Sovereign of the Ashes

Had it not been for Sein’s reminder, Tourmaline might have forgotten about the Rank Two black mage and his remains might have been lost to the depths of the sea.

For Tourmaline, the corpse of a Rank Two black mage might be worthless, but that was not the case for Sein!

However, it was not the mage’s magicoins or material wealth that drew Sein’s attention; it was the wealth of knowledge that the mage possessed.

Sein was keenly interested in the mage’s expertise in soul magic, alchemy, or any magic notes he had left behind!

When Tourmaline retrieved the Rank Two black mage’s body from the sea, his corpse had already reverted to human form. However, every inch of his skin was cracked—a ghastly sight indeed.

The mage had been crushed by sheer force, and Sein noticed the rather dense umbra elemental particles still chaotically swirling around the corpse.

The Rank Two black mage had truly met a terrible end!

Sein recalled that when the Rank Two black mage burst out of the green cage, he was in an explosive state and his strength was momentarily doubled compared to before.

As a longtime dweller of the Blackhaven, the mage surely had other tricks up his sleeve.

Yet, despite his formidable powers and likely other undisclosed abilities, he was unceremoniously crushed by a single slap from Tourmaline.

This display of raw power left Sein in awe, and he found a strange comfort in the giant tortoise’s easygoing nature.

Tourmaline showed no interest in the spoils left by the Rank Two black mage, leaving them entirely to Sein.

Sein sensed a potent draconic aura emanating from the giant tortoise, confirming his suspicion that this creature with peculiar horns was, in fact, draconic in nature.

However, it seemed wealth held little allure for Tourmaline. From their brief interactions, Sein discovered that Tourmaline preferred slumber over riches.

Despite having slept for over a millennium, Tourmaline remained vigorous and sprightly, navigating the surrounding sea with ease and providing Sein with an unexpected mode of transportation.

The legacy left by the Rank Two black mage was considerable. Although every inch of his skin was cracked, his possessions were largely intact.

Tourmaline’s attack seemed to be focused on only his body, leaving the magic artifacts largely unscathed.

It was hard for Sein to understand how this seemingly simple yet powerful creature could wield such fine control over its power.

Although they were moving across the sea, Sein felt an unexpected security on Tourmaline’s back.

The creature’s preference for sunbathing rather than submerging into the ocean meant Sein stayed dry from seawater.

Sev was flying near Tourmaline’s massive head, seemingly drawn to Tourmaline possibly due to their shared nature as “magic beasts”.

Most importantly, Sev’s close bond with Tourmaline was solidified when the giant tortoise swiftly healed Sev’s injured wing with a column of water from its mouth.

This method of treatment surpassed Sein’s understanding of conventional healing magic, leading him to speculate that it was a form of a hydro elemental healing spell, albeit with a unique twist.

Tourmaline had healed Sev of its own accord, not at Sein’s request.

The fact that Sev could get along well with the giant tortoise brought great relief to Sein.

Sein continued going through the Rank Two black mage’s legacy. The first item he picked up was an azure crystal necklace.

The swirling spatial energy within it resonated with him, prompting him to attempt activating it with his mental focus.

The crystal necklace, surprisingly unencrypted by the black mage, allowed Sein’s mental focus to easily activate the magic array inside it.

In a brilliant flash of blue light, a large fish tank materialized before them. The first thing that drew Sein’s attention was a shimmering pink mermaid tail.

SPLASH!

The powerful splash showed Sein that the mermaid was not a damsel in distress waiting to be exploited by others.

Although her life level was below Rank One, her innate talent and mastery over water manipulation hinted that she could contend with Rank One creatures for a short period.

The splash had little effect on Sein. When the mermaid surged forth, Yuri, who was standing by his side, shielded him with the sturdy frame of her mecha.

As droplets from the water tank collided with her Burning Flame Unit, they produced a resounding metallic clank, demonstrating the water’s potency.

With Tourmaline under his feet, Sein had no intention of fighting the mermaid.

He anticipated Tourmaline’s empathy, given their shared affinity for the sea, so he treated the mermaid with respect rather than as a mere enslaved creature.

Yet, respecting her did not mean indulging her.

Sein directed his powerful mental focus as a Rank One mage, amplified by the Verdant Flame Heart Rod, toward the mermaid trapped in the tank before him.

When the mermaid finally settled down, he said, “The Rank Two black mage who imprisoned you is dead; you’re free now.”

The mermaid froze, seemingly processing the dual shock of her newfound freedom and the demise of her captor.

Tourmaline, who had playfully submerged its head in the seawater, picked up on the subtle disturbance on its back. Raising its colossal head, it turned to glance behind.

The sight of the massive tortoise head, with its distinctive dragon-like horns, caused the pink-tailed mermaid’s eyes to widen in awe.

As a member of the ocean’s imperial family, the mermaid recognized the significance of the giant tortoise.

“Sea God?” she whispered shakily.

Her voice had a melodious quality that Sein imagined would be captivating if she sang.

It was known among the aquatic races that the Sirens were perennially at odds with the Nagas.

They possessed voices so enchanting that they were rumored to be the foundation of the sonido magic explored by mages in the Magus World.

Sein could not help but wonder how this mermaid’s voice compared to those legendary Sirens.

Yet, it appeared there had been a misunderstanding. The mermaid had mistaken Tourmaline for another.

“No, the ‘Sea God’ you’re referring to could be my father, or perhaps my eldest brother or second brother, but it’s definitely not me. I’m just a baby tortoise who hatched less than five thousand years ago.

“I’ve only recently left the Western Archipelago so I haven’t had much contact with aquatic races like you before,” it replied honestly.