Chapter 1847 Second Gate
Emery approached the second-layer gate with a mix of astonishment and apprehension. Unlike the first gate, where a little over 500 magus had gathered, this time there were nearly 6000 of them. It was a crowd that had swelled tenfold, creating an imposing assembly of magus from various factions.
Among this massive gathering, all the major units of the Grade Five human factions were represented—the Arcanum, the Imperium, the Oculus, the Arkaland, the Cross, and the Nephilim, including the prominent Azazel and Aztebas families. The presence of these renowned factions added a layer of tension and anticipation to the atmosphere.
As Emery made his way toward Jinkan and the others, he couldn't help but notice the hundreds of eyes fixed on him. "You're quite famous," remarked Mahinder with a smile, clearly pleased to blend into the background, with Emery attracting most of the attention.
Emery, however, wasn't in the mood for jests. He sensed that something was amiss, and the presence of hundreds of dark elves further intensified his unease. Out of the 1000 elves gathered, almost half were dark elves. This unusual concentration of dark elves was a cause for concern, and Emery couldn't shake the feeling that it foreboded an impending confrontation or conflict.
As Emery arrived and rejoined the group of 30, Jinkan confirmed his earlier concerns. "Messages have been sent out to all dark elves about your presence here," she explained. "Many are here for you."
Emery had anticipated the possibility of the dark elves being a concern, but he hadn't expected it to become such a pressing issue so quickly. The sheer number of dark elves involved was surprising. Jinkan offered some reassurance, explaining that the dark elves were unlikely to disrupt the guardian battle. Such actions could put everyone at risk, including their fellow elves.
However, Jinkan emphasized the need for extreme caution after the battle. It was crucial to be watchful and prepared for any potential conflicts that might arise in the aftermath.
As a potential solution, Jinkan suggested that they enter the third layer with a larger group. This would provide them with a means of escape from the dark elves, who might be less inclined to confront Emery in a setting with more witnesses. While the plan appeared reasonable, it also highlighted the seriousness of the situation.
The group faced uncertainty regarding how many of the 500 dark elves were genuinely there for Emery. The situation was tense, and they needed to remain vigilant.
In an effort to ensure the group's safety, the Amerhiks princess took matters into her own hands. She approached her annoying step-brother, Linhao, and skillfully manipulated their group of 80 magus, ensuring that they stayed closely united both before and after the guardian battle.
The 24-hour timer had finally elapsed, and the rune covering the enormous gate before them began to glow.
Loriel Starwind, the high elf priestess, pushed open the gate with unwavering confidence. Alongside her, 1000 elves, followed by 4,000 human magus, including Emery and his companions, entered the gate.
As they ventured deeper into the celestial vault, the central stage of the hall came to life. Liquid metals swirled and formed a colossal creature, this time taking the shape of a fifty-meter-tall, lion-like being with majestic wings, all constructed from radiant crystal.
The colossal creature ascended into the sky, unleashing a thunderous roar and a formidable spirit attack that surpassed even the basilisk in power.
[You have joined the battle against the second-floor guardian].
[Crystal Manticore]
[Mythical creature: ???]
[Battle power: ???]
Emery and the others stood ready, prepared to face this awe-inspiring and mysterious guardian.
As the battle against the Crystal Manticore commenced, the high priestess of Eldamar, Loriel, began preparing her formation, much like their previous encounter with the basilisk. However, this time, the human alliance, led by the Nephilim, took the initiative and didn't hesitate to be the first to strike.
A colossal sword crafted from pure spirit energy soared through the air, piercing the massive crystalline creature and inflicting excruciating pain. The one at the forefront of this assault was Zephyr Nephilim of the Aztebas family, demonstrating his power.
Following this daring move, hundreds of other human magus ascended into the skies, bombarding the Crystal Manticore with their attacks alongside their elven allies. In this situation, magus from both races were eager to make the most of the opportunity to deal damage and gain points or ranking rewards by quickly defeating the formidable guardian. The battlefield became a chaotic and dynamic battleground, filled with spells and abilities from all sides.
Despite his urge to be cautious, Emery couldn't disregard his responsibilities to the Nephilim and the reputation he needed to maintain. Thus, he promptly activated his [Twilight Transformation] and utilized a technique that he knew would maximize the damage he could inflict with his Khaos-infused sword.
With a swift strike, he unleashed [Shadow Edge], a powerful attack that penetrated deep into the Crystal Manticore's crystalline form. The damage he dealt was substantial, and, just like with the basilisk, a health bar displaying the guardian's status appeared for all to see.
[Crystal Manticore]
[9950/10000]
Before Emery could follow up with a second strike, other human magus crowded his path, making it difficult for him to engage the guardian further.
Using his [Blink] ability, Emery sought to keep up with the agile movements of the Crystal Manticore while also evading the energy blasts unleashed by his fellow magus, who were equally eager to land their own devastating attacks.
The battle raged on, a whirlwind of magic and attacks assaulting the Crystal Manticore from every angle. Friendly fire had become a significant concern, with magus frequently falling victim to the collateral damage of their own attacks.
Despite the chaos, the guardian's health had dropped significantly within a mere 10 minutes. This only fueled the ambition of the magus, who were determined to rise to the top of the contributions leaderboard.
Taking a moment to assess his own progress, Emery was pleased with the results:
[Rank 41 - Emery Ambrose - 221 points]
Considering his careful approach, having such rank among 5000 magus was commendable. Encouraged by the ongoing battle and his own performance, he set his sights on the top spot.
Emery decided to adopt a more aggressive strategy. He readied himself for a renewed assault on the guardian, prepared to push his limits.
However, just as he resolved to seize victory, an unexpected twist of fate sent shockwaves through him. In the midst of the heated battle, a powerful arrow sped toward him, one powerful enough to pierce his body from behind.
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