Sovereign of the Ashes

“Eighth Pharaoh, I implore you to save me! I joined the Gallant Federation solely under your orders. Now the Magus Civilization’s legions are sweeping toward the Grand Eye Demon World, and two—perhaps even three—overlords have locked onto me! The Gallant Federation likely has no forces to spare. I beg the Amenkha Empire to send troops to rescue me!” The Evileye Tyrant Monarch pleaded desperately to the dark mist before it.

Every plane within the star domains surrounding these two top-tier civilizations, whether directly at war or not, viewed this vast, multi-star domain conflict as a clash between those two supreme powers.

Few could have imagined that the tendrils of yet another top-tier civilization were already entangled in this great clash!

The Rank Seven Evileye Tyrant Monarch of the Grand Eye Demon World had not only defected to the Gallant Federation, but had long ago pledged allegiance to an overlord of another top-tier civilization—the Amenkha Empire.

It was a double agent!

In response to the Evileye Tyrant Monarch’s plea, a cold snort echoed from within the black mist.

“Useless! The war between the Gallant Federation and Magus World has barely begun, and you are already begging for help? Didn’t I warn you not to contact me so recklessly?!”

A cluster of crimson eyes materialized in the dark mist, glaring at the Evileye Tyrant Monarch who cowered before them.

Being an overlord-level existence, one who even bore the title “Tyrant”, the Evileye Tyrant Monarch was undeniably a formidable figure.

Back in the Magus Alliance, not even knight overlords or soul overmages had dared to insult it so openly.

And yet now, faced with the terrifying presence within the mist, it did not even have the courage to talk back.

From beginning to end, it remained deeply deferential... almost servile.

The reason was simple: the entity from the Amenkha Empire possessed power that dwarfed its own.

Even separated by an immense distance, the Evileye Tyrant Monarch dared not act presumptuously.

More importantly, the sheer might of the Amenkha Empire was enough to instill fear in the hearts of overlord-level beings from most large-sized worlds.

Unlike Magus World’s more measured expansion through the “Magus Alliance System”, the Amenkha Empire had risen as a top-tier civilization upon mountains of corpses and heaps of bones.

Its bloody, ruthless methods were enough to strike fear into all living beings.

It was said that the creatures of the Amenkha Empire held a gruesome tradition—flaying the skins of their slain enemies to use as adornments.

The Eighth Pharaoh wore the skins of two overlords. Through some special process, he had turned them into bandages that wrapped his body.

The might and terror of the Amenkha Empire far exceeded those of the Magus Civilization.

To Magus World’s leadership, this formidable civilization was seen as a potential future adversary.

Even while waging war against the Gallant Federation, Magus World continued to maintain heavy defenses along its border with the Amenkha Empire.

If the Magus Civilization stood at the peak of its mid-stage as a top-tier civilization, then the Amenkha Empire had undoubtedly entered the late stage!

And now, judging by the Evileye Tyrant Monarch’s role as a double agent, it was clear that not only was Magus World wary of the Amenkha Empire, but the Amenkha Empire had not forgotten Magus World either.

“Foolish creature! The Gallant Federation and the Magus Civilization have only just begun their war. How could we, the Amenkha Empire, possibly intervene now?” the Eighth Pharaoh hissed.

“Besides, compared to Magus World, the Luminara Civilization draws far more hatred from the other Pharaohs. Your role is to muddy the waters between the Magus Civilization and the Gallant Federation. When the day comes that my Amenkha Empire Army marches to their gates, we’ll clean up whatever remains,” he said.

The Evileye Tyrant Monarch was no fool. It understood its role perfectly well.

But while the Eighth Pharaoh spoke from the perspective of the Amenkha Empire, the Evileye Tyrant Monarch’s thoughts were on its own survival.

Magus World clearly intended to kill it this time.

Aside from the two Magus Civilization overlords known to be stationed within the Grand Eye Demon World, the Evileye Tyrant Monarch could sense a third overlord lurking in the shadows, silently watching its every move.

The Gallant Federation was indeed powerful, but the ongoing quagmire in the Netherworld Star Domain had drained too much of its strength.

Although the federation had not shared the full picture, the Evileye Tyrant Monarch suspected that the vanguard fleet sent to the Netherworld Star Domain had likely been completely trapped there.

Otherwise, there was no reason for the federation to suddenly halt its deployment of warships to the Grand Eye Demon World while simultaneously urging the Evileye Tyrant Monarch to consolidate its defenses.

The defection of Netherworld’s Commander Blood River was an act, but the Evileye Tyrant Monarch’s betrayal was real!

Damn it, if I had known, I wouldn’t have defected like this. Lying low would have been so much better, the Evileye Tyrant Monarch cursed inwardly.

Unfortunately, that was nothing more than wishful thinking. The Amenkha Empire had ordered it to defect and serve as a double agent; how could it refuse?

From the Amenkha Empire’s perspective, Magus World was indeed stronger. By turning the Grand Eye Demon World against them and pushing it toward the Gallant Federation’s camp, the Empire could pit the two top-tier civilizations against each other, forcing both to bleed.

That way, when the war dragged on and both sides suffered heavy losses, the Amenkha Empire would be in the perfect position to reap the spoils.

Its great distance from the Magus Civilization limited what it could do directly; otherwise, the Amenkha Empire would have pursued far more aggressive strategies.

The Eighth Pharaoh had no intention of intervening to save the Evileye Tyrant Monarch—he would not waste even a fraction of his power.

Beyond a harsh rebuke, he only told the Evileye Tyrant Monarch to endure for another twenty thousand years.

Within ten thousand years at the earliest, or twenty thousand at the latest, a turning point would come!

“Twenty thousand years... You mean to say...” The Evileye Tyrant Monarch’s colossal eye flickered with a rare gleam of excitement.

“Silence!” the Eighth Pharaoh roared.

Certain things could not be spoken aloud, for they touched upon the fundamental laws of the Astral Realm. Only overlord-level beings could perceive them.

“The Luminara Civilization is the Amenkha Empire’s primary enemy. Once we have swept away those Luminarians, both the Empire and the Pharaoh’s Temple will turn their full war efforts toward the Magus Civilization. Even if we have to abandon your Grand Eye Demon World, we’ll just reward you with two or three large planes in the future.”

With those words, the black mist before the Evileye Tyrant Monarch slowly dissipated.

Whether it was a common trait among top-tier civilizations or not, they all seemed to be masters at “building castles in the air”.

This time, the Amenkha Empire had promised the Evileye Tyrant Monarch two or three large-sized worlds in the future.

Before that, aside from using force to coerce its submission, the Eighth Pharaoh had even promised to help it ascend to Rank Eight.

The Gallant Federation was just as skilled at making empty promises as the Amenkha Empire.

Not long ago, the federation had declared that it would dispatch an Erebus-class war fleet and an overlord-class interstellar fortress to the Grand Eye Demon World’s star domain to help it resist the Magus Civilization’s offensive.

Yet now, the promised war fleet and interstellar fortress were still nowhere to be seen...