Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2880: Clouds

"I am Emery," he said calmly, meeting the masked man’s gaze. "Who sent you, and for what purpose have you come here?"

The masked figure remained standing casually in the middle of the courtyard, as though the tension surrounding him did not exist. After a brief pause, he finally answered.

"My grandfather, Celestial Cloud, sent me."

He then glanced around the courtyard before his eyes landed on Fantasme and Hedwig.

"As for my purpose..." he added lazily, rolling his shoulders, "I suppose I should beat these two up first."

The declaration stunned everyone present.

Before anyone could question him further, Hedwig had already stepped forward. The veteran dragon halfblood did not take kindly to such arrogance, especially not within the heart of Terra City.

His body began to expand as layers of crystallized rock formed over his skin, his physique doubling in size as his earth dragon bloodline awakened. The ground trembled beneath his feet as he strode forward, every step shaking the courtyard.

With a roar that echoed through the palace grounds, Hedwig raised both arms.

They expanded massively, each limb swelling nearly ten times its original size as immense earth energy gathered around his fists.

Then he struck.

His two enormous hands clapped downward toward the masked man with the force of a collapsing mountain.

BAAAM!

The courtyard shook violently as the attack struck the ground.

Yet the masked figure had already moved.

His strange movement technique made it appear as though the air itself carried him away. The towering rock giant looked almost ridiculous trying to grasp the elusive figure, as if a massive statue were attempting to catch smoke drifting through the wind.

Emery watched carefully from the side.

His divine sense extended across the battlefield as he attempted to measure the stranger’s true strength. At the same time, a thought lingered in the back of his mind.

Celestial Cloud.

The name seemed related to someone from the Nephilim faction

Was this a retaliation?

Yet as Emery continued observing, he noticed something strange.

Although the masked man’s attacks were brutal, there was no killing intent in them.

Who exactly was this man?

Seeing that Hedwig alone could not suppress the intruder, Fantasme stepped into the battle.

The wolf-bloodline grand magus immediately unleashed her domain. Cosmic energy spread across the courtyard as two identical copies of herself appeared beside her, the three figures moving in perfect synchronization.

Purple chains shot from their hands.

The chains moved like serpents through the air, seeking to bind the masked man’s limbs while restricting his movement.

Despite the masked man strange footwork, Fantasme’s experience quickly began to show. As a veteran grand magus who had survived countless battles, she gradually forced the masked man into a corner.

One of the chains wrapped tightly around his leg.

"Ooh... damn," the masked man cursed.

Unfortunately for him, Hedwig had already seized the opportunity.

The earth dragon’s massive fists descended from above like twin meteors.

BAAAAAAM!

The impact shattered the courtyard floor, creating a deep crater beneath them as stone exploded outward in every direction.

For a brief moment, dust filled the air.

But when the debris settled, everyone present stared in disbelief.

The masked man was still standing.

He had raised a single arm upward and blocked Hedwig’s colossal strike with one hand.

"Huh... that actually hurts," he muttered casually.

Seeing the opening, the two spear-wielding grand magus charged in from opposite directions. Their attacks were fast and precise, aiming for the masked man’s exposed sides.

The stranger sighed again.

With his leg still bound by Fantasme’s chain and Hedwig’s massive fists pressing from above, he appeared completely trapped.

Finally, he decided to respond seriously.

Flames suddenly erupted from his body.

At the same moment, he raised his free hand and made a swirling gesture.

A violent torrent of wind surged outward, feeding the flames until they expanded into a massive blazing cloud.

"Get back!" Emery shouted.

But it was already too late.

The masked man moved with terrifying speed.

In a single instant, Fantasme’s chains shattered like brittle glass. At the same time, Hedwig and the two spearmen were struck by the expanding storm of flame and wind.

The two one-cosmos grand magus collapsed instantly, their bodies slamming against the stone floor.

Hedwig was launched into the air like a boulder hurled by a catapult.

The masked man leapt upward, clearly intending to continue his assault.

But before he could strike again—

A streak of lightning flashed across the sky.

An arrow struck the air in front of him, exploding into crackling energy.

Rosia stood in the distance with her bow drawn, releasing several more lightning arrows that forced the masked man to evade and retreat back toward the ground.

That was when Emery finally stepped forward.

Excalibur appeared in his hand.

"Everyone stand back," he ordered calmly. His gaze remained locked on the masked stranger.

The masked man tilted his head once again. "Your men cannot protect you," he said casually.

Hearing that, Emery’s patience finally ended.

He stepped forward.

Primal energy surged through his body as his arms transformed, dark claws forming around his hands while the Dao of Heaven and Earth ignited around him.

Without hesitation, Emery prepared to unleash his new technique.

[Star Rending Cleaves]

Seeing the terrifying power gathering around him, Fantasme quickly dragged the two injured grand magus away from the battlefield. Even Hedwig, who had just recovered from being thrown through the air, stepped back with visible astonishment.

"How dare you hurt my men!" Emery roared.

The masked man raised both hands hurriedly.

"Wait... there must be a misunderstanding!"

But Emery’s attack had already begun.

The primal energy surged forward, powerful enough to tear apart space itself.

The masked man reacted instantly.

His battlefield domain exploded outward as flames and wind merged into a raging storm around him. With both palms raised, he launched two blazing strikes toward the incoming attack.

BAMMM!

Emery stopped after the first of his three strikes, yet the collision that followed was still powerful enough to shake the entire palace.

The ground shattered.

Nearby walls cracked and collapsed as the shockwave rippled outward across the courtyard.

When the smoke cleared, both men were still standing.

Emery’s attack had been completely blocked.

The masked man’s gloves were torn apart, and his cloak had been shredded by the violent impact. Beneath the damaged clothing, part of his body was revealed.

His skin was covered with ash-gray scales.

Emery narrowed his eyes.

"A halfblood...?"

"You," Emery said again, pulling his sword back slightly. "Who are you?"

"I told you already," he said with irritation. "My grandfather Celestial Cloud sent me."

Emery frowned.

Was he supposed to know that name?

Then the masked man slowly reached up and removed his white mask.

The moment Emery saw the face beneath it, realization struck him.

A hybrid, with horn that bore a striking resemblance to someone he knew.

The Qilin Supreme, Xernas.

Only younger,

The hybrid grinned.

"I was sent here to be your bodyguard," he explained casually. "That’s why I needed to test your men first."

He scratched the back of his head.

"Didn’t my grandfather tell you I was coming?"

At that moment, everything suddenly made sense to Emery.

Xernas had indeed said he would send a gift. He had simply never explained that the gift would be a three-cosmos bodyguard.

The hybrid then gave a respectful bow.

"My name is Typhon," he said. "From now on, I will be in your service."

Then he added "And since you are junior to my grandfather, I suppose that makes you my Grand Uncle."

"..."