Earth's Greatest Magus

"Master, this is a good chance to crush that lower realm instructor!" one acolyte remarked eagerly, while another added, "These barbarians are all the same."

"Yes! They can't see the height of Mount Tai!" chimed in another, their voices filled with conviction and fervor.

As the whispers of encouragement and confidence echoed through the ranks of the Hall 68 acolytes, Instructor Aspen couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over him. Though outwardly he maintained his composure, inwardly he couldn't shake off the weight of doubt that settled upon his shoulders.

He knew enough of the man's ability. He had witnessed Emery's prowess firsthand, effortlessly dispatching multiple half-moon magus during their last instructor meeting.

Moreover, tales of this 'savage magus' battles had circulated among the Nephilim magus circle, including one fabled encounter where he purportedly bested a grand magus-level fighter. There was even one particular rumor that spoke of him engaging two grand magus pirates simultaneously and coming out as the winner.

While Aspen and other Nephilim Magus dismissed such stories as mere fantasies or exaggerations, the undeniable truth remained that Emery possessed the strength and skill above any normal half-moon magus.

As Instructor Aspen mulled over the ramifications of accepting Emery's challenge, anxiety gnawed at him. He weighed the potential outcomes, recognizing that victory would bring him little gain, yet a loss could tarnish his reputation irreparably. Just as he contemplated how to gracefully decline, his own student's urging thrust him into a corner.

"What an ungrateful student!" Aspen seethed inwardly, frustration bubbling beneath his composed facade.

Yet, before he could voice his reservations, another unexpected voice chimed in. Hans, the Nephilim noble recently placed under his tutelage "Instructor, what are you waiting for?!" Hans's words rang, urging Aspen to seize the opportunity.

With a resigned sigh, Aspen closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself. Finally, he spoke, his voice firm but tinged with reluctance. "Hm... This is not an appropriate arena for a Magus battle. Our fight could damage this newly built hall."

Emery's response was calm and measured. "Don't worry, instructor. I will take responsibility. But if that's your concern, I promise to go easy on you."

His taunt sent a ripple of surprise through the gathered acolytes while casting a new light on his character in Shinta's eyes.

With all eyes fixed on the confrontation, Magus Aspen found himself unable to refuse the challenge any longer. He accepted and braced himself for the impending battle. As the two instructors prepared to engage, the other acolytes instinctively distanced themselves, wary of the impending clash.

"You will see that I am not the same as those other instructors!" Aspen declared defiantly, his voice reverberating through the yard.

With those words, Aspen unleashed his true power, his once-muscular frame swelling and contorting until he stood transformed into a towering three-meter-tall giant. Crimson scales sprouted across his body up to his neck, encasing him in a formidable armor of draconic hide. The sight drew a calm response from Emery.

"Dragon body transformation? Interesting," he remarked casually, his curiosity piqued by Aspen's formidable technique.

The sight of Aspen's transformation into a red dragon sent a wave of unease through the hall. Red dragons were revered as formidable creatures, typically belonging to the mid to high-level tier among mythical beasts. Aspen's ability to effortlessly harness this power showcased his mastery over the transformation path, amplifying his already formidable strength as a full moon magus. The intimidating aura emanating from his draconic form instilled a sense of dread in the hall 120 acolytes, heightening their anxiety.

As Aspen observed the reaction of both his opponent and the surrounding acolytes, a smug chuckle escaped his lips. "Hahaha, you are a half-blood yourself, this would make a fair fight!" he proclaimed, attempting to justify the utilization of his full strength.

Emery's response was measured. "I did say interesting... not sure if it's fair,"

"Hahaha, it's too late to back out now!" Aspen declared confidently, bolstered by the unanimous support of the acolytes standing behind him.

Emery heaved a deep sigh, his opponent misunderstood his words. In Emery's assessment, Aspen's dragon form would still fall short against his own rank 9 bloodline transformation.

Nevertheless, Emery maintained his composure and responded, "Alright, I have promised to go easy on you... come on then," his words carried an air of confidence as he prepared for the impending confrontation.

Annoyed, Magus Aspen charged forward, his every step resonating through the entire yard as he propelled himself toward Emery. With a thunderous roar, he unleashed a powerful punch aimed at Emery, but it met nothing but empty air as Emery swiftly dodged the attack with a gust of wind.

