Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 3120: Instinct

Emery retreated several steps, refusing to let the swarm pin him in place. He thrust his free hand toward the ground, and dark green vines burst from the earth. The Elysian Roots spread rapidly, twisting and intertwining into a dense defensive barrier around him and the five weakened grand magus unit.

The living fortress bought them a few precious moments, but the Scourge showed no intention of stopping. Their branches trembling as hundreds of creatures crashed, climbed over one another, clawing at the vines and forcing their way through every opening.

Soon, they were completely submerged beneath the surging swarm. From the outside, the green barrier had disappeared beneath a writhing mountain of Scourge, leaving no sign of the people trapped within.

Watching from the fortress, King Valder’s expression shifted slightly. A trace of disappointment crossed his face.

Then the king noticed something emerging above the mass of Scourge.

An artifact had appeared in the air, an ancient painting. Its surface shimmered with faint golden light, and a moment later, a spectral mountain began to materialize above the battlefield. Towering over the surrounding swarm, the translucent peak radiated a powerful gravitational force that pressed down upon everything beneath it.

A second mountain appeared shortly afterward, forming directly above the first. The pressure immediately intensified, forcing the Scourge below to struggle against the invisible weight bearing down on them.

Then came a third.

Each mountain multiplied the oppressive gravity, creating layers of crushing force that spread across the battlefield. The ground cracked beneath the countless creatures, while the winged spawns struggled to maintain their flight. Even the enormous abomination, with its swollen body and tremendous strength, was forced to endure the growing pressure.

Only then did the figure responsible for the spectacle emerge above the swarm.

It was Emery, hovering in the air with the five wounded Grand Magus gathered behind him. Their expressions varied. Some stared at the mountains in confusion, while others watched with barely concealed excitement.

Apparently, this had been Emery’s plan all along.

While protecting the unit behind the defensive barrier formed by the Elysian Roots, he had been preparing two separate techniques. One involved activating his Seven Myriad Mountain Painting artifact. The other was a spatial gate, prepared to transport the group away.

Emery had deliberately waited for more Scourge to gathered around, concentrating the enemy into a single enormous mass.

The moment had finally arrived.

Emery raised his arm.

Above him, a fourth mountain materialized.

His recent improve comprehension in gravitational law, combined with his deeper understanding of the artifact, had allowed him to command four mountains with far greater freedom.

The enormous peaks hovered in formation, their combined gravitational force making the surrounding air tremble.

With a decisive motion, Emery brought them together.

The four mountains collided, merging into a single, overwhelming mass of spectral force before plunging toward the battlefield.

"Smash them all!"

The abomination had already broken free from the Elysian Roots. Its grotesque limbs tore through the remaining vines, and its countless faces twisted toward Emery as it prepared to retaliate.

But the attack arrived before it could act.

The colossal mountain descended upon the abomination and the surrounding Scourge, crushing everything beneath its immense weight.

BOOOOMMM!!!

The impact shook the entire battlefield.

Earth and shattered rock erupted into the air as the ground collapsed beneath the tremendous force. Violent winds swept outward, carrying broken bodies and fragments of corrupted flesh across the battlefield. Even space itself seemed to shudder, unstable fluctuations rippling through the air.

For a brief moment, the world disappeared beneath a cloud of dust and debris.

When the shockwave finally spread across the battlefield, a massive crater had been carved into the seemingly endless sea of parasites. Hundreds of Scourge creatures had been crushed or scattered by the attack, leaving a devastated stretch of broken earth.

The abomination that had once towered over the battlefield was no more. Its grotesque body had been torn apart beneath the crushing weight of the spectral mountain, leaving behind scattered chunks of purplish flesh and broken limbs. Some of the remains still twitched and writhed on the shattered ground, their movements disturbingly persistent even in death.

However, despite the outcome, Emery felt more alarmed than ever.

His senses had detected someone—moving nearby. What unsettled him was that the presence had not come from the enemy’s side. It had approached from behind, and his heightened perception had failed to register it until the last moment.

Emery turned sharply.

A dark elf woman stood behind him, her crimson hair and dark skin unmistakable.

Grand Marshal Zaelith Ravenmoor, the Scarlet Moor Supreme, had appeared without warning.

Emery could not be certain. For a brief moment, he had sensed an oppressive intent from the woman, sharp enough to put him on guard.

He adjusted his position, ready to respond to whatever she intended.

Zaelith, however, remained as impassive as ever. She raised one hand, and purple flames sparked to life around her fingers. The burning energy descended toward the ground like a shower of falling embers, spreading across the scattered remains of the abomination.

The flames did not spread indiscriminately. Instead, they sought out every fragment of corrupted flesh, engulfing the twitching remains until nothing was left but ash. The lingering movements ceased as the fire consumed the last traces of the creature.

"You should eradicate them all," Zaelith said coldly. "Every last remnant."

Emery studied her for another moment before giving a restrained nod.

"I understand."

She was gone before he could say more.

The battle continued for another hour before the parasite swarm finally began to retreat. By then, hundreds of thousands of Scourge and infected creatures had been destroyed. Compared with the defenders’ losses, the exchange was remarkably favorable, with nearly a hundred enemy casualties for every defender killed.

No Supreme had been killed or seriously injured.

Under ordinary circumstances, such a result would have been cause for celebration.

Yet no cheers rose from the fortress.

Emery gradually understood why.

This was not an exceptional battle for the defenders of the Southern Isles. It was merely another day on the frontier, another desperate attempt to hold back the scourge whose numbers seemed inexhaustible. Even after suffering tens of thousands of casualties, the Scourge still filled the distant shore.

Throughout the hour, Emery continued to contribute where he could, eliminating stragglers and helping clear the remaining threats. However, he no longer threw himself recklessly into the chaos.

The Scarlet Moor Supreme behavior lingered in the back of his mind, keeping him cautious. He chose his engagements carefully, avoiding unnecessary risks and revealing no more of his abilities than the situation demanded.

When the battle finally ended, Emery was called to returned to the royal flying boat. King Valder stood at the railing, watching the distant battlefield with a calm, unreadable expression.

"Let the alchemists do their work," the king said calmly. "We return."

Surprisingly his instincts refused to settle.

Something about the situation felt wrong. He could not explain it, but a quiet warning stirred in the back of his mind, telling him that this chaotic frontier might actually be safer than following the king back to the fortress.

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