Sovereign of the Ashes

“Two hundred years ago, I deployed my templars to hunt you down. The God of Radiance also once mentioned you, so I’ve known about you for quite some time,” the God of First Light said plainly, his voice carrying neither hostility nor warmth.

However, Sein had not come here for conversation and the God of First Light could sense his malicious intent.

Maintaining his composure, the god reached for his divine artifact as he continued speaking confidently.

It was a golden clarinet, a weapon befitting a deity of handsome features and refined elegance—far removed from the crude, brutish axe wielded by the God of Brute Force.

Under the glow of his radiant aura, the clarinet’s pale gold frame shimmered, exuding an air of spectacular opulence and sophistication.

Since this god had once hunted him down, Sein saw no reason to be courteous.

The mention of the God of Radiance piqued his interest. That greater deity was one of the top figures in the Justice League, serving as the right hand of the God of Justice.

As a Rank Six being, the God of Radiance was undeniably powerful.

It was obvious that the God of First Light was subtly invoking his backing, making it clear that he was no minor figure within the Justice League.

If Sein had been a native Faelorian deity, such a warning might have deterred him.

Unfortunately, that was not the case.

With a sharp snap of his clawed fingers, Yuri burst forth from the void.

She was not alone. Piloting the Burning Flame Unit, she was flanked by nearly a dozen mechas, their massive forms hovering ominously around her.

The sight of these metallic constructs was utterly alien to Faeloria.

Unlike living creatures, mechas possessed neither vitality nor presence, making it impossible for opponents to immediately gauge their true strength.

Spatial storage devices existed in Faeloria, but they were rare.

Yet, one capable of deploying an entire force was something that Faeloria had never even conceived.

Was this a miniature version of a divine nation?

Yuri’s sudden appearance made the previously calm God of First Light’s eyelids twitch in surprise.

Sein had no intention of wasting time with idle chatter. The longer this dragged on, the more unfavorable it would become for him.

Who knew when the other gods of the Justice League might arrive to reinforce him?

As Sein’s fighter, experimental assistant, and longtime companion, Yuri’s strength had grown rapidly over the years.

The upgrades in Sky City had already enhanced her mecha’s capabilities, but after coming to Faeloria, her power had only continued to evolve.

Years of training alongside Sein, exposure to his meditative insights, and a steady supply of rare potions had pushed Yuri’s focus level to new heights.

In fact, she was on the verge of breaking into Rank Three.

At that moment, more than a dozen mechas activated simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of firepower that blanketed the entire temple.

As Yuri launched her onslaught, Sein moved in tandem, unleashing devastating spells.

Years spent in Purgatory had somehow infused his pyro elemental magic with the volatile energy of that realm.

Perhaps, in some ways, Faeloria’s unique environment had subtly affected him.

Above Sein’s demonic claw, a roaring sphere of molten lava began to coalesce.

Fueled by his immense mana and unwavering focus, the blazing sphere swelled to a massive twenty meters in diameter.

Without hesitation, Sein hurled the scorching orb straight toward the God of First Light.

Sein was no ordinary mage. Rather than casting spells from a safe distance like a typical spellcaster, he rushed headlong into battle, magic rod in hand.

Close-quarters combat had always been Sein’s signature style as a mage.

The explosive force and unpredictability of his pyro magic made him a formidable challenge for opponents of the same rank to counter.

Although the God of First Light was a Rank Four deity, his strength had diminished to demigod level after falling from his altar.

Yet, the combined power of Sein and Yuri, unleashed in one explosive moment, far exceeded his expectations!

In this battle, the God of First Light could no longer afford to divide his attention to look after his followers.

The threat before him was real.

Above the manor, a torrent of fiery rain descended from the sky.

As Sein progressed further into Rank Three, even he had not fully realized how much he had evolved—from an ordinary mage to a battlefield-altering force.

In the Magus World, Rank Three Grand Mages were typically regarded as masters of large-scale devastation, wielding area-of-effect spells that made them invaluable in lower-tier combat legions.

Yet, the sheer power Sein had displayed in this battle surpassed some of Faeloria’s lesser gods. Even their divine attacks could not necessarily match his range or intensity.

This was purely a result of two vastly different evolutionary paths.

Just as the lesser beings of technological civilizations could command powerful warships and execute ultra-long-range cluster strikes, the Magus World mages like Sein had an entirely different approach to large-scale warfare—one that defied comprehension to powerful creatures of other worlds.

If Sein could advance one step further and master forbidden spells—a domain exclusive to demigod-level mages—then in a battle involving tens of thousands or even millions, all he would need was one opportunity to shine on the battlefield!

The forbidden spells wielded by demigod-level mages were beyond anything creatures of the same rank could imagine.

Some demigods might excel in solo combat, but when it came to wide-scale annihilation, nothing could rival the sheer devastation of a forbidden spell.

The tactical onslaught of the Magus Civilization was a shock to pure Faelorian beings like the God of First Light.

After Sein activated his Flame Demon transformation, his enhanced constitution and strength made him seem less like a mage and more like a true demon lord.

Whether it was his vast arsenal of offensive spells or his elemental shields, Sein’s dominance in this battle outshone even the God of First Light—a deity.

Of course, the God of First Light was far from defenseless.

His golden clarinet, imbued with immense light energy, amplified his divine strikes.

Each time he unleashed a golden beam, it pierced through Sein’s demon body, leaving behind gaping, bloody wounds.

Even with multiple defensive shields, and even when he activated his elemental body to absorb as much damage as possible, law-inflicted wounds were not so easily neutralized.

Even after falling from their divine altar, a Rank Four deity was no mere beast for lower-ranking creatures to toy with.

Taking the God of First Light down through conventional means alone was impossible.

Fortunately, Sein had not spent the last two centuries in Purgatory in vain.

Amidst the battlefield chaos, the moment Sein pulled out his Demon Mask, the stalemate shattered—and the balance of power began to tilt in his favor.