Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 1744: Despicable

At the heart of the battlefield, the Eighth Pharaoh was battered by a relentless barrage of attacks from the Magus Civilization’s soul overmages behind him, all while fending off the Dark Knight wielding the Imperial Blade and the Fire Phoenix, whose body was wreathed in Nirvana Flames.

As one of the First Pharaoh’s personal weapons, the Imperial Blade carried mythical significance throughout the Amenkha Empire.

Legend claimed that this peerless blade had once demanded the sacrifice of every living being on a large-sized world and had also forcibly imprinted the souls of three overlords into its very essence.

Among them was even the soul of a Rank Eight overlord!

For a top-tier civilization, killing a Rank Eight overlord might be possible.

But capturing one alive and branding their Eternal Soul into a weapon in an act of utter humiliation?

That was something even the current Magus Civilization could not accomplish.

Only a ruthless figure like the First Pharaoh of the Amenkha Empire could have carried out such a brutal deed.

Moreover, during the First Pharaoh’s reign as Emperor, the Amenkha Empire experienced the fastest period of external expansion in its history.

The fact that a weapon forged by such a figure was now in the hands of a Rank Eight knight of Magus World posed a grave threat to the Eighth Pharaoh.

Despite being surrounded and feeling uneasy, the Eighth Pharaoh’s composure did not waver. He even found the leisure to mock Bev and the other Magus Civilization powerhouses.

“So, your Magus Civilization has never underestimated our Amenkha Empire. Is it fear I smell?”

At his words, Kessadar, standing closest to him, let out a chuckle.

The Eighth Pharaoh continued to repel attacks from all directions with his incredibly resilient body beneath the white bandages.

He shifted his gaze to Aeberton and said, “I know you. Weren’t you assigned near the Grand Cosmic World at the very start of the Clash of Civilizations?”

“Ah, yes. There were several other Magus Civilization overlords stationed there besides you. Do you truly believe you will get away with doing this?” he asked.

“The Amenkha Empire will no doubt view your actions today as a provocation! The full might of our empire will soon descend upon you! Is your Magus Civilization prepared to fight on two fronts?!” the Eighth Pharaoh roared.

His tirade failed to stir the hearts of the Magus Civilization’s powerhouses across the battlefields.

Those present were the core members of the Magus Civilization’s high command. Everyone, including Bev, understood their mission and had already assessed their home civilization’s current situation.

Were they supposed to cower in fear simply because their enemy was powerful?

If that were the case, they might as well abandon all resistance and surrender outright to the Amenkha Empire.

If an overlord from the Magus Alliance had been present, it might indeed have been intimidated by the towering prestige of the Amenkha Empire and the Eighth Pharaoh’s arrogance, even while he was surrounded on all sides and under relentless assault.

But the native powerhouses of Magus World were not so easily shaken!

The Fire Phoenix had only recently returned from distant star domains and was still not fully aware of the Magus Civilization’s current situation.

That said, he knew the Amenkha Empire well. Tens of thousands of years ago, before leaving the Magus Civilization, he had even been dispatched toward the Grand Cosmic World in the direction of the Amenkha Empire. He had stayed there for some time and built a solid relationship with the Rank Eight Cosmic King.

Compared to the Amenkha Empire’s reputation, the Fire Phoenix cared far more about his sister, the Ice Phoenix.

After Margarita, his sister’s former master, sacrificed herself to save the Ice Phoenix during an expedition in ancient ruins, the newly ascended Ice Phoenix overlord became inextricably bound to the Magus Civilization.

With his sister residing within the Magus Civilization, the Fire Phoenix could never betray it in favor of another civilization.

Surrounded by complex elemental array diagrams, Bev let out a soft chuckle as she bombarded the Eighth Pharaoh with lumen magic spells.

“Under these circumstances, you still think you can shake our resolve?” Bev asked. “It seems like you’re trying hard to act tough.”

“Though our Magus Civilization has avoided direct conflict with your Amenkha Empire in recent years, intelligence from multiple sources suggests that the burst duration of your signature sealing techniques is limited.

“So how long can this surge of power really last? Twenty years? Thirty? And when it fades, your body will inevitably enter a period of weakness, right?”

