Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2295  Temporary

Emery stood resolute in the heart of the Khaos hub, his form illuminated by the swirling energies emanating from the twin gates. With both hands raised, he channeled vast amounts of power into each side, his focus split between the two colossal doors where the ancient guardians slumbered. Each moment that passed demanded more of him, as he meticulously reinforced the fragile bridge connecting both gates, ensuring its stability.

As the hours dragged on, sweat rolled down his brow, his muscles trembling with fatigue as the intense effort began to take its toll. The task demanded not just his physical strength but also a sharp mental focus that left him on the edge of exhaustion.

Amid this grueling process, two deep, powerful voices cut through his concentration, reverberating inside his mind. The first was the rumbling growl of Killgragah, the ancient dragon.

<Huh! This is what happens when you neglect to cultivate your Khaos energy…> The dragon snorted with a hint of disdain.

A second voice, thicker and more guttural, followed. It was Chututlu, another powerful entity lurking within the gates.

<The Master of Khaos is not pleased!>

Their complaints echoed in his head, but Emery forced himself to tune them out, blocking their words and channeling every ounce of his focus on completing the task. Emery had been maintaining the Khaos hub like this almost every week for the last three months, each session a grueling reminder of the challenges he faced.

Though the raw power of the Khaos energy remained dominant, it was no longer as stable or unshakable as it had once been. The strain of balancing his domain with both light and darkness had taken its toll, causing small imbalances that required constant attention. This was the inevitable consequence of his efforts to harmonize two opposing forces. Until he could achieve a true equilibrium between them, these disturbances would persist.

As the final surge of energy stabilized the hub, restoring its delicate balance, Emery let out a heavy breath, his body still trembling from the exertion. The Khaos energies within the gates swirled more calmly now, their chaotic nature momentarily soothed. Yet Emery knew it was only a temporary reprieve.

####

With the hub restored Emery summoned a few of his Khaos seeds to meet him.

Morgana was the first to arrive, emerging directly from Avalon space. Her fiery presence flickered with energy as she shared updates about the progress of the four warriors under her command, their training advancing steadily.

Soon after, Yama appeared, hailing from Moonbase. His expression was grim as he delivered a report on the recent construction efforts. "The new radar has been installed," Yama said. "It should ensure no more intruders sneak in undetected." Emery nodded, acknowledging the progress. But Yama's report was only part of a much larger plan. In addition to the radar, Emery had devised an expansion strategy for the Earth faction, aiming to extend their reach and security across the quadrant. He had already initiated the purchase of lands on nearby planets connected to their portal network.

The next step was securing outposts on key strategic points within the galaxy—an essential move to bolster defenses and ensure their enemies would be met with quick retaliation if they dared to approach again.

Yuria arrived from Terra City to deliver her report on the upcoming annual competition. It was a significant event that brought together three powerful factions: the Terra forces magus, the Twilight Hall's half-blood Terra warriors, and the Alvanic subterranean magus. The competition served as a crucial test of strength and unity among these groups.

"We were hoping you could attend personally," Yuria said with a hopeful tone. "It would mean a lot to them, ... also... that Queen Sonhee... She's been asking about you more times than I can count."

Emery exhaled deeply. The Khaos gates had made it incredibly easy for him to traverse vast distances between quadrants, but even with that advantage, his current circumstances left little room for such commitments.

"I'll do my best to make it," he replied thoughtfully, though he couldn't offer a solid promise. "If I can't, I'll try to send my clone in my place."

Kingrig, recently returned from the academy, delivered a report on the discontent among the acolytes regarding the temporary instructor. The instructor, while necessary during Ashaka and Klea's absence for Fuxi's funeral, had earned a reputation for being inhumane, crazy, and shameless. The acolytes were eager for her departure and hoped for her released now that the two instructors had returned.

Emery couldn't help but chuckle at the description. "Don't worry, she won't be teaching in the hall for a while," he assured, already planning the transition.

With all the reports completed, Emery took a moment to address his team. He informed them that he might be out of contact for a while, a necessary step due to the pressing tasks at hand. Morgana, ever concerned, expressed her desire to accompany him, but Emery gently declined.　  　 　　　  　　　 

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," he said, trying to alleviate her concerns.

With his farewells and reassurances in place, Emery exited the Khaos space and returned to his physical form.

####

The room was a cramped, 4-by-3-meter space, its walls grimy and worn. A single small window offered a narrow view of the dark, endless expanse of space.

Emery was currently aboard a large transport ship, traveling to his next destination.

As Emery stirred from his rest, the only other occupant in the room, a striking woman with long crimson hair, roused from her own slumber. With a groggy stretch, she turned to face him, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and a hint of amusement.

"One of these days, you're going to have to tell me all about your space travel secret"

Emery responded with a nonchalant shrug, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I'm not sure I can trust you with such secrets. I can't even trust you with my acolytes for a week!"

The woman's reaction was swift and dramatic. Her eyes widened in indignation, and her cheeks flushed with anger. "What? They're really complaining?!! What a bunch of soft pigs!" She turned to Emery with a look of exasperation. "You have no idea how much your students require a master like me! If only you knew how much they'd benefit from my methods."

Determined not to engage in a pointless argument, Emery chose to ignore her.

The truth was, he had never intended to bring her along on this trip. However, Klea had insisted on her presence. "You require someone with her skills and connections," Klea had argued. But now, knowing the extent of the acolytes' disdain for her, Emery couldn't help but wonder if Klea had another motive—perhaps wanting to be rid of her as well

The crimson-haired woman was no other than the bat half-blood Annara.

Over the past year, she had been instrumental in assisting Heorgar and the Zodiac Outpost in securing both Utopia City and the Academy from various threats. Despite her busy schedule, she was surprisingly enthusiastic about taking on the temporary instructor role and accompanying Emery on this perilous task. Her willingness to follow him into the heart of Nephilim territory spoke volumes about her commitment to help him. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Annara's voice cut through his thoughts as she continued to grumble,

"Huh! I can't count how many times you owe me already… You really should start paying up your tab!" Her tone was playful but edged with a hint of seriousness.

####

After three days of travel, an announcement resonated through the transport ship's loudspeakers, signaling their imminent arrival.

Emery and Annara promptly began preparing their disguises, meticulously adjusting their attire and perfecting their false identities in anticipation of disembarking.

The plan was to blend seamlessly with the regular passengers and cargo aboard the transport to infiltrate Nephilim-controlled territory without attracting unnecessary attention. This careful approach was crucial for navigating the complex and highly guarded Nephilim domain.

As the transport ship neared its destination, Emery gazed out the viewport and saw the majestic golden yellow coming into view. The massive space station orbiting the planet loomed ahead.

The descent toward the planet provided a breathtaking view, of a huge statue piercing the sky. This angelic figure, adorned with six radiant rings, stood as a grand symbol of the Nephilim's power and influence, and as the welcoming figure to the famous Seraph City, the largest Nephilim-ruled city in the Alpha Quadrant.