Earth's Greatest Magus

Jinkan led Emery and Julian through the teleportation gate to a location that existed beyond the boundaries of Amarhik's home planet. This training ground was not just in a different place but was also exceptionally secure, requiring special permissions for access. Upon their arrival, they were met by a group of guards, all of whom were magus-level individuals.

However, it wasn't the guards themselves that surprised Emery. Rather, it was the energy he sensed within the vicinity that piqued his curiosity. It felt like a potent and vibrant force that resonated through the air.

"Welcome to Ebiru 6," greeted the magus captain who had come to welcome them.

As they made their way through the highly secure facility, Jinkan requested the magus to provide a detailed explanation of the place.

Ebiru 6 had been deliberately designed as a unique planet dedicated to serving as a training ground for the Nephilim. Its purpose mirrored that of the Hyperion planet, focusing on the nurturing and development of talented individuals among the Nephilim.

The training ground was divided into three facilities, each controlled by one of the three dominant Nephilim families. Emery, Julian, and Jinkan found themselves within the facility owned by the Amarhiks.

While they walked further into the complex, Emery's attention was drawn to a colossal solar beam originating directly from the sun. This beam was directed towards the center of the facility and served as its primary energy source, providing a unique and sustainable power supply.

Finally, they reached a central area within the facility, where a panel displayed an intricate map.

"Here, you have access to a range of training facilities, including the Battle Puppets Dome, the Virtual Arena, and the 4 Seasons and 8 Biomes Garden," explained the magus. Each facility was designed to cater to different aspects of training, offering a diverse array of challenges and opportunities for skill development.

Emery took his time to thoroughly acquaint himself with the Nephilim training ground. The facility was indeed impressive, equipped with a range of training resources, including their own origin stones, similar to the ones found in the Magus Academy.

As he familiarized himself with the layout, a group of magus approached them, led by a figure who exuded an air of authority. The man's gaze settled on Jinkan, and his tone was a mix of surprise and condescension.

"Such a pleasant surprise to see Sister Jinkan here," he remarked, causing Jinkan, who was typically quite arrogant, to respectfully bow her head.

"Brother Linhao, it's good to see you too," Jinkan replied.

The man, named Linhao, brushed past Jinkan and turned his scrutiny toward Julian and Emery. His words dripped with disdain as he commented, "You've brought more participants? Crescent Moon and Half Moon? They don't look impressive at all."

Jinkan quickly jumped in to explain, "Yes, Brother Linhao, they are magus from a lower realm, brought here to support our cause."

It became evident that Jinkan intended to keep Emery's true identity hidden, and both Emery and Julian remained silent as they listened to Linhao's lecture on managing subordinates.

"You're wasting our faction's resources on these nobodies," Linhao remarked, his gaze still dismissive of Emery and Julian.

However, Jinkan responded with a serene smile, "Don't worry, Brother Linhao. When it comes to resource allocation, I can still match your talent."

Her calm confidence left an impression on Linhao, and Emery couldn't help but wonder about the dynamics and politics within the Nephilim faction.

The man chuckled for a moment, seemingly amused, but soon realized that Jinkan had subtly insulted him. With an annoyed huff, he declared, "Huh! Let's go!" before briskly walking away from them.

Jinkan looked at Emery and Julian and explained, "That's my stupid cousin, the Amarhiks Prince, sixth in line to the throne."

She advised both Emery and Julian to remember not to get involved with him, not because he was particularly strong or intelligent, but for precisely the opposite reason. She emphasized, "Never get on the wrong side of someone with authority who lacks the wisdom to wield it."

"In case you ever find yourselves in trouble with him, find me," she added in a serious tone. "Alright, that's enough introduction to the area. Let's go meet the others now."

The group proceeded down a long corridor with multiple doors, and Jinkan chose one of the rooms, announcing, "This is the water vault." The door led them into a small room with an enormous window that served as a viewing area for the practice grounds known as the water vault.

The water vault was a shoreline area filled with the very essence of water. It featured specific pathways crafted from white stone marble, adorned with intricate golden arcs inscribed with ancient runes. Emery, Julian, and Jinkan found themselves in a viewing room that allowed them to observe the ongoing activities in the water vault.

At the moment, four magus were engaged in combat with a massive, flying golden construct that seemed to harness the power of water. The battle was fierce and intense, with the magus working together in harmony to take on the formidable opponent.

Among the four magus, Emery recognized one of them. A young man with long black hair fought valiantly, wielding a spear that manifested in the form of a dragon. It was Yunxiao, a familiar face from the privileged class and a close friend of Jinkan.

The quartet of magus demonstrated impressive teamwork and coordination in their battle against the golden construct. However, just as it seemed they were on the brink of victory, two smaller constructs joined the fray, significantly increasing the challenge.

It became apparent that Yunxiao, despite being a magus, was the least powerful among the four. One of his companions, a female magus with blue hair and two small horns on her forehead, particularly caught Emery's attention. Her appearance reminded him of Naya, the water dragon hybrid who had followed the Easter Sage Fuxi.

With the lead of the blue-haired hybrid, the little group managed to finish the challenge without suffering any casualties.

As Emery and his companions explored these training areas, the environments and challenges they encountered painted a vivid picture of each vault's unique characteristics.

Emery couldn't help but notice the intricacy of the landscapes and the formidable adversaries within. He quickly deduced that this setting was designed to mirror the challenges one might face in the water element vault of the Celestial ruins.

Moving on to the Earth Vaults, the surroundings transformed into sandy, stony hills. The terrain here presented a stark contrast to the water vault. Amidst the challenging landscape, Emery recognized a familiar face, Abrafo, a formation expert who was well-known for his contributions to Jinkan's faction. His presence indicated the importance of strategic thinking and adaptability in this Earth-based training.

Next, they arrived at the plant vault, where Emery was taken aback to see Mera, one of the magus among the four. Mera was a female disciple of Grand Magus Yvere, celebrated for her profound understanding of plant-based magic. In this vault, the construct incorporated multiple machine limbs, cleverly mimicking the complex structures and behaviors of various plant species.

Together, these vaults provided a diverse range of training scenarios, each demanding unique skills and tactics from the magus who ventured into them.

Emery's curiosity deepened as he observed how each group of magus trained in accordance with their respective elemental habitats. However, a nagging question arose in his mind—what about his friend, Chumo? With no dark vault in sight, Emery wondered where Chumo was practicing and developing his skills.

Before he could voice his inquiry, Jinkan led him to the next room, revealing the wind vault. As they entered, they found themselves on a palace situated high atop a peak, surrounded by breathtaking mountains that floated amidst a sea of clouds. The construct within this vault was smaller in scale but held its own unique challenges.

Emery's eyes widened as he recognized one of the figures gracefully riding atop a dark purplish bird. It was none other than Chumo, who had mastered the power of the wind element. The sight of his friend controlling the very essence of the wind left Emery filled with awe and admiration.