Earth's Greatest Magus
Earth's Greatest Magus - Chapter 1977: Guardian

The small ship descended gracefully into the Moonbase hangar, its engines humming to a halt, and the anticipation within the hangar reached its peak. As the sleek metallic doors of the ship opened, two figures stepped out, instantly recognizable to Emery and his companions. The first was the much-missed and revered Senior Fuxi, whose presence alone was enough to bring a wave of relief and joy. The second figure, draped in cloak robes, took Emery a moment to recognize, but when he did, a spark of surprise lit up his expression. It was Nephilim's most prominent genius.

"Eeshoo? Why are you here?" Emery couldn't help but express his astonishment, his mind was flooded with dozens of questions about the unexpected arrival.

Before Emery could delve into the inquiries buzzing in his mind, Senior Fuxi, with a warm smile, interrupted, "So… Mister new caretaker… will you show me the place?"

As Fuxi made his way into the moon base, the atmosphere shifted. Klea, unable to contain her excitement, leaped toward the senior sage, enveloping him in a tight embrace. "Senior… I have been looking everywhere for you," she exclaimed, her joy evident in her voice. Chumo, showing deep respect, also approached the old sage, acknowledging the presence of someone they held in high regard.

All followed Senior Fuxi as he surveyed the moon base, his keen eyes taking in every detail. When he seemed satisfied with the surroundings, a broad smile graced his face, and he declared, "Let's talk."

They stepped into a more secluded room, a space where privacy allowed for candid conversations. In this intimate setting, Senior Fuxi began to express his deep sense of pride in Emery and his companions, commending them for their remarkable achievements. He admitted regret for his prolonged absence, acknowledging that his seclusion had prevented him from witnessing their growth and accomplishments in the past several years.

Fuxi, in a reflective tone, revealed that if it weren't for the person he had been accompanying, he would likely still be in seclusion. With a nod from Fuxi, Eeshoo took the opportunity to clarify.

It turned out that the Nephilim had been aware of Fuxi's whereabouts, closely monitoring him for a while. Recognizing the impending threat to Earth, Eeshoo came to seek out Fuxi and warned him about the situation. The two were en route to the moon base when they received word of Emery having already confronted the imminent danger.

Expressing regret, Eeshoo remarked, "I wish I could be more helpful."

Emery, however, responded with a reassuring gesture, saying, "No, you did plenty." He added with a keen observation, "You coming alone means that you are doing this against the Nephilim's will, aren't you?"

Eeshoo, acknowledging the unspoken tensions, gave a slight nod before producing a small device. Activating it, a holographic message from Jinkan played before them. In the brief visual, Jinkan explained her father's decision to sever ties with the Earth faction. Despite assuring that the Nephilim wouldn't openly harm Earth, she expressed concerns about potential covert actions. Jinkan believed that her father's knowledge of her involvement could lead to more harm, hence, she could only dispatch the trusted Eeshoo to assist.

"I am sorry, there is not much I can do for now. I can only hope that the more merit I bring to my family, the more he will forget about Earth. I hope, in the future, we can work together again."

The holographic message delivered a clear understanding of the intricate situation, leaving an air of somber realization in the room. As much as Eeshoo conveyed a desire to remain by their side, the gravity of the circumstances dictated otherwise. With a sense of gratitude and sincerity, Eeshoo handed Emery a device, saying, "I still owe you my life. Contact me when you ever need my help."

Before his departure, Eeshoo shared updates about common friends, revealing, "Atlas sent his regards." The mention of Atlas brought a mix of emotions, and Eeshoo disclosed that, thanks to Emery's assistance, Atlas was currently undergoing major surgery, in the process of finally regaining his human body.

"Until we meet again, good luck," Eeshoo bid farewell. With that, he returned to his ship, and as the vessel lifted off, it vanished into the vastness of space.

With Fuxi's arrival, Earth gained not only the presence of another grand magus guardian, one analyzed as a Cosmos level 3. The seasoned sage also came up with a solution to reinforce Earth's defense.

"There is much to be done," Fuxi declared.

His absence during the past years had been dedicated to unraveling the secrets of the [Array Formation Flags], the rare set of eight tier 6 flags acquired through an auction. Fuxi's relentless efforts had spanned years, involving the acquisition of the missing flag and meticulous repairs to one of the broken flags. As a result, he now possessed a total of five fully operational flags out of the original eight sets.

Fuxi, tapping into the profound knowledge embedded within these flags, envisioned a solution to significantly enhance Earth's defenses. He explained that given time, he could create a protective barrier that would envelop a substantial portion of the Earth's planet itself, shielding it from potential threats.

The monumental task at hand required Fuxi to implement a vast formation across multiple areas of the planet, a project that could potentially span months or even years to complete. However, fueled by his unwavering commitment to Earth's protection, the seasoned grand magus conveyed his willingness to undertake this immense responsibility.

"Besides, it's been hundreds of years since I've been home…" Fuxi's words carried a touch of melancholy, revealing the deep roots of his connection to Earth.

As Fuxi delved into the details of the task, Klea eagerly offered her assistance, expressing a desire to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate art of formation.

Intrigued by the unfolding events, Emery followed Fuxi and Klea as they came down to Earth, preparing for their first formation. Amidst this, Emery bore witness to a touching reunion between Fuxi and his long-disciple Ashaka. The abbot, overcome with humility, kneeled before his master, expressing respect and admitting past mistakes. The sight of the two, master and disciple, standing united, stirred deep emotions within Emery, prompting reflections on his own master, Xion.

These developments instilled further confidence in Emery's resolve to defend Earth against any potential threat. However, just as the momentum was building, news arrived from Golden City, demanding Emery's immediate presence. With two grand magus now safeguarding Earth, Emery felt a sense of reassurance, making it easier for him to leave and address the pressing matters in Golden City.