Sovereign of the Ashes

As a senior initiate, Mark was evidently more knowledgeable than Tom.

He noticed several intermediate and junior initiates patrolling alongside them, casting inquisitive glances his way.

Basking in their attention, Mark relished the feeling of being a central figure, his prowess having earned the respect and admiration of these initiates.

In the past six months, Mark had impressively defeated three extraplanar creatures, a feat some Quasi Mages had not achieved.

Clearing his throat, Mark began to explain, “In this ongoing Regional Inter-Divine Tower Academy War, the neighbors of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring are the Divine Tower of Cipher and the Divine Tower of Shadow. The Divine Tower of Cipher is located near us at the Scorched Lumenstone Mountain Ridge. Our divine tower and theirs have always been on friendly terms, so they’re unlikely to target us.”

“So, in this first year of the academy war, our primary concern should be the potential threat from the Divine Tower of Shadow to the east,” Mark remarked.

Tom, still puzzled, pressed on, “Why haven’t we heard anything from the east recently, though?”

His question momentarily stumped Mark.

It was not just Tom’s query. All the senior initiates from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring were pondering the same.

Had the dynamics changed so drastically that they were no longer targets of the Divine Tower of Shadow?

“Perhaps something significant has occurred there, yet the news hasn’t reached us due to our location at Scorched Lumenstone Mountain Ridge,” Mark speculated.

“Regardless, should the initiates from the Divine Tower of Shadow launch an attack, you must protect yourselves. Or, you could stay close to me—I’ll do my best to protect all of you,” he offered generously.

Mark’s words earned the admiration and respect of many intermediate and junior initiates, including Tom.

Despite Mark’s previous loss to Sein during the challenge stage, he did not seem like a bad guy.

Of course, his confident talk might only be a bluff.

Amidst the surrounding compliments and reverence, a striking golden pillar of light suddenly appeared, catching everyone’s attention.

The first to notice the approaching pillar of light was a young, female junior initiate clad in red magic robe.

Her youthful appearance suggested she was a recent addition to the academy, probably in her teens.

“What’s that?” she asked curiously.

Mark, Tom, and the others turned to follow her gaze.

Tom and the rest were equally puzzled by the appearance of the light pillar.

Mark, however, with a grandmother who was a full-fledged mage and having been well-educated in his family, immediately recognized the significance of the golden light pillar.

“A phenomenal initiate with an individual score exceeding 100,000 points?!” he exclaimed, his face turning pale with realization.

***

Daniel, another top initiate stationed at the Scorching Lumenstone Resource Point, felt a surge of agitation similar to Mark’s upon seeing the golden pillar of light.

Renowned as the perennial champion of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Academy’s power rankings, Daniel was a formidable force, respected among the five divine towers.

Although not on par with a phenomenal initiate like Gade the Heart of Land, Daniel’s prowess was notable compared to the leading initiates from other academies.

This earned him high expectations from many mages prior to the academy war.

The emergence of the golden light pillar prompted Daniel to immediately prepare the nearly one thousand initiates at the Scorched Lumenstone Resource Point for potential combat.

In the current academy war, the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring had adopted a defensive strategy rather than offensive one.

Consequently, a large number of initiates was stationed at each resource point for protection.

The strategy of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring was straightforward—avoid participation in the deadly conflicts, focusing instead on securely holding their resource points to accumulate reliable points.

As the defenders, the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring would inherently have certain advantages for anticipating attacks from the initiates of the other divine towers.

Over the past six months, the initiates from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring had fortified each resource point with magic barriers and defensive nodes. They also conducted regular patrols, anticipating eventual assaults from other divine towers.

This conservative approach was devised by the academy’s deans and cohort leaders.

If the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring could maintain this for a year, they could be spared from their usual bottom ranking. Even in the event of a subsequent expulsion by the initiates from other divine towers, thanks to the remaining half of the points they had already secured.

This year, the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring aimed to claim the position traditionally held by the Divine Tower of Cipher in previous years.

The strategy was modest, prioritizing the safety of initiates over aggressive conquests. It might have seemed unambitious, but it was preferable to unnecessary casualties and a dismal ranking.

Daniel was a principled initiate, always heeding his mentor’s guidance.

Since entering the trial space, he had diligently executed his mentor and the academy deans’ directives.

He successfully secured two major resource points in half a year while respecting the academy’s policy of not encroaching on other divine towers’ territories.

“Does trouble inevitably find you even if you don’t seek it? A new phenomenal initiate has unexpectedly emerged this term, but from which divine tower?” Daniel pondered.

Standing amidst other initiates at the Scorched Lumenstone Mountain Ridge, Daniel continued mumbling to himself, “He came from the direction of the Divine Tower of Cipher. Has their territory fallen already? But why aren’t there any other legions of initiates following him?”

Unfazed by the golden pillar symbolizing over 100,000 points, he was prepared to defend the resource point with the others.

If overwhelmed by the opposing academy’s initiates, the intermediate and junior initiates would likely activate their badges to exit the trial space.

Daniel, along with a few senior initiates, would retreat to other resource points within the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring’s territory.

Two other major resource points in their territory were under the watch of Anna, another top initiate, along with some Quasi Mages of considerable strength.

“Let’s see the strength of a phenomenal initiate!” Daniel exclaimed, his voice booming through amplification magic. Holding his magic rod firmly, he challenged the golden light pillar advancing toward his resource point.

As he chanted, three massive cyan elemental hurricanes began to form. Daniel, a skilled aeromancer, directed these formidable hurricanes straight at the golden light pillar.

All apprentices at the resource point watched intently as Daniel, one of their top initiates, launched an offensive against the mysterious phenomenal initiate who had “invaded” them.

“Damn!” Another amplified voice echoed throughout the Scorched Lumenstone Mountain Ridge.

Mark, standing in position with his magic rod in hand, thought the voice sounded really familiar to him.