Sovereign of the Ashes

Sein’s visit to aid the intelligent robots also served to strengthen his ties with them.

In the Clash of Civilizations’ next phase, the Verdant Flame Faction’s strength alone would not be enough. Sein knew he needed to build forces of his own.

Before taking his leave from Skyhold and the others, he mentioned that he had captured a group of federal scientists skilled in robotics on Planet Nocchi.

If Skyhold and the others had use for them, he could send those scientists over.

Although the intelligent robots had gained wisdom, advanced concepts such as innovation and creation were still beyond their reach. They were better in “replication”.

Most of the intelligent robots bore no ill will toward the federal scientists.

Their resentment came only from the fact that they themselves had once been enslaved, forced to obey without question.

Aetherend and the others welcomed Sein’s offer without hesitation.

With federal scientists joining them, they might even be able to develop entirely new robot models.

Mentioning those scientists naturally reminded Sein of another Magus Alliance faction closely tied to him—the Huusians.

He planned to visit them during this trip as well.

Though far weaker than Aetherend and the other intelligent robots, the Huusians were still bound to Sein in ways that could not be severed.

While Sein spoke with Skyhold and Aetherend, the Rank Four robot named Thunderflame kept glancing curiously at the Burning Flame Unit trailing behind him.

The awakened Burning Flame Unit shared many traits with the intelligent robots and could be considered as one of them.

The difference was that Burning Flame Unit had a pilot inside—an engineer named Yuri.

Together, pilot and mecha could unleash combat power that surpassed most Rank Four robots.

Even Rank Six leaders like Skyhold and Aetherend found their eyes drifting toward the Burning Flame Unit as they spoke with Sein.

It resembled their kind, and yet something about it was unmistakably different.

Mecha manufacturing and the Gallant Federation’s robotics were fundamentally different, further complicated by the addition of Magus World’s alchemy.

Just as the glowing eyes of the two robot leaders fixed on the Burning Flame Unit behind him, Sein smiled, ready to introduce his prized asset.

However, urgent transmission bearing news of the alliance interrupted their conversation.

The Magus Civilization’s frontline legions had officially launched a fierce assault on the Netherworld Star Domain.

The Gallant Federation’s vanguard fleets were already engaging them, and reports claimed numerous federal warships had crossed the border and arrived at the star domain.

At the same time, clashes had erupted across other star domains where the two powers faced off.

The second great wave of battle between these top-tier civilizations was about to begin!

Under such circumstances, Sein could no longer afford to linger. He had to return to Magus World immediately.

The Nexon intelligent robots would also need to prepare for war.

The Magus Civilization had taken them in and poured vast resources into them, not so they could spend their days in peaceful retirement.

“It seems we must part ways for now,” Sein told Aetherend. “Who knows? We may be fighting side by side on the battlefield the next time we meet.”

The two robot leaders nodded to him.

***

Before returning to Magus World, Sein stopped by the plane where the Huusians now lived.

His visit was brief—just long enough to check on them before departing.

Having defected to the Magus Civilization, the Huusians had received some resources from the alliance, though nowhere near as much as the Nexon robots.

They now had one Rank Five powerhouse and five at Rank Four.

They once had six Rank Fours, but one had fallen in Ferramo World. It was a painful loss for their people.

Since joining the Magus Alliance, the Huusians had shown surprising commitment.

Their Rank Five Huusian King had staked even the future of his daughters and almost the entire tribe on siding with the Magus Civilization.

The other Rank Four Huusians, caught unprepared by his decision, had no choice but to follow their king to the bitter end, even as resentment festered in their hearts.

One major benefit of aligning with the Magus Civilization was the complete elevation of the Huusian King’s authority within his tribe.

The Magus Civilization recognized only his leadership. If any other Rank Four Huusians wished to split away or leave, they would need the Magus Civilization’s approval.

When Sein left the Huusian settlement to return to Magus World, the king all but forced his two daughters upon him, insisting that Sein take them along.

Sein could only accept with quiet resignation.

For the Huusian King, only by placing his daughters at Sein’s side could he feel at ease.

“New developments have emerged on the frontlines. It won’t be long before I lead my legions into battle. When that time comes, I’ll request permission from the Magus Alliance to have you and your people fight alongside me,” Sein told the king before leaving.

Compared to being thrown into combat alongside unfamiliar Magus World powerhouses, the Huusian King naturally preferred to march with his son-in-law.

At the very least, Sein would not treat them as expendable cannon fodder.

That foresight was what had made the king decide to marry off both his daughters to Sein in the first place.

The king readily acknowledged Sein’s heads-up, adding that the Huusians could currently field four Rank Four and above combatants, along with an army of nearly three million soldiers.

***

Before Sein could even settle Gwyneira and Gwyndira after their return to Magus World, he learned from his mentor that Bernice had also received the Magus Alliance’s official mobilization order. She was already preparing her divine tower legions to depart.

At this point, every knight and mage across the Magus World had been affected by the Clash of Civilizations.

The shifting tides at the front inevitably rippled through to the rear.

Nearly every divine tower and knightly order had begun reorganizing their legions, readying themselves for the alliance’s call to arms.

The ferocious assault launched by the Magus Civilization’s main force on the Netherworld Star Domain made one thing clear: the next phase of the war had arrived!

At this critical moment, after finishing his pending tasks and experimental work, Sein took the initiative to apply to the Magus Alliance, requesting to lead the Divine Tower of Ashes legion to the frontlines.

“Master Sein, considering you have just completed a covert mission assigned by the alliance, you should still have at least nine hundred years of downtime. Are you sure you want to end your rest period now?”

The inquiry came via remote projection from a Rank Five mage representing the Magus Alliance, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“Yes. I have fully recovered over the past few years. My previous assignment was a solo mission, so the strength of the Divine Tower of Ashes legion has not been affected. That is why I am requesting deployment to the frontlines,” Sein replied.

“Very well then, Master Sein, to which war zone do you wish to be assigned?” asked another Rank Five mage from Sky City, representing the alliance’s war council.

“The battlefields surrounding the Grand Eye Demon World!” Sein answered without hesitation.