Earth's Greatest Magus

?1886 Celestials

Emery found himself in the midst of a grand and magnificent palace, its vast chambers adorned with wonders. The ceiling was a canvas of stars, both distant and mesmerizingly close, while the view outside the colossal windows revealed a breathtaking expanse of cosmic beauty. Despite the awe-

inspiring surroundings, Emery's senses were abruptly confined to the confines of the palace, unable to discern anything beyond its golden walls. His focus was immediately drawn to the colossal figure seated on a majestic throne at the palace's heart.

The figure was unmistakably humanoid, but its proportions defied comprehension, a towering twenty meters in height. It was swathed in golden armor, which seemed to meld seamlessly with its very being. Emery could sense a profound weariness emanating from the giant, as if it were on the brink of fading away. However, even in this weakened state, the figure exuded an overwhelming aura of immense power.

As Emery cautiously approached the throne, he couldn't shake the uncanny feeling of familiarity. It took him only a moment to realize that he had encountered this giant before, in the form of a lifeless corpse hidden deep within the bowels of the Hyperion Privilege planet. It was a revelation that challenged everything he thought he knew about the supposed extinction of the Celestials. Yet, as he drew nearer to the colossal being and received no reaction, doubts crept into his mind, prompting him to wonder if he had unwittingly fallen into some kind of illusory trap.

At that pivotal moment, the colossal giant turned its gaze upon Emery. In response, an intense flood of words and images surged into Emery's mind, coalescing into a vivid visual tableau. It depicted an ancient and cataclysmic battle between two opposing forces of giants—one clad in majestic golden armor and the other encased in pitch-black bones, resembling an armor of darkness. The former clearly represented the Celestials, while the latter bore inscriptions in ancient script that translated to "plague" or, more fittingly, "scourge."

On both sides of this colossal conflict, dozens of giants with powers surpassing even the grand magus level were locked in a cataclysmic battle of cosmic proportions. Their might was such that their clashes had the potential to shatter entire planets into a myriad of shards. The vision unfolded with breathtaking speed, depicting the ultimate defeat and subsequent banishment of the scourge, sealing them away from the cosmos, never to be seen again.

As Emery's vision returned to the majestic throne and the enigmatic giant seated upon it, he was left with a profound sense of curiosity and a multitude of questions.

"What are you trying to say?" he implored once more, seeking clarity and guidance.

The giant remained silent, prompting Emery to press further, "Whatever it is you require, could you please extend your aid to my companions, who are in dire need?"

To Emery's surprise, an answer reached his ears, but it did not emanate from the giant. Instead, a female voice spoke from behind him, breaking the silence with its ethereal resonance.

"Don't worry about your companions; this place governs over time and space,"

Emery turned swiftly to behold a tall and graceful high elf, her long silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight, exuding an air of wisdom and otherworldly grace. She approached the throne with a regal gait, her posture reflecting deep respect for the giant seated upon it. After offering her silent obeisance, she turned her gaze to Emery, her eyes seemingly delving into the depths of his very soul.

"Does it finally come to this," she mused. "Relying on our fate to a human halfblood, a champion of Khaos even."

Emery, taken aback by her ability to perceive aspects of his identity hidden from others, couldn't help but voice his question, "Who are you?"

The enigmatic high elf, who seemed to possess an uncanny ability to perceive Emery's essence, responded to his question with a cryptic acknowledgment.

"Human... It is I who have guided you into this realm," she affirmed.

Emery needed but a moment to recognize the familiar signature emanating from her presence. It was none other than Loriel Starwind, or more precisely, the supreme soul residing within her.

Before Emery could begin to formulate further inquiries, the female high elf began to explain.

"We are within the domain of the last living celestials," she stated. She then elaborated on the vision that Emery had experienced, referring to it as the "Battle of the Gods." This name had been bestowed by the elves over a hundred thousand years ago when their ancestors, still in their primitive stages of development, had viewed the celestials as their divine beings.

Loriel continued with her explanation, Emery found himself drawn by the epic scope of the celestial-scourge conflict. Celestials, perceived as the architects of creation, had squared off against the Scourge, the embodiment of destruction itself. This cosmic battle had drawn in ancient beings, including dragons, titans, demons, and angels, in a confrontation that spanned eons.

The battles had left an indelible mark on the universe's fabric, consuming the very essence of the universe. Planets had been obliterated, stars drained of their brilliance, and countless primordial beings had perished in the maelstrom of destruction. When the celestials had finally emerged victorious, their determination to cleanse the cosmos had led them to seek the annihilation of all remaining Scourge, banishing them to the netherrealm.

With an air of heaviness in his voice, Emery could not help but sigh. "Please... don't tell me... the broken crystal led to that realm."

Loriel's response confirmed his fears. "Yes, it did."

The realization that the celestial ruins held the power to open the gate to such a realm weighed heavily on Emery. It finally occurred to him what the 'resurgence' actually meant—an effort prepared by dark magus and the dark elves to bring the Scourge back into the magus universe. The gravity of the situation was now crystal clear, and the responsibility on his shoulders felt more burdensome than ever.

The high elf spoke with an intention, to plea for Emery's assistance, she gazed at him and said.

"We must do everything in our power to seal that realm once more. We cannot allow any of them to escape."

Emery sighed deeply again, "Like you said, I'm just a half-blood human... all of this is far beyond me. You should seek out a grand magus-level figure or a supreme being for this task, not me."

The high elf regarded him with a serious expression and responded, "Do you see anyone else in this place?"