Mage Manual

"Little trumpet, dog man..."

The Red-haired Swordswoman’s fists grew weaker, and large tear droplets fell on Ash’s face, mixing with the blood and sliding down, as if painting him with the colors of the Swordswoman.

"What do you think my feelings were, that I would willingly share my lover!?"

She couldn’t suppress her emotions any longer, crying beautifully yet miserably, exposing her vulnerability without reserve: "I only did it because I knew I couldn’t be happy, to fulfill you! I’m just silly, just stupid, just can’t bear to see you sad! Why can’t you understand—"

Ash pulled Sonia into his arms, silencing her, letting all her grievances turn into pitiful whimpers.

Facing this forceful and domineering kiss, Sonia not only didn’t resist but fervently responded, eagerly seeking the lips tainted with blood and tears, impatiently merging herself into him. If Ash dared to stop, she would curse as ’little trumpet’ and kiss back, unwilling to part for even a second.

From compliance to hostility, from hostility to longing, their relationship underwent several dramatic changes within minutes, yet neither found it strange, as if this was their norm.

Always restless, always torturing each other.

The thin starlight in the room rippled and flowed, like the sound of a beast’s low growl emerging from the depths of darkness.

Unlike the joy of the wedding night, unlike yesterday’s reunion after a brief separation, what they had now was more like beasts tearing at each other than a lover’s intimate interaction.

They breathed and roared, biting hard whenever the other’s breath faltered, facing irreversible disaster when revealing their own weaknesses, fighting relentlessly, until death do they part!

As a crescendo of melodious singing ended abruptly, Sonia’s entire body relaxed, curling toes straightened, arched waist lowered, and neck raised high also softened.

Their warm breaths intermingled, panting sounds rising and falling like two beasts resting in midfield, gathering strength for an even fiercer battle to come. Just then, a belated apology shattered the silence:

"I’m sorry."

"Mm."

"I’m sorry."

"Mm~"

"I’m sorry."

Sonia finally lost patience, her face flushed, and snapped, "Can’t you apologize after you’re out!"

"I can’t," Ash retorted seriously, "What if you run away again? I must use a honey trap to keep you."

Sonia pouted, "And you call that a honey trap..."

"Then don’t wrap around my waist so tightly..."

Their conversation was sticky sweet and trivial, and suddenly, they burst into laughter like a pair of foolish lovers.

Ash saw a drop of blood at the corner of Sonia’s eye, it was where she had caught his blood in the chaos. Ash reached out to wipe it, and the blood smeared into a scarlet tear streak along Sonia’s eye.

"If moving forward requires sacrificing your happiness, I’d rather stand still," Ash softly said, "At least this way, I can suffer with you."

"Fool."

"If we can’t be happy together, let’s suffer together. I’m not going to leave you and become smart alone; foolish lovers who torment each other aren’t so bad," Ash licked away the bloodstain at Sonia’s eye corner, "Continue to hate me like always, and I will continue to love you more, because you want to be mine, right?"

Sonia lightly bit her lip, staring straight at Ash, making him somewhat afraid, the atmosphere tense like a storm before a landslide.

By the way, Death Mad has serious violent tendencies, feeling better only after a confrontation; could it be that Ash activated the Swordswoman’s hidden switch this time, and now she replenished her energy, wanting a duel while grappling?

At this moment, Sonia suddenly raised her hand, Ash instinctively ducked his head, but Sonia merely hooked her finger, the door opened, letting light into the room, along with a startled, uninvited guest.

Ash turned his head, seeing the Witch and others awkwardly get up.

Diya covered her eyes, but her fingers spread wider than her eyes, nervously said, "We didn’t mean to eavesdrop—it’s just that you hadn’t come back, and we were a bit worried—"

"Why are you still standing there?" Sonia’s voice was slightly hoarse, seemingly tired from shouting earlier, "Take off your clothes and come up."

"Huh?"

"What," Sonia pressed Ash beneath her, turning to look at them lazily, "Are you unwilling?"

"Of course, not willing!" Weiser immediately said, "Ash prefers wearing clothes!"

Sonia looked down at Ash, his eyes wandering—unable to refute, especially since Sonia still wore knee-high stockings.

"Swordswoman," Ash took a deep breath, "Even if you insist, I won’t let you torture yourself like this—"

"I’m not lying."

Sonia whispered in his ear, "Traveling with you for over half a year, my bottom line has been broken by you all, at least... I don’t dislike being with the Witch and them."

"I can listen to you," she said, "but the premise is that you must turn me into your belonging, and you need to prove to me that even if you favor me, the team won’t fall apart."

