Sovereign of the Ashes

The Eiyurant Papillon Folk had achieved extraordinary accomplishments in the realm of technology.

Their focus was not limited to mechanical advancements alone. They had also made significant progress in the field of biology.

Much like how the Gallant Federation developed both massive interstellar fleets and giant mobile suits as individual combat weapons, the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization relied on a dual path of mechanical and biological technologies.

Unfortunately, very little information related to their biotechnology had survived within these ruins.

Biological data was far more vulnerable to erosion, decay, and loss over the long river of time. By contrast, mechanical technology was far more likely to leave behind traces that could endure.

The thin energy membrane Sein observed upon entering the ruins was clear proof that some technological systems left behind by the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization were still functioning.

The fact that such systems could remain operational after tens of millions of years was nothing short of astonishing.

All of this further confirmed that the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization had not merely been a large-sized world civilization, but very likely a true top-tier one.

As for the exact circumstances surrounding the civilization’s destruction, the Magus Civilization’s exploration teams had yet to reach a definitive conclusion.

Current speculation leaned toward the possibility that the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization had been wiped out in a war against an external enemy.

Certain deeply buried ruins within Blue Star suggested that the Eiyurant Papillon Folk had once faced powerful adversaries.

Any civilization capable of standing against them would also have to be a top-tier civilization!

“These Blue Star natives seem to have been domesticated pets, specifically bred by the Eiyurant Papillon Folk through biotechnology. That would explain their docile temperaments,” Gregory said with a chuckle.

He then continued, “I also heard they uncovered prehistoric remains of Blue Star creatures within the ruins. Genetic sequencing confirmed they are indeed the ancestors of the current Blue Star lifeforms.”

Unlike Gregory, Sein had little interest in such trivia. He asked instead, “Eiyurant Papillon Folk, huh? Were they humanoid?”

Gregory nodded. “They were. Although their appearance resembled butterflies, their evolutionary path clearly moved toward a humanoid form.”

“Their brains were highly developed, and their limbs were exceptionally agile. For that reason, the Eiyurant Papillon Folk are classified as humanoid lifeforms, not insectoid creatures of the butterfly family,” he added.

The vast majority of insectoid lifeforms followed a path of passive evolution. Sein had never encountered a technologically advanced civilization in which insectoids were the dominant race.

“What should we do next? Continue reinforcing the perimeter defenses?” Sein asked.

His question made Gregory’s expression sour. He had long since grown tired of this tedious waiting.

In private, Gregory often complained that he was “about to be bored to death”.

Still, a mentor’s orders could not be ignored, and the directives of the Magus Civilization were even more inviolable.

Without solid intelligence to act on, all they could do was wait.

The two Rank Five body-tempering mages exchanged a silent glance and sighed inwardly.

“We should be able to move soon,” Gregory muttered, though he sounded uncertain.

***

Free for the moment from legion duties, Sein resumed his experimental work in his laboratory within the fortress.

Lately, his primary focus had been the peculiar crystal Gilbert and the others had handed over to him.

Preliminary theoretical calculations suggested that this crystal could be refined into a magic bomb capable of threatening a Rank Six or even higher being.

Naturally, Sein wanted to prepare early and add such a weapon to his collection of trump cards.

As Sein worked, the few women permitted access to his laboratory would occasionally stop by.

Most of them would quietly slip away without disturbing him upon seeing him deeply immersed in his experiments, including the Huusian sisters.

Though their constitutions were relatively frail, they had quite an... appetite.

In recent years, they had taken to visiting Sein frequently during their free time, often without any particular reason.

By contrast, Selina and Eileen were busy with their own research and visited far less often.

Sein could more or less guess at the Huusian sisters’ intentions—they wanted to bear an heir.

With Sein’s Rank Five life level and the backing of the formidable Magus Civilization, producing an heir would effectively secure the future of the Huusians.

Unfortunately, having children was not something that could be achieved through wishing alone.

The higher one’s life level, the lower the probability of successfully conceiving an heir.

The life essence stones the Huusian sisters had acquired at great cost in the Hundred Flowers Worlds seemed to be of limited use.

Sein had been considering whether to delve deeper into the profound mystery of “dual body tempering”.

However, the one lingering in his laboratory today was Kram—the Rank Four Klytheran fighter with whom Sein shared a platonic friendship.

There was truly nothing between them. Their relationship had gone no further than an experimental partnership.

Sein would strip her bare to study and explore every hidden mystery within her body, yet he had never crossed the boundary of friendship.

Even so, Kram had changed significantly because of Sein. So much so that even her closest friend, Misori, could barely recognize her anymore.

Misori and the other Klytherans were convinced that Kram must be romantically involved with Sein by now.

The higher-ups of Planet Klythera had no issue with this at all.

On the contrary, they saw it as a positive development and would be happy to hear that Kram had found her own happiness.

Kram herself was even less inclined to explain what she usually did in Sein’s laboratory.

Faced with the teasing smiles of her fellow Klytherans, she could only accept their assumptions in silence.

Today, Kram lingered in Sein’s laboratory for hours because her attention was fixed on the peculiar crystal in his possession.

The Klytherans’ reliance on inert crystals bordered on obsession.

Without inert elements, they could not even sustain normal reproduction or development as a species.

When faced with an inert crystal of exceptional quality, their reaction was like a bee drawn to pollen—an instinctive, uncontrollable craving.

Seeing Kram hovering persistently nearby, Sein finally paused his experiment.

“No, I can’t give you this crystal,” he said. “How about this instead? The next time the Blue Star natives provide me with high-quality Gray Quartz, I’ll let you choose first.”

Kram hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding.

Just as Sein was about to shift his focus and call Kram over to assist with further research on constitution enhancement, a sudden transmission interrupted him.

An envoy from the Shadowbat Civilization had arrived, seeking aid.