Sovereign of the Ashes

“How about two Grade Two pyro-attribute energy crystals then?” the Rank Two mage asked, arching an eyebrow, his tone slightly more forceful this time.

Yet, he refrained from using his formidable mental focus to oppress Sein, aware that doing so would violate the rules.

In response to the mage’s revised proposal, Sein remained firm, stating, “I have no intention of selling this engineer from the Neisse Civilization.”

After his refusal, Sein shot a look toward the antelope creature, telling it that it was time for them to return to the space fortress above.

As Sein was about to depart, the Rank Two mage suddenly asked, “You’re not from the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame, are you?”

The question momentarily altered Sein’s expression, prompting him to scrutinize the Rank Two mage as if committing his features to memory, before replying, “Indeed, I’m from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.”

Without further delay, Sein activated the brand on the antelope creature’s forehead with a surge of his mental focus, guiding it toward the space fortress’ lower hatch.

Sein opted against using his remaining two metal disks or flight spells with lower consumption.

Instead, he invoked a more elaborate spell to conjure a pair of green-colored fiery wings on his back.

These verdant flames of the wings immediately caught the attention of the observing mages.

“Verdant flame magic! Could he be part of the tower master’s faction...?” One of the Rank One mages murmured in surprise.

As mages from the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame, the group was clearly aware of the strength of their tower master.

Another female Rank One mage chimed in, “The master of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring is our tower master’s apprentice. Given this mage’s affiliation with that divine tower, he’s probably related to the Tower Master of Verdant Spring.”

The Tower Master of Verdant Spring had showcased her strength in the recent conflict at the main base, and this group of mages was among those who had witnessed her formidable abilities from a distance.

The Rank Two mage, after a moment of contemplation, said, “The east is still fighting, let’s move there and join the battle.”

The mages were a closely knit group within the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame, and the Rank One mages in the group were accustomed to following the Rank Two mage’s lead during wartime.

They had initially planned to recuperate within the space fortress, and the request had also been approved by the fortress.

Yet, after exchanging looks... none raised any objections to the Rank Two mage’s suggestion.

The group of mages hastily departed from the fortress, their exit causing no disturbance to the vast fortress or the battlefield beyond.

Sein, who was about to return to the space fortress, glanced down at the base below.

He remained outwardly composed as he observed the group of mages departing from the main base, yet internally, he acknowledged the deceptive tranquility of their world.

Memories of Mystralora City resurfaced in his mind.

Despite its flaws, the surface world was still far more civilized and rational compared to the underground world.

Undercurrents lurked beneath the surface, yet the facade maintained was at least pristine.

***

In the dimly lit laboratory...

Sein treated the severe burns on his left arm under the yellow glow of a magic lamp without even wincing.

He had already attended to the fractured ribs in his chest, leaving behind a faint scar barely noticeable.

Given his proficiency in dissecting complex specimens, minor self-surgery was hardly a challenge for him.

The experiment table before Sein was cluttered with colorful bottles and jars, each containing potions of varied functions.

Some were brought over by Sein from the Magus World, while others were purchased at the main base with magicoins.

One benefit of buying these essentials at the main base was that Sein could pay with the magicoins accrued in his crystal ball, without needing to deal with physical currency.

Not only that, the recovery potions and magic materials crucial during wartime were sold at slightly lower prices compared to the Magus World.

This was one of the benefits provided by the divine tower during interplanar wars.

The injuries on Sein’s chest and back were relatively minor. After his own treatment, they were nothing more than superficial wounds.

However, the burns on Sein’s left arm presented a more significant challenge. Not only would they require a longer healing period, but the damage could potentially hinder Sein’s experimental work for some time.

Holding a scalpel or working on certain specimens could prove difficult with his left hand’s compromised stability.

Nevertheless, Sein was adaptable. If his left hand proved unreliable, he could always use his right.

After addressing most of his wounds, Sein consumed a potion to replenish his mental focus. His eyes, alight with a soft glow, fixed on the bound engineer in the corner of the laboratory, whose eyes betrayed a hint of panic.

Initially, the engineer had shown a defiant attitude.

However, the dim and ominous ambiance of Sein’s laboratory soon subdued her.

While Sein was treating his injuries, the engineer from Neisse Civilization had been quietly observing the surroundings.

Sein had only bound her hands and feet but did not blindfold her, thus allowing her eyes to roam the laboratory curiously.

However, the engineer named Yuri, a “Class Lan” engineer who graduated from the Star Ocean Engineering Academy of Neisse Civilization, reflected on her curiosity with regret.

The Neisse Civilization categorized its engineers into several classes, unlike the Magus World’s straightforward classification of living organisms into nine ranks.

The hierarchical structure for engineers in the Neisse Civilization was much more complex, with each major class further divided into numerous subclasses.

Yuri, a 127-year-old engineer, was celebrated as one of the prodigious talents in Star Ocean Engineering Academy.

Her engineering rank, already notable upon graduation, had been elevated multiple times during her military service.

If Yuri’s rank had been any lower, she might not have posed such a significant threat to Sein.

Without the assistance of a dozen giant plant creatures, Sein might not have succeeded in capturing Yuri alive on that kind of battlefield.

This also explained the interest of that Rank Two mage from the Divine Tower of Verdant Flame toward Yuri, recognizing her value as a living engineer.

At that moment, Yuri was filled with fear and apprehension.

Within Sein’s laboratory, she had witnessed numerous bizarre-looking specimens preserved in a peculiar yellowish-green liquid, capturing their final moments in a hauntingly preserved state.

Despite the diversity of languages and customs across the Astral Realm, the language of emotion was universal.

The despair and fear etched on the faces of those specimens in their final moments were feelings that now seemed to resonate with Yuri herself.

Previously, Yuri had believed herself to be as fearless as the senior engineers had inspired her to be before her deployment.

However, the chilling ambiance of the laboratory forced her to concede to her own vulnerability.

Standing before the experiment bench, the mage, who was a head taller than her, quietly mumbled to himself with his head bowed.

Yuri, who was proficient in communication via mental focus, could pretty much understand Sein’s murmurs.

She also knew that the other mages from the Magus World had expressed interest in purchasing her, but the mage before her had declined their offers.

“Would I ruin this precious specimen if I were to dissect her in my current condition?” Sein mumbled to himself as he glanced at his injured left arm that was bandaged with white gauze soaked in special potion.

The term “dissect” was alien to Yuri, but her face paled when she recalled the meticulously preserved biological specimens in the glass jars.