Bev chuckled again. “Do you truly believe you will still be able to escape then?”

Her words drained the color from the Eighth Pharaoh’s face.

In truth, the beings of the Amenkha Empire were humanoid creatures.

However, their fondness for corpses and umbra elements, along with their tradition of flaying enemies and wearing their skin as armor, made them grotesque in the eyes of the Magus Civilization’s powerhouses.

The Eighth Pharaoh before them, at least, still resembled a human and was not utterly repulsive.

Realizing that he could not shake the Magus Civilization overlords’ resolve to kill him, the Eighth Pharaoh finally remembered the Evileye Tyrant Monarch.

“You worthless piece of trash! Get over here and help me! Hold them off and buy me some time! I’ll reopen the long-range portal or call for reinforcements from the Amenkha Empire!” the Eighth Pharaoh roared at the Evileye Tyrant Monarch standing at the edge of the battlefield.

The Evileye Tyrant Monarch showed no sign of obedience. Instead, it made a decision that left everyone present utterly stunned.

It clasped its few remaining tentacles toward Lady Bev, adopting a submissive, deferential posture of surrender. It even retracted his eyeballs to their deepest recesses.

“I was wrong! I should not have betrayed the Magus Civilization. Everything I did was forced on me by this Eighth Pharaoh! Lady Bev, please grant me one more chance! This time, I’ll be the Magus Civilization’s faithful dog!” it pleaded.

“I’ll even surrender half of my remaining Omnipotent Soul, to be disposed of however the Magus Civilization sees fit!” the Evileye Tyrant Monarch begged in a tone of abject humility.

This creature, who bore the title of “Tyrant Monarch”, was a renowned overlord in the star domains surrounding the Grand Eye Demon World. Yet, when faced with life and death, it displayed utter spinelessness.

Even Seiron, the peak Rank Six being annihilated by the Gallant Federation’s overlord-class fleet on the subspace battlefield, had shown more dignity than the Evileye Tyrant Monarch.

“I am willing to join forces with you against this wicked and cunning Pharaoh!” The Evileye Tyrant Monarch pointed a tentacle at the Eighth Pharaoh as it spoke.

The Tyrant Monarch’s declaration surprised Bev slightly and immediately enraged the Eighth Pharaoh.

If not for Aeberton and the others standing in his way, he would have already charged forward to tear the Evileye Tyrant Monarch into pieces!

He had seen shameless creatures before, but never anyone like this!

The Eighth Pharaoh had been dragged into this deadly situation precisely because of this worthless creature’s plea for help. And now this guy was trying to save itself by selling out its master?

Existences like the Evileye Tyrant Monarch were undoubtedly the most shameless and despicable beings in the Astral Realm. Compared to them, even devils and demons seemed more honorable.

What made it even more outrageous was that this was an overlord-level being.

If it managed to survive this, such a vile entity—no longer bound by the constraints of its homeplane—could pose a threat even greater than that of an ordinary late-stage or peak Rank Seven overlord.

Bev felt no pity for this creature. In her heart, she had already sentenced the Evileye Tyrant Monarch to death.

Faced with its groveling pleas, Bev glanced briefly at the Fire Phoenix before shaking her head firmly.

“Our Magus Civilization will never accept a traitor,” she said coldly. “Nor will we allow any civilization or individual that has wronged us to continue existing beneath this starry sky!”

Those words were nothing less than a death sentence for the Evileye Tyrant Monarch.

The Eighth Pharaoh burst into long, hearty laughter, clearly mocking the Evileye Tyrant Monarch’s shameless, pitiful display.

When his laughter finally subsided, the Eighth Pharaoh reined in his aura and spoke coldly, “Well, I have more trump cards.”

“Since your Magus Civilization has already uncovered our Amenkha Empire’s self-sealing technique, you should also know that beyond the initial self-seal, there exists a secondary sealing state, right?

“Now, you shall witness the form I assume after breaking the second seal!” the Eighth Pharaoh roared.

“Oh?” Bev now wore a genuinely astonished expression.

“A second seal... you?” A trace of disbelief flickered across her face.