Sovereign of the Ashes

This azure light orb was probably the creation of a Magus World soul overmage.

Even with Sein’s knowledge and the Faceless Mask’s analytical power, he could not make out the true nature of the sphere, let alone the deeper mysteries hidden inside it.

As the glow faded from the artificial satellite, the orb in Sein’s hand lost some of its brilliance. Titanfang and the other robots before him showed no visible change in appearance.

The only real difference could best be described as... a shift in demeanor, like someone who had just broken free from chains and now carried a spark of confidence and growing ambition.

Sein even guessed that Titanfang and the others might have gained a small boost in strength because of it.

Still, it was uncertain whether the soul overmage who created the light orb had left behind some kind of hidden measure to counter these robots who had just gained “freedom”.

After the orb worked its magic, the robots were clearly in high spirits.

Among them, Titanfang, their leader, was the calmest. As it savored the taste of freedom, its mechanical eyes lingered on the light orb in Sein’s hand with a trace of desire and longing.

Only when Sein tucked the item away did Titanfang finally look away.

Sein smiled at Titanfang and the other robots standing behind it. He was not worried they would harm him.

The Titanfangs would not do that, at least not now.

After all, only Sein could make the light orb work, and that alone was enough to guarantee his safety deep behind enemy lines.

Until all three layers of restrictions on Titanfang and the others were lifted, this powerful Rank Six leader would never turn against him.

And even once they gained true freedom, their built-in programs would still serve as one safeguard, while the conditions of their environment by then could also provide another layer of protection for Sein.

The Gallant Federation would never accept these “rebellious” robots anyway. In the larger picture of the Astral Realm and the coming Clash of Civilizations, what other choice did they have but to side with the Magus Civilization?

Sure enough, after pushing aside its brief fantasies, Titanfang rolled its neck and said, “Mage Sein, I think we can head to Nexon to lift the next restriction.”

“Oh? So there’s no need to worry about the Gallant Federation’s surveillance anymore?” Sein asked with a smile.

Not long ago, he had questioned why Titanfang and the others did not go to Nexon for negotiations, but instead chose to meet him here on this artificial satellite.

Titanfang explained that Nexon was a key surveillance hub of the federation, and holding talks there carried a far greater risk of exposure.

Of course, there was risk everywhere, but meeting directly on Nexon would have been far more dangerous.

And the reason Titanfang did not bring Sein to their “home base” right away was also because they had doubts about both the Magus Civilization itself and its method for removing the restrictions.

What if the Magus Civilization could not truly free them from the federation’s command control?

What if Magus World only sought to stir up rebellion within the federation, without any care for the robots’ fate afterward?

Titanfang had weighed many such possibilities.

This was a leader who never acted until the odds leaned toward certain success. It was powerful, proud, cold, but wise.

Its reputation among the awakened robots might not match that of the goody-two-shoes Skyhold, but Titanfang was far more pragmatic.

Perhaps that was why most of the advanced robots supported its vision.

In response to Sein’s question, Titanfang said gravely, “There’s still a risk of exposure. But as we are now, we should be able to handle most emergencies. Once we reach Nexon, remove the second layer of restrictions, and liberate the lower-tier robots, our ability to withstand risks will be even greater.”

“Of course, before accessing the Nexon’s central control, I hope you’ll help more of my people remove their restrictions first, Mage Sein,” it added.

The robots on Nexon were split into three groups: the Titanfangs, the Skyholders, and the vast ordinary robot legions that had not yet awakened to self-awareness.

Based on both Titanfang’s words and the power of the light orb, Sein realized he also had the ability to help them take control of those ordinary robot legions spread across the Nexon Star Domain.

After all, whether they were awakened or not, every robot still obeyed the commands issued by the federation’s supreme authority, hardwired into them as core directives.

If Sein could help Titanfang and the others regain freedom, then breaking the federation’s hold over the legions of ordinary robots here should be possible as well.

Titanfang was in such a hurry to bring Sein to Nexon because it was eager to have Sein help it seize power there, after witnessing the Magus Civilization and his capabilities.

The rise of the intelligent robot race and the fate of their future were not something Titanfang could achieve with just a handful of followers.

In the Magus Civilization, even Rank Four and higher mages and knights needed hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of lower-tier legions to support them in foreign campaigns.

Titanfang would clearly need the same.

If Nexon had only a dozen, or even a hundred, Rank Four beings, the Magus Civilization would not care much.

At best, that would put them on the level of a medium-sized plane civilization.

What truly mattered to the Magus Civilization was Nexon’s ability to supply the Gallant Federation’s frontlines with endless ranks of low-tier cannon fodder.

Seizing control of this star domain would tear a hole in the federation’s battle lines against the Magus Civilization.

And beyond the battlefield, it would also give Magus World a major edge in momentum and public opinion among surrounding civilizations.

Naturally, Sein did not refuse Titanfang’s request. After all, this was the very purpose of his mission.

The group boarded a ship and set course for Nexon.

***

Meanwhile, a federal general received a classified directive from high command. His fleet quietly made its way to the fringes of the Nexon Star Domain, ready to carry out a spy hunt.

Fleets or interstellar fortresses led by Gallant Federation generals were powerful enough to engage, and even annihilate, Rank Six lifeforms.

Those under lieutenant generals were about on par with Rank Fives, while fleets commanded by major generals could match Rank Fours.

As for the marshals, the forces they commanded had the power to rival overlord-level beings themselves.

But just like in the Magus Civilization, marshals were rare in the Gallant Federation, and even overlord-class fleets could not be mass-produced without limit.

This time, the federation sent only a four-star general. No marshals, no overlord-class fleet were sighted, most likely because their intelligence was incomplete.

For now, the federation had not detected any sign of rebellion among Nexon’s robots. If they had, the fleet sent here would have been far larger.

Of course, the federation’s choice not to mobilize an overlord-class fleet might also have been tied to their much larger priority: the upcoming epic Clash of Civilizations.