Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2294  System

Emery had reached his limit of waiting and relying on the Magus Alliance to bring justice for the atrocities committed against him and his friends.

He had grown increasingly frustrated, knowing that the real perpetrator was no ordinary enemy but a member of the largest and most influential faction in the universe—the Nephilim, the Sky Lord from the Astiel family.

The overwhelming power and influence of the Nephilim made it clear that the Magus Alliance might never be able to bring the justice he sought.

Despite the turmoil inside him, Emery knew that recklessly confronting this individual would be foolish. He couldn't simply march to their doorstep and demand justice, not without inviting disaster upon himself and his friends. His primary goal was not vengeance—at least, not yet.

Emery was driven by the need for answers.

Who was this Sky Lord truly? What was his relation to Kronos, and did he have a role in the death of King Anu?

Most alarming to Emery was Gaia's message. Her deep-seated hatred toward the Sky Lord hinted at something far more sinister—a larger plot involving ancient forces at play.

With the upcoming duel and Earth's looming calamity on the horizon, Emery could no longer afford to remain passive.

Emery had two destinations in mind for his investigation, and the first one was much closer to home. His journey led him back to Centauri City, though this time, it was not for the academy or to visit his apothecary shop. Instead, he aimed for one of the city's grand estates, slipping into the shadows under the cover of night.

With his advanced mastery of space magic and finely honed divine sense, Emery effortlessly bypassed the estate's security. The guards patrolling the grounds, oblivious to his presence, continued their rounds as if nothing had disturbed the night.

Even the formidable grand magus residing in the house remained unaware—until Emery decided to reveal himself.

He stood in the dim corner of the study, just as the grand magus sat engrossed in his work. The sudden presence caused the man to startle, his divine sense flaring as he shot up from his chair.

"Who are you?!" the man bellowed, his eyes narrowing. "How dare you break into an emissary's house!"

The air thickened with tension as the magus braced himself for a confrontation. But before the situation could escalate, Emery showed a gesture of respect, his expression calm despite the gravity of his actions.

"My apologies, emissary Duncan. It is I, Emery Ambrose... I mean no harm."

Duncan's eyes widened in recognition. His initial fury subsided, replaced by a wave of confusion. "Emery… why? What are you doing... showing up like this!?"

The emissary's voice wavered between disbelief and concern as he tried to make sense of Emery's sudden appearance, knowing full well that breaking into the residence of a magus was no trivial offense.

Emissary Duncan was a high-ranking Magus alliance official, deeply entrenched in the political machinations of the Alpha quadrant. His role had always been one of careful diplomacy, particularly during conflicts like the one Emery had with Khaos five years ago, where he had been personally involved.

Over the years, Emery had become well-acquainted with Duncan, often visiting him under more civil circumstances. So, for Emery to appear unannounced, under the cover of darkness, was nothing short of shocking.

The emissary's eyes flickered with unease as he stood in the dimly lit study. "What's with all the secrecy? What is it that you want?"

Emery wasted no time with pleasantries. His tone was direct "Emissary, have you heard what has just happened to my homeworld?"

Duncan's expression shifted as understanding dawned. He softened slightly, offering a brief nod of acknowledgment. "Yes, I heard... I'm sorry for your loss. But Emery, if you're here about your claim..." His voice trailed off, then turned firm. "This isn't the way to handle it. There's a process. Without evidence, there's nothing we can—"

Before Duncan could finish his sentence, Emery cut him off.  "I already know who the culprit is."

The room seemed to tense at those words. Duncan's brows furrowed in disbelief, his composure briefly slipping. "You… you do?"

Emery's keen senses detected a subtle shift in Grand Magus Duncan's demeanor—just a flicker of something beneath the calm exterior. Panic, perhaps? It was fleeting but noticeable, a reaction that spoke volumes.

He knew of Duncan's long-standing ties to the Nephilim, which made Emery believe Duncan might have deeper information about the matter. However, Emery doubted the man would willingly share such knowledge. Besides, Duncan had been nothing but helpful to him in recent times, and Emery had no desire to force information from him. He needed cooperation, not conflict.

