Sovereign of the Ashes

“So, this is Mage Sein, the envoy from the Magus Civilization?” the Rank Five general in golden armor asked Ximen Feixiao.

After receiving confirmation, the general gave a slight nod and had Sein escorted toward Rongyue Plane, where the war was still raging.

Ximen Feixiao did not go with them.

Now that he had delivered Sein, his task was complete. He still had his own campaign to oversee back in Juemu World.

***

Stepping onto a battlefield that had nothing to do with him felt strange to Sein.

During the journey, he had already pieced together a rough understanding of the Dawn Empire.

Unlike the Magus Civilization, the Dawn Empire had not developed particularly advanced magitech or alchemy.

They did have warships and other vehicles capable of traveling through the Astral Realm, but overall, their technology lagged behind.

Their teleportation systems also seemed fairly limited.

The Valiant Dragon troops surrounding Sein were undeniably elite. They were strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Dragon Knights of the Magus World’s Byrne Empire.

Still, units of that caliber were rare in any civilization.

In fact, Sein estimated that the total number of such troops stationed on Rongyue Plane did not exceed two hundred thousand.

Across this medium-sized world, the bulk of the fighting force was still made up of the Dawn Empire’s standard legions.

That said, another unit caught Sein’s attention—an even larger and more elite force.

Each soldier bore a metal tiger head fixed to their shoulders and wrists, giving them a fierce, intimidating presence.

The banners behind them were marked with the characters “Raging Tiger”.

The Valiant Dragon Army and the Raging Tiger Army... are these the Dawn Empire’s two most elite legions?

While Sein was still wondering about it, an endless sprawl of military camps stretched out before him.

At the very center stood a massive golden tent, towering over the rest.

From the layout of the camp and the combat readiness of the troops, Sein was beginning to understand the true strength of the Dawn Empire’s lower-tier forces.

The Dawn Empire also seemed to hold a deep reverence for the color gold.

After escorting Sein to the tent, the golden-armored general took his leave.

He did not restrict Sein’s movements. He simply asked him to wait, saying the Invincible General would arrive shortly.

Did the Dawn Empire really trust him that much?

Sein could not help but wonder—if he chose to strike right now, at the heart of this camp, how much damage could he cause?

Of course, he had no intention of doing anything that might lead to misunderstandings

After stepping into the golden tent, Sein quietly activated the Faceless Mask, observing his surroundings and forming his own conclusions.

He was especially curious about this “Invincible General”.

After all, “invincible” was not a title just anyone could claim.

More importantly, when the golden-armored general mentioned him, even his stern, composed expression had softened into something closer to respect—almost reverence.

It looks like this Invincible General is the Dawn Empire’s supreme commander in the Rongyue Star Domain.

The interior of the tent was simple, yet imposing. There were no excessive decorations, nothing ornate or flashy. It gave off a sense of clarity and purpose, as if its owner preferred direct, decisive action.

At the center of the tent, a golden brazier burned with a faintly fragrant incense.

Its effect felt similar to the focus-enhancing potions used by mages in the Magus Civilization—something to help sharpen the mind.

As Sein studied the artifacts and decorations around him, gradually piecing together more about the Dawn Empire, a powerful aura began to approach from outside.

It was unmistakably the presence of a Rank Six being. The sheer intensity matched the peak Rank Six entity Sein had sensed earlier.

He perceived beings at this level as the pinnacle of power below the overlords.

In places like Faeloria, supreme deities such as the Bloodwar Monarch of Purgatory, the God of Justice, and the Dark Lady were all of a similar caliber.

Before long, the sound of heavy metal boots echoed from outside.

Clang! Clang! Clang.

Sein had expected another towering, broad-shouldered warrior, like the others he had seen so far.

From Ximen Feixiao to the golden-armored general, every Dawn Empire officer he had encountered had been built like a fortress, comparable to the knights of Magus World.

Yet the figure who stepped into the tent this time was different—slender, composed, and unexpectedly graceful. The height and build were about the same as Sein’s, possibly a bit shorter and smaller without the armor and metal boots.

What caught Sein off guard was the breastplate—it had two distinct, pronounced curves.

A moment later, the figure removed the helmet, revealing a heroic face framed by long, platinum blonde hair.

“Are you the mage from the Magus Civilization?” she asked.

Her voice was not soft like most women’s—it carried a firm, slightly rough edge.

“Yes. I’m Sein, a Rank Five mage of the Magus Civilization,” he replied.

She studied him for a moment, her brows knitting slightly, as if she had sensed something unusual about his Faceless Mask.

Still, she did not press the matter.

After hanging her helmet on a rack in the corner, she turned back and said, “I’m Gongsun Wudi. Welcome to the Dawn Empire, Mage Sein.”

Her straightforward, composed manner set the tone, and Sein responded in kind.

“I’m not here simply to visit. To be precise, I’ve come to request the Dawn Empire’s assistance.”

“Oh?” Gongsun Wudi raised an eyebrow.

“I hope to meet His Majesty, the Emperor of the Dawn Empire, to discuss potential military cooperation between our two civilizations.”

Sein continued, “The Magus Civilization has maintained friendly relations with the Dawn Empire since ancient times. And we’ve never been stingy toward those who have aided us.”

In truth, he had no clear idea what kind of past ties existed between the two civilizations. But since Destruction Spring had said so, there had to be more beneath the surface.

After years of traveling the Astral Realm, Sein had long since learned how to carry himself.

From his composure, no one would suspect he had arrived here by chance rather than as an official envoy.

Gongsun Wudi tapped the table lightly with her armored fingers, clearly weighing his words.

After a brief pause, she looked up and said, “There’s no need for you to go to the imperial capital. I can answer on behalf of the Dawn Empire.”

Sein blinked. “You can?”

“The current emperor is my elder brother. I have both the authority and the standing to respond to your request,” Gongsun Wudi explained.

Sein was caught off guard, but he kept his calm. Taking a deep breath, he asked, “Then, General Wudi... what is your answer?”[1]

If she was the emperor’s sister, then the woman standing before him was not just a general—she was also a princess.

Gongsun Wudi smiled and replied, “Help us end the war in the Rongyue World first.”

1. Translator’s Note: Wudi (无敌) actually means invincible. ☜