Sovereign of the Ashes

“Myriad Manifestations World...”

The skirmish between the lower-tier legions had already begun. Sein watched the situation unfold beyond the plane and murmured the name of their new opponent.

When choosing the battlefield, the Dawn Empire had abandoned the idea of garrisoning the Boundary Rocks on the outskirts of the Divine Descendants Star Domain. Doing so would only stretch their frontlines too thin.

Instead, they chose to hold their ground and rely on the planes and defensive lines already under their control to withstand the threat from Myriad Manifestations World.

Because they had advanced too quickly earlier, the Divine Descendants World legions and Gallant Federation legions had both withdrawn with equal decisiveness.

Many of the defensive lines where the Dawn Empire legions were currently stationed had originally been built by the Gallant Federation. Now, they had simply been taken over and put to immediate use.

Judging by the overall situation in the Divine Descendants Star Domain, the deities led by Overgod Marduk were unquestionably the force trapped at the innermost layer.

The Dawn Empire legions were sandwiched in the middle.

And on the outermost perimeter were the legions of Myriad Manifestations World, who had only just arrived in this star domain.

Whether other civilizations or powers would intervene in this conflict remained to be seen.

Sein did not ask whether the Magus Civilization had dispatched reinforcements. As its representative here, he would naturally be the first to know if any news surfaced.

Strictly speaking, the situation in the Divine Descendants Star Domain could not truly be called an encirclement.

From what Gongsun Wudi had told him, even in the worst-case scenario, the Dawn Empire’s overwhelming advantage would merely be dragged down into a stalemate.

Unless, of course, the Gallant Federation managed to mobilize and bring in more reinforcements at high speed.

“Looks like two Rank Six beings have arrived. The legions from Myriad Manifestations World are spread out pretty evenly. I really want to charge out of this plane and fight them!” Belphane said, raising both arms as she stretched her back.

After so many years of war in the Divine Descendants Star Domain, she had fought to her heart’s content.

“Don’t even think about it,” Sein cut in. “Since we have already taken control of this world, we should make full use of its terrain advantage. Why throw that away for no reason?”

“Let them break through the planar barrier first. That way, we can see just how capable the legions from Myriad Manifestations World really are. Unless they have some apocalyptical weapon capable of destroying this world outright, there’s no need for us to rush out and fight them,” he said.

Belphane remained as obedient to Sein’s orders as ever. After their last battle, Sein had given her a diluted Golden Silver Potion as thanks for helping him capture a living Rank Six specimen that had only just completed its metamorphosis.

The female knight nodded. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked, “By the way, what happened to that Federation apocalyptical weapon we seized last time?”

“It’s actually pretty funny when I think about it. We destroyed its central node before the activation process was complete, cutting off its deployment halfway. I thought the weapon was going to explode right there, but somehow, it stabilized in the end. Then you just packed it away,” she said with a laugh.

The weapon Belphane was talking about was the one Sein had seized not long ago on Florenza Plane.

Judging from its design and operating principles, it was similar to a photonic electromagnetic cannon.

Fortunately, Sein happened to be an elementalist with deep knowledge of lumen energy. With the Magic Cube’s analysis and support, he managed to seize the weapon as war spoils in almost pristine condition.

That harvest had far exceeded Sein’s original expectations!

According to the Magic Cube’s simulations, if the photonic electromagnetic cannon were fired successfully, it would possess enough power to threaten even a peak Rank Six creature.

Ever since Sein had used up a top-grade inert crystal in the ruins of the Eiyurant Papillon Civilization, he had finally gained another trump card.

More importantly, if used properly, this trump card could be deployed more than once.

Sein had already allowed the Magic Cube to “consume” the apocalyptical weapon and directly assimilate the law energy contained within it.

As for whether it could truly be used in battle... perhaps this war would give Sein the perfect chance to find out.

“Two Rank Sixes, huh?” Sein said. “Let’s see what they’re made of.”

***

War broke out quickly.

The expeditionary force sent by Myriad Manifestations World to this civilizational battlefield varied greatly in strength.

