Sovereign of the Ashes

Van Basten, the Rank Two black mage, proved to be a formidable opponent.

This was a fact Sein had come to realize back on the alchemy ship.

Hoot, hoot!

Amidst the turmoil, a mournful cry pierced the air. Sev plummeted from the sky, leaving behind a shower of blood and a scattering of brownish-gray feathers.

Close combat always carried inherent risks.

Despite its impressive constitution as a magic beast, Sev suffered the loss of one of its wings in the fierce confrontation.

Meanwhile, Yuri was still fighting on the frontline in her Burning Flame Unit.

Sein rejoiced in his decision to invest heavily in Yuri.

With Sein’s unwavering financial support, the Burning Flame Unit underwent extensive restoration efforts. While it had not yet returned to its peak state, the mecha had regained approximately eighty percent of its former strength.

Its sturdy metal shell and ample energy reserves enabled the towering steel construct, standing at more than ten meters tall, to endure the relentless onslaught of the Rank Two black mage’s assaults.

Through the soul bond they shared, Sein sensed Yuri’s determination despite the tremendous pressure and the looming threat of death she faced.

Within the brief span of the battle, she had already endured at least three soul shocks—soul magic that was particularly effective against otherworldly beings like her, even under the protection of her mecha.

At this moment, Yuri was merely hanging on, facing the black mage’s near-hysterical counterattacks. The situation was precarious, and it was uncertain how much longer she could withstand the onslaught.

Compared to Yuri and Sev, it was the dozen plant creatures that bore the brunt of the black mage’s retaliation, all the while steadily closing in to ensnare their target.

This black mage proved to be Sein’s toughest adversary yet.[1]

In mere moments, three Rank One plant creatures were ruthlessly shredded by the mage within the verdant cage.

One of the Rank Two plant creatures positioned closest to the mage had half of its body oozing thick green sap after enduring a close-range magical blast.

Despite the sustained damage, the sacrifice was deemed worthwhile as it contributed to the gradual and complete suppression of the black mage within the cage formed by the entwining green vines!

As the last opening was completely sealed by the vines, Sein finally felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

The prolonged high tension had taken its toll, causing Sein’s legs to buckle slightly as soon as he relaxed.

Despite his robust constitution, he appeared pale and visibly exhausted.

The Verdant Flame Eye spell he had continuously unleashed upon the Rank Two black mage from the onset of the battle until now far exceeded his usual capacity. This was made possible by the surge in mental focus and mana provided by his Verdant Flame Heart Rod.

While the temporary doubling of his mental focus and mana enabled him to withstand and eventually escape the black mage’s relentless assault and seek refuge on this island, it exacted a heavy toll on his body and mind.

Fortunately, Sein possessed a formidable constitution. Otherwise, unleashing his desperate trump card, which gave him a surge of power several times beyond his body’s natural limits, would have resulted in more than mere physical strain.

RUMBLE!

Violent collisions and elemental explosions persisted inside the verdant cage.

As the vines constricted ever tighter, sealing off any escape for air, the commotion within was muffled and isolated.

As the cage fully closed, Yuri and Sev made a timely retreat.

Sev suffered a torn wing with visible corrosive damage that would take a long time to heal.

While Yuri’s Burning Flame Unit looked largely intact, it was actually in a dire state.

Elemental power had mercilessly crushed and deformed its exposed cannon barrels,

while its body was covered in dents and scratches.

The mecha, already battered from the Viridian Venom Flame World war, now resembled a heap of scrap metal following its encounter with the Rank Two black mage.

Inside the cockpit, Yuri’s condition was even worse. Sein’s attempts to reach her through their soul bond were met with only faint responses.

Resisting soul magic proved to be a formidable challenge.

Although the “Mirage’s Almanac of Souls” offered several relatively simple methods to rejuvenate the soul, Sein lacked the energy and time to attend to Yuri at present.

Of the three Rank One being present, Sein was in the best condition.

Clutching the Verdant Flame Heart Rod, which continuously supplied him with mana, Sein intently monitored the ongoing turmoil within the vine cage.