Quickly adjusting, Aspen pivoted and swung his fists in a full rotation, hoping to catch Emery off guard. Yet, once again, Emery proved too agile, already soaring above Aspen's head and delivering a devastating knee strike to the giant's skull.

BAAAMM!!!!

The impact resounded like a clap of thunder, echoing through the arena. Despite Aspen's immense size and strength, the blow proved formidable enough to stagger him, forcing the magus to drop to one knee in pain and frustration.

Enraged, Aspen raised his hands in an attempt to catch Emery, but the agile half-blood had already somersaulted away, landing gracefully near his acolytes.

"Urgghh!!! Dont you dare to Run!!" shouted the giant.

Emery paid no heed to the enraged giant, instead casually turning his attention to his acolytes. With a calm demeanor, he addressed them, his voice carrying across the arena.

"When facing an opponent with formidable defense, it's essential to identify their weaknesses first," Emery advised, gesturing towards the enraged giant before them. "This one made the mistake of only transforming up to his neck, leaving his head vulnerable."

His words were directed particularly towards Dillion, who had expended significant energy battling the red bear transformation earlier. Emery suggested that by targeting the exposed vital areas, Dillion could achieve similar results with less exertion.

Magus Aspen's fury interrupted with a scream. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" he bellowed, incredulous at Emery's disregard.

Emery responded calmly, his expression one of mild confusion. "Teaching... what else?"

His actions left all the acolytes dumbfounded; it was a shocking sight to witness him casually turning what was supposed to be a difficult duel into a teaching session.

In a fit of rage, Instructor Aspen not only covered his head with dragon scales but also transformed his four limbs. Each limb underwent a different transformation, showcasing his mastery of multiple forms simultaneously.

"Three-body transformations at the same time, Amazing!" Emery complimented the magus, his tone laced with genuine admiration.

Emery quickly analyzed his opponent's transformation, his mind working at lightning speed to decipher the strengths and weaknesses of each form. The paw-like claws and golden fur on Aspen's arms resembled those of a mythical tiger beast, while the curved knees on his feet suggested traits from goats or bull-like creatures. It was evident that Magus Aspen had conditioned his body, blending the raw strength of the dragon with the nimble agility of other creatures.

Aspen's strategy was clear: to create a formidable fusion of power and agility that would allow him to outmaneuver and overpower Emery in combat.

But Emery remained unfazed, his mind already formulating a counter-strategy to overcome this formidable challenge.

With his new transformation enhancing his agility, Magus Aspen's movements reached unprecedented levels of speed and fluidity. However, despite this upgrade, his overall combat power didn't see a significant increase, leaving him unable to force Emery's wolf transformation.

Still exuding confidence, Emery goaded his opponent to make a move, 'Come on then" His demeanor unwavering in the face of Aspen's augmented form.

"ARGHH!!!" Aspen roared, his two newly transformed feet propelling him forward with a burst of incredible speed. Meanwhile, his arms, now equipped with razor-sharp claws, launched a fierce assault toward Emery. The claws came perilously close to grasping him, but with a swift and calculated maneuver, Emery skillfully evaded the attack by skidding low to the ground, capitalizing on Aspen's increased height to exploit his vulnerabilities.

Emery's lecture continued as he astutely pointed out the vulnerabilities inherent in such a comprehensive body transformation.

"Not only does the increased height present a disadvantage, but those feet are formidable for frontal attacks, their acceleration makes it difficult to alter trajectory," Emery explained calmly, his analytical mind dissecting the opponent's strategy.

To demonstrate his theory, Emery decided to showcase a movement technique, one born from his old master [Weeping Phantom] technique and his profound understanding of the Dao. Dubbed [Dao Steps], it was a seamless blend of slow and fast movements, a technique appropriate for any acolytes under the Magus realm.

"Watch and learn," Emery declared.

With graceful fluidity, he began to move, each step calculated and deliberate. As Aspen launched his next assault, Emery's movements seemed almost choreographed as he easily evaded each strike with hairbreadth precision, leaving the watching acolytes in awe of his skill and finesse.