Sovereign of the Ashes

“Agent Bond, your mission is to infiltrate the core ruins of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization we have identified,” said the five-star general, commander-in-chief of more than a dozen surrounding fleets.

“According to intelligence gathered from the Black Merlot Civilization ruins, this site served as the final staging ground for the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization’s lifeforms before they departed the Astral Realm. Their technologies may still remain there—and they are of critical importance to us.”

“Understood!” Bond snapped to attention.

Bond had already proven his capabilities during the Black Merlot Civilization ruins expedition.

“Our main fleet will coordinate with your operation by launching a full-scale assault against the Magus Civilization forces on the Shadowbat Civilization and Marvelous Plane battlefields. In subsequent war plans, legion forces will also be deployed to converge around the core ruins,” the general continued.

“Data from the federation’s quantum computer indicates a 53.46 percent probability that the Magus Civilization has already discovered the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization’s core ruins and begun exploring them. However, their discovery should be recent, and the exploration is likely still in its early stages.

“You must locate the core database of that site before the Magus Civilization’s forces do. During the operation, you may encounter resistance and interference from the Magus Civilization. Is there anything you require from the military?” the five-star general asked.

“The president, the military headquarters, and your special operations division have ordered us to provide you with every possible form of support,” he added.

“I need Fermera with me,” Bond replied. “Additionally, my operative squad will need a full equipment resupply.”

Fermera, the angel-type robot, possessed Rank Six combat strength and had been Bond’s most capable partner during their previous expedition into the Black Merlot Civilization ruins.

Although only a little over a decade had passed in the material Astral Realm, Bond and Fermera had actually fought side by side within the Black Merlot Civilization ruins for nearly thirty years.

Time flowed very differently there.

The Black Merlot Civilization, with its focus on cultivation and formidable beast-taming techniques, had left an unforgettable impression on Bond.

His black outfit was crafted from the hide of a dead Rank Six tamed beast discovered within the Black Merlot Civilization’s ruins.

It was difficult to imagine that, after tens of millions of years of erosion by time, the corpse of that beast within the ruins had not completely decayed and vanished.

Aside from the portions distributed as rewards to Bond and his team, most of the artifacts uncovered in the Black Merlot Civilization ruins had been transported back to the Gallant Federation.

Among the discoveries was a unique mucus substance, deliberately cultivated by the Black Merlot Civilization to feed their tamed beasts.

Preliminary research suggested that this substance held immense potential for enhancing the physical constitution of Gallant Federation humans.

If federal scientists could unlock its secrets, it would mark another major breakthrough in their biotechnology.

Beyond that, the world-class secret treasure currently worn on Bond’s wrist was itself the result of combining federation technology with treasures recovered from the Black Merlot Civilization ruins.

In truth, the Gallant Federation was far from generous. Most artifacts, formally referred to as antiquities, discovered in ancient ruins were required to be surrendered.

Bond had acquired his bangle through sheer chance during exploration and had undergone a “blood sacrifice” to claim ownership of it.

With the support of the Federation’s upper ranks—especially his direct superior, Madam Jemma—the federation later enhanced and upgraded the bangle using advanced technology.

In the end, it became a world-class secret treasure that Bond could wear on his wrist.

The five-star general paused in surprise at Bond’s request.

It was too little, too simple, to match the federation’s determination to seize the legacy of this top-tier technological civilization.

Still, the general was no stranger to Bond. He understood the temperament of this exceptional agent.

After a brief moment of thought, the general said, “I’ll assign two additional special mobile suit legions to support you. Three of our most elite Nyx-class special fleets will also be deployed to assist your operation.”

“Our Gallant Federation places extraordinary importance on these top-tier civilization ruins. Before long, Marshal Rommel will personally arrive here with his Erebus-class war fleet,” the five-star general added.

Within the Gallant Federation, the authority of a marshal was equivalent to that of an overlord-class being in the Magus Civilization.

The Erebus-class war fleet represented the Gallant Federation’s standard overlord-level combat force.

The Gallant Federation counted hundreds of thousands of commanders among its ranks, yet marshal-level figures numbered only around twenty.

They stood at the absolute pinnacle of power within the federation.

Among them, Rommel was one of the most famous.

He had long been hailed as a “strategic genius” and carried the distinguished title of “Desert Fox” within the military.[1]

He had earned that title in a defining battle of his career. On a sandy plane, he slew an overlord-level psychic from the Rosen Dynasty Civilization and nearly wiped out the entire psychic legion stationed there.

Rommel was the youngest marshal in the federation. His portrait displayed at headquarters showed a strikingly handsome young man, standing in sharp contrast to the older marshals framed beside him.

Bond had naturally heard of Rommel’s reputation. When he learned that a marshal would soon personally lead an overlord-class war fleet to this star domain battlefield, even the usually unflappable Bond showed a brief flicker of emotion.

The arrival of an overlord-class fleet was a clear sign of the Gallant Federation’s unwavering determination to secure victory.

To further motivate Bond, the five-star general added, “If you succeed in this mission, I will personally recommend your promotion to three-star lieutenant general to the military.”

Bond currently held the rank of one-star lieutenant general, the lowest level within that tier.

Even so, it was already remarkable, given his young age.

Moreover, Bond had no experience commanding fleets at all. He had risen to lieutenant general purely through his intelligence work.

This was unprecedented in the history of the Gallant Federation.

The promise of such a promotion felt excessive. Bond was not particularly moved; he had little interest in military ranks.

Still, he would give everything he had to complete the mission entrusted to him by the federation.

As an orphan, Bond had long regarded the federation’s security and future as his own responsibility ever since being taken in by its special operations division.

“According to intelligence I obtained in the Black Merlot Civilization ruins, after the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization won the war and suddenly left, the remnants of the defeated Black Merlot Civilization launched a final desperate assault, driven by resentment,” Bond said.

Idly running his thumb over the bangle on his wrist, he continued, “Within the core ruins of that civilization, there should still be significant remnants of Black Merlot Civilization. Infiltrating those ruins may allow me to draw upon that residual power.”

The five-star general nodded in agreement.

1. Translator’s Note: This Marshal actually shares the same name as an initiate from the Divine Tower of Radiant Thunder, nicknamed the Thunder Shadow back in Chapter 221. ☜