Sovereign of the Ashes

Elemental explosions reverberated throughout the area one after another.

With the combined efforts of Sein, Leena, and Angreas, the weaker prohibition arrays could not detain them for long.

Compared to the robust vermilion wooden door outside the manor, the internal defenses were significantly weaker.

In an azure-colored pool of water, Sein discovered an Ice Soulstone of exceptional purity.

The surrounding trees, flowers, and other plants, once researched and collected, proved to be valuable specimens.

The finds were divided equally among Sein, Leena, and Angreas.

Initially, Angreas had worried that his yield from this secret realm might be meager, but it quickly became apparent that such concerns were unfounded.

Given their formidable strength, it was impossible for them to leave the secret realm empty-handed.

Both Sein and Leena were undoubtedly among the elite of Rank One mages. Although they had chosen a remote area of the subspace manor to explore, this was not an issue due to their undeniable prowess.

While other knights and mages struggled for half a day to overcome certain obstacles, Sein’s group breached them swiftly with overwhelming power.

In the end, it appeared that their harvest in this secluded part of the secret realm would exceed that of the knights and mages along the main path, thanks to their efficiency.

Besides, who could say that the path that Sein and his group chose was wrong?

This secret realm had scarcely been explored before. With little known about it, it was impossible to determine a “correct” direction.

Perhaps exploring along a diagonal route might lead to unexpected discoveries, especially given the numerous branches and paths laid out by the realm’s creator. Surely, there had to be a reason behind their design.

In the end, Sein and Leena divided the plant specimens between themselves, while Angreas got to keep the Ice Soulstone.

Interestingly, none of them specialized in cryo elemental magic, rendering the stone of little practical use.

Sein chipped off small fragments of the Ice Soulstone for use as alchemy ingredients and generously handed the remainder to Angreas.

Though he was unlikely to use it, Angreas might eventually sell the stone on the West Coast for a substantial sum or trade it with his family for other resources after departing the Knight Continent.

This fair distribution reinforced Angreas’ confidence in the alliance he had formed with Sein and Leena.

Driven by curiosity about what other mysteries the secret realm might reveal, the group pressed on toward the western side of the manor.

***

After passing through several forbidden zones and gathering more resources, Sein and his group reached a graveyard exuding a deadly aura.

A thick, grayish-white fog obscured their vision, affecting even Rank One beings like Sein, while also rendering detection via mental focus ineffective within the confines of the graveyard.

“Be careful, there might be something dangerous here,” Sein cautioned Leena as rustling noises were heard within the fog.

The sound resembled that of a multi-legged creature scraping against the ground, sending shivers down their spines despite the absence of any visible threat.

Having ventured deep into the subspace for quite some time, Sein refused to believe that it was devoid of danger.

The ancient powerhouse who created this secret realm likely never intended for their treasures to be easily plundered by future generations.

Suddenly, a loud ripping noise cut through the silence. A white skeleton, clad in tattered clothes starkly different from those typical of the Magus World, emerged from the mist. The fabric seemed to tear further as it moved toward Sein and his group.

Notably, the skeleton bore two small horns on its skull, suggesting it was not native to the Magus World.

The origins of these creatures, who appeared to have sacrificed their lives for the Magus Civilization only for their remains to be exploited in death, remained shrouded in mystery.

The emergence of this skeleton was merely the beginning. Soon, a vast throng of grayish-white figures surged from the mist, carrying a stench of death and decay.

Alongside the undead skeletons, Sein spotted faint traces of specters fading in and out of the air around them.

“It seems like we’ve come to a special place,” Sein remarked.

No sooner had he spoken than several Necrotic Rays shot out from the gray fog, aimed directly at Sein and the others.

Beyond the white undead skeletons and specters, more unknown creatures remained hidden within the depths of the fog.

The Necrotic Rays were not particularly strong, and Sein’s group had already activated their magic shields upon entering the graveyard.

The shields, shimmering in red and green, rippled protectively around them.

In retaliation, Sein unleashed the Verdant Flame Wall spell he had been secretly charging up.

This spell, both offensive and defensive, was a modification of the Fire Wall spell, enhanced with the potent properties of the verdant flame magic.

When Sein was merely a magic initiate, the fiery wall reached only a few meters in height. Now, as a Rank One mage, he could conjure not just one, but three verdant flame walls, each soaring to twenty meters!

Thanks to his formidable focus and mana levels as a full-fledged mage, Sein could afford this extravagant expenditure of mana.

Pyro elemental spells were inherently effective against the undead, and the addition of the verdant flame element particles greatly amplified its destructive power.

A huge wave of undead creatures fell to Sein’s verdant flame walls, particularly the white undead skeletons, whose bones ignited with a ghastly green flame that only intensified the eerie ambiance of the surroundings.

At the same time, Leena and Angreas deployed their own spells.

Leena unleashed pyro elemental spells similar to Sein’s, while Angreas unleashed his rare sonido spells, which generated not a piercing noise but a subtle infrasound that eluded most ordinary beings of the Magus World.

Visible ripples manifested through the dense gray fog, indicating the reach of the infrasonic waves.

Although Sein was not the target, the sonido spell still induced a faint headache and irritation in him.

While less visually striking than Sein’s Verdant Flame Wall spell, Angreas’ sonic attack was equally effective against the undead.

Under the dual assault of verdant flame magic and infrasonic waves, the oppressive gray fog began to disperse.

As the fog thinned, a chilling sight unfolded before them—the graveyard was swarming with undead, packed so densely they seemed like a boundless ocean.

Previously, Sein and the others could maintain their composure because the fog had obscured their view.

Now, confronted with thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of undead, even Sein, seasoned by his experiences in interplanar war, felt a chill at the sheer scale of their adversaries.