Earth's Greatest Magus

Half an hour had passed since the infamous Mo Yan, the hunchback slave master was killed and his spirit body attacked Emery. During this time, Heorgar had been locked in a fierce battle with Shen Long. The two Grand Magus half-bloods clashed with relentless intensity, with the demon wolf Heorgar utilizing his newfound might to subdue the crazed Azure Dragon.

Heorgar, being a newly ascended Grand Magus, was not an equal match for Shen Long, who was at the peak strength of the One Cosmos realm. Fortunately, whenever the Azure Dragon managed to gain the upper hand, Magus Tobin, the silver bone turtle, would leap in to assist.

Tobin, a strength-path magus who has one of the strongest defensive bloodlines, proved his worth time and again. Using his tier 7 [Tortoise Silver Shells] skill, Tobin managed to block one or two of Shen Long's devastating strikes, giving Heorgar the chance to re-engage in the fight. Despite his valiant efforts, the prolonged battle took its toll on Tobin.

Over the past half hour, Tobin had endured more than a dozen powerful strikes. His once impenetrable defense was showing signs of cracking, and he had been continuously coughing up blood from the relentless assaults. Each clash sent shockwaves through the battlefield, and Tobin's unwavering determination was the only thing keeping him on his feet.

Amidst the chaos, the sound of Heorgar's growls and Shen Long's roars echoed, creating a symphony of battle that showcased the sheer ferocity of their conflict. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the crackle of unleashed energy, painting a vivid picture of the life-and-death struggle between these formidable warriors.

A distance away on the ground, Edgar, the Kux noble, was frantically trying to convince Beatrice and the formation master Yord to escape. "We need to get away while we can! It's obvious those two can't defeat that slave puppet!"

Beatrice, however, remained motionless, her determination unwavering. She would not abandon her comrades, regardless of the stakes. Magus Yord, meanwhile, was busy rebuilding his mobile formations, preparing for the worst possible outcome.

"If you want to leave, just go. We are not holding you here," said Beatrice firmly.

Edgar was irritated and frightened. He lacked the courage to step away on his own, especially after the traumatic experience on this savage planet. His fear and frustration grew as he realized he couldn't convince the others to flee.

His gaze shifted to Emery, who had been shrouded in dark, ghastly energy for some time. A desperate thought crossed his mind. "I know... We can just kill him. If he dies, the crazy hunchback dies, and his slave would die too! Yes, we should do that!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mix of desperation and madness.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking Edgar's view of Emery. It was Livi the Baphomet, her massive scythe gleaming menacingly as she stood ready to defend her master to the death. Her terrifying gaze made the noble shudder.

"Urghh!! We cannot just wait here like this!!" Edgar exclaimed, frustration and fear evident in his voice.

Minutes later, they all sensed a powerful aura approaching their location at incredible speed—a grand magus-level figure. Edgar trembled in fear, but Beatrice turned and smiled, shouting, "We are saved! The Patriarch is here!"

Within seconds, a fierce-looking grand magus clad in a long coat with a furry collar arrived in the sky above them. Lucius Corvin, emanating the aura of a two-cosmos grand magus, swiftly assessed the situation. He observed the battle in the sky among recognizable figures and then looked down to see Emery standing next to the corpse of the grand magus criminal.

"He really killed him?... no, it's not over yet," Lucius muttered.

Lucius, having received some information from Beatrice, quickly grasped the situation. However, to everyone's surprise, he ignored the grand magus battle in the air and flew down, closing in on Emery's body. Livi swiftly moved to block his path, her scythe ready to strike, but with a simple gesture of Lucius's hand, she was thrown a dozen meters away. She quickly jumped back to stop Lucius, but Beatrice intervened.

"Don't fight... He is a friendly," Beatrice said.

Livi did not trust such words easily, but seeing that Lucius did not attack her master, she hesitated, remaining on guard.

Lucius observed Emery with intense interest, his mind racing with thoughts. He studied the dark, ghastly energy surrounding Emery, noting the peculiarities of the situation.

At that moment, Shen Long unleashed his [Dragon Reservoir] skill, trapping both Heorgar and Tobin within a swirling vortex of water. The Azure Dragon seems to sense a threat to his master, then rushes down with incredible speed.

Lucius glanced up at the incoming threat with a hint of amusement.

As Shen Long descended upon him, the wolf patriarch calmly flexed his muscles and cracked his knuckles, preparing for the imminent clash. With a focused breath, he unleashed a portion of his domain, causing his right arm to transform into a gleaming metal, radiating an intense golden light.With a decisive leap, he met the Azure Dragon head-on.

BOOOMM!!!

With a single, powerful punch, Lucius shattered Shen Long's water spear. The impact continued, striking the Azure Dragon squarely in the chest. The force of the blow sent Shen Long hurtling through the sky before he crashed into the ground with a thunderous impact. As the dust settled, it was clear that the Azure Dragon's aura had vanished completely.

Everyone watched in awe. Beatrice, overcome with admiration, shouted, "Won in one strike! Patriarch, you are amazing!"

Lucius landed gracefully, his expression one of bewilderment rather than pride. He knew that such a victory was not entirely his doing. Confirming that no life remained within Shen Long's body, he understood there could only be one other reason for this outcome. He turned his attention back to Emery, a question lingering in his mind. "Did he succeed?"

As everyone watched in suspense, the dark, spectral energy shrouding Emery's body began to dissipate, gradually receding into his form.

With a slow, ragged breath, Emery stirred, his eyes fluttering open. The instant he regained consciousness, he collapsed to his knees, coughing up a torrent of blood. His complexion was pallid, and his voice barely above a whisper as he uttered, "I did it, I defeated him..."

The group cheers in amazement at Emery's declaration of victory in the soul battle. Their expressions reflected their awe and relief.

However, Lucius's reaction was different. He scrutinized Emery closely, a shadow of doubt clouding his eyes. "Is it really you, or has that criminal taken over your body?"