Free Web NovelChapter 2943: Last Hours
Smoke rose from multiple buildings near the District 3 teleportation gate, forming thick dark plumes that spread across the skies above Dawnstar.
Alarm sirens echoed continuously throughout the district, blending with distant screams, crashing sounds, and violent bursts of energy that revealed fighting had already broken out in several locations at once.
The streets below had descended into chaos.
Large crowds pressed desperately against temporary barricades surrounding the quarantine zone while armed guards struggled to maintain order.
As soon as Emery and Typhon descended near the gate district, several enforcers immediately noticed them. Recognizing the aura of Grand Magus experts, one of the officers hurried toward them.
"Greetings, seniors," the man said respectfully while bowing.
His armor was covered with ash and the exhaustion in his eyes made it clear he had been dealing with the unrest for hours without pause.
Emery glanced toward the crowded quarantine zone before asking calmly, "What happened here?"
The enforcer hesitated briefly before answering.
"A migrant convoy arrived earlier today and panic spread before we could isolate the area properly." He quickly forced a reassuring smile and added, "But don’t worry, sir, the situation is under control."
Almost immediately after he said that, another explosion echoed several streets away.
The officer’s expression stiffened awkwardly before he continued, "Unfortunately, we’ve temporarily shut down the District 3 gate. If you require teleportation access, please use the District 2 gate instead."
Emery silently extended his divine sense across the surrounding district.
The imbalance became obvious almost instantly.
There were barely a few hundred guards attempting to contain a crowd numbering well over a million across the surrounding sectors.
His expression darkened slightly.
The public still did not know the full truth regarding the scourge, yet fear alone was already pushing Dawnstar toward instability. Once the reality of the parasites became public knowledge, the situation would likely spiral completely out of control.
He had less than ten hours remaining before he needed to depart for Baeldum, and he had originally planned to pass through Dawnstar only long enough to reach the Academy.
Still, as he watched the growing panic spreading throughout the district, Emery found himself strangely feeling uneasy.
After a brief pause, he changed direction.
"Let’s make a stop first."
That section of the city housed several important establishments clustered together, including the Merlin Apothecary Center, the Red Lotus mansion, and the Earth faction’s general store. By the time Emery arrived there, he could already sense a much more organized response taking shape.
Nyx and Oeno had mobilized combine groups of guards and gladiators throughout the district. Armed warriors maintained order outside while healers and support teams moved constantly between buildings carrying medicine, purification tools, and injured civilians.
The Merlin Apothecary Center itself was completely overwhelmed. The scent of medicine, blood, and burned herbs lingered heavily throughout the air.
And in the middle of it all—
Gwen.
Emery stopped briefly when he saw her.
She no longer carried the appearance of the young queen who once stood above Britannia’s royal court in dazzling gowns and golden splendor. Yet somehow, the graceful charisma that once captivated an entire kingdom had never truly disappeared.
Even amidst the chaos, she still stood out effortlessly.
Sweat dampened strands of her golden hair while exhaustion showed faintly beneath her eyes, but instead of diminishing her presence, it only made her seem more genuine.
She moved calmly between rows of wounded civilians, her voice soft yet firm as she directed treatments and reassured frightened patients. People listened to her without question, not because of authority or status, but because her presence alone carried warmth and reassurance.
Then their eyes met across the crowded hall.
Gwen smiled at him.
Warm.
Gentle.
Familiar.
A moment later, another healer stepped forward to take over her task, allowing Gwen to walk toward him while wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
There was silence between them for several seconds before she finally spoke.
"So," she said lightly, a teasing smile forming on her lips, "going for another adventure again? What is it this time? Catching criminals? Slaying dragons?"
Her tone remained playful, but the sincerity behind her smile only made Emery quieter.
Another thought crossed his mind.
Only one month remained before Gwen’s final treatment.
Under normal circumstances, he would not leave during such an important period. Even though he believed the Baeldum mission would not take long, the current situation surrounding the scourge left him unable to feel fully at ease.
"You should take care of your health first," he finally said.
Gwen laughed softly.
"Me?" she replied while brushing loose strands of hair behind her ear. "You know me... I can’t stay still when there’s this much to do."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward the overcrowded treatment hall behind her.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then Gwen smiled again, softer this time.
"You need to be careful" she said while looking directly into his eyes. "You don’t always have to be the hero."
