Sovereign of the Ashes

After leaving the crimson planet, roughly three hundred thousand Klytheran fighters piloted their metal fleet toward the Magus Civilization’s star domain. The rest escorted the low-ranking Klytheran populace to Blue Star.

“With the war between the Magus Civilization and the Gallant Federation still raging, bringing an entire legion to defect will command far more attention from the Magus Civilization than a lone Rank Four or above defector ever could,” Karazo said to those around him.

“The journey into the Magus Civilization’s territory is likely to be rough; the fighters should acclimate themselves ahead of time,” he added.

This alien contingent bound for the Magus Civilization’s star domain was small in number but exceptionally high in quality.

Putting aside the three hundred thousand ranked Klytheran fighters, the ten or so Rank Four and above beings accompanying them were enough to form a terrifying force on their own!

Among them, six were Rank Fives, including Sein.

Drew insisted on joining the expedition.

Given his weakened state, retiring on Blue Star would have been the best option.

Yet, the moment he heard about the ongoing war between the Magus Civilization and the Gallant Federation, Drew demanded to take part in the fight against the federation.

It was easy to understand why he felt that way.

If he missed this chance, he might never again face the Gallant Federation legions directly.

This old Rank Five Klytheran refused to die with regrets.

The Darian, Orric, Beatrice, and the other foreign powerhouses all had their own reasons for joining the expedition.

The only one Sein could not read at all was the electro elemental being named Auron.

He had traveled to Blue Star alone, and even after multiple conversations, Auron never once mentioned its homeplane.

Sein only knew, vaguely, that he came from Voltara World. Beyond that, he knew nothing about it.

“Auron is a mysterious Rank Four being. Perhaps his homeplane, Voltara World, is stronger overall than the other foreign worlds supporting Blue Star. It’s also the farthest one from Blue Star, so gathering any reliable intel on it is extremely difficult,” Sein whispered to Yuri via mental focus.

There were things Sein could not discuss with others, not even with Kram. As close as they were, he still could not just tell her everything.

Only Yuri, who had stayed by his side through countless storms, earned the occasional glimpse into his deeper thoughts. With her, he sometimes shared what he kept from the rest.

Some things Yuri understood; others she struggled with.

But she was a good listener, and Sein did not need her to offer advice.

“How has your training been going? And those Energy Amethysts... has Burning Flame absorbed them all?” Sein asked.

He had crafted a special training regimen just for Yuri.

After all, Yuri had followed him for years, and her growth had never fallen far behind his own.

Because of that, Sein put more effort and more of his own resources into Yuri than anyone else.

“I finished all the training sessions on schedule, but it feels like I’ve hit a plateau. My progress isn’t as noticeable anymore,” Yuri replied. “And Burning Flame has also reached her limit in absorbing the Energy Amethysts. Right after the breakthrough, her absorption rate spiked, but it has leveled off again.”

“Hmm. You still need to keep up with the training. It seems like life-or-death situations will also help you break past your limits,” Sein said.

“It’s a pity my progress in deciphering Blue Star’s Gray Quartz and Klytherite has been too slow. Otherwise, I have a feeling those crystals could bring major benefits to both you and Burning Flame.”

“What exactly was the Gallant Federation after, all those years ago? What drove them to spare no effort in annihilating the Klythera Civilization?” Sein murmured, head lowered in thought.

Suddenly, a deafening crash shattered Sein’s train of thought.

They were under attack!

***

The attackers targeting Sein and his group were a wandering tribe in the Astral Realm, numbering roughly two hundred thousand.

Two hundred thousand against three hundred thousand?

It was not that this Astral Realm tribe had lost their minds; this was simply normal in the Chaos Sea Star Domain.

It was not particularly large. At best, it was comparable to a medium-sized star domain.

And it had never been called “Chaos Sea” originally; that was simply the name the Klytherans gave it when they first arrived.

The various other races living here likely called it something else entirely.

What was certain, however, was that most of the races inhabiting the Chaos Sea Star Domain were homeless wandering tribes who had already lost their homeplanes.

Only displaced foreign races would choose to survive in an environment as harsh as the Chaos Sea.

During their previous journey through this star domain, Sein had already noticed countless dangerous regions where chaotic forces converged.

Even for beings at Rank Three, traveling through this region carried a serious risk.

“This wandering tribe must have only just migrated here. Otherwise, they wouldn’t fail to recognize the insignia of our Klytheran Legion,” Karazo said, shaking his head as the hostile nomads scattered like frightened birds under the Klytheran Legion’s counterattack.

The Klytheran survivors had built a fearsome reputation in the Chaos Sea Star Domain over the years.

Under normal circumstances, no wandering race would dare provoke them.

Any who had tried in the past were long dead.

Only through bloodshed and slaughter could one secure a foothold in the Chaos Sea Star Domain and keep their people from being bullied or wiped out by others.

“Where did these wandering races come from?” Sein asked.

“They could be from anywhere. This star domain’s harsh environment is filled with portals that open and close at random. Wandering tribes and foreign evil deities inevitably end up lost here.

“Besides that, a large number of them probably come from the region around Arid Expanse World. The smaller groups our people have encountered all came from that area. Their homeplanes were seized by Arid Expanse World.

“Many planes and civilizations also believe that Arid Expanse World may soon ascend to a large-sized plane and become the center of its surrounding star domains,” Karazo explained.

Since the contract was already signed and their entry into the Magus Alliance confirmed, there was no longer a need for secrecy.

As they made their way to the Magus Civilization’s territory, Karazo answered Sein’s questions openly, revealing everything he knew.