Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-1888

?1888 Choice

Loriel Starwind's sacrifice had unleashed a spell of unimaginable power—[Prismatic Existence], a tier 9 incantation that transformed everything it touched into unyielding ice. As the spell took hold, it began to encompass the entire rift in space, sealing it off and ensnaring the colossal arm within its frigid grasp.

The chilling effect of the spell wasn't limited to just the rift; it permeated the entire chamber. The sudden drop in temperature sent a shockwave through the room, and most of the magus present were affected. They scrambled to use their life-saving artifacts, spells, and innate physical abilities to fend off the numbing cold.

The high elves, adept in the use of ice magic, were the first to break free from the icy grasp of the spell. The dark elves, skilled in harnessing the power of fire, quickly followed suit. However, the humans, who generally possessed lower inherent resistance, found themselves temporarily bound by the freezing cold.

One silver lining emerged from this freezing onslaught—the celestial constructs, were greatly impeded by the plummeting temperatures. Loriel Starwind's selfless act had not only sealed the rift but also brought a momentary respite to the chaotic battle, freezing the entire battlefield in time.

Emery, with his back against the colossal crystal, felt the full force of the freezing spell as it washed over him. His breath crystallized in the frigid air, and his body became encased in a sheen of ice. But the urgency of their situation propelled him to action. Drawing upon his formidable physique, he summoned every ounce of strength and resolve he had, channeling it into a single, desperate effort. With a resounding crack, the ice shattered around him, freeing him from its cold, constricting embrace.

As Emery broke free, he turned his attention to his companions. Atlas, the half-machine Magus, had already sprung into action. Flames danced along his mechanical limbs, radiating intense heat that cut through the icy bonds encasing Uria and Olivier. The warmth of his flames began to melt the frost that held them captive.

But amid the chaos and the race against time, there was a palpable sense of unease. Neo, who had been valiantly defending against the tentacles, was nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately he knew they couldn't afford to wait for answers.

"Let's go!" Emery's voice rang out with urgency as he attempted to rally the others. However, the remaining Magus were still disoriented and struggling to shake off the numbing cold.

It was Jinkan who broke through the uncertainty, her face etched with concern as she relayed a crucial message from her family. "Help is coming," she announced, "We've been told to hold on as long as possible!"

The news struck the group like a bolt of lightning, and an air of shock and hesitation settled among them. The sight of the celestial constructs cracking their way out of the ice served as a stark reminder of the imminent danger they faced.

Jinkan, with a sense of urgency in her voice, did her best to emphasize the importance of keeping whatever lurked within the icy prison contained until help arrived. Emery watched as Nael, the Nephilim Fate child, sprang into action without hesitation. He summoned his twenty Azazel Nephilim magus and began weaving a complex formation that bound the constructs atop the ice. The surviving elves quickly followed suit, their collective efforts aimed at maintaining the fragile barrier.

Part of Emery's instincts urged him to stay and assist in the desperate defense, but the overwhelming odds weighed on him. Thousands of celestial constructs continued to spawn endlessly, and the integrity of the ice barrier that hold the rift seemed uncertain at best. He turned to Jinkan, his expression resolute.

"They will not make it," Emery declared, his voice firm. "We should leave while we still can."

Without wasting another moment, Emery dashed toward the gate, flying through it with a sense of urgency. To his relief, he soon realized that Jinkan and the others were following closely behind.

"This better be the right choice," Jinkan muttered as they emerged on the other side of the gate, their fate uncertain and their path forward unclear.

Fortunately, the gate they had entered through led them into a tunnel that provided direct access to the seventh layer, granting them a glimmer of hope. However, their momentary relief was soon eclipsed by a looming threat. Within minutes of their flight through the tunnel, a colossal and terrifying aura began to emanate from behind them. It served as grim confirmation that the group they had left behind had met a dire fate and had not managed to hold out for long.

Emery's initial sense of relief swiftly transformed into dread as he realized that this menacing presence was closing in on them at an alarming pace. "Dammit, it's gaining on us!"

