Earth's Greatest Magus

The battlefield was a tableau of pandemonium, with the once formidable magus now reduced to a battered and demoralized state. The entity lurking within the spatial tear had wreaked havoc, rendering half of the magus incapacitated and the remaining half grievously wounded from the relentless spirit attacks. What had started as a battle was swiftly descending into a gruesome massacre, with impending doom looming over the fighters, Emery included.

Amid the turmoil, a desperate idea sparked in Emery's mind like a fleeting beacon of hope — a plan to plunge into the very portal that birthed the destructive force and unleash the formidable power of Khaos. The mere thought of it was audacious, bordering on the insane, yet the gravity of the situation seemed to push Emery towards this radical solution.

Reality, however, yanked him back from the brink of recklessness. The idea of confronting the celestial scourge head-on was sheer madness. While a part of him yearned for the possibility of victory, another part recognized the futility of such a direct confrontation. There was a safer option — to expend his last reserves of spatial power to escape, to survive. He was resigned to leaving the outcome to fate, allowing the dice to roll once more.

As Emery grappled with this internal conflict, the echoes of the female priestess's words reverberated through his mind once again. She had spoken of his potential as the breaker of destiny, of making the right choice in critical moments. The weight of her counsel hung in the air, compelling him to reconsider, to contemplate the impact of his decisions on the unfolding catastrophe.

"No, no... she's wrong to think I would risk my life for this! I would not!" Emery vehemently rejected the notion, turning away from the impending clash. His priority shifted to saving as many comrades as possible, opting for a strategic retreat. However, his plans were abruptly interrupted as familiar figures materialized through the gate.

"Why are they here?" Emery's bewildered exclamation marked the unexpected arrival of his earthbound companions, led by the courageous Klea who leaped into the fray. The very friends he assumed had ample time to escape were now willingly risking themselves in the chaotic battle.

Time seemed to compress as the malevolent entity loomed larger with each passing second. The emerging tendrils from the portal painted a grim picture, and Emery grappled with the harsh reality that not all of his friends could be rescued.

As the monstrous entity began to materialize, a strange sense of purpose seized Emery's heart. It was a moment of clarity in the chaos, forcing him to confront a decision that transcended self-preservation.

"Dammit!" he exclaimed, channeling that surge into a decisive stomp. With both swords gripped tightly in his hands, he unleashed his most potent sword technique, the [Dao Sword]. The ethereal blades cut through the air with unparalleled precision, severing the tentacles in his path as he hurtled toward the portal's center.

At full speed, Emery dove headlong into the chaotic vortex. The collective gasp of onlookers echoed through the battlefield as Emery, vanished within the portal's depths.

"EMERY!!!"

Klea's voice echoed through the tumult, a mix of shock and concern as she witnessed Emery's daring plunge into the portal. Alongside her, the Earth magus Julian, Thrax, Chumo, Fjolnir, and Ashaka the Abbot along with a dozen others they had encountered, rushed onto the battlefield. Their collective presence, though valiant, seemed but a small ripple in the overwhelming tide of chaos.

The reality of the dire situation unfolded before them as they struggled to advance. Despite their efforts, they were unable to breach the chaotic center of the battle where magus after magus fell to the relentless onslaught. The odds seemed insurmountable.

Just as despair threatened to tighten its grip, minutes later, a powerful force materialized behind them. A familiar cloud of smoke billowed forth, crashing into the celestial hordes with immense force, carving a path through the chaos.

"That's Elder Delbrand!!" Klea exclaimed amidst the fray.

Delbrand, the ghost of Lymhurst, materialized with an awe-

inspiring display of power that sent shockwaves through the battlefield. The once dark smoke surrounding him transformed into a menacing twister, a vortex of destruction that tore through the chamber. With each rotation, it ensnared hundreds of celestial entities, grinding them into dust with an unstoppable force. Even the formidable manticore and the gigantic spider succumbed to the swirling tempest, drawn into its relentless grasp.

As the colossal twister surged forward, it set its sights on the giant demonic figure locked in combat with Zach. With a thunderous collision, the twister crashed into the demonic entity before unraveling into the form of Elder Delbrand. In his human guise, he held the giant demon by its neck, his gaze filled with keen interest. A demonstration of Elder Delbrand's strength caused the demonic figure to combust into ashes, leaving only its lingering spirit soul.

The battlefield, once a realm of chaos and despair, now bore witness to a dramatic shift. Elder Delbrand's intervention had not only decimated a significant portion of the celestial forces but had also extinguished a formidable adversary. The remaining magus, including Klea and her Earth companions, watched in stunned silence as the tide of battle seemed to turn in their favor.

However, amidst the momentary relief, an ominous message echoed through the ruins, jolting the magus back to reality. The grand magus arrivals were followed by an urgent warning:

[Intruders alert… intruders alert]

The pace of celestial spawns within the chamber accelerated, casting a foreboding shadow over the battlefield. Delbrand, the ghost of Lymhurst, remained composed amid the escalating turmoil. With a calm demeanor, he summoned a dozen of his ethereal smoke puppets, deploying them strategically to aid the beleaguered magus. His gaze remained fixed on the tear of space, a focal point of both danger and opportunity.

"Enforcers stay! The rest, leave this place immediately!" Delbrand's authoritative command reverberated through the chaos. Aware of the seasoned elder's formidable reputation, magus of various backgrounds hastily retreated, leaving the hazardous battlefield.

Among the few who remained were Jinkan, Klea, and the Earth magus, their determination overriding the instinct to retreat. Klea, her eyes filled with concern and frustration, was poised to leap into the portal before her friends intervened.

"Why!! Why did he enter the portal?!" Her voice echoed the unspoken question lingering in everyone's mind.

Emery's audacious act had momentarily halted the celestial entity's emergence, creating a rift in the unfolding calamity. Yet, the sacrifice left an indelible mark on those who witnessed it.

As the realization settled in, it became apparent that Emery was not the sole missing presence.

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