“Send all warriors! Search for him!”
“Yes, Chief!”
A deafening chorus of voices rang out as hundreds of avian warriors responded in unison. Without hesitation, they spread their wings and took to the skies, fanning out in every direction in pursuit of the intruder. The night air crackled with energy as they darted between the towering cliffs, their keen eyes scanning for any trace of the fugitive.
In frustration, the Avian Chief clenched his taloned hands and turned to the four-eyed female beside him. His sharp beak clicked in irritation. “Did you not get even a glimpse of him? Nothing at all? How is that possible?!”
The four-eyed avian lowered her gaze, a mix of shame and disbelief on her face. “Yes, Chief… His spatial abilities… It’s unlike anything I have ever seen before.”
“Hmph! He should have been wounded. There’s no way he could have gotten far!”
Minutes passed, but the search yielded nothing. The warriors, despite their enhanced senses, found not even a trace of the intruder. Instead, a new presence made itself known, sending a ripple of tension through the assembled warriors. The Avian Chief stiffened, immediately recognizing the newcomers. As soon as their identities became clear, he and his warriors bowed deeply in respect.
“Greetings to the Sun Guardian.”
A group of powerful figures had arrived—combat experts whose very presence demanded reverence. Leading them was a towering, bearded man covered in golden fur, radiating an aura of immense strength. By his side walked a strikingly beautiful woman with silvery hair. If Emery had been there, he would have immediately recognized her: Kaelynn Silverleaf.
The bearded figure’s voice rumbled like distant thunder. “The intruder… is it him? Show me.”
The four-eyed avian female nodded quickly. “Yes, Guardian. He came for the two human captives.”
She reached into her robes and pulled out a gleaming crystal. With a flick of her fingers, the air shimmered, and a recorded image appeared. The figures watched intently as the scene unfolded—the battle, the chaos, and most importantly, the transformation.
Kaelynn’s eyes widened. She had seen Emery transform twice before—once in the Skyroot secret realm and again during the alchemy competition—but this… this was different.
The bearded man stroked his thick fur. “You see… the Earth Mother was not wrong.”
His gaze darkened as he turned to the Avian Chief. “We should have kept the captives in the shrine… But now… you let him escape…”
A shudder ran through the Avian Chief’s frame. Though he was a leader among his people, the mere presence of the Sun Guardian made him feel like an insect before a storm. He swallowed hard. “Do not worry, Guardian. My warriors will find him.”
“You had better,” the bearded man growled. Then, without another word, he gestured to his own warriors, and they scattered like streaks of golden light, joining the hunt.
A thousand miles away, deep beneath the surface of the earth, the man they were hunting lay hidden.
Emery, battered and exhausted, sat cross-legged in the underground chamber. His breath came in ragged gasps as he focused on stabilizing his body. The sanctuary, created by his enhanced spatial magic and strengthened by Soltz’s powerful earth spells, was completely undetectable.
But although they had managed to escape immediate danger, Emery’s condition was deteriorating rapidly. He had pushed himself to the limit, and as a result, the duration of his clone was beginning to shorten. His body was rebelling against the strain.
Soltz, the elderly Grand Magus, winced as his old wounds reopened during the intense battle. “This is a goddamn mess,” he muttered bitterly. “I should never have come here.”
Emery, still panting, ignored the old magus’s complaints. He waved his hand, and two figures materialized from his spatial dimension. His students, Ha Ron and Kingrig, stood before him, their faces filled with a mix of relief and shame.
“Tell me everything,” Emery commanded.
The two acolytes hesitated for a moment before launching into their story. Three months ago, they had infiltrated the Fey Realm, but their mission had gone terribly wrong. Captured almost immediately, they were held in confinement, unable to resist the power of their captors.
“I am sorry, Master…” Ha Ron’s voice trembled.
Though they had not been harmed, they were completely cut off from seeing Shinta. Their Khaos connection with her weakened over time, and a month ago, it had vanished completely. That was when everything changed. The treatment they received became harsher. The four-eyed avian began probing their minds, performing strange tests on them.
Their questions were disturbing. They were deeply interested in Emery’s past… and in the Khaos energy that both acolytes carried.
“What were they looking for?” Emery pressed.
Ha Ron hesitated, then finally spoke. “Master… They believe that Khaos is evil, a force that will destroy their world.”
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, Emery chuckled. A dark, bitter sound. “They captured my daughter… and now they act like they are the righteous ones?” His fingers clenched into fists. His exhaustion was immense, but his rage was stronger.
His mind raced. He did not have the power to fight them. His body was at its breaking point. But could he afford to wait? Could he return to his other self and make a new plan?
“No,” he whispered. “I cannot delay this any further.”
A whisper echoed in his mind, soft yet insistent. His expression darkened.
Sensing the shift in Emery’s emotions, Soltz’s face twisted with anxiety. “Whatever you’re planning… Leave me out of it,” the old magus snapped. “I want nothing to do with this.”
Emery turned to him, his voice cold. “Senior… I need your help. One more time.”
Without waiting for an answer, the power of Khaos surged from his body. Dark smoke curled through the air, thick and oppressive, flooding the chamber. The temperature dropped. Shadows flickered along the walls.
Soltz’s eyes widened in shock. “What are you doing?!”
Emery’s body trembled, then began to break apart, dissolving into the swirling darkness. Two glowing eyes pierced through the smoke, staring directly at the old magus.
“I am a fool,” Soltz whispered, stepping back.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then, Ha Ron and Kingrig gasped as they watched the transformation unfold. Before their eyes, the elderly Grand Magus changed. His frail form straightened, his wrinkles vanished, and his hair darkened. His pupils became pitch black, and power radiated from his body in waves.
#####
Author Note
March is over, and I know I’ve been disappointing you all with fewer updates. I have no excuses other than that I’m doing my best to provide daily updates in my current situation. The conclusion to the Tartarus Realm arc will be extended for another month, with more exciting revelations ahead. I hope for your patience and continued support for the novel. Thank you.