Amid the foreboding aura, they could sense the tunnel itself starting to crumble and disintegrate as the colossal being forced its way through. They had no choice but to push forward, continuing their desperate escape from impending doom.

"We are here!" Emery called out in relief as he sensed the presence of a few hundred magus awaiting them at the entrance to the seventh layer.

As they arrived, Emery observed a chaotic scene. The conflict between the humans and elves had ceased, but instead, they found themselves amidst a fierce battle against thousands of infected celestial constructs.

When they emerged from the tunnel, they were immediately halted by Nephilim magus, representing both the Azazel and Aztebas families. Among them stood familiar faces like Liam, Zephyr, and Linhao.

"Jinkan!" Liam's voice was filled with a mixture of concern and frustration. "Why did you leave? What happened back there? And where is Nael?" His questions hung heavily in the tense atmosphere, demanding answers.

The Nephilim golden prince quickly surmised that Jinkan had disobeyed orders, a realization that filled him with a mix of frustration and worry, especially considering that they had left their precious Fate Child, Nael, behind. He was about to confront Jinkan and demand an explanation, but their urgent situation allowed no time for lengthy discussions.

"We need to escape now!" Jinkan urged, the urgency in her voice undeniable.

Before Liam could react, they all sensed the ominous aura approaching from below. In the midst of the shock, Emery took decisive action. He dashed past them and flew directly into the next gate above them follow by Jinkan and the group.

The chaos made them successfully escape, and as they were leaving, from above they witnessed a horrifying sight. A massive humanoid giant covered by dark armor broke through the tunnel, followed by hordes of infected celestial constructs. Hundreds of Grade 5 magus factions, who tied to stop them; including the Nephilims, the Arcanum, and the Imperium, were crushed like insignificant insects by the sheer might of the giants. These magus, no matter how talented, were utterly outmatched by beings of power beyond even the Grand Magus level.

As they enter the gate, Ignatius voiced his concern, torn between wanting to help their comrades below and the urgency of their escape. Emery, however, remained resolute in his decision.

"Let's hope they can hold long enough until we get off this ruins," Emery responded, his determination to retreat unwavering. He had little relation to those magus and felt no obligation to stay and help them in their dire situation.

As they continued their ascent through the layers, passing through the sixth and fifth, they reached the fourth layer about twenty minutes later. To Emery's astonishment, they were met by Zach and more than a thousand magus who were waiting for them.

Zach, as an enforcer commander, had shown tremendous courage by leading a thousand volunteers to defend the fourth layer. Among them were familiar faces like Yunxiau, Dyoo, and even the Ouroboros group with Vizla, standing with the volunteers in defiance of the impending threat.

"Zach, are you crazy?! Why haven't you left? You can't stop this," Emery exclaimed, both surprised and concerned.

Zach's words sent a wave of anxiety surging through Emery. "I cannot just leave; there are still hundreds of magus locked inside the vaults,"

This news, made Emery desperately began searching for his friends among the crowd. Unable to locate them, he accessed the Khaos gate, which revealed a message from Chumo confirming that they were indeed trapped inside the vaults of the fourth layer.

"No... no...!!" Emery's heart sank as the reality of the situation settled in.

He couldn't abandon his friends.

With newfound determination, Emery positioned himself next to Zach, determined to hold back the approaching giant. But it was too late. The colossal scourge took only minutes to wreak havoc, claiming the lives of hundreds of magus, including Atlas, Zetto, Mahinder, and even Zach. Emery could only watch in helpless horror as his friends fell one by one, their lives extinguished before the Supreme magus Imperio finally manage to enter the ruins and rescue them.

It was a devastating outcome, marked by tragedy and loss.

Emery's head began to spin, and an excruciating headache gripped him. His vision blurred, and he found himself back in the Celestial Domain. The colossal giant remained seated on his throne, and the enigmatic female high elf fixed her gaze upon him.

"You have just witnessed the future," she declared, her voice resonating with an otherworldly wisdom. "Now are you ready to break your destiny?"