Sovereign of the Ashes

“Master Sein, we only have to traverse this mountain range before entering the border of the Lysian Alliance,” Hudson, the mercenary leader, mentioned while gesturing toward the Dusken Ridge in the distance as the evening settled over the camp.

A month had passed since Sein and the others set out from Kirk City.

Due to the burden of escorting supplies and non-combatants, their journey proceeded at a slightly slower pace than Sein’s solo expedition.

Presenting himself as an intermediate magic initiate to Hudson, Sein immediately captivated the leader’s interest by showcasing his Fire Wall spell.

Hudson, showing not only respect but also enthusiasm toward Sein, sought to retain this powerful mage within his mercenary group for an extended period.

In Kirk City, mercenary groups with mages were typically renowned and larger in size.

Hudson, an ambitious intermediate squire rumored to have noble ancestry, shared a battle qi technique passed down from his ancestors within the mercenary group.

Sein, however, remained composed and unswayed by Hudson’s enthusiasm.

Accumulating gold coins within the mercenary group or aspiring for future noble titles through life-threatening endeavors did not align with Sein’s aspirations.

Furthermore, Sein recognized the fundamental disparities between knight groups and magic initiates.

Frank, an intermediate initiate from Berthold City, was able to discern Sein’s true strength shortly after their conversation.

Yet Hudson, despite being an intermediate squire, failed to perceive Sein’s superior strength. He genuinely believed Sein was merely an intermediate initiate, based on Sein’s self-introduction.

Sein attributed this disparity to the difference in focus level between magic initiates and squires.

Initiates with higher focus level possessed the acuity to gauge the general focus level of others and compare it to their own.

The knights certainly possessed means to discern their opponents’ strength.

As knights progressed to a certain level, their mental focus would naturally improve to a certain extent.

Prior to reaching this stage, experienced squires who had been through numerous battles and life-threatening situations could still rely on their intuition and sense of danger to evaluate opponents.

However, it was evident that the mercenary leader, Hudson, lacked this particular ability.

He was nothing more than an intermediate squire, who displayed a hint of impulsiveness but still approached situations with caution.

In contrast, someone more ruthless would have ventured into the warring Zephyr Kingdom and the Ohrque Empire to undertake daunting mercenary quests, even if they were only junior squires.

They would lead their own mercenary groups into riskier endeavors, rather than accepting escort quests and heading to the Lysian Alliance, as Hudson did.

The Dusken Ridge was Sein’s final hurdle before leaving Gloomhaven, and also the most perilous part of his journey toward the Lysian Alliance.

Commonly referred to as the Magic Beast Ridge, the Dusken Ridge served as a natural barrier along the borders of the Lysian Alliance, dissuading even the mighty Ohrque Empire from crossing it to attack.

Rumors suggested the presence of ranked magic beasts in the mountains, surpassing normal human strength, though none had witnessed them.

Hudson attested to the danger, having encountered them during his few trips to the Lysian Alliance in the past.

The strongest magic beast he had encountered was a high-level magic beast known as a Green-Eyed Monkey.

Passing through the Dusken Ridge would diminish the peril of the quest by approximately 70%.

Following a night’s rest, the mercenary group embarked on crossing the ridge.

The group now comprised around thirty individuals, including Sein, the mercenaries, and about ten members constituting the employer’s private team.

The employer, an old man with a goatee, sought to profit by stocking up on food and iron weapons in Kirk City, claiming connections in the Lysian Alliance.

He was quite a capable man as his private team included two intermediate squires, four junior squires, and even a junior magic initiate serving as an advisor.

The strength exhibited by this old man’s team was comparable to that of Hudson’s mercenary group.

As a senior initiate and alchemist, Sein detected the unique elemental fluctuation of a basic magic item on the old man’s body.

“Master Sein, we’ll be relying on you a lot for this journey across Dusken Ridge,” the elderly man with the goatee respectfully addressed Sein before their departure.

With a junior initiate as his advisor, the old man could tell that Sein was more than just an ordinary intermediate initiate.

Sein merely grunted in response to the old man’s comment, showing no intention of delving into further conversation.

Dusken Ridge indeed proved to be a formidable hurdle on their journey to the Lysian Alliance. On the first day of venturing into the mountain range, a member of the mercenary group had already fallen victim to its challenges.

The unfortunate individual met his demise not at the hands of a magic beast but rather by accidentally stepping on a specific plant with barbs in the forest. He succumbed to direct poisoning upon its late discovery.

“They’re called Ivory Thistles. Damn it, I’ve already told them to watch where they’re stepping. Even after my warning, someone still managed to screw up!” Hudson cursed, lamenting the loss within his ranks.

Although it was an ordinary member of the group who did not possess battle qi, as per both custom and the contractual agreement he entered upon joining the group, Hudson was obligated to provide a death gratuity to the deceased’s family.

Sein did not pay much attention to the dead member. He merely collected a few drops of translucent liquid as a specimen from the man’s blackened foot.

Considering the expanse of Dusken Ridge and the group’s speed, it would take at least five days for them to cross it.

Under normal circumstances, they would likely be safe on the first and final days. The group would only be susceptible to danger during the middle three days, as they ventured into the deepest part of the ridge.

On the second day within the mountains, Sein released Seven.

The presence of Seven heightened the awe within the mercenary group, especially as they sensed the strength of this magic beast.

Upon sensing the formidable strength of the magic beast, the mercenary leader completely gave up on convincing Sein to permanently join his ranks.

After all, their humble mercenary group lacked the capacity to accommodate such a powerful being.

Despite the regret of failing to retain Sein in his group, the realization that Sein’s strength could mitigate the risks of crossing Dusken Ridge brought immediate joy to him.

“How’s it going, Seven? Have you detected any formidable magic beasts in this area?” Sein inquired, directing his question to the owl hovering in the sky.

The owl’s brown eyes focused on the west of Dusken Ridge, an area yet to be explored by the group.

“There are magic beasts as strong as or even stronger than me in both the east and west, particularly in the west, where more formidable magic beasts seem to reside,” Seven reported.

Any magic beasts more powerful than Seven, a quasi-ranked magic beast, would be as powerful as a full-fledged mage or knight.

The revelation surprised Sein as he did not expect such formidable magic creatures dwelling in the Dusken Ridge.