CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 624: Crownstar Life Rankers

With a sudden flash, Asher materialized inside his chamber; the instant he took form, a soft sigh slipped from his lips as he shook his head languidly, his eyes automatically shifting toward the nearby table where a sumptuous feast of dishes lay meticulously laid out, presented in an opulent and excessively lavish display. Upon spotting the meal, his stomach broke its silence no longer, rumbling loudly with hunger, like a fierce protest against the wait.

Asher strolled ahead at a relaxed pace, settled into his chair, and started eating quietly. While he savored the food, his thoughts drifted over all the events from mere minutes ago. Not even hours since rising, and the world had already plunged into complete insanity.

The second his eyes had opened, his aim was a tranquil, hard-earned rest; he’d head back to the Star Academy, inform them of his mission’s success, then enjoy some easygoing chats with Williams and Finch, since it had been ages since their last get-together.

If feasible, he’d even join them on one of their routine missions, just to catch some fresh air and briefly escape the turmoil that dogged his every step.

His mind quickly turned to the villagers he’d rescued. ’I wonder how the Star Academy is handling them,’ he pondered silently, his face staying composed while his brain kept churning relentlessly.

’I ought to head back soon; maybe the Star Academy or I will handle escorting them to their home villages.’ His reflections kept streaming steadily, one after another, his jaws working rhythmically as he methodically ate the spread before him.

Unavoidably, his musings veered to Malrik and the Eight Elders, leaving him curious if the frenzy had kicked off already. Part of him yearned to watch it unfold personally, yet he wasn’t naive; strikes from powerhouses of their level would obliterate him in a flash, offering zero chance to fight back. His Star Energy, potent as it was, would prove utterly powerless against such a vast gap in strength.

Eventually, he polished off his meal. Releasing a deep, contented exhale, he reclined a bit and rubbed his bloated belly. Asher had gorged more than ever since arriving in this world, a quantity that would normally seem outrageous. His clash with Debro had sapped him so thoroughly that his body craved refueling without limits, and he couldn’t help pondering if others could chow down so heartily amid the pandemonium outside.

"That hit the spot," he whispered faintly to himself, his words instantly engulfed by the thick quiet enveloping him. Though muffled uproar and disorder filtered in from afar beyond the estate, the Wargrave Estate stayed deathly still, like a realm isolated from the turmoil raging just outside its walls.

’I wonder if the Eight Elders have all reached Crownstar Life Rank,’ Asher contemplated quietly while seated in thoughtful stillness.

Should the Eight Elders truly all be Crownstar Life Rankers, then with Azaron, Malrik, Yveric, and Jennifer—figures Virelass had named before—the count would soar to a staggering twelve Crownstar Life Rankers. That kind of power buildup was downright horrifying.

Still, it was improbable they all topped the Crownstar Life Rank pinnacle. More plausibly, some lingered at lower sub-Life Ranks like Flare, Spark, or Dust; after all, ascending to the Radiant sub-Life Rank demanded not just talent but years, riches, and perfect timing—achievements for the elite few.

A fresh idea began bubbling up in Asher’s thoughts. If just the Wargrave family boasted twelve Crownstar Life Rankers, how many did the Zarethorn Empire’s Imperial Royal Family command?

They’d certainly match that at minimum, with a strong chance of surpassing it. After all, they couldn’t idly let the Wargraves stockpile such might without bolstering their own dominance.

And the other Ducal houses, or the Marquis families dotting the Empire?

All at once, Crownstar Life Rankers didn’t strike Asher as quite so scarce anymore. Even so, no matter his logic, they stayed exceptionally uncommon; such elites thrived amid the Zarethorn Empire’s billions—over twenty billion souls strong.

In countless novels, ancient noble clans hid slumbering forebears, ageless titans in hibernation from fading lifespans or total seclusion, surfacing only when their lineage teetered on extinction.

Asher found himself questioning if the Wargrave clan sheltered any such entities.

Unwittingly, his violet gaze dropped downward, as if boring through the floor below, hunting for concealed vaults where these relics—probably over seven centuries old—might rest in ageless repose.

Abruptly, Asher remembered his offhand remark to Malrik about maybe only a hundred Crownstar Life Rankers across all of Crymora. That guess now felt ridiculously childish, downright mortifying. The Zarethorn Empire by itself might already harbor nearly a hundred.

And those were just the ones tied to noble houses and the Royals. He hadn’t factored in self-made powerhouses from humble origins, climbers unbound by factions. Then there were the Adventurer Guild, Mercenaries—how many Crownstar Life Rankers lurked in those sprawling networks blanketing the Empire, ruled by colossal overlords?

Naturally, Asher doubted hitting one thousand years spelled certain doom. No doubt some endured to twelve hundred, even thirteen hundred, via legendary relics or lifespan-prolonging elixirs defying nature’s bounds.

’I’m pondering quite a bit today,’ Asher reflected inwardly as he rose smoothly, his actions poised and deliberate.

"You may come in and clean the table," Asher said offhandedly, knowing full well the butler lingered right outside his door, primed to serve in Lyra’s stead.

At the order, the butler entered promptly, only to witness Asher floating upward effortlessly to the ceiling, his body passing through it like it was mere illusion.

Asher emerged on the estate’s rooftop, landing gracefully and easing into a seat as a wine glass and premium bottle appeared in his grasp. His face stayed serene and steady as he scanned the horizon, watching the frenzy erupt across Wargrave lands, his vision absorbing the full scope of anarchy within sight, like an aloof spectator to a realm crumbling into turmoil.