Sovereign of the Ashes

Bernice and the others likely did not know about Sein’s ability to turn Gallant Federation intelligent robots.

However, Grandmaster Feylis, who maintained close ties with the Magus Civilization’s high command, should have heard something about it.

The defection of a Rank Six robot like Fermera was insignificant on the grand scale of a civilizational war.

Rank Six entities simply were not as important to top-tier civilizations as one might assume.

That said, on this subspace battlefield, Fermera’s defection was still a meaningful gain.

With her addition, the Magus Civilization’s advantage over the Gallant Federation legions on this battlefield increased slightly once more.

It was also from Bernice that Sein learned that the Gallant Federation legions had been met with full-scale interception and disruption by Magus Civilization forces after unleashing their apocalyptical weapon.

Otherwise, it would have been far more difficult for Sein’s group to rendezvous with the Magus Civilization Army, and the Gallant Federation would have reached the outskirts of the Steel Ruins even sooner.

“It was your grandmaster’s order. She likely anticipated the danger you might face,” Bernice said absentmindedly, her gaze lingering on Fermera behind Sein.

“Thanks to Grandmaster Feylis’ foresight, we were indeed able to escape in time,” Sein replied.

“I need my rest,” he added. “As for the discoveries made across the subspace and within the core of the Steel Ruins, I’ll organize and document them later, then submit the records to the Magus Civilization.”

Although his current life level surpassed Bernice’s, his place within the faction had not changed. Having received considerable guidance from her in the past, Sein continued to treat her with respect.

“No need to rush. Go rest first,” Bernice replied.

“If you need potion ingredients, just request them from the logistics center. I heard that your Ashen Fortress has also entered this subspace battlefield, but I don’t think you’ll be deployed again so soon,” she added with a smile.

Sein nodded and took his leave.

As he departed, Fermera remained quietly at his side.

She was unfamiliar with the Magus Civilization Army, which likewise remained cautious toward a newly defected powerhouse like her.

After all, she was a Rank Six robot!

If Fermera were to suddenly betray them here and sabotage critical supply lines or logistical hubs, it would pose a serious problem for the legions under Feylis’ command.

As a result, Fermera could not move freely within the Magus Civilization’s base in the short term.

As the one who had recruited her and would later introduce her to the Magus Alliance, Sein bore a certain responsibility for Fermera.

For now, she needed to remain close to him.

To avoid unnecessary complications, Sein refrained from bringing Fermera into sensitive areas without good reason.

Instead, he selected a temporary resting ground on the outer edge of the base’s left flank.

This area housed numerous resting legions from the Magus Alliance and was well supplied. Any special experimental materials Sein required could be replenished quickly.

After rejoining the Magus Civilization’s main forces, Sein promptly reestablished contact with his Ashen Fortress and the Divine Tower of Ashes legion under his command.

Previously, the Divine Tower of Ashes legion had been stationed mainly on the outskirts of the Marvelous Plane battlefield.

When White Stella, who oversaw the Marvelous Plane front, led her vast legions into this subspace battlefield, Sein’s Divine Tower of Ashes legion naturally followed.

Even without Sein’s direct leadership, the Divine Tower of Ashes legion had operated smoothly over the years, with Reina and Sia ensuring the stability of the higher-level combatants.

Sein also maintained strong connections within the Magus Alliance. Whether it was the Klytheran powerhouses, the Huusian elites, or individuals such as Orric and Beatrice, many had supported the Divine Tower of Ashes in recent years.

In fact, the legion had expanded since Sein’s last departure.

A new wave of full-fledged mages was said to have arrived, and the Goddess of Wealth herself had reportedly reinforced his forces with another group of elite enslaved creatures.

Before long, the Ashen Fortress arrived in the area where Sein was.

Being in his own fortress felt far more comfortable.

After returning to the fortress, Sein learned through discussions with Marie, Sia, and other key figures that the Divine Tower of Ashes legion had not encountered any major engagements in recent years.

On one hand, with the tower master absent, the ones in charge could not possibly assign particularly dangerous missions to the Divine Tower of Ashes.

On the other hand, this was also due to the deliberate consideration shown by both White Stella and Feylis toward Sein’s legion.

In recent years, the Divine Tower of Ashes had primarily been responsible for logistics maintenance and resource transport.

Having worked in logistics before, Sein knew very well just how lucrative such operations could be.

After returning to the Ashen Fortress, Sein also made arrangements for Fermera and HALL-E.

As expected, HALL-E followed Sein everywhere, brimming with curiosity about everything within the Ashen Fortress and the Magus Civilization legions.

Fermera, on the other hand, maintained her usual aloof demeanor.

Sein rarely spoke to her, and she spoke even less to anyone else.

The nearly ten thousand angel robots were all stationed by Sein in the lower levels of the fortress, where the tower’s enslaved creatures typically resided.

That said, these angel robots enjoyed far greater freedom than the enslaved creatures of the Divine Tower of Ashes.

At this point, Sein harbored not only a strong desire to study HALL-E but also a deep interest in examining Fermera.

After all, she was a Rank Six combat entity under his control!

Sein had researched many Rank Four and Rank Five beings before, but he had never studied a Rank Six being.

Whether out of indifference or some other reason, Fermera showed no resistance to Sein’s requests.

As they spent more time together, Fermera gradually became more talkative.

For example, one day in the laboratory, Fermera brought up two matters while restrained in a spread-eagle position by Sein.

The first was a personal observation concerning Bernice.

Fermera casually remarked that the gaze of that Rank Four Magus World mage felt unsettling, and that she was not particularly fond of Bernice.

Sein had no issue with Fermera expressing her thoughts like this.

Just because Fermera obeyed his commands did not mean she had to like everyone around him.

It was not just Bernice. Fermera had also shown a strong dislike for Black Oblivion.

Whenever Black Oblivion ogled her with lecherous eyes, Fermera displayed open disgust.

The second matter Fermera mentioned concerned the nearly one million angel robots still serving within the Gallant Federation’s forces.

She hoped that Sein would use the Magic Cube to awaken those robots and free them from the federation’s control.

Although many types of robots existed on this battlefield, Fermera felt a much stronger sense of kinship toward the angel-type robots that resembled her own form.

They had once been her subordinates too.

As for other robot models produced by the Gallant Federation, Fermera felt little connection to them.