Sovereign of the Ashes

Every grand battlefield was essentially an amalgamation of hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller battlefields.

The silver fort that Sein and a dozen other mages were currently laying siege to represented just one of these smaller battlefields across the Blue Fiery Trench.

The Rank Two female mage leading them, whose name Sein had yet to learn, was a seasoned participant in interplanar wars.

Putting aside her elemental prowess, her adeptness at seizing tactical opportunities and selecting targets amidst the chaos of battle surely surpassed that of an average mage.

Their target, the silver fort, was perched on the sloping side of a towering ridge, distinct from the seven or eight other forts lining the ridge due to its isolated position.

This strategic placement, coupled with the ridge’s incline, allowed Sein and his companions to approach from the side at a certain altitude, evading the defensive fire from the other forts.

Not only that, the unique terrain and limited line of sight further complicated the Neisse Civilization Army’s ability to target them from other ridges or defensive fortifications.

Their only concern for Sein and his group was the firepower of the silver fort directly ahead.

“This is not my first time breaching a Neisse Civilization fort. I’ve even taken down a top-tier floating city before with the help of a few Rank Three grand mages. Once we break its external defenses, we’ll surely find a passage leading straight underground!” the Rank Two mage announced confidently to Sein and the rest via voice transmission.

Having such a skilled and experienced mage at the helm provided a sense of reassurance, especially for Sein and other mages participating in their first interplanar war.

While Sein felt no particular pressure, the Rank Two mage’s assurance brought an unexpected ease to his mind.

This sense of relief allowed him to gradually unleash his spells even more smoothly on the battlefield.

Yet, this did not imply an easy victory over the silver fort ahead.

The engineers from the Neisse Civilization had spent a long time fortifying the Blue Fiery Trench and definitely did not erect feeble defenses for the Magus Civilization to easily breach.

Given the long-standing conflict between the Neisse Civilization and the Magus World, spanning tens of thousands of years, both sides possessed a deep understanding of each other’s tactics and strategies.

The silver fort’s exterior was not just reinforced with Mithril, known for its resistance to magic elements, but its structural design was also highly durable against magic attacks.

Upon their arrival, Sein and the other mages quickly noticed the structural disadvantage of the fort that was precariously perched on the mountain ridge’s slope.

They were baffled that the engineers from the Neisse Civilization had overlooked this flaw over such a long time.

As they approached with a horde of enslaved creatures, the previously quiet silver fort suddenly unleashed a powerful beam.

With that single energy beam alone, a third of the enslaved creatures in front of the mages were decimated.

In that instant, the mages realized that its firepower was triple that of a standard fort on this battlefield!

Sein, positioned toward the rear, was spared the brunt of this unexpected assault.

However, he heard two mages closer to the front let out an agonized scream before they plummeted into the sea of molten lava below.

Two enslaved creatures capable of flight swiftly descended to rescue the two falling mages.

However, the fate of those mages remained uncertain, and amidst the chaos of battle, not even Sein had the luxury to dwell on the survival of his comrades.

This intense offensive from the silver fort momentarily halted their advance.

Not only them, but the entire Magus Civilization Army fighting at the Blue Fiery Trench faced similar challenges.

The Neisse Civilization, with its long history of warfare against the Magus Civilization, had honed its defenses to withstand even a siege that spanned thirty thousand years.

Although the invasion of the Neisse Civilization was a collaborative effort of only several dominant factions in the Magus World instead of a unified, full-scale campaign, the Neisse Civilization had proven itself to be a formidable presence among the major civilizations.

It stood out as a unique world civilization known for its remarkable developmental potential and adaptability. Likewise, the engineers from the Neisse Civilization also possessed qualities that earned the recognition and respect of some mages from the Magus World.

Serving as the “temporary commander” for Sein and about ten other mages, the Rank Two female mage was visibly disconcerted.

Since half of her face was obscured by her wide yellow hood, Sein could only see a glimpse of a small red mole near her quivering lips.

Clutching a bright yellow magic rod, she remained undaunted despite discovering the silver fort’s firepower was triple that of others. Her rapid and steady incantations resonated across the chaotic battlefield.

Those who were highly experienced in interplanar warfare usually developed a particular set of skills, and the Rank Two female mage leading the group was no exception.

Sein had yet to see her employ the quintessential trait of a Rank Two mage—the ability to elementalize their body.

Yet, a stunning yellow lotus flower began to materialize in front of her, growing more tangible as her incantation concluded.

This display of composite magic, weaving together the pyro, geo, and lumen elements, was a rare feat even among Rank Two mages. Not only that, Sein also noticed her remarkable proficiency across the three elemental domains.

During the regional academy war, Grimm, who was a newly promoted Quasi Mage at the time, utilized the obliteration power of both cryo and pyro elements to emerge as one of the phenomenal initiates.

However, the female mage before him who could wield composite magic of three elements appeared to possess even greater talent.

The magnificent yellow lotus flower did not let the Rank Two mage down.

Following the combined elemental assault led by Sein and his peers on the silver fort, a resounding explosion occurred, creating a huge crack in the fort’s previously impenetrable facade.

This breakthrough significantly boosted the morale of the mages assembled.

The Rank Two female mage promptly led the charge toward the silver fort on the mountain ridge.

Sein, along with the other mages, spurred the enslaved creatures forward, seizing the momentum to storm the compromised fort.