After withdrawing from the frontlines to rest and recuperate in the rear, Sein still had plenty of matters to settle before departing.

Not everyone from the Divine Tower of Ashes Army would follow him back to Magus World.

The Magus Civilization’s rotation system for knights and mages below Rank Four was very different from that of law-wielding powerhouses like Sein.

While he could secure leave that lasted centuries, such privileges were far beyond the reach of Rank One or Rank Two mages.

At the same time, Sein’s missions and responsibilities often stretched far longer than those low-ranking mages.

Aside from making the necessary arrangements for the Divine Tower of Ashes, he also had to settle matters with the allied creatures bound to him, as well as the various Magus Civilization legions he worked closely with.

Fortunately, Sein was operating as a group, not alone.

Though he was stepping back from the battlefield for now, his mentor, elders, and grandmaster would remain.

During this period, legions closely tied to him, such as the Klytherans and the Huusians, would be overseen by Grandmaster Feylis and the elders of the Verdant Flame Faction.

Likewise, Sein would have to look after the interests and connections of others within the same faction in the future.

As for Orric and the Aquarian Legion, Sein took the time to meet with him before departing. He made it clear that Orric should remain firmly aligned with the Magus World sea races led by White Stella for the foreseeable future.

After some reflection, Orric understood what he needed to do next.

He solemnly accepted Sein’s advice and presented him with an Ocean King Shell—a specialty of Planet Aquaria.

Consumed raw, it could greatly enhance the hydro elemental affinity of Rank Three grand mages. When refined into a potion, it could provide significant benefits to even Rank Four mages.

Though not a hydromancer himself, Sein accepted the gift.

“I heard you’re returning to Magus World. I wonder when we’ll fight side by side again,” Orric said.

“I can’t really take extended leave, so I won’t be gone for too long,” Sein replied, shaking his head.

For Rank Four and Rank Five beings, several centuries were hardly considered long.

***

After settling everything before his departure, Sein could finally head to Portman World to report in.

This time, he did not travel aboard his own space fortress. Instead, he went alone, making use of the Magus Civilization’s long-range teleportation arrays scattered across the surrounding star domains to reach the medium-sized world directly.

Tourmaline had originally intended to accompany him, but after some persuasion from Sein, she agreed to remain on Planet Aquaria for the time being, staying with her father and sister.

Since Sein was returning straight to Magus World, Tourmaline did not have to worry about him getting lost.

Tourmaline had mentioned that she had a treasure to show him, but with everything keeping him busy, they had not had time to talk about it.

Besides, Sein could tell that White Stella and the others did not want Tourmaline anywhere near the frontlines.

Once he was back in Magus World, White Stella would have the perfect excuse to send her home.

Guess the treasure could wait till they were back in Magus World.

After bidding farewell to Lorianne and the others, Sein stepped into the teleportation array on Planet Aquaria.

During his journey, he did not forget to stop by the border of the Shadowbat Star Domain to greet the Phantom Crow King.

At Sein’s request, the Phantom Crow King met him briefly in a transit demiplane known as “Kleifland”.

***

“Still no luck?” Sein asked, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice, as they stood inside a rented laboratory on Kleifland.

“My deepest apologies, Master Sein. I can’t find a way to awaken this slumbering soul,” the Phantom Crow King cawed apologetically.

It had shrunk to roughly Sein’s height. Standing beneath the laboratory chandelier with its wings spread, it looked almost comical.

To the Phantom Crow King, there was no slumbering soul in the crystal coffin before them—only barely reassembled fragments of a shattered soul.

Souls that broken had long ceased to interest its appetite.

Only complete souls at least at the demigod level could even begin to meet its standards now.

During the Clash of Civilizations, it had devoured several powerful souls, including those of Rank Four and Rank Five beings.

This was largely thanks to the backing of its formidable patron.

Hearing the answer, Sein let out a quiet sigh. He had prepared himself for this outcome, yet he still could not help but feel disappointed.

After seeing the Phantom Crow King off, he returned to the laboratory and stood before the crystal coffin in silence.

Sein had been in good spirits after his request to return to Magus World was granted, but Natalya’s condition quickly dampened that mood.

“It has been a while since I contacted the Spider Queen. I wonder if she has found any black mages with expertise in soul magic for me,” Sein murmured to himself.

***

After leaving Kleifland, Sein headed straight toward Portman World.

During the war, the Magus Civilization had constructed countless spatial transit nodes.

Within every star domain, there were several transit planes like Kleifland.

These planes served not only to redirect war supplies but also to facilitate travel for mages like Sein.

In truth, each demiplane had been fortified into something similar to a military stronghold.

Whenever Sein passed through them, he saw legions of alliance troops and space fortresses constantly moving in and out, launching spatial jumps toward their destination.

After crossing more than ten transit points and spending over half a year in travel, Sein finally arrived at Portman World.

The fact that even teleportation arrays required so much time spoke volumes about the sheer scale of the Magus Civilization’s territory.

Portman World did not belong to the Netherworld Star Domain; it merely lay at its edge.

As a result, the brutal wars that had swept through the Netherworld Star Domain over two thousand years ago had barely affected the Portman Star Domain.

This medium-sized star domain was home to many pyro, lumen, and dendro-attribute planes.

It radiated warmth and vitality, a stark contrast to the darkness and desolation that now defined the Netherworld Star Domain.

In the Astral Realm, luck often followed a strange balance.

Just as Sein felt the weight of disappointment over Natalya’s condition, a more fortunate turn of events appeared.

Thor, the Thunder God of Titan World, and his brother Loki were also in this star domain.

Sein made contact with them almost immediately after arriving, and asked whether Thor had any spare Golden Apples for sale.

At first, Thor said no. But after consulting with Loki, he suggested he might be able to secure one.

This time, however, Thor named his price at three hundred million magicoins—more than four times the seventy million he had charged before!