Ever since the Rank Two black mage was ensnared, huge commotions had erupted within the cage.

Sein was unsure of the plant creatures’ conditions within the cage, but the violent elemental turbulence showed no signs of abating. Instead, the cage itself continued to undergo localized deformations.

Holding the packet of Viridescent Seeds given to him by his mentor, Lorianne, Sein contemplated activating a few more plant creatures to bolster his efforts against the black mage.

However, before he could act on this thought, a violent earthquake erupted, sending shockwaves through the surrounding seas and the island they were on.

Torrential rains and hurricane winds assaulted them from all directions, amplifying the seismic and elemental chaos.

The vine cage, already straining under the assault, burst open!

“Oh no!” Sein cried out in dismay, regretting not activating more plant creatures.

However, given the intense tremors and shockwaves, it seemed unlikely that even activating double the number of Viridescent Seeds would have withstood such formidable forces.

This was the raw power of the land and sea of the Magus world, far beyond the control of humans!

Upon the destruction of the cage, the eerie laughter of the Rank Two black mage filled the air, chillingly triumphant.

Although he had been forced to activate his elemental body, which was now less than half intact, his successful escape from the trap rendered Sein’s chances of restraining him again slim to none!

“You’re finished, little one! In the last thousand years, you are the third being to push me this far. I’m going to extract your soul and burn it in Cold Spirit Flame for two hundred years until it dissolves into nothing! Your screams will be the most wonderful melody in my lab...”

Sein could feel the malice and resentment emanating from the black mage, even from a distance.

Before he could activate more Viridescent Seeds, an enormous head, resembling a serpent’s, burst out from the sea amidst the dark, stormy rain.

A long, black shadow plunged into the sea again, indicating this enigmatic “giant serpent” would likely pose a formidable challenge.

Shortly after that, the ground shook once more. Sein stumbled and fell, and even the dense elemental cloud formed by the black mage in mid-air was forcibly lowered by more than ten meters.

Was the ground rising?

No, to be precise, it was the kilometer-wide island that was rising!

There was no serpent in the ocean!

As Sein’s perspective broadened, he used his mental focus to delve deeper beneath the sea’s surface.

His initial shock turned to awe.

What he had mistaken for the head of a colossal sea serpent was, in fact, the head of a tortoise with an immense body size!

The kilometer-wide “island” upon which Sein stood was nothing more than the tortoise’s colossal shell!

It turned out that the group of Rank One and Rank Two creatures had been fighting on the shell of a terrifying marine giant all this while!

Sein surmised that the violent tremor and tsunamis ravaging the area were direct consequences of his battle with the Rank Two black mage, an encounter that had stirred the slumbering giant tortoise from the ocean’s depths!

But what was the origin of this colossal tortoise?

The exposed portion of the tortoise shell alone boasted a diameter of one thousand meters. Given the ample soil and vegetation covering it, the tortoise had likely slumbered for a long time.

The Fire-Breathing Dragon King in Lorianne’s laboratory was only a few hundred meters tall at its peak condition.

On the other hand, this colossal tortoise surpassed a thousand meters in size, likely posing a greater threat than the dragon king!

As the creature’s head rose above the sea’s surface, Sein could sense its anger—a natural response to being abruptly awakened from its slumber.

However, as the giant tortoise fixed its gaze on Sein for a prolonged moment, the intensity of its anger appeared to diminish significantly. It was as if the creature had recognized something within Sein, prompting a shift in its disposition.

The tortoise then shifted its attention to the airborne figure of the arrogant Rank Two black mage.

Despite his usual air of superiority, Van Basten now trembled uncontrollably in his elemental form. His elemental body was greatly compressed and solidified, revealing glimpses of his original appearance.

With an indignant snort, the colossal tortoise expelled a burst of white vapor. A dark shadow then descended from the sky, engulfing Van Basten in darkness!

1. Author’s Note: Not counting the Sandworm King, who had no intention of killing him. ☜