Earth's Greatest Magus

2307  The Sovereign Path

Six years ago, after the Celestial expedition, Julian made a pivotal decision. He chose to walk his own path, chasing a vision that diverged from his fellow Earth Magus.

Like the rest of the Earth's champions, Julian's immediate priority was clear: to ascend to the peak of the Magus realm before the looming duel with Kronos, set for eight years.

But he knew the daunting truth—reaching that stage with his A-aptitude alone would take decades, anywhere from 10 to 30 years. The prospect of attaining the Grand Magus realm was even more elusive, a journey that could easily stretch to a few centuries.

Julian had always been a realist. He understood that relying solely on his proficiency in Earth and Fire elements wouldn't be enough to close the gap in time. His true strength lay in his mastery of the unique Law of Sovereignty, an ability that demanded much more than personal power—it required influence, command, and control over the masses.

For his vision to succeed, Julian realized he didn't just need strength. He needed followers—millions of them, billions even better. A collective force under his rule to empower his law, to grant him the dominance he sought.

The truth was, Earth had everything Julian needed for his grand vision: the population, the resources, and most importantly, the foundation of power he had already built with the Roman Empire over the past decade.

Earth was the perfect place to harness the full potential of his Law of Sovereignty.

Yet, Julian knew that pursuing such a course would inevitably lead to conflict with his friends. Emery, Klea, Chumo, and even Thrax—each of them held a special place in his mind. Their bond had been forged through trials and battles, and Julian wasn't willing to shatter that connection lightly.

However, as time passed, he couldn't help but feel the weight of comparison, especially when it came to the rapid advancements of both Emery and Thrax.

The stark contrast was undeniable. Emery, in particular, had returned from the brink of death stronger than ever. Not only had he become the most powerful among their group, but he had also cemented his role as the undisputed leader of Earth's magus.

There was something about Emery's transformation that gnawed at Julian, a subtle shift that left him feeling uneasy. At first, Julian believed these feelings were rooted in personal ego or perhaps jealousy. But as time passed, he realized it was something far deeper and more crucial.

Julian came to a startling conclusion: as long as he remained in Emery's shadow, as long as he was second to Emery's leadership, his understanding of the Law of Sovereignty—the very law that defined his essence—would never fully develop.

The law itself was intrinsically tied to the concept of dominion, leadership, and being in command. To follow was to stifle his potential; to be anything less than a ruler was to forsake his very nature.

This revelation became the turning point for Julian. And so, he made the difficult decision to break away. He let Emery take the mantle of Earth's leader while he went on to build his own empire—his own planet, his own people, and most importantly, his own foundation.

It was the best course of action for him and his fellow Earth magus.

After completing the Celestial Expedition, Julian made a decisive move. He used all 2,420 of his celestial points to exchange for vast amounts of high-value materials that had the best exchange rates within the Magus Alliance.

For the next few weeks, he traveled across the Alpha Quadrant, meticulously researching and selling these materials to maximize his returns. By the time he was finished, along with his savings, Julian had amassed a fortune of over 300 million spirit stones.

With his wealth secured, Julian began the arduous process of searching for a planet to establish his new empire. However, purchasing a planet proved to be far more complex than he had anticipated.

Prices fluctuated wildly based on a variety of factors and the true value of a planet was often obscured by hidden details. Most planets sold by factions came with significant drawbacks or "baggage," such as territorial unrest, ecological damage, or a decimated economy.

Despite these challenges, Julian had very specific criteria in mind for his future domain.

He needed a planet with a large, existing population to fuel his ambitions. Most importantly, it had to be one that had already achieved the prestigious status of a middle-realm planet.

Julian knew how time-consuming and difficult it was for a planet to be elevated to middle-realm status, and he wasn't willing to wait for such a transformation.

Weeks passed as Julian scoured the markets, contacting brokers, studying planetary auctions, and tapping into the Magus Alliance's networks for leads. Just when it seemed like finding a suitable planet would be impossible, fortune smiled upon him.

A Magus Alliance official he had befriended reached out with an enticing offer. "I found something that fits your needs," the official said. "A middle-realm planet with a population of over 200 million. The catch? It's been heavily harvested, and stripped of most of its natural resources. But, the current owners are in desperate need of funds. If you act quickly, you might be able to secure it for a fraction of the usual price."

Julian, ever meticulous, took his time to conduct a thorough investigation into the planet's current state. He discovered that the planet's population had been ravaged by centuries of unending wars. Its people lived in squalor, their lives dictated by conflict.

Yet despite its dire condition, Julian saw potential in this world. It wasn't its natural wealth he was after—it was the sheer number of inhabitants. Confident in his analysis, he made his move. Without hesitation, he poured all of his hard-earned spirit stones into the deal.

"Congratulations," the Magus Alliance official said, handing him the official documents. "You are now the owner of Planet 11725."

Julian couldn't contain his excitement. As soon as the paperwork was finalized, he visited the planet in person, eager to see the land that would become his empire.

He flew over vast blue oceans, soared past towering desert mountains, and marveled at the rugged beauty of the planet's diverse landscapes. Despite its poor condition, there was an exhilaration he hadn't felt in years—a sense of joy, in building something truly his own.

However, that feeling was short-lived.

Just a few days after his arrival, as he began laying the groundwork for his new home, a sudden and unwelcome visit disrupted his plans. A Magus Alliance envoy descended upon him, flanked by several stern-faced officials.

"Magus Julian, you do not have the proper permits to cultivate this planet. You are hereby ordered to cease all activities and vacate the premises immediately."

Julian was not the kind of man to simply accept such things without a fight. He stood his ground and presented the official purchase documents, holding them up for the envoy to see. However, his bold stance only seemed to escalate the situation, and he was instead charged as a criminal for illegally purchasing the planet.

The accusation led to his immediate imprisonment.

"This is not right! I demand justice!"

One more chapter to understand more about Julian's POV. thank you for reading

Avan