Sovereign of the Ashes

The presence of numerous energy barriers within the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization’s subspace indicated that this place was still actively operating. It was not a lifeless wasteland of ruins.

Sein suspected that the artificial intelligence calling itself “Number Two” might even possess some level of operational authority over this secret realm.

Otherwise, how could it have known so early on that the Magus Civilization and the Gallant Federation were already locked in fierce conflict here?

Judging by the current situation, this avatar did not seem to harbor much hostility toward Sein and his group...?

Then again, it was something that had existed for tens of millions of years, and it did not even possess a physical body.

Sein could tell that this so-called artificial intelligence retained a degree of intellect and self-awareness, yet lacked the “vitality” and “emotional richness” that HALL-E displayed.

Perhaps it did not even possess desires, and therefore would not experience loneliness in the same way HALL-E did.

“I’m Sein, a Rank Five mage of the Magus Civilization. It’s an honor to enter this place and explore the technological mysteries of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization. It’s clear that your civilization was once immensely powerful and extraordinarily advanced.” Sein spoke to the avatar in a respectful tone.

The Magic Cube had detected the presence of three world-class secret treasures within this skyscraper. One of them was unmistakably the avatar before him.

Yes, the artificial intelligence itself was a world-class secret treasure. It simply lacked a physical form.

The realization filled Sein with quiet amazement.

Had he known more about its origins, he would have been unable to resist examining it in detail.

“The artifact you carry is intriguing, and so is the mecha behind you,” the avatar said. “I have a feeling that your mecha, myself, HALL-E, and that angel robot beyond this Grandlight Tech Center are of the same kind.”

“That was the name of this tower?” Sein asked, looking around at the towering structure.

“Yes. That was the name given to it by Dr. Charles Isaac,” the avatar replied.

The avatar’s words seemed to touch upon something Sein vaguely understood.

After all, he had visited the Gallant Federation before and had some understanding of the technological civilizations that existed beyond the Magus Civilization.

In his understanding, the leaders of technological civilizations were typically politicians or heads of major conglomerates—a status quo largely dictated by the inherently fragile constitutions of technological lifeforms.

Even the imposition of martial law was uncommon in such civilizations, unless during exceptional periods.

While scientists might enjoy unparalleled prestige within a civilization, they usually had little to do with true civilizational authority, even when they were the ones who created groundbreaking inventions capable of driving the entire civilization forward.

The Eiyurant Papillon Civilization’s artificial intelligence before Sein appeared reasonably approachable and showed no signs of hostility, so he posed his question directly.

Number Two had not spoken with anyone for tens of millions of years, and it no longer seemed concerned with the once-strict confidentiality protocols of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization.

As a result, the avatar appeared eager to answer Sein’s questions.

“Dr. Charles Isaac was the undisputed leader of our Eiyurant Papillon Civilization more than thirty million years ago. It was under his guidance that we developed the Space-time Shocker, which ultimately secured our victory in the war against the Black Merlot Civilization and earned us the right to a dimensional upgrade.

“As for your question regarding Dr. Charles Isaac’s personal circumstances, his case is indeed unusual in the history of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization. After developing the first civilizational treasure, the device known as Infinite Energy, he suspended his scientific career and chose to enter politics instead.

“Dr. Charles Isaac served as the 38,641st through the 38,652nd leader of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization. Even during the later victorious war against the Black Merlot Civilization, Dr. Isaac remained a pivotal cabinet member under the 38,712th leader, overseeing the civilization’s economy, military affairs, and scientific research.”

Truly, no civilization was ever without extraordinary individuals.

The Charles Isaac described by the avatar was undoubtedly one such extraordinary figure in the history of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization.

A scientist who abandoned research midway to enter politics... and then rose to become the leader of an entire civilization!

To Sein, a Magus World mage, such a life trajectory was nothing short of legendary.

Beyond the Infinite Energy device previously uncovered by Sein and Grethel, the avatar had also mentioned a Space-time Shocker.

If such a technological weapon had enabled the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization to triumph over the Black Merlot Civilization in open war, then its power must far exceed even that of a world-class secret treasure.

Could it be... another civilizational treasure?!

When Sein asked what the Space-time Shocker actually was, the avatar first rattled off a long string of highly technical terminology that none of them could understand.

In the end, Sein distilled it down to a single, terrifying conclusion: it was a special bomb-type technological weapon capable of freezing both time and space.

Freezing space was still somewhat understandable. But freezing time?

Did it mean that the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization had once possessed the ability to reverse time itself?

Once they made sense of the information, Sein, Grethel, and the others exchanged bewildered looks.

After Number Two offered further clarification, they finally learned that the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization did not possess such an outrageous ability as reversing time and returning to the past.

The true destructive effect of the so-called Space-time Shocker was to freeze everything within a medium-sized star domain at a fixed moment in time.

For that entire star domain, time would effectively lose all meaning.

Outsiders could not enter, and those trapped inside could not easily escape.

They would be sealed within a frozen slice of time itself.

In a sense, this could even be regarded as a form of immortality.

“Th-That’s... Something like that is...!” Roth stammered, so shocked that he could barely form words.

Could the achievements of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization truly have surpassed those of the Magus Civilization?!

At the very least, none of those present had ever heard of Magus World possessing the ability to freeze time and space.

Moreover, this artificial intelligence had no reason to lie to them.

That fact only deepened Sein and the others’ suspicion that the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization might have truly found a way to access infinite energy.

With access to infinite energy akin to a perpetual motion machine, combined with weapons such as the Space-time Shocker, what civilization in the Astral Realm could possibly stand against the Eiyurant Papillon Folk?!

And what, exactly, was the dimensional upgrade the avatar had mentioned earlier?