Darian commanded several Rank Four creatures from the Shadowbat Civilization, while Orric was rumored to have recruited two powerful beings from Planet Aquaria.

In addition, Auron the Rank Four Voltaran, and Beatrice of Marvelous Plane were also present within the legions led by the two.

Since joining the Magus Alliance, the bonds between these powerhouses born in the surrounding star domains and planes had grown increasingly close.

Sein had heard Kram mention that Darian, Orric, Karl, and the others seemed to be planning the formation of an organization.

Naturally, this small group, formed by powerful individuals from several member planes, would operate under the Magus Alliance.

Similar small groups and organizations were common within the Magus Alliance.

In most cases, however, they consisted of medium-sized or small planes attaching themselves to large-sized worlds, or small planes and microplanes aligning with medium-sized ones.

A group like Darian’s—made up of only a handful of powerhouses from medium-sized or low-level planes banding together for mutual support—did not draw much attention.

Before long, the flames of war spread across this vast desert region.

The Shadowbat Civilization legion led by Darian possessed a solid technological foundation.

The Shadowbat Civilization itself was a hybrid civilization, combining technological development with cultivation practices. The Shadowbat starships it produced bore clear and distinctive civilizational traits.

Influenced by the many Gallant Federation vessels captured and studied on the battlefield, both the Shadowbat Civilization and Blue Star had made notable technological advances in recent years.

War, after all, remained the greatest catalyst for civilizational evolution.

If they could survive this Clash of Civilizations, the mechanics of Magus World and many technological planes within the Magus Alliance stood to reap enormous developmental benefits.

Orric’s Aquarian Legion likewise put on a formidable display, deploying more than a dozen giant, shark-shaped metallic warships above the endless sands.

According to rumor, Orric had recently taken in a defected Rank Four creature from Planet Aquaria—one who had led nearly half a million troops in a mass betrayal against Orven.

Most of these metallic sharks had arrived as part of that defection.

The situation on Planet Aquaria was, in many ways, a reflection of how the Magus Civilization was steadily gaining the upper hand on this subspace battlefield.

The Rank Four and Rank Five beings serving under Orven on Planet Aquaria were no fools. As the clashes between the Gallant Federation and the Magus Civilization dragged on, they could gradually sense where the balance of power truly lay.

Although news of the Gallant Federation legions seeking to withdraw from this star domain battlefield had not yet spread widely, many perceptive Rank Four beings had likely already noticed that something was amiss.

Of course, the recent unrest among the Aquarian legions might also have stemmed from the fall of Seiron, a peak Rank Six being, to the Federation’s apocalyptical weapon—along with the annihilation of Arid Expanse World legions.

Would Orven be the next to fall under the Gallant Federation’s control? Would the Aquarian legions suffer betrayal at the federation’s hands as well?

Such was the tragedy of the weak—living in constant dread on the frontlines of the Clash of Civilizations, never certain who was friend and who was foe.

To end as a pile of bones, abandoned in some forgotten corner of the battlefield—was that truly the fate awaiting the Aquarians?

***

The legions led by Darian and Orric advanced rapidly and fought with remarkable valor.

At times, it even felt as though they could handle everything on their own, without the Divine Tower of Ashes Army at all.

Planes with such immense potential were naturally ones that many powerhouses from the Magus World sought to befriend.

As for those mediocre worlds, lacking any distinguishing traits, they could only be reduced to cannon fodder or sacrifices on a battlefield during the Clash of Civilizations.

From behind the frontlines, Sein watched the Shadowbat Civilization legions coordinate seamlessly with the Aquarian forces under the frontal fire support of his own Magus Civilization legions.

Tilting his head as if recalling something, he casually asked, “You two really have no intention of establishing a knightly order?”

His question was directed at the two women standing beside him.

“I believe forming one would be wise. If you’re short on funds, I can provide partial support,” he offered.

Both Reina and Sia had been Rank Four for quite some time now. Years of warfare across this subspace and around the Shadowbat Civilization had tempered and matured them greatly.

Reina shook her head. “I wouldn’t know how to manage a knightly order, and I’d rather focus on myself for now,” she replied.

Reina had always been like that. In the past, Natalya had been her only close friend. Asking her to step out of her comfort zone and try something she was not good at was truly pushing her too far.

Sein’s mother-in-law, Sia, had once been somewhat scatterbrained and had made more than a few foolish decisions. Yet, she had matured greatly in recent years after enduring the loss of both her husband and her daughter.

With her abilities, establishing and managing a knightly order should not be a problem. Even so, Sia did not immediately take up Sein’s suggestion.

After a moment of thought, she replied, “I’d rather wait until Natalya wakes up before considering it. Right now, I just can’t bring myself to think about anything else.”

Sein glanced at her and replied, “I’ve already contacted the Phantom Crow King. Once this subspace war ends, we should be able to enlist its help in attempting to awaken Natalya.”

“Rest assured—Natalya is my wife. I’ll definitely save her. If you can achieve greater success, I believe Natalya will be even happier when she awakens,” he added.

Sia merely hummed softly in response and said nothing more.

After a brief pause, Sein continued, “I’ve noticed that on the battlefield, war platforms such as space fortresses and prism forts provide significant boosts to lower-tier legions. However, under the Magus Alliance’s regulations, a Rank Four mage can’t freely stockpile prism forts or space fortresses beyond their operational capacity. This is likely meant to maintain stability in the alliance’s trading market and prevent opportunists.”

“Even if the two of you have no plans to establish your own knightly order just yet, I still recommend placing an order for a space fortress once this subspace war concludes. My Divine Tower of Ashes now has enough mages to pilot the new fortresses,” he advised.

“I’ll also suggest the Huusians, Klytherans, and Aquarians order space fortresses produced by the Magus Alliance. Even obsolete models far surpass the current technological level of their civilizations,” Sein said.

“The prices for Magus Alliance members to purchase even those obsolete space fortresses are quite high, no?” Reina asked curiously. She was surprisingly well-informed.

It seemed that since joining Sein, Reina’s thoughts were no longer entirely consumed by food.

Sein glanced at her before answering, “I can lend them the money.”