying to gods he barely believed in.

The chamber held its breath. Guards stood frozen. Researchers and aides whispered in hushed tones, glancing nervously toward the still-pulsing rift. Seconds passed. Then minutes.

Then disaster struck.

A thunderous blast shattered the ceiling above the Stargate chamber. A massive shockwave tore through the stone like paper. Chunks of marble and steel rained from above as the sky split open in fire. Chaos exploded in an instant—guards shouted, researchers screamed, the runes on the Stargate flared erratically.

Emery snapped his head upward—just in time to see her.

The female beastmaster loomed in the opening, mounted atop her grotesque blight-toad. Smoke curled around her silhouette, her eyes gleaming with malevolent glee.

“There you are,” she snarled, pointing directly at Emery. “Hiding in your hole again? I found you!”

Behind her, a wave of demonic barbarians leapt into the chamber—dozens of them. Their bodies were twisted by dark corruption: horns burst from skulls, claws replaced hands, eyes glowed red with infernal hunger. Screeches and snarls filled the air as they stormed forward.

Panic rippled through the chamber. Non-combatants fled to the edges. Guards raised their blades, forming a desperate line. But it wouldn’t be enough. Not against this.

Emery couldn’t let the Stargate be destroyed.

Without hesitation, he opened a rift beside him—his Domain.

From the portal emerged Livi, fire already dancing in her eyes. Durak followed, a living wall of muscle and rage, mounted atop a colossal bear-beast—the ancient guardian Artio.

Then came the Chizpurs—five lumbering stone-brothers from deep beneath the mountains, pounding their fists like war drums.

And leading them—Twik.

“Twik!” Emery shouted, a grin of resolve cutting across his face. “Let’s do this.”

Without hesitation, he invoked his powerful transformation.

[Plant Mastery – Fusion]

Nature surged through his veins as roots of the Elysian Tree wound around him, merging with his body. His armor grew thicker, pulsing with otherworldly green light as runes etched themselves across his skin. The cosmic essence from his recent breakthrough melded with the raw purity of the Elysian essence.

[Battle Power Increased Exponentially]

[Pure Nature Energy Enhancing Host Body]

Previously, Emery’s magus realm power hovered near 800. His cosmic breakthrough had pushed him beyond the 1000 threshold. With buffs from [Immortal Gate] and his Fey transformations, he’d neared the lower tiers of a two-star Cosmos Grand Magus.

But now, this fusion, the synergy of cosmic power and the Elysian Tree—catapulted him further, reaching the mid-2000s strength. Mid-tier two Cosmos Grand Magus. At least.

Green light surged from his eyes. “FIGHT!!”

The chamber exploded into chaos. Demonic barbarians clashed with Emery’s summoned forces. Screams, roars, and the ringing of blades filled the air.

Emery, in his fused form, leapt at the blight-toad and blocked its advance. His enhanced roots shot out like serpents, wrapping around the beastmaster’s limbs, pinning her in place.

To his left, Livi and Ivaris summoned a wall of fire, keeping hordes of mutated enemies at bay. On his right, Durak charged like a battering ram, smashing foes against the stone walls while coordinating with the Northstar guards to prevent any infiltration of the gate.

“URGH!! You annoying little pests!!” screamed the beastmaster, her voice high with rage.

She barked a command, and the blight-toad belched a massive cloud of black smoke. The poisonous fog filled the room, choking the air with lethal toxins. But Emery’s innate ability and Elysian roots resisted; he strode through the poison unharmed.

“DAMN YOU!!”

With a snarl, the beastmaster cast another spell—empowering her beast to go berserk. The blight-toad’s body expanded grotesquely, veins pulsing with corrupted essence. Its strength surged beyond reason, and even Emery’s fusion couldn’t restrain it entirely.

Realizing the danger, Emery gritted his teeth and pulled and consumed his precious Tier 8 Dual Refinement Pill.

Instantly, heat exploded inside him. His body shuddered as his muscles expanded and energy flooded his limbs like lightning.

[Battle Power Increased…]

[200… 300… 400… 500….]

He felt it—his strength reached the 3000 marks, now rivaled the peak of a two-star Cosmos Grand Magus. His limbs pulsed with cosmic vigor and nature’s wrath.

He yanked the massive beast down with. She thrashed, screaming.

“LET ME GO!! You stupid animal!! BREAK AWAY!!”

But her new body lacked the power of her former self. She couldn’t break free—not while Emery burned with this overwhelming power.

Still, the pill’s effects were temporary.

“I just need to hold on,” Emery muttered through gritted teeth.

The battle surged again. Barbarians poured in from every opening, and despite their strength, Emery’s allies began to falter. The defenders neared their limit.

Then, hope flared.

The Stargate pulsed.

A spatial fluctuation surged, and Veyarel emerged.

But something was wrong.

He staggered out of the rift, blood pouring from his mouth. His body convulsed. He dropped to his knees and screamed—a raw, agonizing cry. His soul wound had flared violently from the journey.

“No!” Emery shouted, watching his carefully woven Elysian roots unravel. The situation was critical when he heard it.

A voice. Familiar. Cold.

“What is happening here? …Why are you in trouble again… you are weak!”

It was his own voice.

Or rather, his dark side.