Earth's Greatest Magus

?1887 Fate

Emery's frustration was palpable as he questioned the high elf's need for his involvement. "Why do you need me?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation. "You are much more capable than me. I am here only to request that you open the gates so that my companion and I can safely escape from this disaster."

For a brief moment, the high elf remained silent, her gaze fixed upon Emery. Then, she posed an unusual question: "Do you believe in fate?"

Emery's annoyance flared. He had encountered this question before, and each time he heard it, he found himself doubting the concept of fate even more. "What kind of question is that?" he retorted. "To believe in fate implies there's no free will. Do you think this would convince me to help stop this madness?"

The elf's response was calm and unwavering. "When you are gifted with the divine power to see the future, you would believe in fate as I do."

Emery couldn't help but chuckle at the high elf's statement. "If you were able to see the future, then this situation would not have happened in the first place, and you would not need to deal with me or convince me."

The high elf acknowledged his point with a nod. "Yes, I have seen this coming disaster, and I have seen that we will overcome this," she explained. "But the magnitude of the impact is still undetermined—the number of casualties and what lies ahead."

Emery remained skeptical, and the high elf continued her explanation. "Among the thousands of talents in the chamber, you are one of the three marked as the destiny breaker. People like you can heavily influence the outcome of destiny."

Emery found it difficult to wrap his head around the idea of being a "destiny breaker". It was hard for him to accept that he had such a pivotal role to play in these events, and the surprise of being the chosen one to enter this celestial domain weighed heavily on him.

Growing impatient, Emery turned his gaze to the Celestials and bluntly asked, "I have had enough of this. Just tell me what it is you hope me to do, and if you will open all the gates for our escape."

As the Celestial's eyes began to glow, the golden palace around them started to crumble, causing Emery to become increasingly anxious. "Wait!, you haven't answered my question!" he exclaimed.

Once again, it was the high elf who responded, saying, "The gates will be open. As for what you need to do... fate will guide your decision." Her words hung in the air, leaving Emery with a sense of uncertainty and an even greater burden on his shoulders.

It was indeed a bewildering experience, and Emery didn't have the opportunity to seek further answers as he sensed his body being drawn back into the chamber. Once return, he found himself standing before the panel, frozen in time as chaos unfolded around him. Gradually, as his consciousness returned, time began to flow once more.

Emery seized these precious moments to assess the situation. Near him, he saw Neo and Uria valiantly battling the incoming tentacles, their swords striking with precision. Atlas was channeling his spell, aimed at a celestial construct that had leaped toward them. On the other side of the group, Olivier was holding off a sudden assault from the Void Stalkers.

The chamber was a tumultuous battleground, a cacophony of clashing weapons, spells, and otherworldly forces. Emery tried to take in the entirety of the chaotic scene, but before he could fully comprehend the perilous situation behind him, a notification abruptly appeared, demanding his attention.

[System successfully reboot]

[Lockdown uplifted, all gates open]

The news was greeted with relief and cheers from those around him. Neo congratulated him enthusiastically, saying, "You did it, Emery!"

However, Emery remained humble and hesitant to accept the credit. His gaze shifted toward a massive section of the chamber wall that had opened up. His sense of accomplishment gave way to anxiety as he observed the opening—it was hardly three meters wide before it abruptly stopped.

Then, a deafening boom shattered the jubilant atmosphere. Emery's heart sank as he witnessed the colossal crystal, which had caused so much chaos and suffering, finally shatter. In its place, a rift in the fabric of space tore open, unleashing a torrent of nightmarish tentacles that burst forth with ferocious intensity.

A palpable aura of dread hung in the air as a monstrous arm forced its way out of the rift, straining against the boundaries of the tear. The sheer size and malevolence of the appendage sent shockwaves of terror through everyone present.

Neo, positioned closest to the emerging threat, reacted swiftly. He summoned all of his extra swords, a total of 24, and they circled him in a protective formation as he activated his [Sword Sanctuary] skill. Neo's extraordinary swordsmanship allowed him to fend off the majority of the tentacles with precision and skill. However, the sheer number of them meant that a few still managed to slip through his defenses.

Emery's heart sank as he watched Neo, his brave comrade, get pierced and soon torn apart by the relentless tentacles.

"Neo!"

The chaotic scenes continued to unfold across the chamber as Emery urgently ordered a retreat. He was about to make his escape when he noticed a surprising turn of events.

High Elf Loriel Starwind, despite her wound, managed to regain her composure and stood resolute. She looked at Emery with a serene smile and whispered, "My destiny has come."

In a bold and selfless move, Loriel flew closer to the rift in space. She unleashed her ultimate spell, a high-level incantation that belonged to the world-breaking Tier 9, a power typically wielded only by the most elite grand magus and supreme beings.

With a resounding cry, she shouted, "Run!"

A massive explosion of ice erupted from Loriel's spell, enveloping the colossal arm and freezing all of the tentacles and the tear of space itself into a solid block of ice, creating a beautiful majestic ice sculpture.

Unfortunately, the immense magical force took its toll, and in a heart-wrenching moment, Loriel herself shattered into tiny crystalline dust.

Emery realized that the priestess who possessed divine knowledge had seen her own death. Her actions were a testament to her unwavering belief in fate.