Sovereign of the Ashes

The Magus Civilization’s favorable situation was not limited to its main battlefield. Things were also proceeding smoothly in the Divine Descendants Star Domain, one of its secondary theaters of war.

After capturing Cloud Dragon Stream Plane, Gongsun Wudi wasted no time. She immediately led her legions in a relentless assault deeper into the Divine Descendants Star Domain.

Efficiency was the key!

Gongsun Wudi was not the only one moving quickly. From what Sein had learned, the Dawn Emperor and the other commanding generals were advancing with equally fierce momentum.

At this rate, it was entirely possible that within another two hundred years, the Dawn Empire’s forces would push all the way to the largest plane at the heart of this star domain—the Divine Descendants World.

Even Sein was surprised by how quickly the war in this vast star domain was progressing.

He was no battle maniac, and besides, the recently conquered Cloud Dragon Stream Plane still needed someone to govern and develop it.

Thus, at his own suggestion, Sein remained behind in the Cloud Dragon Stream Plane to handle the aftermath of the conquest.

Gongsun Wudi, meanwhile, led the main legion onward, continuing her advance into the depths of the Divine Descendants Star Domain.

Before departing, she left behind her newest prize—the White Jade Dragon Queen.

On one hand, she intended for it to serve as a living Rank Six dragon specimen for Sein to study. On the other, she hoped Sein could help her tame the creature.

The title of “King” or “Queen” was not something that could be used casually in the Dawn Empire.

In certain respects, the Dawn Empire was far more rigid and strict than Magus World.

Thus, this Rank Six female dragon was renamed the “White Jade Dragon”.

Sein had not yet found the time to deal with the female dragon Gongsun Wudi had battered into submission.

Instead, through the God of Black Mist, he first summoned the God of Scorching Wind and the God of the Black Dog, two of the key contributors to this medium-scale interplanar war.

To his surprise, both Rank Four foreign gods had actually managed to survive!

The God of Scorching Wind’s appearance perfectly matched the biological traits common to the Kales Star Domain.

When he appeared before Sein, he was in terrible condition. Divine blood continued to seep from the corners of his mouth and the wounds covering his body.

This fellow was not putting on an act. He had genuinely come close to dying.

He had survived only because the God of the Black Dog had been a dependable ally, pulling him back from the brink at the critical moment.

Turning to the God of Scorching Wind, Sein offered him a few words of praise before presenting him with a vial of potion he had brewed personally.

Of course, Sein’s potions could not compare to those brewed by his mentor. Even so, they were still of excellent quality—more than sufficient for a Rank Four being.

The God of Scorching Wind hurriedly thanked him.

Sein then turned his gaze toward the God of the Black Dog.

Like the other native gods of the Cloud Dragon Stream Plane, the God of the Black Dog was, in Sein’s opinion, rather hideous.

However, he was the sort who grew less unpleasant the longer one looked at him. At the very least, his face was certainly memorable.

Sein had also heard of the God of the Black Dog’s heroic act of coming to the God of Scorching Wind’s aid at the most critical moment.

In an Astral Realm where treachery and self-interest had become increasingly common, a companion as loyal and dependable as the God of the Black Dog was exceedingly rare.

Sein commended the two for their outstanding contributions during the Cloud Dragon Stream World War.

After all, they had played an indispensable role in helping the Dawn Empire’s forces break through the defenses of this medium-sized world.

Thus, after informing Gongsun Wudi in advance, Sein retrieved two Rank Four divine relics from the Dawn Empire’s stockpile of war spoils. Both relics were perfectly suited to the two gods, and Sein bestowed them upon the pair.

Fortune favored the bold.

Not only had they survived this ordeal, but they had also obtained precious divine relics as rewards.

After receiving Sein’s gifts, both the God of Scorching Wind and the God of the Black Dog could not help but reflect deeply on everything they had experienced.

The God of Scorching Wind, in particular, soon noticed Belphane standing not far behind Sein.

Clearly, the Rank Six female knight remembered this insignificant Rank Four foreign god as well.

At that moment, Mel was helping Belphane treat the wound on her shoulder.

The moment Belphane saw the God of Scorching Wind, she slapped the table beside her and pointed straight at him.

“You! I remember you!”

Whether being remembered by a powerful Rank Six knight should be considered an honor was difficult to say.

The God of Scorching Wind could only turn toward Sein with a wry smile. For some reason, the divine relic in his hand suddenly seemed a little hotter than before.

It was, after all, a pyro elemental divine relic.

Seeing his nervous expression, Sein stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, signaling for him to relax.

