Sovereign of the Ashes

The peak Rank Seven silver-robed soul overmage sighed and said, “My father once commented that among us three siblings, I was the least talented. He worried the most for me, but since I inherited the purest bloodline of the Magus World, he bestowed upon me with most of his inheritance.”

“He was right. I have not lived up to his expectations, and I’m uncertain about the future I can secure for the Magus World,” she admitted.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Bev. You’ve done great. Our Magus Civilization has achieved so much over the past hundred and seventy thousand years, and you deserve a significant share of the credit for that,” Zenasus responded earnestly.

“A hundred and seventy thousand years, huh? It’s hard to believe so much time has passed.” Bev sighed once more, her tone tinged with nostalgia.

Bev’s doubts were fueled by a dire prophecy the Magus Civilization had received ten thousand years ago, foretold by Master Jehovah Nordin, the only soul astrologer from the Eastern Stargazing Heights.

The prophecy pointed to a source of danger, prompting the Magus Civilization to maintain a high alert for nearly ten millennia.

Most of the major forces in the Magus World, led by overlords and overmages, had been deploying legions and vanguards to scout the indicated star domain for years.

The Magus Civilization had actually been wary of that particular star domain long before the prophecy even arrived.

The higher echelons of the Magus Civilization were alarmed when they received the prophecy, yet they were already somewhat mentally prepared.

This was particularly true for the venerable ancients who had lived over two hundred thousand years and possessed intimate knowledge of the Magus World’s ancient history and its development.

Although Bev and Zenasus could also be regarded as “ancients” within the Magus World, there were entities far older than they were. Yet, these figures had largely chosen not to intervene in worldly affairs.

The direction and growth of the Magus Civilization now rested largely on the shoulders of Bev, Zenasus, and others.

The ancients, now nearly forgotten, remained hidden from the world. They would intervene only when the Magus Civilization faced existential threats.

The prophecy from the Eastern Stargazing Heights ten thousand years ago could almost be classified as one.

Aware of her limitations, the weight of Bev’s concerns and pressures grew heavier. Achieving the status of a Rank Eight soul overmage might significantly reduce this burden.

“If only my younger sister hadn’t left the Magus Star Domain. With her and her insect army, our odds of facing this crisis could increase by at least twenty percent,” Bev lamented.

Zenasus remained silent on this matter. Although he recognized the strength of Bev’s younger sister, he firmly believed that the destiny of the Magus Civilization should be determined by its own members, without dependence on external help.

Of course, the younger sister Bev mentioned was hardly an outsider. She shared half her lineage with the Magus World.

“I heard that the war between the Gallant Federation and the Rosen Dynasty Civilization is drawing to a close?” Zenasus shifted the topic, hoping to steer Bev away from self-reproach.

Indeed, the change of subject slightly lifted Bev’s spirits, moving her from a state of self-reproach to a more measured and composed attitude.

Bev’s stagnation at the peak of Rank Seven was not entirely due to a lack of talent compared to her two younger siblings. In fact, it was because her responsibilities far outweighed theirs.

Mages derived their power from truth and knowledge, so excessive distractions could hinder their growth.

Unlike Zenasus, who managed only one major force, Bev managed three...

Inheriting vast resources and wealth from her father, her power was also inevitably influenced by numerous external factors.

While Bev may only be a peak Rank Seven soul overmage, her possession of numerous top-tier secret treasures enabled her to stand toe-to-toe with a Rank Eight being.

Bev’s formidable treasures were also the very reason her progression to Rank Eight had been more arduous.

“The Gallant Federation has blatantly violated the peace treaty by declaring war on the Rosen Dynasty Civilization, timing their assault to coincide with our Magus Civilization’s military deployment to the Grand Cosmic World,” Bev explained.

“The Gallant Federation may be onto something too. This technological civilization, having ascended to the peak of civilization status, appears to have been deceiving us from the start!” she added with visible frustration.

“Are we going to wage war against the Gallant Federation?” Zenasus asked.

Bev threw him a glance, then took a deep breath and shook her head.

“It’s not that simple. The challenge of confronting a top-tier civilization far exceeds that of overcoming a large-sized world. Just because the Rosen Dynasty Civilization’s fire seed and survivors have sought refuge with us, doesn’t mean we’re obligated to intervene on their behalf.”

For nearly two hundred thousand years, the Gallant Federation, Rosen Dynasty Civilization, Magus World, Grand Cosmic World, and several other leading world civilizations had upheld a peace treaty.

Yet, this peace was as fragile as paper in the face of significant power disparities.

Historically, the Magus World, recognized as a leading civilization, had consistently served as the focal point for all surrounding world civilizations. Capitalizing on its esteemed status, it had attracted immense wealth and power from its neighbors, leading to the formation of the powerful Magus Alliance.

Clearly, the Gallant Federation refused to yield to the Magus Civilization. Unbeknownst to many, it had risen to the top echelon of civilizations, biding its time in silence for years.

It was only when the Magus World was distracted, including its engagement in the Neisse Star Domain, that the Gallant Federation launched its ten-thousand-year-long conquest against the Rosen Dynasty civilization.

As a major civilization, the Rosen Dynasty’s strength far surpassed that of the Neisse Civilization.

However, caught off-guard by the Gallant Federation’s full-scale assault, the Rosen Dynasty suffered repeated defeats.

The Gallant Federation’s ability to corner the Rosen Dynasty within a mere ten thousand years was a clear demonstration of its considerable might.

Many soul overmages and knight overlords in the Magus World speculated that the Gallant Federation’s aggressiveness was a deliberate display for the Magus World to witness.

Given the Magus Civilization’s superior heritage and history as a long-standing leading civilization, the Gallant Federation harbored concerns about potential retribution from the Magus Civilization.

As a result, it sought to flex its military muscle as a deterrent, preventing them from seeking vengeance under the guise of the peace treaty.

This show of strength had indeed led to heated debates among the Magus World’s soul overmages and knight overlords about the advisability of deploying their forces against the Gallant Federation.

Setting aside the astrological prophecy, immediate concerns had already emerged.

The Magus Civilization, despite its might, faced numerous unstable factors and unforeseen challenges.

Given these circumstances, one could only imagine the pressure shouldered by Bev.

This burden was so significant that it was interfering with her efforts to become a Rank Eight soul overmage.