With deliberate calm, Emery redirected the conversation. "Emissary. I'm not here for that."

Duncan's brows furrowed slightly in confusion, though his wariness remained. Emery then revealed his true motive. "I'm here to ask about the tomb of King Anu that lies deep in my planet. Why has it remained sealed for so long? Why have I been denied access to any information about it?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken tension. Emery had attempted to seek answers from the Magus Enforcers, but they had been as impenetrable as the tomb itself. Yet Duncan, as a high-ranking emissary and handler of Earth's factional affairs, surely had files, records, and knowledge that others lacked.

Duncan's eyes narrowed, not with malice but with caution. Emery had struck at something sensitive. The emissary shifted uneasily, though he tried to maintain his composed facade.

Emery pressed, his tone firm yet respectful,

"Can you please tell me what you know about it?"

Grand Magus Duncan finally grasped why Emery had come to him so discreetly. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The secrecy provided Duncan a safety net—if their conversation ever came to light, he could claim he had been forced or caught off guard. It was a subtle way to maintain plausible deniability, and Emery's approach was designed to protect Duncan as much as it was to gather information.

The emissary thought for a moment, weighing his response carefully.

Finally, with a hint of resignation, he said, "I cannot."

Emery took a deep sigh, however, he had anticipated this. Grand Magus Duncan was an honorable man and he wouldn't compromise his integrity even for the right cause.

Yet, Emery had a follow-up prepared, his voice calm but determined.

"Can I at least know why I cannot learn about this?"

Duncan let out a deep sigh, clearly conflicted.

He finally explained that Emery simply lacked the necessary clearance to access such sensitive information. The grand magus, attempting to make Emery understand, gave an analogy to illustrate the complexity. He likened the situation to the burial of a king—and the need to explain the significance of that burial to an insignificant being... an ant who lived around the burial.

The analogy Duncan gave was harsh but reflected the true hierarchy within the magus universe, leaving Emery to pause and consider its implications before responding.

"If we win the duel against Kronos and prove ourselves as Earth's rightful caretaker, will I then get the answers I'm looking for?"

Duncan took a longer pause this time, carefully weighing his words. "Yes, You would be eligible to know the truth… but I cannot guarantee you will receive it"

The Emissary gestured for Emery to sit comfortably, then began to elaborate on the complex dynamics of politics within the magus universe.

He explained that while the Alliance portrayed itself as a bastion of fairness and democracy, the real power was concentrated in the hands of a group of influential figures. These individuals, who held significant sway, were primarily concerned with maintaining the stability and unity of the universe. The Nephilim, being one of the dominant factions, had a substantial influence over these decisions.

Emery listened with keen attention, grasping the deeper implications of the Emissary's words. "This might be difficult to accept," the Emissary continued, his tone somber, "but imagine a universe without the Magus Alliance—a universe without any semblance of order. Would that be a better world for you? I hope you can appreciate the broader perspective."

Emery met the Emissary's gaze with a thoughtful nod, acknowledging the gravity of his words. However, his response was unwavering.

"Is entering a world and killing our Grand magus... my friend... in cold blood considered any semblance of order? No!!, there is something fundamentally wrong, and I refuse to let it pass"

The Emissary remained calm, his interest piqued. "Will you resort to anarchy then?" he asked, his tone reflecting genuine curiosity.

Emery met his gaze with a hint of frustration. "What else can I do in the face of such injustice?"

A brief silence followed before the Emissary responded.

"You can either fight the system or join it and work to reform it from within. If you're interested, I can direct you toward becoming an official within the Magus Alliance."

Seeing Emery's disinterest, the Grand Magus offered an alternative, one that could instantly fulfill his aspirations.

"If you achieve this, you won't need any clearance. You could even exact your revenge without any direct repercussions. But as of now, only a little over a hundred individuals have reached this level."

Emery understood the implication without needing further explanation. The third path lay in reaching the pinnacle of power—

The rank of Supreme Magus.

Although Duncan was unable to provide the answer he sought, the discussion gave Emery a deeper understanding of how the Magus Alliance functioned. With this insight, Emery prepared to head toward his second destination: the Nephilim homeworld.