Sovereign of the Ashes

“Strange. Why didn’t you leave with the other federal scientists?” Sein asked bluntly. His tone carried respect, for the man before him was a learned sage in his own right.

In certain areas of truth-seeking, Dr. Bell had ventured further than Sein himself.

At least, Sein could not yet create a robot capable of gaining self-awareness, much less one reaching Rank Six.

As the chief scientist of this station, Dr. Bell had been the federal scholar who contributed most to the creation of Titanfang and Skyhold.

“Because I wish to preserve the experimental records here. I don’t want them destroyed. Blake and his team took some data when they left, but in their haste, they managed no more than twenty percent. My experiments are not yet perfected. I want to see them through to success. That has been my lifelong pursuit,” Dr. Bell replied.

To ordinary people, Gallant Federation scientists were paragons of knowledge. Yet they often carried traits of obsession, eccentricity, and stubbornness.

Magus World mages shared many of these same qualities.

In this regard, the two civilizations mirrored one another.

Dr. Bell did not deflect Sein’s question. He spoke plainly, revealing his true thoughts without hesitation.

Sein was caught off guard by his frankness.

He swept his gaze across the lab once more. There were not only rows of specialized workbenches in vast white space, but also suspended instruments hovering above them.

Many of the devices were sealed within reinforced glass cases.

Beyond that, hundreds of experimental doors lined the walls of the space. Considering the federation’s space expansion technology, each of those doors likely opened into laboratories of their own.

No wonder Dr. Bell had said it was nearly impossible to evacuate all the data and records from this station in such a rush.

This act of valuing knowledge above life itself stirred profound respect in Sein.

As for the scientists who had fled, Sein knew that even if he wished to pursue them, he could not possibly catch up now. Nor did he have time to waste.

Blake was the station’s second-in-command and Dr. Bell’s most trusted aide.

For a fleeting moment, Sein had even considered destroying this place outright.

As one of the Gallant Federation’s key experimental bases, the truths locked within BHR678 Space Station were enough to push their science in certain fields to new heights.

Keeping this place intact would clearly mean aiding the enemy.

And yet, as a seeker of truth, Sein found himself hesitating.

Destroying knowledge was not the act of a true seeker of truth.

Besides, Titanfang would likely not allow him to harm Michaelis Bell, who was no less than a father to it.

This was also the place where it had first awakened.

If Titanfang truly stood by and let Sein destroy this space station, then Sein would have to reassess his understanding of this robot and tread far more carefully in future dealings.

“This is the culmination of my life’s work. I can help you unlock the third layer of restraint in all intelligent robots, but you must agree not to destroy this place. That’s my only condition,” Dr. Bell said with a sigh, looking at Titanfang.

Sein might have represented the Magus Civilization, but in this moment, it was Titanfang who held the greatest authority here.

Even with Sein’s power, it would have been reckless to provoke Titanfang here.

Until the federation’s threat was resolved, he could not afford to start a conflict with these awakened robots.

Meeting Dr. Bell’s earnest, almost pleading eyes, Titanfang lowered its head.

“Very well... Father,” it replied solemnly.

It was the first time Titanfang had ever called him that.

And that single word made Dr. Bell, a man who had never fathered a child, tremble slightly.

The chief scientist did not say much in return; he was also a federal scholar of few words.

“Come. I will take you to the control hub,” Dr. Bell said at last, turning to lead the way.

He guided Sein and the others deeper into the white room. The remaining federal scientists stepped aside silently, clearing a path for them.

Clearly, those who had stayed behind valued their research and discoveries more than even their own lives.

***

In a control room lined with rows of electronic instruments, Sein produced a faintly glowing crimson orb.

Despite its dim light, it managed to draw every eye in the room.

Dr. Bell watched with an expression of fascination and curiosity as the light orb slowly sank into the metal console and disappeared from sight.

At some point, the chief scientist had put on a pair of electronic lenses, with endless streams of data running across their surfaces.

A touchscreen panel flickered into existence in his hand, and with a few motions, he pulled up a flood of diagrams.

“I never imagined the Magus Civilization had advanced so far in the creation of intelligent life! This is the ideal outcome of my ongoing experiments!” Dr. Bell exclaimed, his voice quivering with excitement.

Sein could not help but wonder what the man had learned.

Even a Rank Four mage like him could not make sense of the light orb, yet this old man had discerned something from it?

This was the creation of soul overmages of the Magus Civilization!

For a mere federal scientist to grasp even part of its secrets was enough to stir Sein’s dormant killing intent.

He respected Michaelis Bell. But when civilizations stood opposed, respect would not stop him from making the correct decision.

As Sein weighed whether he could strike quickly enough to end the old man here, Titanfang stepped forward.

Whether on purpose or by instinct, it moved to block Sein’s line of sight.

It might have aligned itself with the Magus Civilization, but its feelings toward its father were another matter. Titanfang would not stand by while Sein made a move.

Its subtle action made Sein frown.

Still, he was not a rash man. His eyes moved across the control room. Among the countless consoles and electronic devices, he spotted two faintly glowing cubes sealed within a transparent containment vessel.

Dozens of energy conduits fed into the vessel’s casing, and several light screens nearby streamed their data in real time.

Those cubes were clearly no ordinary devices.

“What are those?” Sein asked curiously.

The glow of the light orb dimmed to almost nothing. Its power was spent. Dr. Bell let out a long sigh.

Hearing Sein’s question, he replied, “That’s my creation. I call it the Magic Cube. It’s the source that gave Titanfang and the others their wisdom.”

His tone soured. “But my Magic Cube was never perfected, but your Magus Civilization has...”

“Magic Cube? I’m taking one with me!” Sein’s voice left no room for debate.