Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2374  Confess

Chumo's words hint at a confession, but Emery couldn't bring himself to believe that his friend was capable of such a monstrous act.

The chains binding Chumo's arms were forged from high-grade materials, the kind specifically designed to hold individuals of the magus realm and prevent a trace of magic. If he were to help Chumo, he would need to break the chain first.

"No… don't…" Chumo muttered, his voice raw with strain. "You shouldn't…"

Emery paused, a flicker of doubt clouding his thoughts. But when Chumo revealed that he had chained himself to prevent more harm, the look in his eyes told Emery everything.

Regardless of what Chumo had done—or what he had become—Emery would not abandon him. Even if his friend had taken lives or somehow turned into a monster beyond recognition, Emery's resolve didn't waver. He was here to help.

With a concentrated burst of power, the restraints shattered, clattering to the ground. As soon as the chains fell away, Emery wasted no time, casting his [Tidal Heart Healing] spell. His magic washed over Chumo and the three other magus in the cells, revitalizing them as healing energy surged through their weakened bodies.

Gradually, color returned to Chumo's pale skin, and he regained enough strength to lift himself up slightly. But the relief was short-lived. Emery watched in dismay as Chumo's form began to shift, bones elongating and shadows gathering around him as he transformed into his Nightwalker form. His eyes glowed a fierce crimson, fangs protruding from his mouth, and the once-familiar face twisted into something feral and barely contained.

"Just kill me… I can't control it…" Chumo's voice had taken on an edge of desperation, a dark growl weaving through his words as he struggled to keep the Nightwalker within at bay.

Emery watched as Chumo fought to hold back the monstrous urges consuming him. But he was prepared. With a firm grip, he restrained Chumo's struggling form while casting [Sea Soul Restoration], a calming spell designed to reach deep into the soul's turmoil. Gentle waves of energy flowed through Chumo, gradually pacifying his frantic mind.

Emery felt a small surge of hope as Chumo's body relaxed, and the twisted red glow of his eyes began to dim.

When Chumo's breathing steadied, Emery finally spoke "Tell me the truth… who did all of this?"

Chumo's gaze dropped, and after a heavy pause, he replied, "Emery… I told you… I did this…"

"I don't believe you, someone else is involved... Tell me who."

Despite his confession, Emery sensed an incompleteness in Chumo's words. Emery knew it would have been nearly impossible for Chumo to handle this entire scheme alone, not with such unstable affliction.

As Emery pressed him, he noticed a flicker of hesitation in Chumo's eyes—a momentary falter that only confirmed his suspicions. But before he could ask more, his senses heightened. He detected the enforcers were closing in fast to their location.

For a moment, Emery's mind raced through options. He could conceal Chumo within his domain, shield him from the enforcers' reach—but with the three other survivors watching, that would be risky. Besides, tampering with the crime scene would jeopardize his relationship with the Karat family and put Magus Rosia, who had already taken a significant risk in pushing the investigation forward, in a precarious position.

Emery steadied himself, making a difficult choice. Even if Chumo were to face full charges for the crimes, it wasn't the end—he could still find a way to save his friend later. With a heavy heart, he decided not to interfere.

When the enforcers finally arrived, their faces paled as they surveyed the room, their expressions quickly shifting from shock to disgust as they took in the pile of corpses. The sight of so many lives taken so brutally stoked their anger, especially since the sheer number revealed they had missed far more victims than previously known.

As they entered the cell room, their attention immediately turned to the surviving magus. They were in terrible shape, mentally shattered, and unable to provide coherent statements in their current state. This left only Chumo, pale and frail, as the prime suspect. The enforcers' eyes bore into him, their suspicions heightened.

Emery held back, purposedly waiting until the enforcers had fully grasped the grisly scene before he addressed his weakened friend.

"Chumo… your condition won't allow you to do anything… so who was it that kidnapped the latest victim? Tell me—who is the Bloodthirsty Phantom?"

Chumo hesitated, and Emery pressed on, leaning closer. "Tell me… and we might be able to save another innocent life."

At last, Chumo looked up, meeting Emery's gaze with a nod of reluctant agreement. He opened his mind, allowing Emery to probe his memories. Images, locations, and a faint, shadowy figure blurred through the connection, and Emery caught a glimpse of a place he recognized. It was an abandoned medical facility within the industrial complex.

With the coordinates fresh in his mind, Emery swiftly coordinated with Gerri, instructing him to oversee Chumo's arrest while Emery gathered the other team for a swift strike. Opening a spatial gate, he led the enforcers directly to the facility and arrived within minutes.

The building loomed in eerie silence, but Emery's keen senses picked up two magus within. One of them, realizing their arrival, immediately attempted to flee. But Emery was prepared. With precise spatial spells, he closed off the exits, warping the walls and floors to block escape routes. The enforcers moved in, fanning out to secure the perimeter, trapping their target within the decaying walls. Within moments, the building was locked down, and the enforcers converged on the final room, poised to unmask the true Bloodthirsty Phantom.

Emery stepped into the dimly lit room, his senses immediately sharpening at the sight before him. The missing magus lay slumped against the wall, bound and drenched in blood, barely clinging to consciousness. But Emery's gaze shifted to the figure standing nearby—a figure with a twisted, deformed face and a sinister grin, blood smeared around his mouth. "You," Emery said, his voice steady but icy, "are the Bloodthirsty Phantom. We're here to arrest you."

The grotesque figure let out a low, mocking chuckle, his smile stretching wide in a taunting sneer. "Oh, the savage magus himself came to catch me... I am so honored..."

Emery was a bit surprised the man recognized him; at the same time, there was something disturbingly familiar about him. As the man's aura intensified, Emery's mind raced. The killer's spirit core surged, casting a spell that bent the area around them.

"Gravity manipulation… it's you… Lodos!"