Sovereign of the Ashes

In the tower master’s office atop the divine tower...

“You really won’t reconsider? I’ll even double your salary,” Dark Flame offered, his tone both persuasive and insistent.

This Rank Five powerhouse was pretty generous with Sein.

The salary he offered Sein as dean was already the highest among academy deans in the Magus World—so high, in fact, that even many demigod-level mages could not hope to match it.

Now, Dark Flame was willing to double that offer!

A staunch believer in rewarding results, Dark Flame had no qualms about spending lavishly if it meant securing worthwhile returns.

Sein’s accomplishments over the past two centuries certainly justified such an offer. Under his leadership, the academy had achieved first place in the most recent regional academy war.

With such an exemplary track record, he would surely be warmly welcomed at any divine tower he chose to join in the future.

Dark Flame rarely involved himself in the tower’s daily operations. He cared little about the money spent; what mattered to him was whether the investment yielded results.

If Sein were willing to stay, offering such an exorbitant salary would be a reasonable price for Dark Flame.

For most Rank Three mages or even demigod-level mages, this was definitely an eye-watering sum, but for a Rank Five mage like Dark Flame, it was barely a drop in the ocean.

After all, Dark Flame had vast resources at his disposal, including several enslaved realms under his control.

The profits from the conquest of Gumo Plane over the past two centuries had only further boosted his wealth.

Despite being deeply moved by Dark Flame’s generosity, Sein sighed softly before declining the offer.

“I left the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring with the intention of exploring the Magus World and its allied planes. Serving as dean of the Divine Tower of Dark Flame for the past two centuries has shaped me in many ways. It’s a chapter of my life I’ll always cherish, one that I’ll look back on fondly in the years to come. I truly thank you, Tower Master, for your recognition,” Sein said earnestly.

Unlike most divine tower mages, who often struggled to comprehend Dark Flame’s aloof and unruly nature, Sein found himself resonating with the tower master’s shrewd and pragmatic ways.

It was no exaggeration to say that even with Sein’s insights and approach—far surpassing those of most divine tower mages—the Divine Tower of Dark Flame Academy would not have undergone such significant transformation over the past two centuries without Dark Flame’s trust and decentralized leadership.

By this point, Sein felt the academy had reached a level of stability and success where his presence was no longer essential.

He had already contributed all he could, and as a Rank Three mage, he recognized the importance of continued learning and growth.

Settling down was simply not in his nature. He needed to travel, explore, and uncover new truths to enrich his knowledge and improve himself.

In truth, had it not been for the Spider Queen overstepping her bounds and altering many of the divine tower academy’s rules over the past few decades, Sein might have followed in Dark Flame’s footsteps and adopted a hands-off leadership style much earlier.

Even after Sein’s departure, he believed the Divine Tower of Dark Flame Academy would continue to produce high-quality initiates as long as it adhered to the systems and guidelines he had established.

Moreover, Keith, Bob, and the others had also grown immensely over the years, making them more than capable of assuming the role of dean.

In fact, after fulfilling his contract and bidding farewell to Dark Flame, Sein personally recommended Bob, a Rank Three grand mage, to succeed him as dean.

Without a second thought, Dark Flame nodded and accepted Sein’s recommendation.

The truth was, Dark Flame’s approach to selecting talent was extremely straightforward.

Even without Sein’s recommendation, Bob’s loyalty—choosing to stay with the Divine Tower during its most challenging times—would have made him an obvious candidate. Dark Flame would have promoted him regardless.

Despite his ruthless pragmatism—capable of coldly ordering space fortresses to fire upon allied mage legions in times of war—the aloof tower master held loyalty and trust in high regard in his everyday dealings.

Perhaps it was a double standard, but Dark Flame seemed to live by the principle: “Better to let the world down than to be betrayed by it.”

Without a doubt, he was a ruthless character.

Sein and Dark Flame were both men of decisiveness.

Once Sein firmly reiterated his intention to leave, Dark Flame ceased his attempts to persuade him to stay.

However, on the eve of Sein’s departure, as he was about to step out of the tower master’s office, Dark Flame suddenly called out to him.

“Why do I feel like there’s been a slight change in you?” he asked curiously.

Sein paused for a moment before replying smoothly, “Change? What change could there possibly be?”

As a Rank Five mage, Dark Flame’s keen perception and extraordinary observational skills far surpassed those of a Rank Two or Rank Three mage.

He studied Sein closely for a few moments before remarking, “I think I sense a trace of divine power in you.”

Divine power was an energy unique to Rank Four and higher beings who had embraced a faith-based system.

Having dissected several Rank Four foreign gods in the past, Dark Flame was able to detect even faint traces of this power.

Sein had taken careful precautions before this meeting by removing the silver spider ring from his finger.

This was actually the first time in nearly a century that the Spider Queen had voluntarily detached herself from him.

Even she seemed wary of Dark Flame’s ability to detect her divine power.

Yet, despite the ring’s removal, Dark Flame still detected a faint remnant of divine power clinging to Sein.

It was no surprise. After all, the Spider Queen had shamelessly stayed with Sein for an entire century. Her aura was bound to linger.

Before Sein could come up with an excuse, Dark Flame seemed to have drawn his own conclusion.

“I suppose it’s another gift from that mentor of yours. I hear you’re in possession of a broken divine relic? Relics of Rank Four or above beings are imbued with divine power. At your current stage, you’re not equipped to handle such things. You should at least wait until you reach the peak of Rank Three.”

Dark Flame’s tone carried a hint of admonishment as he continued, “That mentor of yours... they seem inexperienced in guiding others. Letting you come into contact with advanced power too early could do you more harm than good.”

Pausing for a moment, his voice turned more serious. “Focus on mastering the truths you’re meant to understand at the Rank Three stage first before concerning yourself with such advanced matters.”

If Sein had not earned Dark Flame’s respect through his two centuries of dedicated service as dean, the Tower Master likely would not have taken the time to offer such advice.

Dark Flame’s admonishment, in this case, could even be considered a gesture of goodwill.

Hearing the Tower Master’s words, Sein’s thoughts briefly drifted to his first mentor, Morsidor.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded solemnly and replied, “I understand.”