Aside from combat units at Rank One and above, the vast majority of its billions-strong army consisted of cannon fodder—creatures below Rank One.

The coordinates of Buros World were quite important.

The closest plane to it was the medium-sized battlefield where Gongsun Wudi was stationed.

In fact, if one stood on the surface of Buros World and looked up at the sky, even a demigod-level creature’s vision would be enough to make out the outline of an earth-colored world faintly.

That was the medium-sized plane known as Phylis World.

According to the Dawn Empire’s pre-war projections, their first round of overlord-level clashes with Myriad Manifestations World would most likely take place there.

One floating wooden ship after another soon appeared in the field of vision of the combatants from Sein’s side and Buros World.

At first glance, these wooden ships looked simple in construction. In truth, they were built with highly sophisticated craftsmanship.

Myriad Manifestations World’s achievements in artifact forging and creation far surpassed those of the Dawn Empire.

These unique, majestic wooden ships were even capable of long-distance voyages between star domains.

On top of that, the creations of Myriad Manifestations World possessed many distinctive offensive capabilities.

After receiving the Gallant Federation’s technological support, Myriad Manifestations World’s creation would, in theory, only reach greater heights.

As for individual combat power, the powerhouses of Myriad Manifestations World wielded all kinds of weapons.

Some were close-combat beings who had followed the path of passive evolution. Others specialized in long-range attacks, relying on special techniques and energy manipulation.

Buros World’s planar barrier had only recently been breached by the Dawn Empire’s legions. Although a thin barrier had since reformed, it could not hold back Myriad Manifestations World’s legions for long.

After several days of bombardment, the law-wielding beings of Myriad Manifestations World finally descended upon Buros World.

Perhaps they wanted to make a strong opening statement.

The first powerhouse from Myriad Manifestations World to force his way into Buros World was one of the Rank Six beings, Wanderer Weiming.

In the Myriad Manifestations World, the title “Wanderer” was generally used for beings between Rank Four and Rank Six.[1]

Only overlord-level powerhouses were qualified to bear the title of “Venerable”.

Wanderer Weiming was a humanoid creature whose face Sein found rather sleazy.

Perhaps by the standards of Myriad Manifestations World, Wanderer Weiming was actually considered imposing and handsome.

But no matter how Sein looked at him, the sight only made him uncomfortable. In fact, he was half-tempted to twist off the man’s head and preserve it as a specimen.

As a welcoming gift for Wanderer Weiming, Sein joined forces with Fermera and prepared a major move.

Amidst the dazzling radiance of the Magic Cube, Sein once again completed a partial fusion with Fermera.

Her eight massive metallic wings transformed yet again, becoming vital energy-supply devices for Sein’s upcoming attack.

This time, however, the main source of destructive power was no longer Fermera’s primary cannon. Instead, it was the apocalyptical weapon the Magic Cube had recently devoured and fused with.

Wanderer Weiming had charged into Buros World full of excitement, but before he could even figure out what was happening, a menacing cannon muzzle, already nearing the end of its charge, was aimed squarely at his forehead.

Until that very moment, he had not sensed even the slightest trace of special law energy leaking from the plane below.

The Faceless Mask had perfectly concealed Sein’s presence and aura.

“What’s going on?!” Wanderer Weiming blurted out.

In the next instant, a photon beam capable of piercing through almost anything shot straight through his body and burst out just below his neck.

The beam tore through the planar barrier, then continued on into the depths of the starry void.

That blast from the photonic electromagnetic cannon seemed to become the signal for the Myriad Manifestations World legions and the Dawn Empire legions to fully engage.

On Phylis World, located very close to Buros World, Venerable Muge turned his head and looked in that direction.

This mid-stage Rank Seven overlord had only just arrived at this medium-sized plane battlefield.

1. Translator’s Note/Fun Fact: I believe the characters used for Wanderer (行者) here refer to itinerant monks—wandering religious ascetics with no fixed monastery or home. They rely on charity, alms, and the hospitality of others while giving up worldly possessions to focus on spiritual cultivation, mendicancy, and the spreading of religious teachings. ☜