Then, looking at the two Rank Four foreign gods before him, Sein stroked his chin and said, “From now on, you two will follow me.”

“Just like the God of Black Mist and the others, once the war in the Divine Descendants Star Domain is over, I’ll find a way to recommend you for membership in the Magus Alliance,” he promised.

The God of Scorching Wind and the God of the Black Dog exchanged a glance, then hurriedly bowed to Sein once more.

Watching from behind, Belphane silently mouthed what seemed to be the words, “Cunning mage.”

Mel, who was applying medicine to Belphane’s wound at the time, could not help but smile in amusement. She gently patted Belphane on the shoulder, signaling for her to stay still.

Among the Magus Civilization powerhouses, once a close friendship was established, the boundaries of rank often became much less important.

Mel, Sein, and Belphane were a perfect example. One was Rank Four, one was Rank Five, and the last was Rank Six, yet they interacted with one another with complete ease.

After sending off the two Rank Four foreign gods who had just distinguished themselves, Sein ran his fingers lightly across his magic scepter and crystal ball, pondering his next course of action.

By now, he had no shortage of research topics.

The recent battle had given him a deeper understanding of the transformation and fusion between the Magic Cube and the planetary fortress.

In the end, Sein chose not to conduct any mechanical experiments. Instead, he made his way to his elemental laboratory.

Some time ago, before Gongsun Wudi departed from this plane, she had sent him a special law flame discovered by the Dawn Empire’s legions on a medium-sized plane on the other side of the Divine Descendants Star Domain.

Gongsun Wudi knew how interested Sein was in rare and unusual law flames.

According to his established research schedule, it was time for him to return to his pyro elemental magic studies. He could not spend all his time immersed in the mechanical arts.

When it came to his own path of development, Sein had no intention of limiting himself to a single field.

***

The Dawn Empire’s forces launched a swift, full-scale advance into the Divine Descendants Star Domain.

Meanwhile, in the Divine Descendants World, Overgod Marduk had finally emerged from his obsessive research into refining the Ark.

He was undoubtedly a madman, but no one could deny that this peak Rank Seven overgod was a terrifying figure.

Compared to more than a century ago, the unfinished world-class secret treasure known as the Ark had actually taken another step toward completion in this short period of time.

Perhaps it was the pressure of war that had driven its progress.

The thought that a world-class secret treasure so perfectly suited to him was nearing completion filled Marduk with immense satisfaction.

Only after pulling himself out of that sense of fulfillment did he summon his divine emissary and ask where the Magus Civilization’s legions had advanced to.

The answer left Marduk completely stunned.

“Great, wise, and omnipotent Overgod, Lord of All Gods, your most loyal servant Sergatti has just received the latest battle report,” the late-stage Rank Six divine emissary respectfully reported.

“The vanguard of the Dawn Empire’s legions has already advanced as far as Typhoon Plane. That medium-sized plane is guarded by your servant, Teechak, the God of Hurricanes. He will lead his pantheon in defending your divine domain to the death. Aside from that, our ally, the Gallant Federation, has also deployed a large number of legions to Typhoon Plane. Together, they will resolutely repel the invaders.”

Overgod Marduk fell silent for a long time.

At last, he raised his head and looked in the direction of Typhoon Plane. Then, his divine decree thundered throughout the entire Divine Descendants World.

“Children of the gods, follow me to Typhoon Plane!”

The moment Overgod Marduk issued his decree, the full war potential of the Divine Descendants World was finally unleashed.

The ruling powers of the Divine Descendants World, as well as the vast majority of its gods, shared some degree of bloodline connection with Marduk.

With an overgod as extreme as him in power, the Divine Descendants World had been turned upside down throughout the past several hundred thousand years.

Yet one thing could not be denied.

Marduk held this world firmly in his grasp.

Any deity who merely pretended to submit while secretly harboring thoughts of rebellion had long since been purged.

None had even been given the chance to rise!

In Divine Descendants World, where the great pantheons had waged endless war against one another, only the Overgod Marduk possessed the supreme might necessary to unite the power of the entire world.

Divine armies began to gather.

Marduk slowly extended his right hand.

Before him, the Ark erupted with azure-blue law light and surging divine power. In the next instant, it merged completely with Marduk’s body.

“It may not be fully complete yet, but it will suffice for now,” Marduk said in a deep voice.

Perhaps due to his prophetic divine abilities, a faint premonition stirred within Marduk.

The opportunity for his world-class secret treasure, the Ark, to undergo a true transformation lay on the battlefield ahead. There, it might become a high-tier world-class secret treasure, or perhaps even advance beyond that level!