Ash was taken aback: "How am I supposed to prove—"

At that moment, the bed frame began to creak and groan; unexpectedly, the witches were climbing up. A brand-new bed frame unused an hour ago, now its durability was almost exhausted. It seemed to realize that a more severe challenge was coming, whimpered twice, hoping they would be gentle, but clearly, no one cared about it.

Ash’s voice abruptly stopped, and he vaguely guessed what was happening.

"It’s simple," Sonia said lightly, "Since you can’t let everyone be treated fairly, then make everyone feel favored."

"Just like turning me into your belonging, turn them into your belongings too." She whispered in his ear as if cursing, "Not only will I not help you, I will be your most troublesome enemy."

"Help him if you want," she glanced at the witches, "anyway, I’m not the unhappy one."

"Don’t let me regain sanity for even a second, don’t let me pity myself for even a second, don’t let me feel compelled to help you for even a second. If you can’t turn me into a foolish girl immersed in happiness... then don’t blame me for becoming a bad woman who imprisons you."

"Since you insist on making everyone happy, then try to create a Miracle." Sonia gritted her teeth, "Either conquer us, or be conquered by us. There’s no third possibility!"

Ash’s breath was shallow and quick, as if magma flowed through his veins, his whole body boiling with hot blood. But before he could say anything, the creaking sound of the bed frame overwhelmed his reason, and all words turned into a suppressed groan.

"Don’t be so impatient!" Although she said so, the witch’s face was flushed, her voice excited, no one in the room was more eager than her: "So, before we are completely satisfied, Ash can’t leave this room? We can do whatever we want? Is there any limit?"

"Boring," Vishi said coldly, "You are truly the worst Divine Lords, the worst Supremes I’ve ever seen, wasting precious time on such trivial emotional matters all day."

Weiser looked speechless: "Vishi, since you say so, don’t undress—You bastard, you jumped the gun!"

"Then this side is mine!"

"Mm-hmm..."

"Ash, don’t let your hands idle～"

...

...

Seven days later.

The gates of four Phases of Heaven, long closed, were wide open, with all the Angels of Heaven watching the colorful Sword Ladder extending from the End of Heavenly Kingdom.

Some were disdainful, some yearning, some jealous, some admiring, but regardless of their feelings, no one dared to look away.

They were about to witness the moment that would decide the fate of the world, yet it’s deeply regrettable that, not just themselves, even their followed lords were merely insignificant bit players on this stage.

On this stage of unpredictable Fate, the spotlight always focused on the two supreme protagonists. This is why they were so frightened yet expectant—when the curtain falls on this drama, only one protagonist will remain on stage.

Is it the brightest star of the old age?

Or the most dazzling brilliance of the new era?

Or perhaps... these supporting characters poised to act?

Tap.

With the Supreme of Seven-winged stepping onto the colorful Sword Ladder, the Seven Heavens began to reverberate.

Imaginary Music Master: "Play the music."

All-knowing Weaver: "Dance."

Extreme Master of Blood Moon: "Paint."

Lord of Infinite Abyss: "Fire the cannon."

Ash remembered when Dazzling Star stepped into the supreme domain of the Mage world, the Seven Heavens also celebrated fervently, matching the requiem played by Void Realm for the Source Angel. He vaguely understood the idea of Divine Lords: even if we are enemies, the Supreme of Magic is a triumph of Mage civilization. If Void Realm doesn’t celebrate, then we’ll celebrate the birth of Supreme of Magic ourselves!

Of course, there’s definitely an element of flattery and deception here; every pore of a Six-winged Mage who can rule Heaven could ooze treacherous pus. If deceiving the enemy buys development time, they wouldn’t hesitate to call them ’father’, much less offering congratulations to a formidable enemy far superior to themselves?

Ash looked back at the End of Heavenly Kingdom, at this moment, Heavenly Kingdom was vastly different from seven days ago. The embryonic ecosystem had started to form, with eight World Secret Domains barely reaching consensus, fulfilling their needs within the extreme limits of Heavenly Kingdom, while harmoniously co-existing with other Secret Realms.

The faces of the Sword Maidens weren’t looking good, filled with resentment, gloom, worry, self-blame... but these negative emotions didn’t conceal their Radiant appearance in the slightest. If they were previously immature Five-winged Angels, now they had more or less grown to be Six-winged Gods capable of taking matters into their own hands.

Ash retracted his gaze, climbing stair by stair, as Dazzling Star did when stepping onto the seventh layer of Void Realm.

He spent over half a year, finally catching up with Dazzling Star’s pace.

Supreme of Magic Ash Heath, stepping into the seventh layer of Void Realm!