Sovereign of the Ashes

The blue-skinned, humanoid creatures Sein encountered were most likely members of the aquatic race in the Magus World.

He noticed a fin-like structure at their lower jaw.

However, the appearance of the aquatic races varied significantly, showcasing a richness in racial diversity that surpassed the humans in the Magus World.

Unlike land magic beasts or demihumans, the aquatic races represented the biggest genetic repository, with many species dating back to Primordial and even Immemorial Eras dwelling in the depths of the sea.

In comparison, due to the overexploitation of knights and mages in the Magus Continent, the oldest species here could only be traced back to the Primordial Era, with many being hybrids.

The aquatic beings in front of Sein, resembling humans of the Magus World in appearance, were technically considered “hybrids” as they possessed human genes in their bodies to some extent.

According to historical records, Mermaids, bearing the closest resemblance to humans, were often cited as the epitome of aquatic beauty within the Magus World.

However, Sein could hardly describe the group of creatures in front of him as beautiful. Instead of the Mermaid’s iconic fishtail, they had webbed feet.

As Sein scrutinized the group of blue-skinned aquatic beings before him, a female member of the group noticed his gaze.

She offered him a courteous smile and a respectful bow, which seemed to be a unique form of greeting among her kind.

Approaching the stall, Sein discovered they were selling azure-blue pearls. However, the pearls in the bamboo basket seemed to lack elemental energies.

Each of them was perfectly round and clear, featuring a small hole in its center.

Observers would notice not only their own reflection on the pearl’s glossy surface but also a small silhouette visible within the central hole.

Sein knew that these pearls were far from mere trinkets, as the people gathered around the stall were either magic initiates or squires.

The aquatic beings at the stall seemed to be doing great, as they had already closed yet another transaction while Sein was watching them.

Sein noticed that they accepted magicoins and energy crystals for their wares. The pearls were also priced affordably at one magicoin for a hundred or a single low-grade energy crystal for a piece.

The friendly female aquatic who had smiled at Sein earlier welcomed him as he approached the stall.

These aquatic beings, all with life levels below Rank One, were notably frail. However, they seemed to be able to discern Sein despite his use of the Aura Restraint spell to mask his presence.

Aura Restraint was a spell discovered by Sein in his mentor’s private library collection after advancing to Rank One.

Typically, not even a fellow Rank One mage could easily see through its concealment effect, as it was not a low-ranked spell.

The aquatic race’s keen senses definitely piqued Sein’s curiosity.

“What are the functions of these pearls?” Sein asked, gesturing toward the azure pearls displayed on the stall.

“These are Oxygen Pearls, cultivated by us, the Blue Sharkfolk, Esteemed Master. They enable land dwellers to breathe underwater for up to two hours,” the female aquatic being replied.

“Oh?” Sein looked at the pearls with great interest.

He had encountered various underwater breathing aids at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring since it was located near the Jewel Sea, which was home to myriad aquatic races.

However, those were magic items, like Water Barriers or the Oxygen Enrichment Gems, whereas these azure pearls seemed to be cultivated from shells.

Their lack of elemental energies suggested they might originate from ordinary shells.

The boundless oceans of the Magus World harbored countless treasures unknown to land-dwellers, potentially rivaling the riches of several large worlds.

Driven by curiosity and the desire to research them, Sein purchased a hundred pearls.

This was an unusually large quantity compared to the typical purchases of one or two pearls by other magic initiates at the stall.

Instead of verifying the number of pearls he received after handing over a magicoin. Sein asked curiously, “You mentioned that all of you are Blue Sharkfolk?”

With a hint of skepticism, Sein’s question carried a doubtful tone.

The female aquatic being knew it was pointless to deceive a Rank One mage like Sein. She bit her lip, then bowed to him and answered, “Well, to be honest... Although we hail from the Blue Sharkfolk tribe, we’re actually Half-Sharkfolk.”

Although Blue Sharkfolk and Half-Sharkfolk share similar names, they represent two distinct groups.

The former referred to pure marine creatures of the aquatic race, while the latter were hybrids of Blue Sharkfolk and humans—a type of “demihumans”.

These demihumans often struggled to find their place in the Magus World.

Hybrids like the “Half-Sharkfolk” were products of the darker aspects of the Magus World rather than natural occurrences, despite its reputation as a powerful civilization.

Like the black mages, Half-Sharkfolk was another representative from the dark underbelly of the Magus World.

On the southern coast of the Magus World, the poaching of aquatic races was a recurring issue.

Many knights and mages, driven by curiosity, profit, or research interests, often targeted these beings.

Sein could not deny the fact that he was also tempted to dissect these aquatic races to understand them more as soon as he laid eyes on them.

However, what he felt was pure curiosity devoid of any malicious intent.

Knights of the Magus World lacked the inquisitive spirit found among mages.

This fundamental difference underpinned why some knights exploited the aquatic races—not for exploration or discovery, but to satiate personal whims.

The ranked knights of the Magus World, known for their robust physiques, often seemed to exhibit heightened sexual desires.

Their prolonged lifespans might also play a role in fueling their quest for fresh experiences after they grew weary of conventional partners.

Their pursuits were not limited to exotic humanoid creatures from other worlds; even the aquatic races of the Magus World were not spared from their attention.

Ideally, interactions between species would be based on mutual affection, but the reality is starkly different. The birth of demihuman was frequently marked by exploitation and sorrow.

Compared to the knights and mages who established the formidable Magus Civilization, the aquatic races, who were dependent on the sea and guided by a more passive form of evolution, remained distinctly vulnerable.