Sovereign of the Ashes

The battle outside the fortress was more intense than expected.

The enslaved creatures, used as cannon fodder by the Magus Civilization, stirred up clouds of blood mist in their initial clash with the native creatures of Thunderfall World.

The inhabitants of Thunderfall World wielded javelins tipped with sharp, diamond-shaped stones, seemingly crafted from electro-attribute ores, granting them the ability to harness electro elemental energy.

In contrast, the weapons used by the enslaved creatures of the Magus Civilization varied widely.

These cannon fodder creatures, hailing from different planes and ethnic groups, were too diverse for their armaments to be standardized.

Besides, their primary value in this interplanar war lay not in their weaponry, but in their flesh and blood.

Although the enslaved creatures from the Magus World’s planes were not particularly powerful, they displayed unwavering obedience.

Even as the elemental assault raged, the Thunderfall World creatures maintained high morale, charging forward like frenzied beasts and monsters.

Those at the front lines even seemed ready to die.

Yet, despite the fierce onslaught from the Thunderfall World Army, the enslaved creatures stationed at the fortress’ first line of defense managed to hold their ground.

Under the command of the Magus Civilization, creatures from diverse planes and backgrounds fought valiantly in front of the fortress, marking their final stand before their bones were scattered across the battlefield.

Such was the sad dirge to their tragic fate.

The true measure of a top-tier civilization extended beyond its facade.

The more accomplished an empire, the greater the pile of bones beneath its throne in unseen corners.

With the enslaved creatures at the forefront and ample long-range area-of-effect spells supporting their efforts, the initial stages of the fortress’ defense were relatively manageable.

The knight legions stationed within the camp swiftly mobilized.

Although the main forces were fighting fiercely at the frontline, about two thousand knights on the western side of the fortress remained within its walls.

Following orders from the fortress command center, they opted not to sally forth but to capitalize on the fortress’ robust defenses and the cannon fodder to engage in the battle.

The decision by the fortress command center was undeniably wise.

For knights and mages like Sein, the objective was clear—hold the fortress, and their mission would be complete.

Tens of thousands of knights and hundreds of thousands of elite enslaved creatures were already deployed on the front line, sufficient to scour the Thunder Plains battlefield several times over.

Moreover, the command center of the space fortress was more focused on the broader strategic implications than on the immediate conflict unfolding before them.

***

Although the primary duty of Sein and the other fortress mages was to keep unleashing their best magic spells throughout the conflict, human endurance had its limits.

It had been quite some time since the onset of the war, and even Rank Two mages like Sein were struggling with the frequent need to unleash long-range spells.

The situation was even more dire for Rank One mages, whose focus and mana reserves were notably inferior to Sein’s.

By the seventh day, the intensity of elemental firepower raining from the sky had noticeably diminished.

While stronger Rank Two mages like Sein managed to persevere, the Rank One mages had reached their limits.

This was a significant issue since they comprised ninety percent of the spellcasters.

The fortress command center had supplied the mages with ample energy crystals and essential magical ingredients.

While most mages also had their supplies for replenishing mana and focus, potions were not a sustainable form of sustenance.

Rest was essential, and focus could not be fully restored by potions alone; meditation was necessary.

Thus, by the ninth day, a directive was issued to all mages, including Sein, to adopt a rotating schedule to ensure each mage had some time to recover.

The enslaved creatures bore the brunt of this adjustment, but their welfare was considered inconsequential.

After all, the term ”cannon fodder” was not merely figurative—it explicitly defined their expendable role in the interplanar war.

Meanwhile, the knights stationed within the fortress, having exerted minimal effort in the earlier defensive battle, remained fresh and eager.

As the frequency of magical assaults in the sky diminished, the fortress’s defense remained robust with minimal impact.

Many knights, previously unengaged, awaited their turn with bated breath.

The aggressive advance of the Thunderfall World creatures had conveniently spared them the trouble of initiating combat.

By the tenth day of the battle outside the fortress, a massive barrier of flesh and blood had formed outside the Thunder Plains camp.

Endless corpses and dismembered parts from the Thunderfall World creatures piled up, mixed with numerous enslaved creatures from the Magus World.

The forces from Thunderfall World that were besieging the western side of the main fortress base clearly exceeded the initial hundred thousand.

A mere hundred thousand could not have caused an upheaval of this scale.

Furthermore, these creatures appeared fearless in the face of death, with no end in sight to their reinforcements.

It was evident to even the untrained eye that the number of Thunderfall World assailants had surged past two hundred thousand!

Regrettably, Sein had been too preoccupied with operating his magic towers to observe the changes on the main frontline.

With most Rank One mages at the main fortress base exhausted, it was crucial for higher-ranked mages like Sein to step in.

As a result, the past few days had been Sein’s busiest since the conflict began!

It was not until the twelfth day that Sein managed to find some respite.

The mages who had rested earlier quickly compensated for the gaps in elemental assault left during Sein’s brief absence.

As a prudent mage, Sein had always conserved a small reserve of energy during this period so that he was ready to address any unforeseen challenges.

This time was no exception. Although Sein could still fight, he took advantage of the command center’s strategy and secured two to three days of rest.

After ceasing the relentless assault from his magic towers, Sein tasked Yuri with inspecting the elemental arrays in all five magic towers.

Yuri, having worked with Sein for years, was familiar with the basics. Any potential issues she identified would be reported immediately to Sein, enabling him to address them promptly and maintain the efficiency of their operations.

After sending Yuri away on her task, Sein did not immediately retreat into meditation.

Instead, he climbed to the top floor of the main magic tower. Using the Elemental Eye hovering outside, he turned his gaze toward the northeastern battlefield.

As he expected, the situation on the Thunder Plains had undergone a dramatic shift over the past ten days or so.

The creatures of Thunderfall World, once dispersed by the Magus World’s main forces, had turned to confront their foes with the ferocity of cornered beasts.

A conflict far more intense than any battle at the main fortress base now raged at the heart of the Thunder Plains, staining the ground a deep, ominous red!

Due to the ongoing fierce engagements on the western front of the fortress, Sein had remained largely unaware of the significant turmoil unfolding to the northeast.