Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-2250

"Senior, what are you doing?!" Emery shouted, stunned by the sudden onslaught.

Roran, the Serpent Supreme, moved with lightning speed, his serpentine form gliding effortlessly as he closed the distance. Caught off guard and unable to evade in time, Emery was forced to conjure his defensive spell, [Aegis of Void], in a desperate attempt to block the attack.

CRACKK!!!

The barrier shattered instantly under the force of Roran's powerful palm strike. Though it failed to hold, it provided Emery just enough time to retreat a few steps and activate his transformation.

[Twilight Transformation]

"Good! Show me your best move!" Roran roared, clearly enjoying the challenge.

Roran's immense experience, honed over thousands of years, made him a formidable opponent. His mastery of laws and supreme-level skills was unmatched, and his powerful soul only added to his strength. However, his magus-level body remained a potential vulnerability—a chink in the armor that Emery could exploit.

To match Emery's transformation, Roran activated his [Nightmare Hydra] form, causing multiple serpents to erupt from his back, each one coiling and striking with terrifying force.

BAMM!! BAMM!! BAMM!!

The two clashed with ferocious intensity, the ground shaking beneath their feet as their powers collided. The air crackled with energy, the sheer magnitude of their battle sending shockwaves throughout the palace.

The intense battle quickly drew the attention of the palace's residents. Magus Silica was the first to arrive, leading a squad of palace guards, but she quickly assessed the situation and knew they stood no chance of joining such a battle.

"Stay back!" Emery commanded, knowing that even with their combined strength, they stood little chance against Roran.

A typical Full Moon magus wielded around 500 battle power, but both Emery and Roran were far beyond that average. Their rank 9 half-blood transformations and secret techniques elevated their strength to levels few could comprehend. Emery, however, found himself at a disadvantage—without the aid of his Khaos Guardian, he was forced to rely solely on his sword to counter Roran's relentless onslaught.

The room shook with each strike, the air thick with the crackling energy of their powers colliding. Emery's focus was razor-sharp, his sword dancing in defensive arcs, yet Roran's fierce attacks kept him on the back foot.

Just as the battle seemed poised to escalate further, the arrival of Grand Magus Fantasme and Shena caused a sudden shift. Their presence, along with the tension in the room, seemed to compel Roran to cease his attack.

"Aahh... what a shame..." Roran sighed, his disappointment evident.

Emery, still on edge and struggling to contain his frustration, tightened his grip on his blade. "Senior… what do you think you are doing!?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger and confusion.

Roran's antics had pushed Emery to the limit. He couldn't understand why his senior had launched such a sudden and intense attack. The air between them crackled with unresolved tension, as Emery awaited an explanation.

By the time Roran spoke again, he had already reverted from his serpent form. "Ahh... relax," he said with a nonchalant wave of his hand. "I was just testing whether you were the real one or just a clone." He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in, before adding with a sly grin, "And to answer your question... the one you saw at your grand opening was my clone."

His words caught Emery off guard, and the tension in the room shifted from battle-ready to cautious curiosity. Roran turned his attention to the two grand magus, who were still on edge, their eyes locked on the Serpent Supreme. "You may leave," Roran said dismissively, his tone carrying an air of authority. "We're having a private discussion."

The two grand magus hesitated, their gazes flicking between Emery and Roran. It wasn't until Emery gave a slight nod of approval that they finally relented, exiting the room with wary glances over their shoulders.

As soon as they were alone, Emery turned to Roran, his voice tinged with frustration. "What do you want?" Roran, completely at ease, casually walked over to one of the chairs and made himself comfortable "Well, I was sort of interested in that mysterious power of yours…."

Emery's eyes narrowed. "Was? ...Not anymore?"

Roran's eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and calculation as he continued, "Yes, I'm guessing your secret power comes from a primordial wisp of darkness… a very powerful one." His tone was as if he had already pieced together Emery's secrets. "Such power could save me decades of effort in restoring this body to its former peak," he explained, a hint of desire in his voice. But then, with a casual shrug, he added, "Unfortunately, I'm terrible with space magic, so it's not exactly compatible with me."

His gaze sharpened, and the relaxed air around him shifted to something more intense. "That doesn't mean it's useless, though… but I've decided that you, Emery, are more useful to me than that wisp."

Emery tensed his guard fully up. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice steady, but his mind racing to understand Roran's intentions.

Roran leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Let's just say I'm satisfied with the progress you're making on the Supreme Gene Project."

Emery's surprise was masked by his caution, but he listened intently. Roran continued, "In less than a month, under your direction, the project has advanced more than it has in the last 20 years. I also have no intention of rushing and breaking through to the Supreme Realm before this project is complete. Your work is saving me more time than forcefully taking that wisp."

Emery, trying to leverage the situation, replied, "Good, I guess you should reward me instead."

Roran laughed, a deep, knowing sound. "Hahaha, kid... don't think I don't see through you. You want this project to succeed just as much as I do. Letting you handle it is reward enough, don't you think?"

Emery felt a pang of frustration, realizing that the old snake was too cunning to be easily manipulated. But he wasn't ready to give up. "You've seen for yourself how much trouble I have with the Nephilim. I'm afraid I won't survive long enough to finish this project if they come after me."

Roran paused, his expression thoughtful as he weighed Emery's words. After a moment, he spoke. "I suppose you have a point..."

With that, he reached into his robe and pulled out a dark medallion, intricately carved with the image of a nine-headed serpent. He tossed it to Emery, who caught it mid-air. "If you ever find yourself in serious trouble, you can force my foolish son to help you. This medallion grants you a position equivalent to an outside elder. And if the Nephilim decide to wipe you and your people out... well, you can always migrate to our Cerulean zone and claim one of our planets... it's in the neutral zone so... I bet they won't be interested to chase you there."

Emery examined the medallion closely, a spark of interest in his eyes. "Why would I need this when I have your word? Are you going somewhere?"

Roran nodded, "Yes, I won't be around. I'll be focusing on my breakthrough for at least 10 years…"

This was a relief for Emery. Roran's presence had always been a source of stress, and the idea of him being preoccupied with his own affairs was a welcome change. The medallion, on the other hand, could prove invaluable in his absence.

But Emery wasn't done pushing his advantage. "You mentioned you're here to return the favor. Now that you're leaving, how can you do that?"

"...."

Roran fell silent for a moment, then, to Emery's surprise, he burst into laughter. "Hahaha… good… very good. I thought that foolish Alpha king only chose you because of your blood… but your shamelessness, now that's something worthy of our serpent family. Yes, I have a smart in-law indeed!!"

Emery was caught off guard when Roran suddenly cut off his own left arm. Before he could react, Roran cast a spell that transformed the severed limb into a perfect clone of himself, indistinguishable in appearance and speech.

"This is a true clone technique," Roran said, his tone almost casual. "Learn this, and you won't need to sneak around with your space magic anymore."

Emery was stunned. He knew there were several true clone techniques, but most were grand magus, tier 8 level, and not particularly useful for half-bloods who have unique bodies. What Roran demonstrated was different. It was his own creation, a technique inspired by the hydra's innate regeneration. The prerequisites—high-tier bloodline and strong soul force—were demanding, but they were qualities Emery possessed.

Roran's clone would remain with Emery to teach him the technique. However, it came with a strict timeline. The clone's lifespan was only two weeks. If Emery couldn't master the technique within that time, he'd have to let go of the opportunity.

"Alright then, I hope you can complete the project before I come out of seclusion," Roran said before leaving him in peace.