Earth's Greatest Magus

"You monster!! Get away from our king!!"

"We are not afraid of you! Leave!!"

"God's judgment will befall you, freak!!"

The crowd's anger swelled like a storm. More and more people surged forward, emboldened by their numbers, their fear melting away, replaced by fury and devotion. The sheer volume of their cries echoed through the ruined palace, a collective will so strong it pierced the chaos of the moment.

What was more startling, however, was the effect it had on Julian. His eyes, weary moments ago, now sparked with something new, something unshakable. He grinned, teeth bloodied but resolute, as he looked at Emery.

"Can't you hear them, Emery? Can't you hear the will of my people?"

Suddenly, a wave of spirit energy burst forth from Julian's body, raw and overwhelming. It pushed against Emery, not with physical force but with the weight of sheer belief, the power of Faith. Emery's grip loosened as Julian, once weakened and beaten, now stood tall, his aura burning brighter than ever. But Julian didn't strike. Instead, he entered a trance-like state, his body emanating a glow as both of his pupils turned into radiant, golden orbs. The air around him shifted, thick with divine energy. Then, as if responding to some unseen force, a brilliant pillar of light descended from the sky above, engulfing him in a blinding, golden radiance.

The sight was nothing short of divine.

Thousands of onlookers dropped to their knees, their prayers turning to gasps of awe and reverence. They bowed, not out of fear but devotion, their faith in Julian now unquestionable. The people believed they were witnessing a miracle, the ascension of their king to something more than mortal.

Emery stood still, torn between rage and uncertainty, watching the spectacle unfold. His primal energy surged within him, roaring for release, but something kept him rooted to the spot. As Emery wrestled with his thoughts, a figure soared into view, the elderly Grand Magus finally made his approach. He positioned himself squarely between Emery and Julian his expression was calm yet firm.

"Please, don't harm him... He's experiencing enlightenment, "

Emery's eyes narrowed. He could feel the power emanating from the elderly magus—two cosmos realms, a formidable figure, yet it was not enough to intimidate Emery. But the Grand Magus's next words cut through Emery's internal debate like a blade.

"Yes, I might not be strong enough to stop you, but I believe you won't let these civilians be harmed by our fight."

The statement struck a chord in Emery.

Without waiting for Emery's reply, the elder signaled dozens of guards to establish a secure perimeter, their disciplined formation ensuring that no one could breach the immediate area. His eyes remained fixed on Emery, a silent challenge in his gaze.

Emery, still agitated and struggling with the turn of events, confronted the elder. "You're the one who planted these ideas in his head, aren't you?!"

The elder responded with a casual tone, seemingly unfazed by Emery's accusation. "I didn't… But why not allow your friend to explain himself once he's done?"

Sensing the lack of hostility from the Grand Magus, Emery took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and eventually allowed his primal transformation to fade. His towering, monstrous form shrank back to his normal self.

His voice, though calmer, still held a sharp edge as he said,

"There's nothing more to explain... He just has to choose between his home or his ambition… his friends or his gods."

With those final words, Emery turned and flew toward the portal, Annara silently following behind. Minutes later, the golden pillar that enveloped Julian began to dissipate, its radiant light fading into the air. Julian regained consciousness, though his body was weakened and drained. He had just received a profound new comprehension during his enlightenment and was too exhausted to deal with anything. He needed time to meditate and integrate the newfound insights. Meanwhile, Emery returned to Sky City, his mind still racing with irritation.

Determined to calm his rage, he immersed himself in the exclusive facilities of the city, hoping that the serene environment would offer him some solace. At the same time, he awaited updates and news from Jinkan.

In the quiet moments of reflection, Emery found his thoughts drifting back to Nova Roma, replaying the confrontation with Julian over and over. Doubts crept in. Had he been too harsh? Too unyielding?

Annara, who had observed everything, spoke up.

"Does it really matter what he wanted to do with his life? I think what's important is that you have another strong participant for that duel you have been worrying about."

Emery chuckled, though the sound carried a trace of bitterness. "Well... if he can still think straight after all this... Who knows what his god has planned for him?"

His words revealed the heart of his unease. Emery's distrust of Julian stemmed not just from his friend's ambitions, but from his own belief that gods didn't exist in this Magus universe. To Emery, they were just powerful beings with their own agendas, manipulating others to further their own ends. Julian's devotion to such forces made him unpredictable even dangerous for Earth's safety.

Annara tilted her head, her gaze sharp. "So, basically,....you don't trust him... Hmm... I always thought you are someone who put high trust in your companions."

She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. Then, with a hint of curiosity, she asked, "Has he ever betrayed you before? Or did he ever give you a reason to doubt him?"

Emery was taken aback by Annara's words and said "Didn't you see the way he worshiped the Nephilim? How can I not be wary?"

Annara sighed softly and responded without missing a beat.

"Yes... him and hundreds of billions of others in this universe..."

She paused, taking a deep breath as if weighing her words carefully. Her eyes flickered with a moment of hesitation, but she eventually decided to share her perspective.

"Look, here's how I see it… You don't trust him because his power is influenced by another being, right? But... aren't you the same?"

Emery's eyes narrowed "What?! how am I the same!?!"

"Your darkness... that force within you, it's another powerful being, isn't it? Did your friends ever judge you for that? And can you truly say for sure that being has no agenda of its own?"

Her words struck a nerve. Emery felt the impact of her reasoning, for a moment, he stood there in silence, grappling with the uncomfortable comparison. The Khaos being was indeed something of a mystery for him.

Then.. was he any different from Julian, who drew power from the Nephilim?

The question gnawed at him, but Emery quickly turned to Annara, masking the turmoil with a smirk. "Almost fell for your manipulation, didn't I?...You just want me to reveal my secrets."

Annara gave a wry smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hahaha... Did I?"

Despite the truth in Annara's words, the underlying issue remained unchanged. No matter how rational her argument seemed, Emery couldn't shake the deep-rooted distrust he felt toward the Nephilim. They had caused him, his seniors, and the history of Earth too much pain for him to forgive or forget.

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