Sovereign of the Ashes

Jimmy’s last name revealed his affiliation with the renowned House Donald of the Alveroth Empire.

Sein had first heard of them from Aurelia, the Goddess of Wealth.

Magus World was home to several illustrious, top-tier financial conglomerates.

Examples included House Morgan of Western Archipelago, the Blackstone Chamber of Commerce of the Byrne Empire, and House Donald of the Alveroth Empire.

In this civilization of magic and battle qi, personal and familial strength largely determined one’s power and status.

Wealth did not hold the same prominence it did in the Gallant Federation.

The influence of the families Aurelia had mentioned likely came not only from their vast wealth but also from their connections to powerful mages or factions within Magus World.

For instance, House Morgan might have ties to influential figures in the Western Archipelago, while the Blackstone Chamber of Commerce was rumored to enjoy backing from members of the Byrne Empire’s imperial family.

House Donald’s prominence in the Alveroth Empire likely stemmed from its deep ties to the Magic Empire itself.

Given the family’s standing, the mage standing before them was certainly not House Donald’s only Rank Five powerhouse.

Sein had learned from multiple sources that Clair, the Alveroth Empire’s soul overmage, had personally arrived on the Grand Eye Demon World battlefield.

Even if the Alveroth Empire was not directly responsible for the conflicts surrounding the Grand Eye Demon World, they were undoubtedly playing a significant role.

Of course, Sein had no intention of offending them without cause.

“Contributing to Magus World during the Clash of Civilizations is the duty of every knight and mage. Since Master Jimmy believes I can be useful in this region’s conflicts, I shall fulfill my role to the fullest,” Sein replied.

Jimmy smiled and nodded at his response.

There was something about the shape of his long face that made him look a little comical.

Combined with his playful tone when greeting Sein, it made Sein feel surprisingly at ease around this mage, who was of a rank higher than his own life level.

It felt less like a first meeting and more like two old friends reuniting.

Jimmy cast a curious glance at Yuri, who stood behind Sein within the Burning Flame Unit.

“This must be your mecha maid, Master Sein,” he remarked. “She certainly looks formidable.”

Jimmy continued, “The reason we requested the great soul overmage, Master Clair, to transfer you here is that the Mirage Wurm World battlefield holds great importance for our Magus Civilization Army. This low-level plane is the key to the success of our alliance legions’ upcoming assault on the Sapphire Scorpionfly Plane. We must secure this territory.”

“The hallucinatory powers of the creatures native to the Mirage Wurm World have proven a major obstacle to many of our allied forces, particularly their Rank Five king ruling this world. Even I struggle to break free from its illusory domain. Therefore, we humbly request Master Sein’s assistance,” he said.

“Illusionary laws... I’m not exactly well-versed in that field,” Sein admitted, frowning.

“Ah, but I have heard Master Sein possesses a world-class secret treasure known as the Faceless Mask?” Jimmy asked.

Sein fell silent.

Following his acquisition of the Faceless Mask, Sein had gone through the White Sand World War, the Pyreling World War, the Gallant Federation infiltration mission, and many years of battle in Radbow World.

Anyone intent on digging into his history would have little trouble discovering that he possessed a world-class secret treasure.

Jimmy, coming from House Donald, clearly had access to many powerful connections and dependable intelligence sources.

Sein even suspected that House Donald had not been the one to orchestrate his transfer to Mirage Wurm World.

Rather, it was likely Clair who decided to send him to this low-level battlefield after assessing its situation.

With the Faceless Mask, Sein indeed had a natural edge when it came to breaking illusions.

The battlefield in Mirage Wurm World itself was nothing extraordinary; its level of intensity was likely below that of the previous Radbow World conflict.

After all, this world only housed a single Rank Five Mirage Wurm King. The other Gallant Federation warfleets and Grand Eye Demon World legions had already retreated deep into the Eye Demon Star Domain.

However, the Sapphire Scorpionfly Plane behind Mirage Wurm World carried far greater strategic value.

As a medium-sized plane within the Grand Eye Demon World’s star domain, it was a target the Magus Civilization was determined to seize at all costs.

Within the Sapphire Scorpionfly Plane, beyond the Rank Six creature that had drawn the Magus Civilization’s attention, there were still remnants of the federal fleet and forces from the Eye Demon World.

It seemed neither the Grand Eye Demon World nor the Gallant Federation had any intention of giving up that plane.

Capturing the Mirage Wurm Plane would clear the way for the eventual assault on the Sapphire Scorpionfly Plane.

As a Rank Four Magus World mage, Sein naturally had to give his all in this low-level interplanar battlefield.

***

The Grand Eye Demon World, homeland of billions of Eye Demons, was a land of rare violet hue.

The laws of this large-sized world were also extraordinary.

Vast swathes of purple miasma drifted endlessly across the land, while shimmering violet crystal lakes dotted its surface.

Here, the Eye Demons flourished freely, but other lifeforms, whether of flesh and blood or elemental essence, found it almost impossible to adapt to the world’s environmental laws.

Among the Magus Alliance, there was a tale about this unsettling realm.

It spoke of a Rank Four deity from the alliance who loved to wander the planes. This god had once lived in the Grand Eye Demon World for two whole centuries.

But when it finally left the plane, an extra eyeball had grown uncontrollably on its face. Even with its power, it had failed to remove the eye on its own.

In the end, the deity had to seek help from a law-wielding Magus World mage, who conducted an experimental surgical procedure to extract it.

That story alone was enough to remind all who heard it that this world was no easy target!

While the Eye Demons thrived here like fish in water, outsiders who entered this plane faced strange and ever-intensifying planar suppression.

The fact that even Rank Four beings were affected by its pressure was proof that this was indeed a large-sized world!

Yet, despite the challenges, the Magus Civilization did not see the Eye Demon World as unconquerable.

Surprisingly, the world’s own ruler, the Rank Seven Evileye Tyrant Monarch, seemed to share that same belief.

It, too, knew its homeplane would not hold forever, and that knowledge filled it with dread.

The Evileye Tyrant Monarch understood the might of the Magus Civilization all too well.

Had it not already pledged allegiance to a plane far stronger than Magus World, it would never have dared betray the Magus Alliance.

Now, with the Gallant Federation trapped in the ongoing war within the Netherworld Star Domain, it might not be able to come to its rescue.

Left with no other choice, the Evileye Tyrant Monarch could only reach out in secret to its true backing lurking behind the scenes...