Sovereign of the Ashes

“Viktor is the best mechanic in the Magus World, and Rogge is the most talented Rank Seven necromancer from my Marmett Union Alliance. With the three of you overseeing the war in the Neisse Star Domain, I have nothing to worry about,” Bev stated.

There was something else left unspoken by Bev. Rogge and Zenasus were two of the peak Rank Seven overmages and overlords in the Magus World that were on the cusp of attaining Rank Eight.

Rogge’s promotion to Rank Seven might have come later than both Bev and Zenasus, but his swift progression after that was undeniable.

In terms of raw power and potential, he even surpassed Zenasus.

With capable men like Zenasus and Rogge, the fate of the Neisse Star Domain was as good as sealed.

Thus, Bev’s presence there became unnecessary. She had more pressing matters demanding her attention elsewhere.

Zenasus had always loyally followed Bev’s directives.

Although the evolving dynamics of surrounding civilizations were worrying, neither Zenasus nor Bev allowed this pressure to show.

The formidable might of the Magus Civilization served as the strongest backing for its countless knights and mages.

Regardless of future challenges, the sheer magnitude of the Magus Civilization meant that any obstacles could eventually be smoothed over.

***

The grander scheme of things in the Magus World and the future development of its civilization were not the immediate concerns for a mere Rank One mage like Sein.

He was but a single drop of water in the vast ocean that was the Magus Civilization, swept along by the currents of time.

Besides, such significant development would take time to occur.

For instance, should hostilities erupt between the Magus Civilization and the Gallant Federation, a preparatory period spanning at least several thousand years would precede any action. This was partly due to both civilizations having distinct battlefronts and priorities.

Moreover, warfare between top-tier civilizations demanded extensive coordination across numerous tiers and the mobilization of vast resources, presenting complexities far exceeding those encountered in the Neisse Star Domain war.

However, there was indeed something that concerned Sein as of late—he had received news that Master Lorianne would be returning to the Magus World soon.

This was the sixth year after the conclusion of the Viridian Venom Flame World war, so she was returning four years later than Sein.

During these four years, Sein had made significant progress in Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique, micro-engraving technique, and pyro elemental magic.

A striking transformation was Sein’s constitution following his body tempering experiments.

By the time Lorianne had returned to the Magus World, his constitution had soared to 93 points!

His immense growth in constitution compared to focus and mana was proof of his body tempering experiment’s effectiveness.

Without the Verdant Flame magic and the living example set by Master Gregory, Sein would have never ventured onto the path of elemental body tempering, regardless of his innate talent.

The growth in his constitution not only bolstered his resilience but also improved his physical ability to harness elemental power.

A Rank Two mage could elementalize their body by converting their flesh and blood into elemental particles.

While Sein had not yet achieved this, the Verdant Flame Body Tempering experiment sparked a new direction in his research—achieving a semi-elemental body.

However, Sein could only begin his research in this area after his constitution surpassed 100 points.

Despite his improvement in constitution, Sein’s combat style and research pursuits remained unchanged.

***

Upon her return to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, Lorianne first met with the three deans.

She had entrusted Dean Archimedes with considerable autonomy in her absence, though this autonomy did not equate to ownership.

Known for his wisdom and scholarly reputation, Dean Archimedes was unlikely to overstep his boundaries.

For instance, he could have taken the initiative in recruiting fresh talent for the divine tower but chose instead to gather information, leaving the final decision to the tower master upon her return.

Dean Archimedes’ principle was clear—without explicit authority from the tower master, he refrained from major decisions.

He was no doubt a reliable Rank Three grand mage, and Lorianne had no qualms recruiting him at a significant expense.

Rumors hinted at Dean Archimedes having a very talented apprentice who was about to establish his own divine tower soon, potentially leading to Archimedes’ resignation from his role at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring in the near future.

This was precisely one of the reasons behind Dean Archimedes’ mindfulness about his reputation. He wanted to leave no room for misunderstandings at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

While going through the backlog of tasks accumulated over the years via her crystal ball on the top floor of the divine tower, Lorianne cast a glance at Archimedes who was standing before her.

“Master Archimedes, you didn’t have to adhere so strictly to the rules. Since I entrusted you with the management of the divine tower before my departure, you certainly have the authority to make some decisions on behalf of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring,” she said.

Appointing Archimedes as dean had proven to be a decision that afforded Lorianne great peace of mind.

For instance, the tasks Lorianne was currently addressing had already been organized and suggested for approval by Archimedes, requiring only her formal endorsement.

Archimedes had also thoroughly reviewed and assessed the applications of the full-fledged mages aspiring to join the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring in recent years, appending his recommendations to each application.

While most were endorsed for admission, a small number with dubious pasts or unclear histories were flagged for rejection, with Archimedes advising Lorianne to consider those applications carefully.

With his assistance, Lorianne could allocate her energy and time more efficiently. The modest sum of magicoins paid to Archimedes was trivial compared to the value he brought.

Dean Archimedes offered only a small smile in response to Lorianne’s remark.

Indeed, the establishment and subsequent growth of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring owed much to Archimedes’ contributions.

His extensive network and esteemed reputation had attracted many exceptional academy mages to the divine tower.

Recognizing Archimedes as an invaluable asset, Lorianne was reluctant to let him resign.

As she continued managing tasks via the crystal ball, Lorianne lightly teased, “Are you eager to leave the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring? I’ve heard rumors that Vlad has been promoted to Rank Four.”