Lord of the Truth

"...Why aren't you showing your true body?" Helmor revealed a faint smile, his expression remaining calm and relaxed.

"Why don't you take your things and leave?" the spear-wielder spoke calmly, his projection trembling for a brief moment before stabilizing once more. "You had no business crossing five sectors just to attack me here, in the very heart of my own territory, where every inch of space belongs to me."

"Hmm, so this is the great Kiryan, the Oppression Behemoth renowned for his sharp intellect and unmatched strength on the battlefields, the one whose reputation spread across countless sectors...!" Helmor mocked with a faint smile that barely concealed his contempt. "Turns out you're a coward after all!"

"I fear no one, Helmor. One against one, I never retreat from any battle, no matter who stands before me. Even if Marlik himself came, he would find me waiting with my spear in hand!" the man called Kiryan waved his spear angrily, the surrounding space quivering slightly from the motion. "But I don't fight cheaters."

"Oh, we're making excuses already?" Helmor slowly shook his head with obvious disappointment. "I haven't even done anything yet, and you're already trying to justify yourself."

"I have an eye with which I see." Kiryan pointed toward the ongoing battle without taking his gaze off Helmor for long. "An eye that lets me distinguish what is possible from what is impossible, regardless of appearances or deception." Then he continued while glaring at Helmor with unconcealed hatred, "What exactly are they?"

"Haha, have my Kids already become your nightmares?" Helmor raised his voice, sounding genuinely amused by Kiryan's reaction and the seriousness with which he was analyzing them.

"Kids?" Fury gradually filled Kiryan's face. "They're nothing but machines. I can't perceive different personalities while they fight. I can't detect hesitation in their decisions, a single mistake, or even a fleeting moment of carelessness. Everything is carried out far too perfectly, as though every movement had already been calculated countless times before the battle even began."

Then he continued, "Secondly, what is this power?" Kiryan pointed toward the battlefield once again. "The Law of Destruction is tremendously powerful, but it's still a Fundamental Heavenly Law like many others. It has strengths and weaknesses, limits and flaws that every expert eventually comes to understand. But what I'm seeing before me now isn't what should be possible, nor does it resemble anything that Law should be capable of producing!"

"My disciples aren't as weak as they appear in this battle. Every single one of them could become a Behemoth if they possessed a seed. With their help, even Mid Sector 120 is under my indirect control, and no one dares establish an artificial galaxy anywhere near me. I know their strength better than anyone because they're the product of my own training, and I've witnessed every step of their growth with my own eyes. And yet they're being toyed with by those things you call your children, completely overwhelmed despite everything they've achieved... What's happening? Where did they get this kind of power? And if they're this strong... then what about you?!"

Then he slightly raised his voice. "Why is every one of them stronger than what the rumors says about Hedrick, whose name has echoed through the universe for millions of years? Hedrick, who supposedly wounded you in that suspicious battle... a battle that took place under extremely questionable circumstances and at an absurd timing!"

"...Thanks for the compliment. They're good kids." Helmor answered seriously, though his brows knitted together for the briefest moment before returning to normal, as though something in Kiryan's words had caught his attention.

"Is that all you've got? 'Thanks for the compliment?'" Kiryan raised his brows in disappointment, clearly dissatisfied by such a casual response. "...Why did you come today, Helmor? If you have terms, then state them."

"Terms? You mean the terms of your surrender? That won't matter." Helmor shook his head without the slightest hesitation. "You should have lowered your head the moment you learned that Mid Sector 114 belongs to me. Now that war has broken out, don't come back expecting light punishments and simple conditions... This galaxy belongs to me now. If you don't intend to come out and fight like a man, then stay inside quietly until I come to you myself."

"....." Kiryan stared at Helmor with a calm, serious expression for several long seconds, seemingly weighing every possibility before reaching a decision.

Then, Whoosh—his projection vanished without another word, leaving behind only empty space.

