Sovereign of the Ashes

Sein’s response elicited a flicker of interest in the eyes of Luna.

Her curiosity was piqued not due to any personal admiration for Sein, but because mages from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring were relatively rare in this interplanar war.

Out of nearly two hundred thousand full-fledged mages, only about five hundred were from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Given this stark ratio, Luna’s intrigue upon encountering a mage from this tower was understandable.

The other mages nearby could not help but glance at Sein after overhearing the conversation.

Unperturbed by their gazes, Sein continued meticulously handling his spoils.

Observing Sein’s careful handling and recalling his seasoned approach during the battle earlier, Luna commented, “You seem quite experienced in warfare. Would you be interested in exchanging crystal ball contacts with me?”

Sein was about to complete preserving the Flame Salamander’s heart and eyeball. He thought about it for a moment, then took out his crystal ball.

Not only Luna, but three other Rank One mages present also exchanged contact details with Sein.

As they were in the same battle zone, mutual assistance would undoubtedly be beneficial for survival.

Despite the Viridian Venom Flame World being a low-level plane, caution was still necessary.

While this place was like a walk in the park for the esteemed tower masters, Rank One mages like Sein needed to remain vigilant.

After all, this world housed creatures of the Rank Two and Three.

While it was expected that Rank Two and Three mages would handle creatures of those ranks, there remained a small possibility of encountering them.

After the battle, Sein and the group remained near the lava pool.

The black volcano’s limited area meant that creatures above Rank One were unlikely to be abundant.

Shortly thereafter, a Rank Two mage descended in front of them from above.

“So, this is where the two Rank One Flame Salamanders were?” he asked.

“Yes, Master Chris.” Luna, who had previously spoken with Sein, confirmed it.

Chris nodded, then dived into the molten lava pool, leaving Sein and the others astounded.

The lava pool’s temperature ranged between 700°C and 1200°C.

Even with the protection of a magic shield, Sein could only last some time in the heat.

However, plunging into such heat without any protective measures, as the Rank Two mage did, was beyond Sein’s current capabilities.

Observing the mage, Sein noticed that upon contact with the lava, the mage’s body seamlessly converted into elemental energy.

This ability to elementalize one’s body marked a significant distinction between Rank One and Rank Two mages.

For a Rank Two mage, complete elementalization of the body not only enhanced combat prowess but also substantially improved adaptability and survivability.

This was the reason why a single rank difference could signify a colossal gap in capabilities within the Astral Realm.

After about five minutes, Chris emerged from the molten lava pool again.

Droplets of lava rained down, eliciting agonized cries from the nearby enslaved creatures caught in its scalding touch. In contrast, Sein and the other mages remained unscathed, unaffected by the fiery downpour.

“There’s indeed a small magic crystal vein down there. I’ve marked it for your records. You can claim the rewards when you return to the space fortress or your respective divine towers,” Chris announced.

It was at this moment, Sein received the information on his crystal ball.

The magicoins awarded for identifying a magic crystal vein were substantial. Despite being shared among several individuals, Sein’s crystal ball indicated his share was at least fifty magicoins.

That was already a significant sum, especially considering that his late mentor, Morsidor, had only a few hundred magicoin in savings when Sein inherited his legacy.

Interplanar warfare was indeed an efficient means for mages to accumulate resources and gather high-quality raw materials.

***

Sein seemed to have used up all his luck around the black volcano area after successfully taking down two Rank One Flame Salamanders.

For the next two days, he encountered no other creatures of similar rank.

He did gather some unique pyro elemental creatures from the Viridian Venom Flame World for his collection, but their allure had diminished compared to his initial excitement.

Sein contemplated exploring deeper into the Viridian Venom Flame World. However, heeding the advice of Master Lorianne, he chose caution over curiosity.

This was, after all, his first experience in an interplanar war, so unnecessary risks were best avoided.

By now, the three space fortresses had settled into the Viridian Venom Flame World.

The black volcano where Sein was stationed fell under the domain of the Divine Tower of Verdant Flames’ space fortress.

From his position, he could see the enormous shadow of the fortress looming nearby in the sky.

The region of the volcano where Sein was stationed, while expansive in its own right, seemed modest compared to the grandeur of the Grandmaster Feylis’ space fortress.

Sein awaited further instructions on his missions, which would be communicated through the crystal ball.

Sein, having chosen a prudent course of action, did not waste his precious time. He selected a large volcanic cave and set up a laboratory and a place for him to rest.

“According to the crystal ball that Master Lorianne gave me, the Verdant Flame magic has two distinct aspects at its foundational stage. The first is the Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique. This involves harnessing both pyro and venom elemental energies to strengthen the body. It yields a similar effect as the body refinement technique practiced by knights. The second is adding a layer of poison effects to conventional pyro magic spells. This innovative spellcraft is a brainchild of the Grandmaster Verdant Flame. It’s more profound than any other magic I’ve known,” Sein mumbled to himself, stroking his chin as he stood in front of his simple makeshift experiment table.

He already had a vague understanding of layering poison atop pyro magic spells before this. It was an insight he had gained from the knowledge passed down by Master Lorianne.

Yet, the brevity of time had hindered him from integrating this wisdom into practice.

His thoughts then turned to the Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique... The image of Master Gregory transforming into a colossal elemental giant and powerfully breaching the planar barriers appeared in his mind.

“If I can fortify my body using the Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique at this stage, I could enhance my physical form to a degree where it might withstand immersion in molten lava, akin to the elementalized bodies of Rank Two mages,” Sein mused, his eyes sparkling with determination.