Sovereign of the Ashes

Every creature had the right to pursue freedom and life.

No creature was inherently bound by morality, even if it betrayed its beloved homeplane.

To the north of the main continent in Verdant Leaf World, the landscape contrasted sharply with the dense primeval forests found to the east, south, and west.

This region featured expansive grasslands and shrubs, making it ideally suited for the centaur army to exert its dominance.

Over sixty percent of the centaurs and minotaurlings in the Verdant Leaf World had gathered here, led by several Rank Three centaurs and their demigod-level leader, Maya.

The Verdant Leaf World’s forces in the northern territories had begun showing signs of withdrawal under this formidable leadership.

Throughout the war, the plant and insect creatures in the north had demonstrated remarkable valor.

They were among the first to face the onslaught from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Despite the fall of the entire western battlefield and the severe losses inflicted on the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Army in the east, the northern plants of the Verdant Leaf World had held their ground.

Even though the demigod-level Green Cypress Pine had fallen, and an elite force of a million, led by the demigod-level Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Lantz, had been annihilated, the native plant and insect creatures had not suffered a catastrophic defeat under the command of the demigod-level Blazing Sunflower.

Although their defense lines had been pushed back repeatedly, they managed to persevere.

However, with increasing pressure from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring and escalating attacks, the plant creatures in the north could no longer withstand the onslaught.

At the northernmost edge of Verdant Leaf World’s main continent, where light and temperature reached their peak, the landscape gradually transitioned from grassland to desert.

As a microplane teeming with plants, the existence of this desert in the Verdant Leaf World showcased the diverse laws governing this plane.

Apart from that, another significant factor contributing to this diverse landscape was the presence of the demigod-level plant, the Blazing Sunflower.

This desert came into existence about three thousand years ago. It was during this period that the Sunflower first exhibited signs of exceptional intelligence. Throughout its growth and evolution, it eventually ascended to the status of a demigod.

Among the demigod-level beings in Verdant Leaf World, the Blazing Sunflower was the least favored by the guardian.

The guardian viewed the nature of Blazing Sunflower’s power and its environmental impact as detrimental to their homeplane.

Despite this, Blazing Sunflower was still a member of the Verdant Leaf World, so the guardian could not openly oppress it.

The main development of the Verdant Leaf World had always been in the southeast, largely due to the guardian’s favoritism.

Although the Blazing Sunflower held little sway within Verdant Leaf World, it had already demonstrated its capabilities and resilience in the previous conflict.

As the situation in the Verdant Leaf World deteriorated with little hope for victory, the Blazing Sunflower faced a crucial decision.

Perhaps its relative youth, being only three thousand years old, the Blazing Sunflower was not as deeply attached to its homeplane as the Green Cypress Pine.

It might also be due to past alienation from many native creatures of Verdant Leaf World, particularly those represented by the guardian, that the Blazing Sunflower wisely chose to surrender after realizing the hopelessness of the situation.

While this decision was seen as shameful by many of Verdant Leaf World’s morally upright creatures, the Blazing Sunflower only wanted to continue living, unburdened by heavy emotional baggage.

It surrendered not alone but with nearly all the plant and insect creatures from the northern regions of the main continent.

The relentless battles had devastated the once vibrant northern forces, leaving most either dead or wounded.

If holding on was truly viable, Blazing Sunflower would not have surrendered.

Over eighty percent of the native creatures accepted its decision to surrender, recognizing the toll the interplanar war, which had lasted just over two years, had taken on them.

Plant and insect creatures in Verdant Leaf World are inherently gentle by nature. This, combined with the microplane’s inherent characteristics, made it far easier to conquer than Thunderfall World.

Blazing Sunflower, respecting the wishes of those native creatures who chose to fight to the end, did not pressure them to surrender.

Some of them, especially the insect creatures, fled to the southeastern part of Verdant Leaf World and continued to resist the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Army.

Others positioned themselves for a final, desperate charge against the divine tower army on the northern battlefield.

After the final defense in the north was crushed, the demigod-level Blazing Sunflower surrendered to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Army.

As a gesture of good faith, the Blazing Sunflower dispersed its pollen over a law contract created by Lorianne herself.

The signing of this contract marked the end of Blazing Sunflower’s threat to the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Army and signaled the cessation of hostilities on the northern battlefield.

Lorianne still harbored some affection for this demigod-level plant.

As a Rank Four dendro mage, she had a natural affinity for all types of plant life.

Had the Green Cypress Pine not been so obstinate and harmed her apprentice, she might have transplanted it to her world laboratory.

Although she had lost the Green Cypress Pine, she gained the Blazing Sunflower on her side.

The Blazing Sunflower, however, was puzzled by the law contract that promised it a new “residence”.

Unlike the Green Cypress Pine, its root system was not dense and thick, allowing it to uproot itself briefly and relocate over short distances.

Yet, for more than three thousand years, the Blazing Sunflower had never moved from its original spot—a norm among plant creatures.

The prospect of changing its residence and understanding the world beyond its homeplane was beyond the Blazing Sunflower’s comprehension.

It was Lorianne’s aura, embedded within the law contract, that solidified the Blazing Sunflower’s resolve. It knew that this Rank Four being was not a force it could withstand.

With the Blazing Sunflower’s limited power, it had minimal control over the future and could only adapt to and follow the course set by others.

The submission of the Blazing Sunflower and the native creatures in the north represented significant progress in the Verdant Leaf World War.

The interplanar conflict had lasted just over two and a half years until the Blazing Sunflower’s surrender.