Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2418  Exodus 3

The fifth checkpoint marked the halfway point of the journey—a familiar outpost that Emery had visited previously when delivering supplies. It was located within the crumbling remains of an ancient, desolate city, with its centerpiece being a colossal arena that once hosted grand battles in an era long forgotten.

As the caravan of 200,000 civilians arrived, the arena became a hive of activity. Makeshift camps were swiftly erected within its stone walls, providing a semblance of shelter and safety. After four grueling days of travel, the civilians could finally rest, reassured by the presence of hundreds of warriors standing guard. Among them were 60 Magus-realm fighters, whose formidable auras blanketed the area in an air of protection.

To Emery's relief, Shinta and the acolytes from Hall 9 had been stationed here as reinforcements. As he made his way through the bustling encampment, he was greeted by Shinta's spirited voice.

"Father! You are here!! ...Please tell me you came to release us from this boredom!"

Her words were laced with a mix of humor and genuine frustration, and Emery couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her resilience. Surrounding her were the half-blood acolytes, their expressions brightening at the sight of friendly faces.

Just like his unit, alongside them stood their Magus handlers and two instructors. Magus Beatrice, a familiar wolf magus, and standing beside her was a stern-looking man with shimmering avian features. His sharp gaze and crackling aura marked him as a Full Moon Magus, and the faint outline of lightning wings framed his imposing figure. This was Instructor Zulu, a reputed Lightning Bird Magus.

Although Emery felt a sense of relief and joy at reuniting with his daughter and the half-blood group, his responsibilities remained paramount. He turned his focus to the task at hand, to report to the commander in charge.

Emery followed Grand Magus Shahi into the command center, a fortified structure located at the heart of the arena. Inside, they were greeted by the leader of the post, a white-haired middle-aged Grand Magus of two cosmos realms, Major Slovak.

"Finally! You're here!" Slovak exclaimed, "Good. Now we can leave this god-awful place!"

Emery blinked in surprise, taken aback by the Major's abrupt declaration. His confusion only deepened as Slovak continued. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Major announced his decision to reassign himself to Grand Magus Shahi's position, effectively taking command of the caravan's first batch to return to the home base. The decision seemed almost impulsive, but the tone in Slovak's voice left no room for argument.

"You will stay here and guard this post until further notice," Slovak ordered.

Before either could protest or even respond, Slovak was already barking commands to his men. Half of the stationed Magus warriors began mobilizing, their expressions suggesting they were all too eager to leave the desolate checkpoint.

Adding to the chaos, Slovak ordered the 200,000 civilians—who had just begun to rest and recuperate—to pack up and continue their arduous journey. Confusion and discontent rippled through the encampment as they hurriedly gathered their belongings, shepherded by the departing Magus forces.

Both Shahi and Emery stood speechless as the Major and his entourage prepared to depart. The abruptness of the decision, combined with the sudden loss of a significant portion of the fort's defenders, left them grappling with the reality of their new responsibilities.

Emery had anticipated that he and his fifty acolytes would play a crucial role in safeguarding the outpost until the exodus was complete. However, he hadn't expected the abrupt departure of the two Cosmos Grand Magus majors, who were supposed to be the fortress's strongest defenders. Their hasty exit left a significant gap in leadership and morale, forcing Emery and Grand Magus Shahi to shoulder an even heavier burden.

Despite her evident frustration, Shahi, as a seasoned commander, swiftly called for a status report from the remaining squad leaders. Four figures came forward, each representing a fraction of the dwindling defense force, among them was Magus Zulu, the lightning bird instructor.

As the report unfolded, Emery was struck by the stark reality of their situation. The outpost, once fortified with over two thousand warriors, now had a mere 500 left to defend it. This was compared to the number he had encountered when he first arrived at this location two weeks ago.

The cause of the depletion became clear—many soldiers had either been recalled to the home base or dispatched to reinforce Citadel City, the critical stronghold of the region.

Their grim expressions indicate that everyone understood the stakes. Something major was brewing, and the outpost stood as an exposed flank in a rapidly escalating war zone.

The Ruins City Outpost, situated 2,000 miles between the Citadel and the Homebase, was a critical waypoint in the exodus. Its defensive responsibilities extended northward to the third checkpoint and southward to the eighth, each a thousand miles away. Although squads were stationed at each post, the vast expanse of dunes that lay between them was fraught with danger. From roving orc warbands to ambushes by dark elves, every mile was a potential battlefield.

One of the squad leaders, a grizzled magus with a worn battle staff, voiced his frustration.

"Commander, how can we possibly manage this with so few?"

Another squad leader, younger but equally worn by the harsh desert campaign, sighed heavily. "Let's just hope the dark elves focus their forces on the Citadel as the intel suggests."

A third scoffed, his skepticism cutting through the air. "You really think so? If the intel was so reliable, why did Major Slovak abandon us so quickly?!"

Grand Magus Shahi's voice sliced through the growing unease with the authority of a seasoned commander. "Enough!" she snapped, silencing the murmurs. "Two million civilians will pass through this outpost in the next seven days. We have to ensure their safety with the forces that we have. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Commander!" All responded in unison before dispersing to their respective assignments.

As the room emptied, Shahi turned to Emery, the one figure she had come to rely on the past few days. Now, more than ever, she sought his counsel.

"Lieutenant Emery, Your suggestion will be greatly appreciated?"

Emery nodded confidently, the beginnings of a plan already forming in his mind. His unique advantages—the versatility of his spatial spells and his access to critical intelligence from within the elven command through his planted spy—gave him a rare edge in this desperate situation.

"I might as well make the most of this situation," Emery thought, his determination solidifying, prepared to turn the odds in their favor.

x x x x