Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 454: Kill

After activating the verdant flame, Sein’s mental focus remained relatively unchanged.

However, his mana reserves surged to nearly 400 points—double its previous capacity.

In addition to the significant increase in mana, Sein’s constitution and physical combat skills also showed significant improvements.

Given the ever-present dangers in Blackhaven and the watchful eyes of malevolent black mages, Sein kept his Verdant Flame Heart Rod and Verdant Flame Eye Mask concealed.

He also kept his Viridescent Seeds, along with Yuri and other resources, in his spatial equipment.

For this battle, Sein chose to fight with his innate power alone.

An old metallic magic rod materialized in Sein’s hand, and several metal disks floated beneath his feet.

These items, bequeathed to Sein by Morsidor, were not just equipment; they symbolized Sein’s resolve to uphold Morsidor’s legacy.

The battle between the Rank One mages lasted a day and a half, driven by Sein’s relentless pursuit and the black mage’s desperate attempt to escape.

Had Bhabaluka chosen to confront Sein decisively, the battle would have ended much sooner.

Ultimately, Bhabaluka fell before Sein. His corpse, along with all his possessions, were claimed as Sein’s trophies.

Ironically, Bhabaluka’s demise was avoidable; he had already escaped beyond Sein’s pursuit range.

Many black mages, who observed the battle from the shadows, shared this sentiment.

Although Sein was undeniably formidable, capturing an opponent of the same rank who was bent solely on escape proved challenging.

However, unbeknownst to all, including Bhabaluka, Sein was not fighting alone.

Instead of summoning Yuri or catalyzing the Viridescent Seeds, Sein called upon another ally—Sev.

As an aero elemental ranked magic beast, Sev was quicker than any other Rank One creature.

The sudden appearance of Aero Chains and an Aeroball cast a grim shadow over Bhabaluka, who was already drained from evading Sein.

Fatigued and devoid of mana, Bhabaluka was utterly unprepared for Sev’s abrupt assault.

The sharp talons of the owl pierced through Bhabaluka’s shoulder blades.

Sev effortlessly carried the audacious black mage, who had provoked Sein, directly before him.

The once arrogant visage of the Rank One black mage, Bhabaluka, now displayed only desperation. His pale, youthful face twisted into a pained smile as he pleaded for Sein’s mercy.

In response, Sein clamped his verdant-flame-blazing hand over Bhabaluka’s head.

A mournful scream pierced the air over the verdant plains of Mordoron Island.

Sein had always been a man of his word. He had wanted to crush the head of this black mage with his bare hands, and he did precisely that.

The resilience inherent to a Rank One creature allowed Bhabaluka to withstand the searing verdant flames for an extended period. However, this only prolonged his suffering.

The intense heat and potent toxins eventually incinerated the precious skull of the Rank One mage, leaving behind a headless corpse for Sein to claim.

After killing the black mage, Sein acted precisely as one of their ilk would—he kept the corpse as a trophy.

Reflecting on his collection, he remembered the several other bodies stored in his space ring.

Among them were the remains of two black mages and three registered knights and mages from the alchemy ship of the Guilleman Chamber of Commerce.

While displaying such trophies would be problematic in most parts of the Magus World, they could fetch a handsome price in Blackhaven.

Nonetheless, the sight of such trophies could shock many, as very few even among the most ruthless black mages amassed such a collection.

Not all black mages were deranged killers. Though extremists existed, they were the minority, and most black mages preferred to avoid them.

The weaker black mages often banded together to counteract those among them who posed a greater threat.

For example, should a Rank Two black mage like Van Basten rampage through Mordoron Island, targeting the lesser black mages, it was likely that a Rank Three black mage like Martin would be the first to intervene.

Every region had its own rules.

Although the rules on Mordoron Island were not fully established yet, certain unwritten conventions were universally respected.

For instance, after Sein slayed Bhabaluka, the other black mages, who had been lurking in the shadows, began to disperse.

In this case, Bhabaluka was a sacrificial chicken meant to frighten the observing monkeys.

No one expected Bhabaluka to perish so easily, and none of them wanted to be the next victim.

“That owl...” A few observant black mages murmured upon noticing Sev.

Sev looked somewhat different from before, primarily because it had received the blood of a Rank Four magic beast king, catalyzing a subtle evolutionary change.

While the transformation was not drastic, it reminded those observant black mages of Martin’s owls.

“Could this be another powerful Rank One black mage recruited by Master Martin?” many wondered silently.

***

After the battle, Sein returned to the magic tower.

Sein was not sure if it was his imagination, but Faye looked more radiant and noticeably younger than before.

Could mood truly affect one’s appearance?

Faye was indeed very happy. She had not felt this way in nearly thirty years.

Although Zorro had protected Faye, the sense of security he provided paled in comparison to that offered by Sein

If Zorro had been in this situation, it was unlikely he could have done much against Bhabaluka.

He would have probably needed to rely on the authority of Dean Martin or Lady Jeanne to manage the threat.

In contrast, Sein could rely solely on his own strength and decisively defeat his opponent.

“Are you interested in the corpse of a Rank One creature, Faye? I can give it to you as a gift for your studies,” Sein said with a smile, tossing Bhabaluka’s headless corpse onto the ground in front of Faye.