Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 3090: Star Plaque

The next several hours were spent with Emery carefully following the priestess’s guidance as she taught him how to activate the Star Plaque. She explained each step in detail, showing him how to channel his energy through the artifact and activate the intricate runes embedded within it.

With the Mark of Divinity, Emery could clearly see that the Star Plaque contained a total of sixty-eight restrictions. It was a top-grade Tier 7 artifact, a true treasure by any standard.

Under normal circumstances, understanding and refining all those restrictions could take months or even years. Yet, with the priestess’s guidance, Emery managed to gain access to forty-two of them within just a few hours, giving him a basic understanding of the relic’s structure and how to control it.

It was an astonishing level of progress, one that would have been nearly impossible without the priestess personally guiding him through the process.

Versa gave him a faint smile.

"I thank the gods for his deliverance"

The designated time for the evacuation soon arrived.

Emery followed the Priestess aboard the metal ark. Lord Bragnir and his group of Grand Magus and Magus forces were already prepared, with everyone giving the Priestess space as she made the final adjustments to the flying ship.

Emery remained close to her as she guided him through the final activation process, teaching him how to synchronize the Star Plaque with the defensive artifact installed within the massive flying ark. The two formations had to work together perfectly.

By then, Soltz had finally returned from the forge and boarded the ark.

The old man looked unusually cheerful, practically beaming with excitement. His Tier 7 gauntlet had been successfully upgraded using the Earth Core Flame, and the artifact had finally advanced to the high-grade of Tier 7.

Soltz couldn’t seem to stop admiring his newly upgraded weapon.

"Look at this beauty!"

He flexed his hand, causing the enormous gauntlet to hum with powerful earth energy.

Emery could only shake his head.

The old man was acting far too excited for someone his age.

Once everyone was finally aboard, Bragnir moved to the front of the ark and gave the command to begin the evacuation.

He raised both hands and began chanting an ancient dwarven incantation.

The mountain trembled.

Deep rumbling echoed through Kharzun Hold as enormous formations buried within the stone awakened one after another. Dust fell from the cavern ceiling, while the ground beneath the ark vibrated with increasing intensity.

Then, with a deafening roar, the mountain began to open.

A massive passage slowly emerged from the mountainside, widening until it revealed the Golden Desert beyond.

The moment the opening was large enough, the desert storm outside rushed toward them.

A monstrous gust of wind exploded into the mountain, carrying countless grains of golden sand that whipped violently through the air. The sky beyond the opening had already been swallowed by the approaching storm, turning the outside world into a vast sea of darkness and swirling sand.

Emery immediately raised his hand.

The Star Plaque appeared in his palm.

He channeled his energy into the relic.

The formation device responded instantly.

Brilliant lines of light spread across its surface before flowing outward and connecting with the defensive formation embedded within the ark. A powerful resonance spread through the vessel, and the massive barrier surrounding it stabilized almost immediately.

The ark began to move.

Slowly at first.

Then faster.

The enormous vessel passed through the opening in the mountain and entered the raging desert storm.

Everyone was focused on the journey ahead.

No one noticed that one person had disappeared from the deck.

Except Emery.

And the two High Elves.

Emery turned toward the mountain that was slowly disappearing behind them.

His expression changed.

"Why...?"

His voice was quiet.

"Why didn’t she say anything about staying behind?"

The two High Elves holy knights remained completely still.

Their faces were seemingly expressionless, but Emery could sense the deep emotions hidden beneath that calm exterior.

The high elf Thalen finally spoke.

"She can’t come with us... Otherwise, the parasite would know."

Emery’s gaze remained fixed on the mountain.

He understood immediately.

Versa had deliberately remained behind, chose not to endanger everyone on board, she decided to become the final shield protecting everyone else.

Emery’s expression grew grim.

There were several ways Emery could imagine trying to change the situation. He had brought a batch of Superior Gene Serum with him, and perhaps it could at least help suppress the parasite.

He thought about turning back. With his current spatial abilities, he could attempt to retrieve Versa personally.

But the ark could neither stop nor could he leave it without risking the disruption of the formation.

The desert storm had created an extremely narrow window for their escape, and every minute was precious.

At the same time, Emery had no idea how severe Versa’s infection had become or how long she could continue suppressing the parasite.

If he brought her back, he might indeed endanger the entire ship.

For the first time, Emery felt completely helpless.

He could only watch as the mountain slowly disappeared behind them.

###

Hours after the metal ark left Kharzun Hold, the mountain suddenly trembled.

Deep within the abandoned settlement, the ancient formations began to collapse one after another.

The barrier was gone.

The Scourge finally knew.

The halls of abandoned Kharzun Hold soon echoed with the sound of her chanting.

Golden light spread through the empty settlement as Versa stood alone within the central hall, her pale body already covered in dark purple veins. Her weakened body trembled under the pressure of the parasite fighting for control, yet her voice remained steady.

Then her spell was completed.

A tremendous wave of spiritual power erupted from her body.

Across the settlement, countless Parasites suddenly screamed as radiant golden energy descended upon them.

One after another, then hundreds, then thousands, the creatures were consumed by the overwhelming power of the High Elf priestess.

Not long after, another figure arrived.

The infected Sunveil Supreme herself.

Despite her weakened body and the corruption spreading through her flesh, Versa refused to give in. She stood alone against the infected Supreme and the surrounding horde of Scourge, her golden spiritual power blazing across the abandoned settlement.

Hours passed.

Versa’s strength gradually faded. Her once-steady breathing became labored, and dark purple veins had spread across almost her entire body. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she continued to stand.

The infected Supreme finally approached her, surrounded by countless Scourge.

"Do not resist... You can finally join our hive."

Versa’s exhausted face formed a faint smile.

"I will never be part of you... Never"

She had known from the beginning that this would be the end.

Now, there was only one thing left for her to do.

Versa slowly turned her gaze toward the distant horizon, where the flying ark had long since disappeared into the desert storm.

Her golden eyes softened.

"May the gods bless you with a safe journey."

Then, without hesitation, she ignited her soul.

A blinding golden light erupted from the heart of Kharzun Hold.

For a brief moment, the entire desert seemed to freeze.

Then—

BOOM!

The soul explosion of an Eighth-Layer Spirit Champion.

An overwhelming explosion tore through the abandoned settlement, sending a colossal wave of golden energy sweeping across the desert. The ground shook violently for dozens of miles as mountains of sand were thrown into the air and the surrounding darkness was completely swallowed by radiant light.

Tens of thousands of Scourge were consumed in the blast, their bodies disintegrating beneath the overwhelming spiritual power.

Even the infected Sunveil Supreme was caught within the explosion. Her figure was thrown backward as the golden energy tore through her defenses, leaving her wounded.

When the light finally faded, nothing remained of Kharzun Hold except a ruined mountain.

The end of Versa, the High Elf priestess.