Sovereign of the Ashes

Syphen did not know whether the Infinity Light could undergo a fundamental transformation, as he was not its primary researcher.

What he could confirm, however, was that his own humanoid combat weapon technology was on the verge of a breakthrough.

To Syphen, the Norman Federation’s android technology was still just a form of “robotics”.

The key difference was that their androids were not built purely on robotics theory. Instead, they incorporated elements of biotechnology developed within the Norman Federation itself.

It was said that in earlier years, the Norman Federation had even preceded the Gallant Federation in researching genetic modification technologies aimed at elevating the life level of their native species.

To the Gallant Federation, this was a tough pill to swallow.

It also proved that even among technological civilizations, the top-tier Gallant Federation was not necessarily superior to the Norman Federation in every field.

The Gallant Federation also deeply coveted certain technologies and scientific achievements of the Norman Federation.

Unfortunately, the Norman Federation had always guarded its core technologies with extreme caution.

Despite infiltrating and turning many middle and lower-level personnel, as well as several top-tier legislators, the Gallant Federation had never gained access to the Norman Federation’s overlord-class android manufacturing technology.

As a large-sized technological civilization, the Norman Federation possessed three core technologies that formed the foundation of its existence: life-engineering modification, overlord-class androids, and overlord-class war fleets.

The Gallant Federation was not interested in the first and third.

Its own life-engineering modification capabilities had long surpassed those of the Norman Federation.

As for the Norman Federation’s overlord-class war fleet, it was almost laughable by the Gallant Federation’s standards.

Those overlord-class warships were likely on par with the outdated models the Gallant Federation had rendered obsolete more than a hundred thousand years ago.

When the two sides clashed on the battlefield during this war, Norman Federation fleets of the same rank were outmatched by those of the Gallant Federation in every conceivable aspect.

Only their overlord-class androids remained beyond the Gallant Federation’s grasp, and it was precisely this technology that they desired most.

To Syphen, these androids aligned perfectly with the humanoid combat weapons he had been researching all along.

The Gallant Federation’s first overlord-class robot?

Just the thought of achieving such a feat sent a shiver of excitement down Syphen’s spine!

Moreover, the angel-type robots he was creating were destined to surpass the Norman Federation’s androids.

After all, beyond robotics and biotechnology, Syphen also specialized in the study of angels.

In the distant past, the Radiant Celestials had created these angels as weapons of war.

Now, Syphen aimed to create angel-type robots to deploy them as weapons in the same way.

The remains of the overlord-class android laid out before him in the experimental base were only thirty-six percent intact. This showed just how absurdly destructive the Gallant Federation’s Infinity Light truly was.

The overlord-class core, which had served as its energy source, had long since been drained after directly absorbing the impact of the blast.

Only half of the depleted core remained, yet it still possessed immense research value.

In appearance, the Norman Federation’s overlord-class android resembled a powerfully built, middle-aged male warrior.

Its form was strikingly similar to that of a Magus World human, though whether this resemblance was meant to flatter the Magus World remained uncertain.

After all, Magus World humans and those of the Gallant Federation shared broadly similar physical traits.

Regardless, Syphen found this android’s appearance repulsive.

To him, angels were the epitome of perfection. He firmly believed that only angel-type robots could truly unleash the full potential of combat weapons.

The Radiant Celestials, who had once dominated their neighboring star domains, stood as proof of his belief.

Perhaps their dominance had not been solely due to their army of angels, but Syphen stubbornly clung to the idea regardless.

Magus World’s mages were often labeled “lunatics” or “fanatics” by beings from other star domains. By that standard, the Gallant Federation’s scientists were likely not much different.

When it came to obsession with “angel supremacy”, Syphen was more extreme than anyone else.

“Go request additional funding from headquarters!” Syphen ordered his assistant.

“And get the Arion, Zykel, and Fermera models I created last time here as well,” he added.

The assistant looked troubled. “Didn’t the headquarters just approve two trillion dollars? Asking for more again is...”

“Didn’t the Icarus Group just secure congressional approval for additional funding? Our robotic legions deployed across multiple star domains have performed exceptionally. Without sufficient funding, how do you expect me to design even better combat weapons?” Syphen snapped.

If Syphen succeeded in building an overlord-class robot, two trillion Federal dollars would be nothing. Even if the cost were multiplied dozens of times over, the Gallant Federation would still pour resources into him without hesitation.

This would represent a milestone technological breakthrough for the federal military, on par with the development of overlord-class giant mobile suits.

“U-Understood...” the assistant said, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.

Moments later, however, he returned with another report. “Fermera isn’t here.”

“Where did she go?” Syphen demanded impatiently.

“She was deployed to the Grand Apocalypse World under direct orders from military headquarters, accompanied by more than one hundred thousand R-type or higher Angel Robots and over a million F-type units,” the assistant reported.

“It seems the military discovered some ruins in the Grand Apocalypse World,” he added cautiously, fully aware that Syphen was not pleasant to deal with when irritated.

R-Type and higher Angel Robots possessed combat strength at Rank One or above.

F-Type units, by contrast, possessed combat power below Rank One, serving a role similar to the Magus Civilization’s enslaved cannon fodder.

Even so, the F-Type Angel Robots produced by the Icarus Group still surpassed the average performance and combat capability of robots manufactured by other heavy-arms corporations within the federation.

This was precisely why the Gallant Federation military valued the Icarus Group so highly and continued pouring massive funding into it.

Only the best quality models could survive in the market.

Any military-industrial factory or company that produced counterfeit or substandard equipment, especially during wartime, would be shut down by the military without mercy.

Upon hearing the report, Syphen did not erupt in anger as his assistant had expected.

Instead, his gaze grew contemplative as he said, “Fermera’s combat power rivals that of Rank Six lifeforms in the Astral Realm. With over a million angel-type robots deployed there, it seems the ruins discovered in the Grand Apocalypse World are no ordinary find.”

“Well, I don’t really know the specifics. Should we ask General Greit? I think he’s somewhere in the experimental base?” the assistant replied.

General Greit was the federal general who had overseen the transport of the overlord-class android remains.

Within the Gallant Federation, scientists and military commanders were strictly separate roles.

Even though Syphen held the honorary rank of lieutenant general, he had never taken part in actual military operations.

This stood in sharp contrast to the Magus Civilization, where mages were responsible not only for their research but also for leading forces in the Clash of Civilizations.

Syphen frowned slightly and shook his head. “Forget it. Let’s focus on the experiment at hand.”

“Send the android’s skin and flesh tissue samples to the biological research lab complex. We need to unravel its secrets as quickly as possible!” he ordered.