Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-2203

[ALERT] [ALERT] [ALERT]

Notifications blared across Karat's forces as their warship, which had been hovering in orbit, began firing on defensive structures. Several flying drones exploded, and the guarding space station bombarded the warships in retaliation. A space battle erupted suddenly in the sky, like a dazzling display of deadly fireworks, shocking all the forces on the ground.

The once orderly battlefield below descended into chaos. Soldiers on both sides looked up, their faces lit by the flashing lights of explosions above. The sky was filled with streaks of light from energy weapons, punctuated by the bright flares of detonating drones and ships.

"Brother, what did you do!?" Hassa shouted in shock.

Xavier, appearing equally surprised, responded, "None of my warriors would attack without my order. They must have been threatened with..."

Before he could finish, the sudden attack and the deep concern for their lord's safety prompted Hassa's grand magus elders to dash onto the stage. They quickly surrounded their lord, forming a protective barrier. Their expressions were resolute, their intentions clear—they were ready to pass judgment on Xavier.

In response, Xavier's grand magus also flew onto the stage, standing behind their leader. Xavier, his anger palpable, shouted, "Huh! Is this one of your tricks!? You can't accept the duel's result and attack us instead!"

Tension reached its peak. Curses and accusations began to fly between the two sides. The atmosphere crackled with impending violence, and the grand magus from both factions seemed poised to engage in a catastrophic battle.

The ground seemed to vibrate with the combined energy of so many powerful beings ready to unleash their might. Sensing the imminent clash, Hassa quickly intervened.

"STAND DOWN!!" Hassa's voice rang out with authority. He turned to Xavier and the elders, his gaze steely. "What is the report from the space station?" he demanded.

One of Hassa's elders replied urgently, "My Lord, there is none... It seems our communication is compromised!"

A Xavier elder stepped forward, his voice laced with concern. "Lord Xavier, we are unable to reach communication with our warship either."

Xavier's face twisted in anger. "Huh! You rebels are lying!" he accused, his eyes narrowing at the opposing side.

"Bastard! Who are you calling a rebel?" retorted one of Hassa's elders, stepping forward aggressively.

"SHUT UP!" Xavier roared, his dominating three cosmos aura erupting. The sheer force of his presence silenced the bickering elders, forcing them to stop in their tracks. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the rest of the forces, including hundreds of Magus and Emery, watched anxiously.

At that moment, a new piece of information arrived, conveyed through the use of magic. "Lord Xavier, Commander Gunma has sent a message," an elder announced. The elder read the message aloud, detailing a sudden surge that deactivated some of the ship's functions, followed by the sudden explosion of the drones. The message clearly stated that they did not fire the first shot, not until the space station started to attack them.

Hassa's eyes widened with concern as the elder finished reading. "My Lord, please don't believe them. It is their tactic to confuse us," another Hassa elder advised urgently.

Xavier's expression darkened as he absorbed the message. One of his own elders stepped forward, echoing the urgency. "My Lord, we need to make a move… we don't know what else they might be preparing."

The atmosphere was electric with tension, each side eyeing the other with a mix of suspicion and readiness to spring into action. The desert air seemed to crackle with the intensity of their mutual distrust.

As more elders echoed similar concerns, both leaders faced each other, a decision hanging in the balance. Xavier's expression was a storm of emotions, while Hassa remained composed. Suddenly, Hassa addressed his elders with a calm but authoritative voice, "Heed my order… None of you move unless I say so"

He then turned to Xavier, his eyes steady and sincere. "Brother, if you truly believe that I am too passive, then you should also believe that this is not my doing. I propose we stay and do nothing until we receive more information."

Xavier seemed taken aback by Hassa's proposal. It was a move that not only demonstrated sincerity but also placed Xavier in a difficult position. Refusing such a reasonable request would cast him in a suspicious light, potentially implicating him as the instigator of the attack. On the other hand, despite the potential loss of forces in space, as long as the grand magus on the ground did not join the fray, the overall cost would remain manageable.

After a tense moment of silence, Xavier nodded slowly. "Alright, I agree." His voice was measured, the weight of his words sinking into the gathered crowd.

The two leaders then made a crucial decision: each would send one trusted Grand Magus to space to halt the ongoing battle and gather more information. This move was intended to ensure that no further unnecessary bloodshed occurred until the true nature of the threat was uncovered.

However, as soon as the two elders ascended into the sky, they saw a burning warship hurtling down towards them. The ship, one of Xavier's, was engulfed in flames and descending rapidly, heading straight for their position. The truce between the two forces was once again tested to its breaking point.

"Trust me, brother, I did not order this!" Xavier shouted, his voice carrying a frustration.

As the warship closed in, its high-grade cannon powered up and unleashed a formidable blast. Without hesitation, Xavier cast a powerful thunder spell, his body crackling with energy. The spell met the blast mid-air, breaking it apart into smaller, less destructive pieces. The sky lit up with the clash of energy, and debris rained down around them.

The warship persisted, its cannons charging once more. Xavier's brow furrowed in concentration as he prepared to intercept the next attack. Just as the blast surged towards them, he summoned another thunderous spell, this time with even greater force. Lightning crackled across the battlefield as the two energies collided, causing a shockwave that shook the ground beneath their feet.

Despite Xavier's efforts, the warship continued its relentless advance. Grand Magus Khalid stepped forward urgently. "My Lord, let me handle this! We cannot afford to let it reach us!"

Hassa, weighing the imminent threat, hesitated. Before he could respond, Xavier's voice boomed with authority. "NO!! My men are inside that ship!"

For Hassa, the unfolding situation was a stark confirmation of a hidden force seeking to sow chaos and harm both factions. His gaze swept over the assembled grand magus leaders with growing concern, aware that the chaotic scene provided a perfect cover for anyone looking to exploit the turmoil.

Understanding the potential for betrayal or an opportunistic strike, Hassa made a bold and surprising decision. "Brother, you may deal with anyone who dares to move," he declared. Then, channeling his energy, Hassa cast his special defensive spell, forming a shimmering barrier that enveloped both forces.

The barrier was a magnificent sight, a translucent dome that glowed with golden light. The barrier not only protected the forces from any immediate threats but also signaled Hassa's genuine intention not to harm the incoming warship.

Hassa showed his clear intention not to harm the warship and everyone aboard, but despite the seemingly formidable barrier, the warship continued its descent and crashed into it. The already damaged vessel shattered upon impact, sending debris flying in all directions.

The powerful impact dealt a massive force to the barrier, causing it to ripple and strain under the pressure. Hassa, already injured from the duel, was further wounded to maintain the barrier's integrity. Blood trickled down his face, his body trembling from the effort. The sight of their lord's selflessness deeply concerned his followers, but Hassa's resolute voice rang out, commanding them to stay their hands. "DONT MOVE!!"

From the blast, a few dozen figures emerged, soaring through the air—three of them were in the grand magus realm. Though they wore Karat military uniforms, Xavier quickly disavowed them. "They are not my men!" he roared, his voice filled with fury. "Who the hell are you?"

Emery, who had been observing from the sidelines, had instructed VIA, the advanced artificial intelligence, to analyze the situation. When the warship exploded, he received critical information about the unknown magus.

"Pirates, They are pirates!"