Sovereign of the Ashes

Sein scrutinized the Neisse Civilization engineer before him as though she were a unique artifact, his eyes gleaming faintly as if dissecting Yuri with an invisible scalpel.

His intense gaze appeared to penetrate through her clothes, delving into the secrets harbored within her body.

This invasive scrutiny caused Yuri to flush with a mix of fear and embarrassment.

Indeed, there were striking resemblances and shared characteristics between the beings of the Neisse Civilization and the humans of the Magus World, both humanoid with similar anatomical features.

After a prolonged observation, Sein exhaled softly, choosing not to pursue further examination of this invaluable “specimen”.

Yuri was a trophy worth at least two Grade Two energy crystals... This made her Sein’s most significant acquisition in the Viridian Venom Flame World yet.

Sein began chanting, and a pale yellow beam shot out from the tip of his finger.

The magic beam was a low-grade yet effective spell known as “Sleep” with sedative properties.

Such spells were routinely employed by mages from the Magus World to sedate their test subjects during experiments and research, ensuring they remained docile on the experiment table.

The engineers of the Neisse Civilization, devoid of their mechanical armor, were significantly more vulnerable and powerless.

The Sleep spell swiftly rendered the female engineer unconscious.

For added precaution, Sein secured her with magic restraints and administered a paralysis potion, which was a staple in his laboratory.

“Despite such a frail physique, these engineers from Neisse Civilization could manipulate constructs over ten meters in size, and more than one at that... Perhaps the secret lies within the unique structure on their foreheads,” Sein mumbled to himself as he ran his finger over the oval bump on the unconscious engineer’s forehead.

Although Yuri was asleep, Sein’s touch on what was actually her most intimate body part elicited a soft moan from her. Her body temperature rose noticeably, and her complexion turned red once again.

Sein was quite amused by Yuri’s reaction.

The peculiarities of Neisse Civilization beings intrigued him, especially as he noticed an apparent increase in Yuri’s chest size, prompting him to cease his actions.

A soft, almost imperceptible sigh filled the quiet laboratory.

***

Upon exiting the laboratory, Sein made his way to the adjacent incubation room to check on Sev.

Sev, his owl companion, remained curled in a tight ball, but it had grown noticeably larger than before Sein’s departure from the space fortress.

Sein reached out with his mental focus, attempting to communicate with Sev, but received only a faint response, indicating Sev was likely undergoing a critical transformation phase.

Observing the aero-attribute energy crystals surrounding Sev, which had been significantly depleted, Sein replenished them with additional crystals.

Leaving the incubation room, he looked at his injured left arm. Contending with the pain and tingling sensations spreading throughout his body, Sein proceeded to the meditation room.

For mages, meditation served as an effective means of restoring both mental focus and stamina. The effects of such a natural recovery method surpassed even the temporary benefits of potions.

Overreliance on potions could lead to resistance, necessitating an eventual switch to alternative potions.

Almost every mage was also aware that frequent consumption of potions could lead to the accumulation of residual toxins in the body.

This accumulation, though minor at first, could pose significant health risks over time.

Perhaps this could be a factor contributing to the generally frail constitution of mages from the Magus World.

Meditation, free from such drawbacks, was the preferred method for mental focus recovery after significant battles or extensive experiments. It was a practice that not only aided in recuperation but also facilitated breakthroughs in the overall capacity of their mental focus.

As Sein settled into a cross-legged position on a plush carpet, preparing to meditate, he was struck by a sudden realization.

The Verdant Flame Body Tempering technique, a legacy of his grandmaster, might offer the benefits of purging potion residues while enhancing his constitution.

***

Half a month since his return to the space fortress, Sein’s condition had improved significantly, thanks to the effects of potions and his self-treatment.

Although his left arm remained somewhat impaired, the wounds on his chest and back had healed substantially.

Sein was an anomaly among mages, who typically looked like refined gentlemen with delicate complexions.

Despite his striking looks, Sein’s body bore numerous scars underneath his magic robe. Although most of them had healed, they left marks on his skin.

The prominent scars on his abdomen were souvenirs of his time in the Sand World, while other subtler ones were remnants of his younger days at the Black Magic Academy in Mystralora City.

After donning his black robe, Sein tidied himself up in front of the magic crystal mirror in his room, which boasted modest capabilities for magnification, conduction, and illumination.

Compared to half a month ago, Sein looked so much better since his injuries had mostly healed.

Leaving his quarters, Sein headed toward the middle level of the space fortress.

He had recently received news from Eileen, a fellow mage from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, and learned of the conditions of other comrades, including Master Jovian.

Eileen’s injuries were worse than Sein’s, while Master Jovian had fared better.

The Divine Tower of Verdant Spring had lost dozens of mages in the Viridian Venom Flame World.

Given the total number of mages from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring who participated in the conflict, the casualty rate was undeniably high, surpassing that of the other three divine towers.

This elevated rate was attributed to the fact that many mages from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, including Sein and Eileen, were novices experiencing their first interplanar war.

The reality of war was inescapable; casualties were an unfortunate but expected outcome.

Therefore, mages from the Magus World must brace for the gravest possibilities before engaging in any interplanar war.

In the healing wards of the space fortress, Sein saw Eileen, who was extensively bandaged, leaving only her fair shoulder exposed.

The sight almost made Sein burst into laughter, but the stern look in Eileen’s eyes, peeking out from under the bandages, quickly sobered him.

Observing her condition, Sein offered, “I hadn’t realized the extent of your injuries. Is there anything I can do to help?”