Earth's Greatest Magus

As the Moon base bustled with activity, Emery observed the skilled craftsmen brought by Master Borin tirelessly working on the construction. The clanging of tools, the hum of machinery, and the orchestrated movements of skilled craftsmen turned the once desolate site into a bustling hub of creation.

In the midst of this activity, Emery received a notification from VIA, signaling the progress in data restoration. [32% Data successfully restored], the artificial being reported. It was a significant leap, considering the complexity and extent of the damage.

Emery eagerly delved into the restored data, seeking any valuable insights it might hold. The limitations of the recovery process became apparent as he realized there was no information dating back more than 500 years. The elusive details about King Anu's death, Lord Izta's father from two millennia ago, remained shrouded in mystery.

Undeterred, Emery focused on the available logs, mainly detailing the comings and goings of Kronos magus. The records offered glimpses into the historical activities on the Moon, providing context to the magus presence over the centuries.

Driven by Klea's revelations about the 108 Abyss Gates, Emery turned his attention to this mysterious network. The restored data yielded a trove of 23 additional locations, supplementing the five already identified by Klea.

"Let's go check out these places," Emery declared, fueled by the newfound leads from the restored data.

To expedite their exploration, Emery opted to take the Nova. Activating the ship's cloaking device, they set their course for the Abyss s Gate that Klea had previously ventured to – the one situated on desert hills, 100 miles east of Egypt. The ship descended stealthily, and they entered the yawning entrance, descending into the depths of the Earth.

After covering a few miles, Emery found himself standing amidst the ruins of the lost city of Babel. Abyss creatures' carcasses littered the landscape, remnants of the fierce battles that Klea and the others had fought against these otherworldly entities more than five years ago. Emery observed the winged creatures, studying their unique features before resuming their journey.

An hour of continuous walking and vigilant spirit reading revealed no signs of living Abyss creatures. Finally, they reached the designated Abyss gate – an ominous structure standing at an imposing 10 meters in height, adorned with intricate writings. However, this time, the gate was completely sealed.

"I guess Zeus and the others managed to close it completely," Klea remarked.

Emery stood before the sealed Abyss gate and requested VIA to analyze it. The response he received was intriguing: [Abyss Domain - Category Unknown].

It was more than just a gate; it was a portal leading to an entire realm of its own. The distinct signature pointed towards the craftsmanship of a primordial wisp, but given the unique characteristics of such gates and the high level of the domain, VIA indicated the involvement of a supreme power in its creation.

Approaching the gate, Emery could feel a potent seal in place, preventing anyone from entering. To his surprise, however, he sensed an inexplicable familiarity with the seal, as if there was a connection beyond his understanding. When he touched the gate, he found that, against expectations, he could open it if he chose to do so.

Emery wrestled with the mysterious familiarity surrounding the Abyss gate. Although he initially attributed the ability to open it to his spatial powers, there was an unidentifiable factor at play. Despite the temptation to break the seal and explore the realm beyond, he decided to withhold his actions until he gained a better understanding of what lay behind the gate.

While grappling with the enigma of the gate, Emery's [Nature Sense] led him to another chamber. Exiting a cave, he found himself atop a hill overlooking a subterranean forest miles below the Earth's surface. The unique landscape captivated him. Klea, noticing the wreckage scattered in the forest, shared a piece of history.

"Yes, we fought in here as well," Klea explained, recounting the past battles that had left remnants in this subterranean realm.

Emery's focus shifted toward the massive tree standing tall in the heart of the forest—one within the vision Gaia had shared with him. Determined to reach it, Emery soared across the chamber. However, midway, he sensed a formidable barrier hindering his path. The barrier encapsulated the entire inner part of the forest, where the tree and ancient ruins lay hidden.

"It wasn't here when we were here!" Klea exclaimed. With a keen eye, she discerned that it was a high-grade barrier. "Is this a tier 7 formation? Really? For such a place?"

Klea shared her insight, explaining that establishing such high-

grade formations required powerful artifacts and masterful skills in formations. Her confusion stemmed from the question of why someone would set up such an intricate barrier in a secluded location of a lower realm world.

Eager to reach the tree, Emery exerted his best efforts to break the barrier swiftly. To his surprise, none of his spells seemed to work effectively. Even when they managed to inflict slight damage to the barrier, it promptly regenerated back to its full power.

Amid his confusion, VIA reiterated the staggering revelation—

that it was in fact a tier 8 defensive barrier. The magnitude of this defensive measure required the expertise of a peak grand magus individual to install.

Upon closer examination, it became apparent that the defensive barrier had been recently established, merely a few years ago.

The realization that a grand magus more powerful than Kronos was now part of the intricate web of secrecy added another layer of anxiety. Emery could only speculate that this enigmatic figure had a vested interest in concealing whatever secret lay within the subterranean chamber.

In light of this, Emery thought of reporting their findings to the Magus Alliance. However, given the delicate nature of the situation—entailing the death of King Anu, a Nephilim royalty—

they understood the need to tread carefully.

Emery made the decision to temporarily leave the cave, opting to explore other sites in the hopes of uncovering more clues and answers.

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