Sovereign of the Ashes

The Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King hastened to the sacred grounds, bypassing the guards who dared not obstruct its path.

Upon reaching the deepest part of the mountains, it entered a naturally-formed cave dwelling, through which a sweet spring flowed.

It was a lavishly decorated cave palace, nestled deep within the mountain’s heart.

The hall was adorned with endless energy crystals and vibrant, colorful flowers exuding a potent life force in many corners.

Any mage from Magus World would immediately recognize the substantial veins of energy crystals beneath, along with the flourishing diversity of plant life.

This sacred place, revered by the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan, was where the remains of their ancestors were kept and where descendants came to absorb their teachings.

The current Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King had visited this hall when it ascended to the throne.

Within this majestic stone hall lay the remains of approximately ten previous Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Kings.

Among these, two fossilized, metallic-black remains commanded the greatest respect and veneration from the current king.

These remains belonged to demigod-level powerhouses of the clan who had died attempting to ascend to Rank Four, yet they were revered as pioneers of their people.

Their legacy inspired successive generations to strive for higher realms, though the current Rank Three Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King was still far from surpassing them.

Now, faced with an imminent crisis, it sought the power of its forebears.

Upon its arrival, the demigod-level Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly, Lantz, was already waiting.

All creatures of Rank One and above in the Verdant Leaf World had undoubtedly noticed the appearance of the green sun. Lantz, who had become a demigod several hundred years ago, was no exception.

As a demigod who was beginning to grasp the power of the law, Lantz possessed a heightened sense of the impending danger beyond what average creatures could perceive.

Yet, unlike the visibly distressed Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King, Lantz maintained a composed demeanor.

The Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King, feeling overwhelmed and uncertain, could still rely on Lantz for support.

But for Lantz, who was there to turn to?

It was not like it could rely on Emerald, who, despite being older, was nearing the end of its lifespan.

Within the Verdant Leaf World, the dominant Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan boasted only two demigod-level beings.

The harsh reality of their world’s constraints—a maximum lifespan of two thousand years—had claimed the lives of the previous two generations of Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly demigods.

Lorianne’s attack on Verdant Leaf World with the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring was precipitous.

Had she waited a few more decades, she might only need to face one remaining demigod-level Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly. [1]

“Why did the guardian summon you earlier?” Lantz, the calm demigod-level Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly and grandfather to the king, asked.

Given its status, it was fitting to refer to it as the king emeritus.

Mobilizing the world’s power against the looming threat would certainly require its power.

The Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King relayed everything to its grandfather and then produced a piece of green amber from its chest pocket.

Lantz’s black eyes sparkled upon seeing it.

“This is...” it began.

“It’s a drop of the guardian tree’s heart essence. It reminded us to consolidate our strength and be ready to face any crisis,” the king replied softly.

Lantz took the amber but refrained from using it immediately, sensing that the time was not yet right.

It then instructed, “Launch the royal summons immediately and notify all Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly warriors and available forces to convene in the royal city. All warriors of Green Rank or higher are to prepare to join me in battle!”[2]

“Since the guardian has foreseen a crisis, we must thwart the unknown at all costs!” Lantz declared.

The Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King promptly departed to execute its grandfather’s orders. As the reigning monarch of the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan, it was relatively easy to mobilize the clan’s forces along with that of allied races.

After its grandson’s departure, the Lantz began its own preparations.

He glanced toward a corner in the deepest part of the stone hall and, after a moment’s contemplation, decided against disturbing its occupant.

Although the other demigod, Emerald, was still alive, it was nearing the end of its lifespan.

With the nature of the crisis still unknown, Lantz chose not to disturb it prematurely.

Emerald, though not a direct relative, could be its grandmother.

***

Outside the plane, Lorianne’s spell was nearing completion.

The green vortex continued to churn in deeper shade.

However, the focal point was not the vortex itself but an elemental spike protruding from its center.

With a commanding gesture from Lorianne, the spike, now fully formed, hurtled toward the planar barrier of Verdant Leaf World!

BOOM!

An indescribable sound resonated through the minds of every creature.

This thunderous noise not only stunned the legions of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring positioned on the demiplane outside Verdant Leaf World but also jolted the native creatures within.

Numerous weaker beings, unable to withstand the intense soundwave, perished as it swept across the realm.

The elemental spike continued its relentless assault.

After the initial boom, a series of cracking noises echoed, akin to the shattering of glass.

In reality, these were the sounds of Verdant Leaf World’s planar barrier cracking under the strain of Lorianne’s elemental magic.

Thin, distinct lines began to spiderweb across the surface of the once-smooth and sturdy barrier.

The spell Lorianne had spent time building up with incantation was extraordinarily potent.

Its destructive capacity was evident as it began to fracture the otherworldly planar barrier.

As the sky fractured, a shared sense of dread gripped the hearts of all native creatures of Verdant Leaf World who witnessed the cracks forming overhead.

1. Author’s Note: The demigods of the Magus World could live up to ten thousand years, whereas their counterparts in the Verdant Leaf World are limited to only two thousand years. The stark difference in lifespan between the demigods of these two worlds highlights the disparities in their evolutionary backgrounds. Magus World has a refined evolutionary system, while Verdant Leaf World is only beginning to develop. ☜

2. Author/Translator’s note: Green Rank of Verdant Leaf World is similar to magic initiate status in the Magus World. ☜