Sovereign of the Ashes

The Everfire Hellscape spell, recast with the “Decomposing Azure Flame” in place of its original pyro element, proved even more effective than Sein had expected.

Vast swathes of the federation fleets and drones dissolved and melted under the overwhelming firepower of his assault.

Though the flame only had a peculiar effect on metallic particles, the Gallant Federation’s biological units were known to have frail constitutions.

Once their sturdy warships and mobile suits were gone, how long could their bodies really last?

With Titanfang leading the charge aggressively and Sein’s Everfire Hellscape burning close behind, the federation’s combat legion found itself facing a crisis.

There was now a glaring breach in the blockade line the Gallant Federation had painstakingly prepared!

Even if Sein’s spell was not a true forbidden spell, its devastating impact on the battlefield was no different from one!

Even the reinforced hull of the frigates and heavy major starships struggled to smother the Azure Flame. What could the federation possibly use to stop it?

Titanfang seized the opening and charged forward again.

In a single decisive strike, it punched through the blockade and became the first robot to break free!

Other high-tier intelligent robots across the battlefield followed, converging quickly toward Titanfang’s position.

Sein, of course, had no intention of falling behind.

The moment the Everfire Hellscape was unleashed, he shifted into his elemental form, transforming into a flaming giant.

This time, it was not the Verdant Flame or Ashen Flame that wreathed his form, but the Azure Flame that was perfect for this battlefield.

The blue giant swept across the battlefield, setting ablaze the federation’s warships and fortresses that had not yet been consumed by the flames.

Upon reaching a burning Federation superdreadnought, Sein cast his gaze left and right.

The Azure Flame is actually not that powerful. The reason it could inflict such devastating damage on the federal fleets is tied to the concerted efforts of Titanfang and the others earlier in the battle.

Many ships had already suffered breaches in their defenses after prolonged combat, and some were running low on energy. If these vessels had maintained sufficient reserves to overload their shields and keep the Azure Flame at bay, the damage would have been far more limited.

Perhaps when this mission is over, I should devote time to researching the Azure Flame once I return to Magus World. I might even be able to improve a few magic spells further. After all, this peculiar flame has proven exceptionally effective against the federation.

Sein reflected as he watched a Federation warship burn slowly before him.

After a brief pause, he pressed forward.

Titanfang’s might and Sein’s Azure Flame spell had carved only a temporary breach in the enemy’s defenses.

This was the federation’s territory, and reinforcements were pouring in by the moment.

No one knew when the next fleet would arrive, or how much more powerful it might be.

Every second spent lingering here only increased their risk.

Worse still, not every Nexon robot would make it through the gap before it closed.

By the time Sein forced his way past the defense line, the once-wide breach was already narrowing.

The federal legion fought with ruthless discipline and ferocity.

Facing Titanfang’s unstoppable charge and Sein’s blazing Azure Flame, they had thrown a mass of fleets and mobile suits straight into the breach.

Both sides clashed fiercely once more, but as time passed, the federation’s steady stream of reinforcements began to turn the battle back in their favor.

Spotting Skyhold leading a contingent of robots through the encirclement, Sein immediately sought out Titanfang and said, “We can’t keep fighting here. We need to reach Alpha-007 immediately. Staying will only make things worse.”

Titanfang was in rough shape. Its chest armor was already cracked, exposing tangled metal wiring within. Its left leg was the most damaged, nearly useless and sparking.

The once-formidable robot looked utterly battered, but Sein was not much better.

Pain pulsed through his entire body, and the overuse of mental focus left his head throbbing.

At this point, everyone was hanging on by a thread.

Titanfang tossed back the Magic Cube to Sein.

By now, the cube had completely lost its energy, looking no different from an ordinary metal block. Its once-brilliant surface had dulled, sparking unease in Sein.

“I have no idea what’s going on with it. It seems I drained too much of its energy. It’s useless to me now, and I can’t reactivate it,” Titanfang explained.

“You are right, we need to leave this place now,” it agreed.

Sein had no time to examine the cube’s condition. He quickly stowed it away, pulled out a potion, and downed it.

On the battlefield, Titanfang’s decision-making far surpassed Skyhold’s.

Less than a third of the intelligent robots had broken through the federation’s encirclement. The rest were still trapped inside.

They would have to be abandoned.

If Skyhold had been the one making the call, it would have hesitated to give such an order. But Titanfang had to think of the survivors.

Even so, many high-tier intelligent robots seemed reluctant to leave when Titanfang issued the command to withdraw.

But once Titanfang turned and led the way out, the others followed.

Skyhold, who arrived later, also heard Titanfang’s order.

It was in much better shape than Titanfang, having avoided the brunt of the federation’s concentrated fire.

It paused for a moment at the order but ultimately voiced no objection.

Notably, Skyhold was the last high-tier robot to withdraw. At the very edge of the encirclement, it stubbornly rescued two lower-tier units.

No one could quite understand why, but that was simply Skyhold’s way of doing things.

As it left the battlefield, Skyhold cast one last, lingering glance toward the rear combat zone.

Battles were still raging in the distance, at the very stretch of space Sein and the others had just fought through.

Once Titanfang, Skyhold, and the other high-level robots left this region, the resistance of those left behind would surely begin to crumble...

Until they were utterly annihilated!