"...." Helmor remained silent for several minutes, his stern expression gradually becoming heavier as countless thoughts crossed his mind before he finally waved his hand and raised his voice.

"Finish this battle already!"

Disturbance

-----------------------

Mid Sector 100—

Robin let out a long breath...

Seated in a meditative posture inside a gigantic dark cave that resembled an enormous hollow deep beneath the earth, the very same place where he had encountered Renara not long ago, Robin remained perfectly still as though he had become one with the silent darkness surrounding him. At this moment, it seemed as though nothing in the world, regardless of how troublesome or unexpected it might be, could possibly ruin his mood.

Whoosh

"Your Majesty," at that moment, a Shadow Sword arrived beside Robin, kneeling on one knee the instant he appeared. "The updates you requested are here."

"...." Robin calmly opened one eye, accepted the data chip from the Shadow Sword without saying a word, then casually gestured for him to leave.

The Shadow Sword immediately disappeared, while Robin closed his eyes once again for nearly a full minute, quietly analyzing every piece of information stored inside the chip, carefully organizing the countless reports and details flowing through his mind...

Afterward, a satisfied smile slowly appeared on his face as he rose to his feet.

"Well then, it's time to continue our tour."

"Is Your Majesty feeling better now?" Standing to the side with his back resting against the wall in a guarding posture, Glatheon revealed a delighted smile after noticing Robin's expression had returned to normal.

"Mn." Robin nodded. "Everything was fine, and my body could still handle continuing the tour at the exact moment Renara's limits were removed. After that... I have no idea what caused that overwhelming exhaustion to hit me so suddenly." He let out a quiet sigh before stretching his body with a relaxed expression. "But it doesn't matter. We can continue now. Everything is fine."

He then gestured toward Richard with a slight movement of his head.

"You're looking much better as well. Good. At our next destination, you need to appear handsome."

"It's been two weeks since I stopped doing anything regarding Anti-Matter," Richard slowly stood up as well with a relaxed smile, casually dusting off his clothes. "It feels nice to look like a normal human being again... even if it's only for a short while before I return to closed-door training after this tour is over."

"You don't need to do anything. You're just punishing yourself and finding ways to make the days pass... but you won't have time for that, and even if you did, you wouldn't get the chance." Robin shook his head with amusement. "We're going to meet your mother-in-law."

"....?!?" Richard jolted as though a snake had suddenly bitten him.

"W-We are going to— Sirene?!"

"Haha." Robin burst into loud laughter before pointing beside him. "Glathy, help him fix his hair and straighten his clothes. I want him to look like a proper young gentleman."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Glatheon laughed heartily before immediately walking over and beginning to straighten Richard's clothes while repeatedly winking at him with an unmistakably teasing expression.

"Be confident, keep your head high, stand tall, and act like you're not intimidated by the situation!" Robin began giving him a lecture with a broad smile while doing his best to suppress another burst of laughter, looking every bit like a father preparing to accompany his eldest son to ask for a bride's hand. "If you let them see you're desperate, they'll only raise their demands!"

"....." Richard's face remained serious as he obediently stood still, but it gradually turned bright red while Glatheon continued adjusting his clothes and appearance with obvious enjoyment.

"Hehe~" Robin enjoyed the moment as much as he could, clearly finding Richard's reaction far more entertaining than he expected.

Then the golden Scale appeared.

Tam.

Something quietly vanished from Robin's body as an overwhelming power immediately enveloped him, followed by countless golden inscriptions spreading across him in dense layers until much of his figure was covered.

"Let's go to Mid Sector 101!" Robin shouted with a bright smile before pointing toward a certain spot ahead of them, causing a magnificent golden gate to open in response.

"...." Robin's expression suddenly changed for a brief instant, revealing unmistakable confusion and bewilderment before he instinctively lowered his gaze toward his own hand, silently staring at it for several moments as though he had just noticed something unexpected.

A moment later, he forced a smile toward Glatheon and Richard.

"All right, let's go!"