Sovereign of the Ashes

The Thunder Beast was not Sein’s trophy, yet he was deeply intrigued by it.

At its prime, the Thunder Beast boasted the strength of a late-stage Rank One creature.

The pillar-shaped crystals on its massive back could communicate with the thunderclouds above, unleashing long-range lightning strikes.

During the battle, these Thunder Beasts had been the primary targets of the Magus World Army.

Mages positioned at the rear of the battlefield had focused their attacks on these massive creatures, treating them as prime targets.

The Thunder Beast before Sein was covered in wounds. Clearly, it had endured a barrage of various elemental spells.

The most lethal injury was a huge gash that ran diagonally from its neck to its abdomen.

It bled profusely, with copious amounts of blood dyeing the ground beneath the mighty creature a vivid red.

Some of the beast’s internal organs were grotesquely exposed through the gaping wound.

Without immediate care, it would not survive much longer even if it was a creature of Rank One.

”Are you interested in it? Just claim it through your badge, and it’ll be yours!” said a Rank Two Land Knight clad in black armor, who had appeared beside Sein at some point.

This Thunder Beast, scarred and battered yet still alive, made it difficult to determine to whom it truly belonged as a trophy.

Sein’s exceptional performance in the recent battle had caught the attention of all the surrounding knights.

Among them was a Rank Two Land Knight, who witnessed Sein’s impressive defeat of a Rank Two green-skinned Garth.

This knight, clad in black armor, had been fighting nearby earlier and, as such, naturally held some authority over the distribution of spoils.

The aftermath of the conflict left an abundance of corpses from the creatures of Thunderfall World, ensuring there were no issues with fair distribution of loot.

After respectfully bowing to the black-armored knight, Sein retrieved a potion that could heal external wounds and approached the Thunder Beast.

In the Astral Realm, most life forms were sentient beings.

The Rank One Thunder Beast before Sein was no exception; it was clearly more than just a low-intelligence animal.

Just moments before, tears welled up in its large eyes as it looked toward the setting sun, revealing a poignant yearning for life.

As Sein applied the potion to the beast’s massive abdominal wound, it whimpered softly.

The look it gave Sein was one of complex emotions.

Fortunately, the creature did not react aggressively.

Its demeanor toward Sein and the other invaders from the Magus World was significantly less hostile compared to that of the Garths.

Its huge eyelids slowly drooped, resigning itself to whatever fate lay ahead.

***

After the battle on the western part of Thunder Marsh, Sein and his comrades enjoyed a welcomed period of calm and rest.

Sein’s commendable performance had placed him firmly in the spotlight at the Thunder Marsh camp, earning him recognition among many knights.

More importantly, his presence on the frontline during the battle enabled him to assist nearby knights more effectively and precisely with his elemental power.

If he had been providing support from the rear, the knights in the thick of battle might not have noticed or appreciated the source of their aid.

However, Sein’s conspicuous valor not only made him memorable but also garnered the goodwill of many.

Interactions among knights were typically straightforward.

A few shared battles were enough to forge strong bonds of brotherhood, as camaraderie was highly valued.

Everyone preferred to be allied with someone who would readily lend a hand in the throes of battle.

The conflict in the western plains marked Sein’s initial integration into the Order of the Steel Fist, broadening his social circle.

Now, when Sein revisited the fortress camp to request resources or missions, he could secure the best deals and support even without Jeremy or Julius’ help.

Unlike mages, who adhered strictly to contractual obligations and maintained a rigid demeanor, knights placed a higher value on personal bonds and friendship, recognizing that these relationships could make things easier in times of need.

Sein was far from pedantic, and he adeptly navigated the overtures from other knights.

His approachable demeanor allowed him to integrate more smoothly into the group at the Thunder Marsh camp than other external support mages, making him notably popular.

Most mages were reserved, preferring to interact mainly within their own circles and often displaying a superior attitude toward knights.

This complex dynamic between knights and mages was commonplace in the Magus World.

Knights, however, typically harbored both envy and respect for the knowledgeable mages

Although the mages’ condescension rarely bred outright resentment among the knights, there were occasional murmurs of discontent regarding their arrogance.

Nevertheless, whenever they needed alchemy tools, magic potions, or long-range support, the knights would inevitably turn to these mages, showing deference.

Sein’s affable nature not only won him the favor and respect of the knights but did so even more effortlessly due to his affiliation with House Grantt.

In the camp, he was commonly introduced by the knights as “the mage from House Grantt.”

The appearance of a gifted mage in a pure knight house was a rarity.

Sein capitalized on this opportunity by trading the magic potions and magic artifacts he crafted for exotic materials and rare specimens from the knights.

He even acquired two Garth corpses that had been powered up by lightning before their death.

Such exchanges of mutual benefit significantly improved Sein’s relations in the camp and expanded his circle of friends.

However, Sein had not always been this sociable.

Previously, he was as reclusive, xenophobic, and aloof as the other mages, perhaps even more so!

He even avoided unnecessary contact with other elementalists like himself.

The Sein of the past would have considered interactions with these brutes known as knights a mere waste of time.

He had believed that his efforts were better spent secluded in his laboratory, immersed in research.

So, what caused this shift in his demeanor?

Reflecting on it now, the sweet and joyous reunion with Leena in the Western Archipelago seemed to have opened his eyes to a new perspective on life.

***

“It’s been a long time, Leena. How have you been?” Sein greeted, smiling at the elemental screen in his magic tower at the Thunder Marsh camp.