Earth's Greatest Magus

The room that had once echoed with the clashing of magus and the tumult of battle had now fallen into an unsettling hush. Most of the magus had descended into the third layer, leaving behind a few hundred individuals. Among them were those in need of recuperation, those waiting for the arrival of another group, and those who simply stood by, eager to witness the unfolding spectacle.

The dark elves who had opted to stay numbered more than 300. Their combined strength was formidable, and they represented a diverse array of factions and allegiances. It was an unusual sight to behold, as dark elves seldom shared common objectives. Yet, in this moment, they stood united in a direct challenge to a solitary young magus.

The bracelets issued by the Nephilim provided valuable insights into the identity of these dark elves. Among their ranks were eight Khan, individuals distinguished by their exceptional skills and accomplishments, and three Monarchs, serving as the esteemed representatives of their respective dark elven empires. The weight of their collective presence, intentions, and individual accomplishments set a tense atmosphere, and the confrontation they sought was imminent.

As the tension thickened in the room, one of the dark elf monarchs, Morvain Duskmire, stepped forward. With a clear and chilling demeanor, he pointed a slender, pale finger directly at Emery and declared, "We only want him." His statement was followed by a chilling assertion, "The rest of you can leave."

Jinkan, exuding confidence, took a step forward to address the challenge, her voice unwavering. "Are you willing to break the ceasefire agreement for this?"

Another Monarch responded to her question with a malevolent grin. "You should be glad that we will keep the agreement for just one human." The words hung in the air, heavy with intent, and were followed by the palpable sense of impending battle.

Emery observed the expressions of those around him. Anxiety was evident among Linhao's magus, and it was mirrored in the faces of Albatross and Proxima's magus as well. These were not the rogue magus they had faced earlier; these were dark elves, a race endowed with much stronger physiques and spirit aptitude than humans. The prospect of confronting them was an entirely different challenge, one that weighed heavily on their minds.

Seized the moment, Emery stepped forward to address the group of dark elves with a bold declaration. "This is you, afraid of just one magus? If you are as formidable as you claim, why not fight me one-on-one?" He pointed directly at D'Mal, the crimson-haired magus who had ranked first in contributions. "If your best warrior is hesitant, he can bring a few friends to fight me."

Emery's tactic was calculated, meant to buy time as he anticipated that the enforcers would soon intervene. The strategy seemed to have an effect, as he could sense D'Mal's fury mounting. However, one of the Monarchs in the dark elf group intervened and quashed his aggressive intentions.

"Unfortunately, you are wanted by multiple factions," the prince explained. He then shifted his gaze towards the magus standing behind Emery and posed a pointed question. "Are you all truly prepared to lay down your lives for this lone human?"

As the tension hung in the air and the dark elves' challenge remained, Linhao suddenly spoke up, addressing Jinkan with a concerned tone. "Jinkan… I believe we should concede. Let's not jeopardize the entire expedition for one low-realm human."

Without waiting for further explanation, the Amerhiks prince swiftly summoned his 50 magus and departed, leaving Jinkan with her group of 30. She let out a resigned sigh and muttered to herself, "I knew he's an idiot, but I didn't realize he could be such a coward!"

The act of Linhao leaving with his contingent of magus evoked laughter among the dark elves. Emery couldn't help but glance at the remaining members of his group, wondering if others would choose a similar path.

Emery couldn't help but observe his group, silently questioning whether any more of them would follow Linhao's lead. The situation was tense, and he felt the weight of the dark elves' expectations on him.

The dark elf monarch, Morvain, taunted Emery with words designed to sow doubt and isolation. "Humans have no honor, and even those who stand with you now are here only for their own gains. You are nothing. Surrender yourself willingly to us."

For a brief moment, Morvain's words successfully sow doubt in his mind. He looked at the magus that stood behind him and questioned whether any of them were genuinely willing to fight with him. The feeling of isolation crept over him.

However, Emery had no intention to surrender. He straightened his posture, his confidence unwavering, and declared, "Even if I have to stand alone, I am confident I can take several of you down with me." He was prepared to confront the dark elves, his resolve unshaken.

Jinkan intervened "Emery... look around."

To Emery's surprise, numerous magus observers began to step forward and gather around him. Among them, he recognized Olivier, the sword saint, who had brought ten magus from his group. Shatter Cross was also among those who joined, accompanied by the inhuman Anzi and twenty magus from the Cross faction.

While these two groups had a certain connection with Emery, the astonishment came from the increasing number of magus he had never seen before. Dozens of them stepped forward, firmly aligning themselves by his side, creating a powerful display of unity and support.

As the situation unfolded, Emery couldn't help but wonder about the identities of the magus who stood by his side. Jinkan explained, "That one is from the Xian faction, that the Pioneer and Deviant factions. I believe you saved their families from the Demon's Pit. As for the rest, they simply hate the dark elves too much to need any other reason."

Emery watched in amazement as the group grew, their resolve solidifying with each new addition. With their numbers steadily increasing and their chances of victory improving, it became apparent that the dark elves were indeed considered the common enemy by the humans. Their ranks were gradually matching the 300-strong force of the dark elf magus.

Simultaneously, the expressions of the observers in the room shifted, with some displaying a newfound willingness to join the battle when the opportunity presented itself.

In response to the rapidly changing situation, Emery couldn't help but smile confidently. He addressed the dark elf monarch and said, "You see this? Now... Are you sure you all want to die for this one human?" He was essentially repeating the exact words the dark elf prince had uttered earlier.

Jinkan couldn't help but chuckle at Emery's determination and replied, "You really want to fight, don't you?"

The situation had the proud dark elves feeling cornered, and it was clear that these Khan and princesses were not willing to back down in such a precarious predicament. The tension in the room grew palpable, and a battle seemed almost inevitable.

Just as the first magus was about to cast a spell, a group of magus, impeccably uniformed, entered the scene. They were none other than the Magus Alliance enforcers, led by a figure recognized by Emery: Zach Talon.

Zach made a commanding entrance, given his position as the commander of the enforcers. In a booming voice, he shouted, "Everyone, stand down! No one is fighting!"

The arrival of the enforcers had a swift and calming effect on the tense situation. For the elves, continuing to fight meant almost certain defeat. As for the humans, it could result in punishment or fines imposed by the Magus Alliance. It became apparent that, as much as Zach detested the dark elves and had been locked in battles with them for years, he prioritized his role and position as the enforcers of the Alliance.

The interruption by the enforcers had the dark elves reluctantly disperse, their pride bruised by the unexpected turn of events. As they left, one of the Khan uttered a veiled threat, ensuring that the tension didn't completely dissipate.

"This is not over!" a dark elf Khan warned, his ominous words echoing through the tense atmosphere, a message that resonated with the other dark elves.

The aftermath of this confrontation drew forth mixed emotions among the gathered magus. The tension lingered in the air, and Emery could see the watchful eyes of the enforcers on the dark elves who departed with a sullen demeanor.

Soon after the dark elves made their exit, the remaining magus began to move forward, entering the third layer to continue their expedition. Some approached Emery, taking the time to introduce themselves and offer their assistance in the future.

In the case of individuals like Olivier and Shatter Cross, no words were exchanged; a shared look conveyed their gratitude and respect before they departed with their respective groups.

Finally, it was Zach who stepped forward to share some unexpected words "Emery, I must ask you not to continue the expedition,"