Earth's Greatest Magus

As the portal opened, Emery and Chumo stepped into the Pestilence Gate.

The garden-like cave was a remarkable sight. Emery's plant guardians greeted him with their distinct vocalizations, their presence contributing to the serene atmosphere.

"Ku ku. Kuang Kuang," they chirped, their voices harmonizing with the natural sounds of the cave.

Emery approached them, his affection for them evident. He gave a reassuring pat to one of the creatures. "Hi, boys. How are you all doing? You're not causing trouble for my boy Chumo here, are you?" His tone was warm and affectionate, showing the bond he shared with these creatures.

"Kuang.. Ku ku…" They responded with contented noises, indicating their well-being.

After greeting the guardians, Emery walked toward a corner room within the cave. Inside, a cell held a female magus, and it was none other than Hecate, a half-moon Kronos faction magus who had been captured by Emery's friends earlier.

The room was dimly lit, and the walls were covered with intricate plant growth, giving it an otherworldly appearance. Hecate, however, was anything but serene. She seethed with frustration and anger, her voice carrying a tone of defiance.

"You can't lock me in here! Release me!" Her demand reverberated in the confined space, echoing her determination to escape.

Casually against the cell door, Emery observed her with an amused smile. The contrast between the lush, tranquil surroundings of the cave and Hecate's fiery temperament couldn't have been more striking.

Emery's curiosity got the better of him as he calmly regarded the imprisoned magus. He couldn't help but check her background and talent using the Nephilim database, finding her proficiency in the Law of Death quite intriguing.

"Law of Death... very interesting," Emery mused aloud, his gaze never leaving Hecate. He turned to Chutulu, the chaotic entity within him, with a knowing smile. "I suppose she must look rather delicious to you, doesn't she?"

Chutulu's response was eager, <Yes, yes... Just give her to me already...>

Emery chuckled and shook his head, denying Chutulu's request. "No, not just yet."

Emery was faced with a difficult decision regarding Hecate, the half-moon Kronos faction magus he had locked in the cell. On one hand, it would have been strategically advantageous to eliminate her, as her formidable talent could secure her a spot among the top ten magus selected for the upcoming duel. Removing her from the equation would have simplified matters, but Emery couldn't afford to be hasty.

The Kronos situation was a complex one, and it had far-reaching implications, involving millions of people on Earth. Emery had received information suggesting that Hecate held significant influence within the faction. Killing her might provoke unpredictable consequences and complicate matters further. At the very least he wished to delve into her mind and extract valuable information using his [Spirit walk], however now was not the time.

"I'll have some fun with you later," Emery told Hecate with a mischievous glint in his eye. "In the meantime, make yourself comfortable here."

Emery decided to temporarily detain her, creating a specially designed room using the power of chaos. This chamber would prevent her from sensing or observing anything that transpired outside. Emery needed to be cautious and handle the Kronos situation with care, considering the delicate balance of power within the faction and the potential consequences of his actions. He left Hecate in her confined space, promising to return and deal with her at a later time.

Emery then approached Chutulu and shared the information. "I encountered Terrasque; he's here."

Chutulu's response was calm but knowing. <I know... he's been waiting for you.>

The guardian created a portal window that displayed Kieran standing in the Khaos domain. Chumo, curious and concerned, inquired about the situation. Emery did his best to explain the gravity of the threat, recognizing the importance of keeping Chumo, now one of the Khaos seeds, informed about this real danger.

However, to protect Chumo's identity, Emery decided to access the gate and enter the domain without him. 

Emery emerged from the Khaos gate, finding himself at the center of the ruins. Kieran, the dark elf, greeted him casually. "There you are, I've been waiting too long."

Emery returned the greeting with a similar smile. "If you didn't run so fast, you wouldn't have had to wait."

The dark elf chuckled and then fell into a momentary silence before broaching the topic. "This place is great. No fighting means we can talk freely."

Emery, ever wary, got straight to the point. "Tell me, what do you want?"

Kieran's expression turned more serious. "I want a ceasefire, at least in this ruins."

Emery couldn't help but express his incredulity at Kieran's proposal. "A ceasefire? You're the one who sneakily attacked me!" he exclaimed, clearly skeptical of the dark elf's intentions.

Kieran, however, sought to clarify his motives. He began explaining his presence in the ruins, emphasizing the significance of the shards to dark elves. The elemental vaults, including the metal vault, were essential to their needs. It was by sheer coincidence that Terrasque had detected him, prompting Kieran's arrival and subsequent encounter with Emery.

The dark elf continued, "I am still learning about this Khaos, the gate, the staff, and our previous battle proves I am still not your match. So yes, I would rather not fight now."

Emery couldn't help but chuckle at the comment. "Even if I could believe your silly lie, I have no reason to listen to your request."

Kieran persisted, "Come on... there is no reason we can't be friendly... I kill your friend, you kill my friend... seems fair."

Growing increasingly annoyed, Emery demanded, "Tell me what you want!"

Kieran sighed and relented, "Alright... I am telling you... the void stalkers, they are hunting both of us... us fighting will only attract them."

Hearing this, Emery chuckled. "I believe you… I understand now why you have to fake your identity and those of the other dark elves… you've gone rogue, haven't you?"

It was at that moment that a waypoint suddenly opened, and a figure emerged, approaching them. It was a human, one whom Emery recognized – it was Cole.

"To think I'd see you both here, relaxing. If Master Talaro were here, you'd both be dead already," Cole remarked as he approached them.

Cole had indeed arrived at the ruins, accompanied by the Void Stalker group. Knowing that both Emery and Kieran were in the vicinity, he came eager to issue a challenge.

Emery responded calmly to Cole's challenge, stating, "I am actually pretty busy; you two should have fun together without me." 

Deciding not to engage with them any further, Emery made the choice to exit the Khaos domain. He did, however, keep Kieran's offer of a ceasefire in mind.

After concluding his business, Emery exited the Khaos gate and addressed Chumo. Given the chaotic situation caused by Kieran and the Voidwalker dark elves in the ruins, Emery deemed it safer to have Chututlu accompany him. "Chumo, I will be taking it back," Emery declared firmly.

Emery's decision to reclaim Chututlu from Chumo was a matter of caution and strategic planning. With the presence of Kieran and the Voidwalker dark elves causing unrest in the ruins, Emery felt it was best to have the guardian close at hand. Chututlu, being a powerful guardian and a trusted companion, would also provide an added layer of protection as he delve into the deeper layer.

Chumo, understanding the rationale behind Emery's request, nodded in agreement. 

The Khaos gate returned to Emery once more, signaling that it was time for him to depart. Chumo offered his parting words of caution, saying, "Be careful, Emery," before Emery took his leave.

Emery's next destination was the fourth-layer Light crossover, and he made his way into the place using the single medal he possessed.

There were still about six hours remaining until the gate to the deeper layers would open. He went to a designated place and found Jinkan and the others deeply engrossed in absorbing the shards that held the essence of elemental energies. 

Didn't intend to squander any time. He, too, had come to strengthen his own abilities. Without disrupting the concentration of the others, he selected a handful of shards and began the process of absorption. The mystical energies flowed into him, enhancing his own power as he harmonized with the elemental forces contained within the shards.

With his determination unwavering, Emery continued to absorb the shards, making the most of the precious hours remaining before the gate to the next layer would open.