Earth's Greatest Magus - Chapter 2661: Memoir

Chapter 2661: Memoir

Emery and the group stepped cautiously out of the shimmering spatial gate and into the cavern beyond. At first glance, it appeared to be a simple cave—its rocky walls, jagged stalactites, and uneven ground. But something subtle lingered here.

A faint shimmer danced over the cave’s surface like mist caught in moonlight—an invisible veil of energy. Emery narrowed his eyes and extended his divine senses. What he found surprised him. This was no ordinary concealment.

“A cloaking barrier,” he muttered. “And more…”

The energy signature was complex—woven layers of protective enchantments and masking fields. Not only did it shield the cave from external force, but it also muffled sound and vibration, creating a calm haven amid the chaos beyond.

Though they could still faintly hear the storm howling outside—the distant rumble of earthquakes, the crashing stampedes of wild beasts—inside the cave, there was silence. No tremors, no drafts, not even a trace of dust falling. The calm was unnatural, like the world beyond had been shut out.

Even the Supreme, Rosin Karat, nodded in silent admiration. “This… this barrier is a masterwork.” He turned to Talaro. “Did you create this?”

The dark elf gave a dry chuckle. “I wish I had that kind of power,” he said. “No, I found this place. I’ve been living here ever since I arrived.”

He gestured with a casual sweep of his arm, as if showing honored guests through his domain.

The group moved forward slowly, wary but curious. The cave soon opened into a massive hollow space—far larger than expected. Easily the size of a small city, the space opened into terraces of stone, each level dotted with ancient, weatherworn structures. Buildings carved into the walls, broken towers of forgotten stone, and collapsed archways hinted at a once-inhabited refuge.

“You’re saying you found it like this?” Soltz asked, scanning the ruins.

“It was already like this when I got here,” Talaro confirmed. “Someone lived here long before me.”

“Then they must’ve left,” Kaelyn said, hope sparking in her voice. “There must be a way out then.”

Talaro scoffed, then led them toward the western area, into a clearing. Three dozen stone markers stood in somber silence, lined in uneven rows.

A mass grave.

The air grew heavier. Time had eroded the inscriptions, but the message was clear—this place had once held life… And now only memories remained.

Kaelyn’s voice wavered. “They can’t all have died… There must be someone; someone must have made it out.”

The dark elf remained silent as he turned and led them to the heart of the cave. There, at the center, stood the largest structure—an ancient hall of polished black stone. Inside, the walls were covered in markings. Strange, angular symbols. They were written in dozens of languages, the relics of survivors from all corners of the universe.

“These were writings of others who were trapped here before us… You can give them a read,” Talaro said before gesturing toward a corner of the hall where a collection of crystals glimmered faintly on a stone pedestal. “There are more over there. I haven’t gone through them all yet.”

The group stepped closer and immediately recognized them: memory crystals. Each was a vessel of thoughts and messages, likely left behind by those who had once taken refuge in this very place.

Talaro continued grimly. “A few were even at the supreme realm… and yet, none of them made it out. Not even their souls remained.”

A heavy silence fell over the group.

The weight of that statement sank in. Even Rosin Karat stiffened at the implication. Supreme realm figures—beings who could survive for ten thousand years—reduced to dust and forgotten echoes? The walls seemed to breathe with that despair.

“How long… have people been trapped here?” Soltz asked aloud, the question hanging like fog in the dimly lit chamber.

Emery’s breath caught. His thoughts began to spiral.

Ten thousand years? He didn’t have ten thousand years. He didn’t even have ten days. His friends were waiting. He had to return.

“No,” Emery muttered under his breath. “There has to be a way.”

Without hesitation, he stepped toward the pedestal, already drawing upon his senses to prepare for memory reading. Kaelyn was close behind, her expression tense with worry.

Rosin Karat stood in silence for a moment, absorbing the weight of what they had discovered. Then his tone turned crisp and commanding, calling the rest to investigate and secure the rest of the cave.

The group nodded, splitting up to carry out the order.

“You guys do that… but trust me, do not go outside the caves until the storm wave is over…” The dark elf warned, “Then, without another word, he calmly took a spot in the corner, sat cross-legged, and began channeling his efforts into controlling the cosmic flames coursing through his arms.

Emery wasn’t about to give up. He didn’t trust a single word the dark elf said. Besides, he had something that could give him an edge.

He stepped toward one of the memory crystals and pressed his hand against it. “VIA,” he said with conviction. “Scan and translate everything. Start now.”

[Affirmative. Beginning data acquisition.]

With the assistance of the advanced artificial being, Emery could process the information stored in the crystals dozens of times faster. Texts flashed through Emery’s mind, memories flickering behind his eyes like a stream of ghosts whispering through time. But the deeper he dug, the more his heart sank. The more knowledge he absorbed, the more he realized—Talaro had been telling the truth.

There was an overwhelming amount of data—logs from countless individuals dating back thousands of years. Most began the same way: an encounter with the Void Leviathan, their unexpected arrival at the sanctuary, and desperate attempts to understand the strange realm they now found themselves trapped in.

They shared findings, warnings, and final thoughts—messages left behind in the hope that someone would one day escape and carry word of their fate to the outside world. Some even left behind powerful techniques and valuable treasures—artifacts that would be priceless beyond imagination in any other realm. But Emery had no time to pursue such things. Hours passed, and yet he had only managed to scratch the surface of what was left behind.

Kaelyn, who had joined him in the search, suddenly froze as she read from one of the crystals. Her expression turned pale.

“This one…” she whispered. “It’s from Thar’Volk of Tartarus. A Supreme Elder of the titan race… He went missing five thousand years ago.”

Emery clenched his fists; Kaelyn’s words confirmed the legitimacy of these records. His mind raced, and an idea struck him.

“VIA, skip to the oldest record. Who built this place? Who was the first?”

[Scanning… Found. Origin data identified.]

A surge of light pulsed from the crystal as a deep voice filled Emery’s mind, and a giant figure appeared. He recognized the speaker, a celestial race. VIA identified him as Eldran Solus, one of the first celestial explorers, dating back to two hundred thousand years ago.

Emery’s eyes widened.

He staggered back a step, his heart hammering in his chest.

If even the Celestials couldn’t find a way out… what hope does he have?