Sovereign of the Ashes

The Radiant Heart beam, with only thirty percent of its destructive potential, was not lethal, but it was still potent enough to significantly injure the target.

Upon advancing to Rank Two, the destructive capabilities of Sein’s magic spells naturally increased due to his enhanced focus and mana levels.

The verdant beam caught Natalya off guard and shot straight through her shoulder.

Her thick armor and tough devil skin failed to block the attack.

The Radiant Heart beam not only pierced Natalya’s shoulder but also continued to streak into the sky beyond without losing momentum, leaving an eye-catching green light trail across the sky above Thunder Marsh camp.

Although the beam’s destructive force was merely thirty percent of its full power, with Sein’s recent ascent to Rank Two, it now equaled or even surpassed the fifty percent destructive power it had before his promotion.

This explained why it could pierce Natalya’s shoulder so effortlessly.

Had Sein aimed for Natalya’s head instead...

Then again, Natalya’s injury was also a result of her overconfidence.

She placed too much trust in her constitution and strength, neglecting to raise sufficient battle qi shields around herself.

No amount of explanation could change the outcome of her fight with Sein.

This confrontation was never intended to be a duel to the death, so once Sein’s spell struck Natalya’s shoulder, the result of the battle was effectively determined.

However, Sein was not prepared to let Natalya go without teaching her a lesson.

Seizing the moment her shoulder was pierced, he swiftly maneuvered behind his stunned opponent.

His raging pyro elemental particles instantly enveloped Natalya.

It was only at this moment that Natalya realized the gravity of her situation, and indignantly demanded, “What are you doing?!”

Ropes of flames, forged from the pyro element energy, quickly bound Natalya’s joints.

Well-versed in the anatomy of countless humanoid creatures, Sein knew precisely how to immobilize his enemy.

Natalya soon found herself completely unable to exert any strength, effectively restrained.

Furthermore, the ropes of verdant flames were not only tough; their venomous, scalding fire overwhelmed even a fire-attribute knight like Natalya, making her discomfort almost unbearable.

Hissssssssss!

Sizzling noises filled the air as the smell of burning flesh rose from Natalya’s devil skin.

Before she could scream or curse...

SLAP!

A loud sound echoed across the Thunder Marsh camp.

“Ooooooh!” A chorus of gasps and shocked exclamations erupted from the knights gathered at the camp.

Some knights gaped, nearly hanging out of the open windows, riveted by the unbelievable scene unfolding in the sky.

Natalya appeared bewildered, having been unexpectedly spanked by Sein on the rear.

Instead of yelling or hurling insults, she stared ahead blankly, her mind seemingly in shutdown.

Sein felt no pity for the tough female knight.

He had wanted to slap the daylights out of her, so now his body was moving on its own.

Just as Sein’s hand was about to strike Natalya’s toned rear again...

A calm, dignified voice intervened.

“Stop!”

This person should have intervened sooner, perhaps when Sein unleashed the Radiant Heart Beam that pierced Natalya’s shoulder.

Yet everything happened so rapidly, and Sein’s subsequent actions had left the intervener momentarily stunned.

This delay had allowed the situation to escalate further than it should have.

Despite the intervention, Sein, fueled by anger, was clearly not ready to relent.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The crisp sounds reverberated through the Thunder Marsh camp.

The knights who witnessed this event would undoubtedly carry vivid memories of today’s dramatic incidents for a long time to come!

***

“You’ve certainly caused a huge scene back there! She’s your fiancee, after all—how could you treat her this way?!”

In the corridor of the fortress command center, Julius, who had returned early from a mission upon receiving urgent news, sternly reprimanded Sein.

This was the first time Julius had ever addressed Sein in such a harsh tone.

Given that Julius was an elder, Sein responded not with words, but with silence.

Meanwhile, inside the room, a mature-looking female knight in green armor was comforting Natalya, who was visibly upset and nursing an injured shoulder.

This knight in green armor was none other than Cleona, Sein’s ”great-grandmother” and the primary architect behind the marriage arrangement.

Sein had met Cleona once before, during a lavish banquet celebrating his father’s promotion to Rank One. She was among the esteemed guests at the event.

Although not officially married into the family, Cleona had already considered herself part of House Grantt.

Her involvement in arranging Sein’s marriage was just one of her many undertakings in the family’s affairs.

At this moment, Cleona was speaking softly to Natalya, clearly trying to mend the rift between the young couple.

Despite the recent conflict, Cleona’s support for the marriage had only grown stronger!

This was partly because Cleona knew her niece well.

“Auntie, why do you keep defending him?! I’m the one who’s hurt and humiliated here!” Natalya grumbled.

In the Magus World, knight houses commonly engaged in political marriages to strengthen their ties.

Although the two female knights did not share the same last name, their families’ complex marital histories linked them closely—close enough for Cleona to arrange a marriage for Natalya.

Cleona, far from being angered by Natalya’s outburst, chuckled softly. “You were the one who provoked Sein first, weren’t you? At least that’s what I heard. Didn’t think about your pride then, did you?”

“It seems I must also teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents. Despite being four hundred years old, you still act so impulsively and recklessly. Making a move within the fortress base? You’ve really grown bold!” Cleona chided, playfully poking Natalya on the head.

From their interactions alone, it was clear that Cleona and Natalya were extremely close.

Instead of an elder scolding a junior, their exchange resembled that of friends bantering.

Natalya responded with a pout and a look of displeasure, occasionally retorting as they bickered.

As the female knights bantered, their conversation gradually turned toward Alphys, the silver-armored knight in front of them.

Alphys was a distinguished Rank Three Sky Knight and the officer in charge of the Thunder Marsh camp.

In fact, he was the one who had intervened in the fight between Sein and Natalya earlier.

“Geez, why didn’t you stop these kids sooner, Sir Alphys? Look at the chaos they’ve caused!” Cleona grumbled at the silver-armored knight.

Alphys scratched his head innocently and chuckled. ”I’ve no place in a fight between these two lovebirds.”

“Besides, I’ve seen worse in the order—disputes that caused even bigger commotions,” he added with a shrug.

“But this isn’t good during a war,” Cleona remarked, clearly dissatisfied.