Before Emery could respond, she lightly jabbed her fist against his chest. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Now go do your thing."
Her smile lingered for a moment longer before she turned around, her graceful figure disappearing back into the organized chaos of the treatment hall.
Emery watched her quietly for several moments before turning toward a nearby shadow.
Lizzi emerged immediately with a smile.
"I’ll be counting on you," Emery said.
"Yes, Master."
Only then did Emery finally leave.
He released a slow breath before flying toward District 2, where the second teleportation gate was located.
Unlike the lower districts, the upper district remained heavily fortified. There were at least three times as many guards stationed there, many already within the Magus realm, while defensive formations glowed faintly around the surrounding streets.
With his Grand Magus status, Emery passed through security effortlessly and soon entered the teleportation formation leading toward the Academy.
Moments later, he arrived within the familiar grounds of the Magus Academy.
To his relief, the Academy had already begun implementing emergency protocols. Although he heard that a few high-ranking instructors would soon depart as part of the rapid response team, the Academy itself remained one of the safest locations within the sector.
Without wasting time, Emery headed directly toward Twilight Hall to meet Shinta. After explaining the current situation, he added her as another Khaos seed and warned her not to leave Academy grounds under any circumstances.
Vic was also present.
The moment Emery saw the young formation expert, he immediately dragged him away to help recalibrate the damaged artificial waypoint connected to the Academy Hall. Thanks to Vic’s expertise, the process was completed in a few hours.
When everything was finally finished, Emery prepared to leave.
"Don’t leave the academy unless absolutely necessary." he said while glancing toward Shinta.
"Heya... You worry too much..."
Just as he turned away, Vic stopped him. Behind the young man stood a humanoid metallic figure.
The repaired Super Golem.
The construct had actually been restored for quite some time already, but Emery had deliberately postponed retrieving it. With Typhon already acting as his bodyguard, he had preferred leaving the Super Golem behind to protect Shinta instead.
However, this time Shinta refused to let him leave without taking it.
"We’ll be safe here," she insisted firmly. "The Academy is already on alert, and Master Feanor is here too."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward the deer half-blood Grand Magus standing nearby.
Then Shinta looked back toward Emery.
"So please bring it with you."
For a moment, Emery remained silent while looking at her.
The young girl who once relied on him for everything had already begun thinking about protecting him instead.
That realization brought a strange feeling to his chest.
Eventually, Emery gave a faint nod.
The white Super Golem behind them activated immediately, ancient golden runes glowing across its armored body before Emery store it in his inner domain.
Shinta instantly grinned brightly.
"Go kick some parasite #%$#!!" Shinta shouted cheerfully.
"...."
Using the Khaos domain, returning to Neo Terra Palace took only seconds.
By then, Fjolnir and the Voidwolf crew were already fully prepared inside the hangar, waiting beside the warship.
Still, Emery did not leave immediately.
There was one more companion he intended to bring.
He turned toward the eastern wilderness beyond Neo Terra and pressed his palm against the ground. Moments later, the earth trembled violently before roots and vines burst upward, forming into a familiar humanoid figure.
Twik.
"Ku ku! Are you calling me?" the plant creature asked excitedly.
"Yes," Emery answered. "I’ll need your help this time."
"Ku ku! Okay!"
Twik immediately agreed happily.
Emery nodded slightly. Twik’s abilities would be extremely useful when exploring an unfamiliar planet.
Soon Emery sensed two presences approaching.
Klea.
And Morgana.
"I’m coming," Morgana declared immediately, giving absolutely no room for refusal as she walked straight past Emery and boarded the Voidwolf ship.
Emery blinked.
Klea, meanwhile, smiled faintly at his expression before handing him a wooden box.
"What’s this?" Emery asked.
"Open it."
Inside were two identical talismans crafted from dark leather covered in intricate runes markings. The fluctuations radiating from them immediately revealed their value. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Tier 8 talismans.
"I made them using the Twelve Spirit Beast Arts." Klea said softly. "I hope you won’t need to use them,"
"Only two?" Emery asked teasingly.
Klea immediately glared at him.
"Do you know how difficult and expensive to make these? "
Emery chuckled quietly before leaning down and giving her a brief hug.
Then, without further delay, he boarded the Voidwolf ship.
Moments later, the vessel rose into the skies and accelerated toward the distant mission awaiting them.
