Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery attended the meeting called by the Nephilim princess, Jinkan. The gathering brought together all nine teams, consisting of a total of 50 members. Despite the high casualties reported from various factions, their team remained unscathed, which was a testament to their preparation and organization.

As they assembled for the meeting, the mood was a mix of determination and apprehension. The fourth layer gate was set to open before them, and everyone agreed that this expedition would be even more challenging than the previous ones. It was evident that a new strategy was needed to navigate the upcoming trials.

The statistics of the Celestial Ruins participants were presented during the meeting:

[Magus Alliance: 29,881 participants]

[Elven: 9,088 participants]

[Others: 51,623 participants]

[Total Casualties: 14,122 participants]

It was revealed that two-thirds of the casualties were among the rogue magus, while the elves had nearly a thousand casualties themselves. These numbers highlighted the perilous nature of their endeavors.

However, what piqued Jinkan's interest the most was the latest information regarding those who had managed to recover the coveted gold medals. The gold medals held a special significance in their quest, and Jinkan was eager to gather information about the magus who had succeeded in obtaining them.

[Fourth layer Medal: 22,500 medals]

[Elven: 7,255 medals]

[Magus alliance: 9,447 medals]

[Others: 4,221 medals]

[Unaccounted for: 1,577 medals]

The numbers indicated the dominance of the elves when it came to collecting medals, a trend that had persisted for millennia. The Elves had always excelled in this regard. However, this dominance also posed a significant challenge for the human magus. Without proper preparation and strategic adjustments, they might find it incredibly difficult to secure all the medals they need to advance to the 5th layer.

In the 5th layer ruins, the medals were limited to just 1000 for each vault, resulting in a total of 9000 medals available for the taking. Given the sheer number of magus participating in the competition, competition for these limited medals was fierce.

Jinkan, as the leader and coordinator of the magus teams, recognized the pressing need for a more strategic approach. She meticulously gathered information from all eight groups, compiling data on the strength of magus within each vault and identifying the top-ranking scorers, whether they were elves or humans. This comprehensive data was then cross-referenced with the recommendations sent by the Nephilim headquarters.

After careful consideration, Jinkan made a pivotal decision: she would merge two groups of five into a single group of ten. This strategic realignment aimed to ensure that they had a more formidable force capable of swiftly clearing temples or effectively defending against potential threats.

The primary focus now shifted to acquiring gold medals, a departure from their previous emphasis on gathering shards. The rationale behind this shift in strategy was clear: securing enough gold medals was the primary objective. Once they had successfully secured their passage to the 5th layer, they could then redirect their efforts toward collecting more shards.

The overarching goal remained the same: to reach the deeper layer of the ruins to get more points. Jinkan believed that this reorganization would not only enhance their chances of success but also optimize their efficiency in achieving their ultimate goal.

Lambert, the vigilant Kingsguard of the Proxima faction, brought up an interesting proposition. "Considering that most of the top-tier magus were concentrated in the light vaults, it might be a prudent move for us to shift to a different vault. This would not only increase our chances of securing a medal but also potentially yield more points."

Uria and the majority of the Albatross faction held a contrasting perspective. They were deeply invested in their pursuit of shards related to the Law of Light, which had the potential to significantly advance their mastery of this particular law. For them, the Light vaults were a priority.

Jinkan, stepped in to address the situation with a composed demeanor. She reminded everyone that these 30-member teams were meticulously formed with the purpose of fast and efficient clearing. With Emery back in the team, she expressed her unwavering confidence in their ability to collect the necessary medals in the light vaults.

Jinkan turned her attention to Emery and sought his opinion on the matter. Given that the dark elves had been specifically targeting him, exploring the light vaults would potentially pose a greater threat to his safety. She inquired, "What do you think, Emery?"

Emery, showing a firm resolve, replied without hesitation, "No, I agree. The light vaults are our best option." He was thinking that if the dark elves were seeking confrontation, he would have to obtain more shards or medals from them.

With the decision made, Jinkan briskly addressed the group, taking into account the limited time left before the gate opened. She urged them to head to their respective destinations promptly. Her final words were filled with hope and encouragement, "I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the 5th layer crossover. Good luck to all of you."

As everyone began to disperse, Emery seized the opportunity to approach Jinkan for a more in-depth discussion about the current state of the ruins.

"Tell me something I don't know," Emery inquired.

Jinkan willingly shared information with Emery and began to elaborate on the latest developments.

The Nephilim princess didn't hesitate to share the latest developments with him. She began by revealing that the family had identified the group of mysterious magus sent by a powerful warlord from the natural factions. Their purpose was to spy on and manipulate both human and elf groups within the ruins. Of particular interest was the discovery that one of the grade five human factions was deeply involved with this covert operation.

Emery pressed for more details, asking, "Which faction?"

Jinkan shook her head slightly, indicating her lack of certainty. "Not sure for now, at least not the Nephilim," she replied.

Emery found this news to be quite compelling. The fact that such significant resources were being allocated for this operation hinted at an impending development or event within the ruins. It was clear that something significant was on the horizon, and Emery couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and uncertainty about what lay ahead.

He then recalled what Julian had mentioned earlier about the elves attempting to break through to the 7th layer and decided to ask Jinkan for more information.

The Nephilim princess let out a deep sigh before explaining. She began by reminding Emery and the others that Celestials had disappeared more than 3000 years ago. The ruins they were exploring were one of the legacies left behind, still actively managed by an intelligent entity: a celestial machine. This machine periodically generated new celestial constructs and opened the ruins for the new magus to enter and reap rewards.

However, the true objectives of the Celestials remained shrouded in mystery, with no conclusive evidence to confirm their purpose. What was known, and had been happening for millennia, was that at the end of the 7th layer, magus would obtain valuable artifacts, high-grade skills, or spells in exchange for their accumulated points. This was a well-established tradition.

But now, new intelligence had emerged. The elves, it seemed, had discovered another secret beyond the 7th layer, something that had eluded all previous generations of magus. 

"What secret is that?"

Jinkan responded with a faint chuckle before explaining, "They believe it to be the revival of a Celestials."

She went on to elaborate that the high elves were convinced that there were still dormant Celestials beyond the 7th layer, and their awakening was approaching, signaled by a countdown.

However, Jinkan made it clear that many of the top factions were skeptical of this belief. After all, there had been no signs of Celestials for the past 3000 years. She smiled as she revealed that this expedition marked the 100th attempt to explore the ruins—a number that held its own intrigue. 

Emery posed one last question to Jinkan, his gaze unwavering as he sought a truthful answer. "Is this why you recruited me into your team? Are you planning something as well?"

Jinkan responded calmly, her tone earnest, "Of course. Even if it's just a possibility, we can't afford to dismiss it. If there's even a fragment of a chance it's true, I wish for us to be part of it. Don't you agree?"

With that, Jinkan emphasized the need for everyone to be more serious about accumulating points and helping the group collect more. She harbored hopes that a few of them might gain access to the mysterious 8th layer.

Reminded of their mission, Jinkan called on everyone to prepare, as it was time to face the guardian of the fourth layer.

Over 2000 magus stood ready in front of the gate, and just as before, High Priestess Loriel Strawin opened the fourth gate, leading them into the chamber where their battle against the guardian awaited.

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