Sovereign of the Ashes

Although Marie had gotten rid of her status as a black magic initiate from Mystralora City by studying in the Divine Tower of Dawn, she had been secretly gathering clues about the black mages.

Marie had no intention of re-affiliating herself with the black mages—she was far too wise for that.

Her unique experience had heightened her awareness of the black mages’s activities and the dark underbelly of the Magus World.

Despite never leaving the Divine Tower of Dawn in the past decades, Marie’s extensive network and connections had kept her well-informed about the southern coast’s secrets.

Although Master Medich might also possess such knowledge, he could not proactively share information with Sein due to Sein’s unique situation.

Likewise, Sein found it imprudent to probe too deeply.

Fortunately, Marie stumbled upon information that was potentially useful to Sein.

Marie had come across some intriguing information suggesting the possible presence of black mages in Monique Black Market, located southeast of Storm City.

The area was renowned as one of the most perilous for magic initiates.

Only those confident in their abilities dared to venture there.

Storm City boasts a thriving commercial scene. Beyond the array of uniquely designed ocean liners anchored around the island, the skies were bustling with all sorts of airships and air cabs.

Sein also observed numerous massive sea creatures measuring over a hundred meters in length around the islands.

They appeared to be enslaved beasts under the control of the aquatic races in the region.

Unlike knights and mages who could rely on the wonders of alchemy, the aquatic races led more primitive lifestyles and dressed in attires that left little to the imagination.

Among the creatures Sein spotted was one that resembled the “Naga” described in a book he had read before.

The six-armed female naga wielded a trident in one hand, her serpent tail swaying gracefully in the water. Despite her chest being bare and the seaweed-like adornments around her waist providing minimal coverage, her important areas were covered by green scales.

Being far out in the ocean, Storm City seemed to embrace a more liberal atmosphere compared to the southern coast.

The six-armed Naga, possessing at least the life level of Rank one, confidently responded to Sein’s glance by sticking out her chest and giving him a provocative look.

Sein, however, had no interest in an aquatic being in that sort of way.

He immediately turned around and headed toward a small island situated on the northwest edge of Storm City instead.

Marie had informed Sein that initiates from the Divine Tower of Dawn managed to reach Monique Black Market secretly through the ships docked at this small island.

While Sein could theoretically fly directly southeast to investigate, the vastness of the Magus World’s ocean made such an endeavor unwise for a mere Rank One mage.

With islands as numerous as the stars in the sky, pinpointing the exact location of Monique Black Market was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

Moreover, the Boundless South Sea was far from a safe haven for exploration.

The ocean to the south of Storm City was riddled with marine hazards and unique threats, making it an unpredictable and perilous expanse.

While vast and seemingly magnificent, numerous natural disasters existed in the Magus World.

Storm City’s name originated from the presence of four immense oceanic storm eyes nearby, along with countless smaller hurricanes.

The infamous storm season, stretching from April to July, posed significant navigational challenges.

Only aquatic races and large merchant vessels, well-versed in storm patterns, dared to traverse these waters during this period.

Even a Rank One mage like Sein would find it difficult to contend with such formidable natural forces.

For commoners or magic initiates, even the coastal areas were daunting to them, let alone the ocean.

On the small island known as Fershia Island, Sein discovered a wooden ship no longer than two hundred meters in length.

Weathered by seawater to a dark brown hue, some parts of the ship showed signs of rot, and even its black sails were tattered.

Yet, this was no ordinary vessel but one powered by alchemy.

While most would turn away at its sight, that was not the case for Sein.

His wealth of experience and intuition, honed in the Mystralora City of Gloomhaven, drew him toward this particular vessel.

Prior to Sein’s arrival, the ship appeared to be somewhat deserted.

Only a handful of passengers were aboard, yet each was secluded in their own cabins, leaving the deck empty save for a tough-looking sailor.

Dressed in white with a straw hat obscuring his face, he rested in a rocking chair. However, the arrival of Sein halted his motion.

Although Sein could not detect the aura of the man before him, his experiences in interplanar war told him that this individual’s strength was on par with his own.

The sailor, dressed in white, was likely a Rank One knight of considerable strength who possessed a sophisticated technique for concealing his presence.

Unlike Sein’s Aura Restraint spell which masked the aura of his magic power, the sailor’s technique seemed to involve a sophisticated blend of controlled breathing, heartbeat regulation, and muscle manipulation.

It was challenging to determine whose technique was superior, yet it was clear that the sailor’s skill allowed him to evade detection by common aquatic races.

Nevertheless, the sailor’s exceptional skill in concealing his aura was what caught Sein’s attention.

Despite the sailor’s outwardly passive demeanor, Sein sensed an intensity that belied his calm exterior.

Sein speculated that this man had probably taken many lives with his own hands.

The sailor lifted his arm that was thicker than the thigh of an average person and removed the straw hat from his fierce-looking face.

He threw a glance in Sein’s direction and then asked, “What do you want?”

Sein was dressed in a pitch-black magic robe. The robe that Morsidor used to wear fitted him perfectly now.

Although Sein had long shed his past as a black magic initiate upon joining the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, the chilling aura he exuded while cloaked in the long black robe made him a convincing black mage!

His inherently reserved nature only amplified the effect, causing the knight to shiver involuntarily before him.

The knight’s hands might have been stained with the blood of many, yet his notoriety paled in comparison to that of the black mages.

In fact, his past ventures into the Blackhaven of the Western Archipelago in his younger days had instilled a lasting fear within him.

It was also there he learned that the feared black mages of that region favored such distinctive attire!