Sovereign of the Ashes

The disparity in strength between a low-level plane and a medium-sized plane often amounted to tenfold.

However, this was merely a simplistic assessment.

In reality, the gap spanned every conceivable aspect of civilization.

Determining the exact number of Rank Four or higher creatures within the Wild Gorilla World was currently challenging.

Assuming this world qualified as a medium-sized civilization, a conservative estimate would place the number of Rank Four or higher entities at no fewer than fifty.

It was a misconception to think that all medium-sized planes, such as Centaurworld with its eighteen Rank Four or above deities, reflected the norm for Astral Realm civilizations.

In reality, Centaurworld represented a "neutered" version of a medium-sized world.

By joining the Magus Alliance, it and other member planes with lesser standing became largely exploited.

All their resources, wealth, and manpower were prioritized to support and strengthen the formidable Magus Civilization.

Historically, the medium-sized worlds that the Magus Civilization had encountered possessed anywhere from twenty to two hundred Rank Four or higher creatures.

Worlds with twenty Rank Four or higher creatures were at the threshold of medium-sized status and typically housed just one early-stage Rank Six lifeform, indicating that the civilization was still in the initial stages of reaching a medium-sized classification.

Conversely, a medium-sized civilization with up to two hundred Rank Four creatures likely represented a peak state within the Astral Realm, boasting several Rank Six lifeforms, including those at the peak of Rank Six.

Such civilizations were on the brink of transitioning to a large-sized world.

For instance, the Neisse Civilization, which the Magus Civilization recently subdued, boasted a formidable army of constructs, with approximately a thousand of these reaching Rank Four or above.

It was a moderately strong large world civilization, and the Magus Civilization had to deploy three of its top-tier forces to secure victory.

Thus, if the Wild Gorilla World was indeed a medium-sized plane, it likely had around fifty to one hundred Rank Four or higher creatures.

The precise strength and number dictated how much force the Magus World would deploy and its overall strategic approach.

If the Wild Gorilla World had just become a medium-sized civilization, relying solely on the Elemental Gate council established by Master Feylis and some additional external support might suffice.

However, if it were a rapidly ascending civilization with substantial inherent strength, having the assistance of Elemental Gate alone might not be enough.

"Let's stay in this world for a longer while since they haven't detected our presence yet," Lorianne suggested to Sein.

"Sure," Sein replied.

***

It was the seventh year since Sein arrived in Verdant Wilderness World and the fifth year since the Wild Gorilla World waged a war against this world.

The flames of war had spread beyond the northern Plain Forest, reaching the central Lush Verdant Forest.

This expansive, primeval forest, where Rank Four Verdant Wilderness God had rooted itself, was the largest in this world, teeming with diverse species and exhibiting the fiercest resistance.

Rather than circumventing this stronghold to capture less defended areas of Verdant Wilderness World, the four Otherworldly Gorilla Gods chose to confront the Lush Verdant Forest head-on.

This strategy reflected either their lack of intelligence or extreme arrogance.

They were determined to defeat the ancient Rank Four tree before expanding their control elsewhere.

The approach of these Gorilla Gods was not entirely wrong. If they could conquer the Lush Verdant Forest in one decisive blow and eliminate this world's strongest resistance, the rest of this low-level plane would fall easily.

Their method was straightforward and brutal, likely reflecting their typical war tactics.

During this time, Sein collected several wild gorillas and their subordinates as specimens.

From these subordinates, he gleaned little useful information, only discovering that some originated from the Wild Gorilla World while others came from different planes conquered by the gorillas.

The exploitation of otherworldly creatures as slave labor was a common practice, not unique to the Magus World.

In the Astral Realm's harsh reality, only the strong reigned supreme while the weak had no rights.

From the wild gorilla specimens, Sein gradually assembled a more detailed understanding of their world.

The most formidable wild gorilla he had captured possessed only Rank Two strength.

He refrained from targeting Rank Three creatures, as capturing them alive would necessitate Lorianne's intervention and risk exposing their presence.

From the information gathered, Sein and Lorianne confirmed their suspicion that the Wild Gorilla World was indeed a medium-sized plane.

Although the majority of these Rank One and Rank Two gorillas served the four warring Gorilla Gods, some were vaguely aware of other Gorilla Gods' names.

Sein had collected and recorded the names of seventeen gorilla gods, including the War Gorilla God, Force Gorilla God, Wild Gorilla God, Fire Gorilla God, and Culture Gorilla God.

This was merely the tip of the iceberg.

The ongoing war in Verdant Wilderness World was proving to be more than Lorianne could handle alone.

Although the main battlefront remained around the Lush Verdant Forest, the effects of the invasion crisis had permeated every forest and region of Verdant Wilderness World.

Signs of fleeing populations and mass racial migrations were evident in virtually every corner of the main continent.

The main force of the invading Wild Gorilla World, led by the four Gorilla Gods, was concentrated in Lush Verdant Forest.

However, numerous scattered gorilla legions and their subordinates were wreaking havoc in a widespread manner, deeply impacting the native inhabitants.

With both sides' attention fixed on the fierce battle in Lush Verdant Forest, the number of troops deployed there had long surpassed two million and was steadily approaching three million.

Even the guardian of Verdant Wilderness World struggled to address the chaos and tragedies unfolding elsewhere in their homeplane.

As an outsider, Sein merely observed the unfolding chaos in silence.

"Thank you for saving my child."

A large black beetle, carrying a smaller one, gratefully said to Sein, who was disguised as an elf.

Sein, packing away his scalpel, advised the female beetle, "Go to Emerald Forest in the south. The situation is better there."

His voice was intended to be cold and emotionless, but to the beetle and other native beings of Verdant Wilderness World, there was an unmistakable warmth in his tone, akin to a ray of sunshine.