Earth's Greatest Magus

Upon receiving the urgent message, Emery abandoned his current tasks and focus on unraveling the mystery behind the Kronos' sinister plot. Hecate, the bearer of ominous tidings, disclosed that the Kronos had enlisted external forces to execute their plan. However, due to the nature of these dealings, Hecate's knowledge was limited, leaving Emery with a crucial yet vague piece of information: the impending event would unfold within the week before the Moon base reached completion.

Despite the urgency of the situation, Emery faced a dilemma. The confidential nature of the information shared by Hecate meant that he couldn't officially report it without compromising her involvement. Handling the matter recklessly could jeopardize her covert assistance. Thus, Emery's course of action was to discreetly inform his friends and allies, rallying support and reinforcements to stand against the impending threat.

Entrusting the preparations to Klea, Emery relied on her to gather support from their network of friends and allies. Meanwhile, he harnessed the power of the Khaos gate, a mystical portal that allowed him to traverse vast distances instantly. With a sense of urgency, Emery returned to Earth through the gate, determined to warn his friends and initiate the necessary measures to counter the Kronos' machinations.

Emery materialized above the mountain lava, casting a watchful gaze upon the magus who was deeply immersed in her training. Though a part of him hesitated to disturb her, the unbreakable bond they shared allowed her to sense his thoughts and emotions. In mere seconds, the serene mountain erupted, and the earth trembled as Morgana emerged, her power manifesting in a scorching dark flame, taking the form of a dragon.

"Half moon magus... congratulations," Emery exclaimed, genuine admiration in his voice. Only four and a half months had passed since their last encounter, yet Morgana's rapid advancements took him by surprise.

Before Morgana could respond to Emery's commendation, the resonant voice of Killgragah echoed in Emery's mind. <Huh! If only you were willing to follow my instructions, you would have reached this stage years ago.> The ancient dragon's words carried a mixture of pride and exasperation, a testament to the potential he saw in Morgana.

Ignoring the dragon's commentary, Morgana approached Emery with a furrowed brow, concern etched across her features. "What is happening?" she inquired, her eyes searching for answers.

Emery withheld his response and instead gestured for Morgana to follow him, soaring northward toward one of the East Asian kingdoms. As they glided above a majestic palace, Chumo flew out to welcome them. Reading the urgency in Emery's expression, Chumo didn't hesitate to join their cause.

Together, they picked up Ashaka at the Bodhi temple and the group ascended into the sky, their destination set for the nearly completed Moon Base—an imposing structure that gleamed like a fortress in the cosmic expanse.

Upon arriving at the Moon Base, Emery wasted no time. He gathered the allies who would play pivotal roles in the impending conflict: Master Borin, the twin Yama, Yami, and the Dragon squad leader Terrador. The news of the imminent Kronos attack caught them all off guard, and a sense of urgency pervaded the air.

Facing Master Borin, Emery ask. "How much longer do you need to finish the base?"

"I need at least 10 more days!" Master Borin replied, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Emery attentively listened to the progress report, a sense of relief washing over him as he realized that the Moon Base's main functions were nearly complete. Most of the remaining tasks focused on the interior aspects that catered to comfort and efficiency, such as temperature control, a virtual training room, and a proper dining area.

"Six out of ten plasma cannons are operational," Master Borin reported. The critical missing component, however, was the defense barrier—a feature that could make the difference between repelling an attack and succumbing to it.

Emery, maintaining his composure, retrieved the newly acquired machine designed to be installed on each of the six corners of the base. The device, [B13-Gravity Shield], represented a state-of-the-art energy-based defense mechanism. Emery knew that time was of the essence, and with no opportunity to prepare a formation-based barrier, he had to settle for the high-grade energy barrier he had purchased for a substantial 13 million spirit stones at the Tech market.

"Fasten your tasks, and do your best," Emery urged the craftsmen.

Emery's next critical task was to gather intelligence on the incoming forces, determining their numbers and the precise timing of their assault. He swiftly made his way toward the newly installed radar system, signaling VIA—the advanced artificial intelligence integrated into the Moon Base—to handle the task.

As VIA began its comprehensive task, Emery redirected his focus to the immediate preparation for the impending confrontation. He gathered Morgana, Chumo, and Ashaka into specially prepared room, equipped with a cauldron. Emery administered the full-body enhancement treatments to each of them, complementing the process with his limited supply of [360 Celestial Meridians Pill].

The effects of the enhancements were evident, as Emery's earthbound friends experienced a notable boost in their battle power:

[Chumo]

[Battle Power 278 (330)]

####

[Asahaka]

[Battle Power 246 (295)]

Morgana, being a halfmoon and half-blood, exhibited a slightly diminished effect from the enhancements, yet Emery was impressed with her newfound stats:

[Morgana]

[Battle Power 331 (372)]

[Soul Force 297]

[Magus Realm - Halfmoon]

[Bloodline Gene - Night Wolf]

[Current Rank - Rank 6 - The Night Demon]

[Law of Darkness - 17%]

[Law of Fire - 12%]

[Law Comprehension - 29%]

After spending an intensive 24 hours with the three, Emery finally received crucial information from VIA, the advanced artificial information successfully intercept and crack Kronos messages. The news revealed the identity of the mercenaries hired by the Kronos faction, and Emery's expression turned serious.

"They are mercenaries from Turtle Rocks!" Emery exclaimed, realizing that these mercenaries hailed from the notorious mercenary base, home to the pirate King. Concerned, Emery's mind raced to comprehend why the Kronos had chosen these specific mercenaries for their nefarious plans.

VIA, continuing its analysis, used multiple radars along the path to Earth and successfully identified three medium-sized vessels bearing the insignia of the Thunder Leopard pirates. The data revealed not only the presence of a grand magus but also at least two dozen magus crew members. Furthermore, VIA predicted their estimated time of arrival: a mere 32 hours away.

The news struck Emery like a bolt of lightning. The timeline was much faster than anticipated, half a day faster before Klea and the reinforcements were due to arrive. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Emery as he contemplated the impending clash with the incoming threat.