Earth's Greatest Magus

With Damo's mediation, a compromise was swiftly reached.

The Void Wolf and its crew were granted permission to dock at the Nephilim moon base. They would be allowed to rest and resupply, though always under strict Nephilim surveillance. For Emery, however, the restrictions were looser—after a short but invasive screening, he was granted permission to descend to Earth itself. His return to the planet he once called home was not to be denied.

It had been decades since his last steps upon his homeworld. the planet stretched below him, continents draped in both wilderness and civilization. Damo personally escorted him, leading Emery to the place that would reveal the reason behind the Nephilim's deep attachment to Earth.

Together, they broke through cloud-streaked skies, gliding over familiar blue oceans and golden deserts before veering south, toward the lands north of Egypt.

"Egypt? Klea is here?" Emery asked, his voice low, tinged with hope. The thought of her waiting after all these years made his chest tighten.

But Damo shook his head, calm yet firm. "No. Master Klea has spent most of the past fifteen years away, seeking her breakthrough."

Disappointment flickered in Emery's eyes. Damo explained further: Klea had been Earth's caretaker after Emery's disappearance, guiding its affairs for many years. But as her cultivation required more time beyond Earth, the role of acting caretaker had gradually fallen to Damo himself.

Emery studied Damo with quiet pride. The young monk he once knew had shed his boyishness, standing now as a man in full moon magus realm, his posture steady and his aura calm, carrying the weight of responsibility with surprising ease. Damo had grown into Earth's guardian in Emery's absence.

He wanted to ask more—about Klea, about the others, about everything that had changed—but they draw near their destination.

They descended toward a hill overlooking a modest town. The scene below looked ordinary—villagers tending fields, smoke rising from clay chimneys.

On that hill stood a figure who was unmistakably out of place: an elderly Nephilim grand magus, silver-haired and robed in gold, the same one he almost fought before, watching the settlement below like a sentinel.

They landed softly and approached. "This is Elder Yohan," Damo politely introduced "He and his team have been stationed here with us for almost two decades."

The old Nephilim's eyes fell on Emery, sharp and penetrating. His voice was calm but weighted. "So… you are the one. To think you share the same age as my Lady... Truly, you are an unusual figure."

Emery felt the weight of the unspoken name even before Damo confirmed it—the Lady was Jinkan Nephilim herself. Two decades ago, after Earth's duel with Kronos ended in victory, Klea had forged an agreement with Jinkan. That was the very reason Emery now found Nephilim guardians stationed on Earth.

Elder Yohan's expression grew grave as his gaze returned to Emery. His voice carried the weight of command and responsibility.

"I need you to understand the importance of my mission here."

Emery's brow furrowed. His divine sense swept across the quiet town below, tracing the lives of thousands of ordinary mortals—farmers, merchants, children chasing one another through dusty streets. Yet amidst the tide of mundane life, one presence gleamed faintly.

It was a boy, no older than fifteen, seated on a stool in the courtyard of a modest home. His hands worked carefully at a piece of wood, shaping it into something unremarkable at first glance. Yet Emery's senses pierced deeper. Each cut, each grain of wood, carried a resonance… a subtle pulse of cosmic energy hidden beneath the surface.

Emery's eyes narrowed. "Who is he?"

"That," Elder Yohan replied, "is our mission. We are here to protect him."

The truth struck Emery harder than he expected. The boy was no ordinary mortal. He was a supreme being in the midst of his second tribulation—the Mortal Tribulation. His soul was on the path of rebirth, cast down into mortal flesh to endure hardship, obscurity, and growth, all as part of a divine mandate. Until he completed that journey, his past power and memories would remain sealed, leaving him as vulnerable as any other youth in the town.

The Nephilim grand magus had been stationed here for this very reason: to ensure no harm befell the boy, and by extension, the planet he now called home. That explained the fortress on the Moon, the fleets of drones, the layers of protection surrounding Earth. Earth was not merely under protection—it was sanctuary to a divine trial.

Emery's heart sank as understanding settled in. Klea's agreement with Jinkan suddenly made sense. With Emery and Morgana both gone, Earth had been left dangerously exposed at a time when tensions across the stars were mounting. The Nephilim's presence had filled that void, providing strength in exchange for trust.

Even so, suspicion lingered in him. He had crossed paths with the Nephilim too many times not to be cautious. His trust was thin, yet when Damo spoke, his tone carried quiet certainty.

"They have been nothing but respectful guests," Damo assured him. "They will remain for another twenty years, perhaps longer, until the tribulation is complete."

Yet questions stirred in Emery's mind, the twenty years timeline brought attention to another problem on Earth; the looming Calamity and the deep secret of mysterious gate hidden undergrounds.

The elder explained that Kronos had been exaggerating the urgency. According to the Nephilim's far deeper analysis, the Calamity would not arrive for at least another fifty years.

"We would not have chosen this planet if we did not believe this," the elder assured.

Emery struggled to accept their words so easily. He requested to see the full analysis report, hoping it would reveal some of the hidden secrets.

To his surprise, the Nephilim elder complied.

"That is possible. I will request it—it should be ready within two weeks."

With the matter of the Nephilim clarified for now, Emery took a long walk with Damo. He asked about the state of things during his absence, while also sharing his own experiences.

The first news that eased his heart was the arrival of Shinta, Ha Ron, and King Rig twenty years ago. They had carried news about Emery, so many already knew of his situation and were waiting for his return. Shinta had gone back to Ouroboros City; Julian to Nova Roma. Thrax stayed for a few years, but after a conflict with the Nephilim magus, he left for the battlefield.

Unfortunately, the Nephilim's agreements made it difficult to stay in contact. Communication had grown scarce; news from allies trickled in only every few years. Damo's voice carried both hope and regret. "Now that you're here, I'll send word to them at once. They must know you've returned."

Emery nodded, gratitude warming his chest. But then another thought struck him, one name conspicuously absent. His steps slowed. "What of Chumo?"

Damo's expression faltered. His voice softened. "Master Chumo is here... with his family… but—"

Emery's eyes sharpened. "But what?"

Damo hesitated, sorrow flickering in his gaze. "Master… I think you should see him yourself."

The weight in his tone left Emery silent. Whatever awaited, it was not a tale to be told in passing words.