Earth's Greatest Magus

?On the opposite end of the bustling sixth floor, Emery, Klea, and Gerri found themselves drawn towards a section that prominently displayed products related to "lifeform" As they approached, the air seemed to change, carrying with it a mix of scents and sounds that were both intriguing and disconcerting. The area was populated with dozens of cages, each containing a unique and often exotic lifeform, all bound in chains.

The variety was astonishing—legendary creatures with magnificent plumage, humanoid magus slaves with features from different races, and even mystical beings with ethereal glows. The creatures exhibited a wide range of expressions, from subdued resignation to fierce defiance, their eyes revealing the extent of their subjugation.

Among the captives, a creature resembling a celestial winged lion with iridescent feathers caught Klea's attention. Its majestic presence was marred by the chains that restrained its once-free movements. Nearby, a humanoid magus of an otherworldly origin stood with an air of stoic defiance, displaying features that hinted at a lineage intertwined with magical heritage.

Gerri's irritation was palpable, a result of both moral objection and personal experience. His frown deepened as he observed the plight of these beings, a stark reminder of the darkness that lingered beneath the surface of seemingly vibrant marketplaces. The enforcer captain had encountered illegal slave trades in the past, and this spectacle stirred unsettling memories.

His expression remained stern as he explained the intricate regulations governing slave trading within the magus alliance. The two learned that in Golden City and its affiliated planets, only specific factions were authorized to engage in such transactions. Stricter oversight was imposed, requiring traders to disclose the origins of the slaves they offered for sale.

The majority of these unfortunate souls came either through alliance-sanctioned prisoners of war or through the slave personal consent meant to settle familial or factional debts.

Emery, drawing from his own experiences with the Silvermane planet, harbored a personal distaste for the practice but acknowledged its pragmatic necessity. He recognized the precarious position of Earth, with its limited magus protectors, and the potential threats that rejecting the Nephilim title could attract.

Klea, also has a similar perspective to Emery, Having grown up in a society where slavery was an ingrained part of civilization.

"So, how many can we afford?" She asked with a smile.

Emery and Klea meticulously went through the list of slaves available, noting the varying prices based on their abilities, realms, and unique qualities. The saint warriors were priced at a modest 100,000 spirit stones, while the rank 9 mages demanded an average of 500,000. For magus slaves, the cost started at 1 million spirit stones, and these figures multiplied for individuals with half-blood heritage or special genetic traits.

Emery had little interest in acquiring non-magus slaves. His focus was on finding a few quality magus individuals who could effectively contribute to the defense and stability of Earth. The available options were displayed both physically and within information crystals, providing details about each slave's age, realm, proficiency, and price.

[11980 - 55 age - New Moon - Fire?- 650,000]

[11987 - 72 age - Crescent moon - lightning - 1,900.000]

[10283 - 180 age - Half moon - water - 4,300,000]

[12928 - 620 age - Full moon - wind -11,500,000]

Each listing included battle power and spirit force numbers, accompanied by a brief background overview.

Emery found himself taken aback as the listings even included grand magus levels, with prices starting at a staggering 50 million spirit stones. The realization that grand magus could be subjected to slavery showcased the inherent dangers of the magus universe and emphasized Earth's vulnerability.

Feeling overwhelmed by the choices, Emery once again turned to Via for assistance. To his surprise, the artificial lifeform introduced a different unit of measurement for realm stages. Instead of the conventional classifications, Via presented:

[Star Level 1 to 10 for magus levels]

[Cosmos Level 1 to 10 for grand magus levels]

This unit of measurement originated from the Celestials of 10,000 years ago. It considered various factors such as a person's law comprehension, spirit force, battle power, mental strength, and special genetic traits. However, Via clarified that she needed to personally scan each individual to provide accurate measurements.

Emery decided to use Gerri and Klea as samples for Via's measurements. Within moments, the artificial lifeform provided the results:

[Gerri - Half moon - Star Level 3]

[Klea - Half moon - Star Level 5]

While both Gerri and Klea belonged to the same realm, Klea's higher rank was attributed to her proficiency in multiple elements of law and her exceptional mental strength.

"What about mine, Via?"

Eager to learn about his own ranking, Emery sought Via's assessment. Despite his confidence in being at the peak of the rank, he was surprised to discover that he fell a few levels short:

[Emery - Half moon - Star Level 8]

Emery's newfound knowledge about the star level system intrigued him, and he began to wonder if there were magus with higher star levels still present in the magus universe.

Using the new measurement, Emery strolled around the cages, seeking slaves with higher star levels but more affordable price tags. His specific preference was for those with proficiency in darkness.

With Via's assistance, Emery identified a couple of intriguing options among the slaves, but the artificial lifeform highlighted two particular hybrid humanoids tucked away in a corner—one male and one female. Their malnourished bodies were covered in distinctive dark blue skin.

[12090 - 52 age - Crescent Moon - Ice & Darkness - Star level 5 - 3,400,000]

[12089 - 55 age - Crescent Moon - Water & Darkness - Star Level 5 - 3,600,000]

Via's extensive knowledge revealed that these two possessed a rare ancient bloodline. The seller, lacking much information, priced them higher due to their mysterious background and high battle power. Despite the lack of detailed background from both the seller and the magus alliance, Emery considered the significance of their star level 5 status, deeming it a bargained price. Recognizing the potential benefits, Emery wasted no time and proceeded to purchase the two humanoid hybrids.