Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1383: Imperial Guard Against World Cataclysm

”Where did she go?!”

The middle one of the three World Cataclysms spun around, eyes darting, a subtle edge of unease creeping into his voice.

”There—over there! Spread your soul sense and you’ll detect her!”

Another pointed toward a specific point in the ruins. But just as he did, his face darkened, his voice faltered. ”But...”

”But what?!”

Without waiting, the Middle World Cataclysm unleashed his soul sense and launched a devastating attack at the location.

BAAAAM!

A massive shockwave split the stone and air alike—but then, confusion crept onto his face.

His eyebrows arched in disbelief. ”This... doesn’t make sense.”

A mocking voice echoed from the rubble.

”Hmph! Keep destroying your own city, you blind fools!”

Latania emerged from the shattered remnants of another building, her boots scraping ash and blood as she moved in a wide, circular run.

But what truly shocked the three world cataclysms wasn’t her sudden reappearance...

It was the four others that followed behind her—identical in every detail. Each one radiated a real presence, each one visible to soul sense, as if five true versions of Latania now existed at once.

But of course, the three world cataclysms doesn’t see Latania, they only see five black-armored enemies!

”How many black wasps came today exactly?!”

The calamity in the center snarled and pointed toward the group.

”I’ll take the original one! You two, handle the rest—now!”

”Understood!”

The other two broke off immediately. With swift precision and fierce strikes, they separated the original Latania from her doppelgängers and chased the *other four wasps* outside the city walls.

The battlefield fell eerily silent.

”Now then,” the leading Cataclysm said, his tone low and deadly. His eyes burned with dark intent.

”No one’s coming to save you now.”

With a flick of his hand, he summoned a dark crimson blade from his spatial ring, and lunged—

Swoosh!

”Hey!”

Latania came to an abrupt halt.

She reached behind her with her right arm, forming a tight fist and took a defiant, grounded stance.

”Let your own attack be your undoing!”

A glowing, translucent object formed in her palm—a mirror of sorts, pulsing with arcane energy.

KLANG!

The blade’s energy struck the mirror with a sharp, echoing blast.

Part of the attack rebounded—ricocheting back toward him.

Another portion shattered the mirror, splintering into chaotic streams of force, one of which still streaked toward Latania.

”What the hell?!”

He raised his weapon instinctively—

BAAM!

The rebounded force smashed into him with tremendous pressure, sending him flying over a hundred meters backward. Stones cracked beneath his boots as he finally landed, barely able to stabilize himself.

His mouth hung open.

What kind of law is this?

A technique that reflects attacks like some cursed game mechanic?!

Yet despite the damage, a grin crept across his face.

He was still watching her carefully.

That final shard of his original attack—the one that shattered the mirror—was still heading toward her at full speed.

That will be enough. She’s finished.

Swoosh!

Just before impact, Latania slammed her foot into the earth and leapt backward, gracefully dodging the attack.

She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around herself like a cocoon, and whispered with icy resolve:

”Spectral Phase.”

BZZZT!

BOOOOOOM!

The World Cataclysm’s pupils dilated in disbelief.

The deadly energy passed directly through Latania’s abdomen—no blood, no wound—as if she were made of mist.

The force struck the ground behind her and carved a deep trench through the stone.

Krrrrrk.

Latania came to a sliding stop, her breath heavy.

She let out a defiant laugh, then spoke:

”Spectral Phase—a technique that shifts my body’s frequency just enough to pass through solid matter... or attacks.”

”Hmph.”

She spat out a mouthful of blood without concern, then charged forward, eyes blazing.

”You’re not bad... but now, you shall face my power!”

”What’s going on? Has the entire world gone insane?!”

The World Cataclysm’s hands trembled slightly as he lifted his sword and took off again.

Was she really just an Martial Emperor Realm cultivator?!

Why... why did he feel like she was not bluffing?

”DIE!!”

With rage and desperation, he released another massive slash—this one even more brutal than the last.

A blood-red arc cut through everything in its path, screaming toward her like judgment itself.

But Latania didn’t flinch.

Instead, she flung her arms outward, both index fingers bent in a symbolic gesture, thumbs tucked beneath.

She whispered:

”Cloak of Dispersal.”

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Three identical copies of Latania exploded from her body, each radiating a distinct aura.

Each one was so real, so perfect, that even soul sense couldn’t distinguish between them and the original.

BAAAAAAM!

The massive blade struck the original’s location...

And yet—only one of the Latanias vanished.

The remaining three darted forward, spreading wide like wolves encircling prey.

”What?!”

The World Cataclysm gasped and spun around.

Then his eyes snapped toward the city gates—

Don’t tell me...

Were his two comrades chasing illusions this whole time?!

That second of hesitation...

Would cost him everything.

”Where are you looking?!”

Latania smashed her heel into the ground and leapt like a predator unleashed.

She struck with her open palm, her voice low and sharp:

”Pulsing Domain.”

PA-DUM.

The World Cataclysm’s heart skipped a beat.

His mouth fell open. His eyes locked wide.

”Bbbffft—!”

A torrent of blood burst from his lips—nearly a full liter.

BAAAM!

Latania landed heavily, her boots cracking the broken stones beneath. Dust rose around her like a cloak. She narrowed her eyes and looked up, breath steaming in the night air.

”Tch... Damn those cursed World Cataclysms... their bodies are like iron walls wrapped in stone.”

She rolled her shoulders, cracked her neck to both sides with audible pops, and then launched herself backward with a graceful leap. Her feet barely touched the ground before she sprang again, her aura surging like a brewing storm.

”Again!” she snarled, her energy coiling around her like a viper preparing to strike.

She moved in for another blow from behind—her signature technique: Pulsing Domain. A strike that didn’t shatter bones—it destroyed organs from the inside out.

”RAAARGHH—I GOT YOU!!”

The World Cataclysm roared with bloodlust.

One hand still clutching his chest, he swung his sword behind him with murderous fury. From this distance, there was no way to miss.

But—

Latania brought her hands together with a smooth, practiced motion. A glowing sigil bloomed between her palms—circular, ancient, rippling like water.

She whispered through her teeth:

”Echo Gate.”

WHOOSH!

A pulse of light, and she vanished.

”What?!”

His strike didn’t land. Not even close.

Instead, the crimson slash flew forward—unchecked—and carved a brutal, jagged trench through a massive section of the imperial city.

Buildings collapsed. Screams echoed.

”Where... did she go?!”

Then—

He heard it.

A whisper, softer than breath, deadlier than death:

”Pulsing Domain.”

PA-DUM.

”Bffft—!!”

He coughed blood—again.

This time the pain was different.

It wasn’t a spike. It was a wave, crashing through his bones and flesh like thunder beneath his skin.

His heart skipped. His knees nearly buckled.

This strike... was twice as strong as the last.

”Im...possible...” he gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.

Echo Gate—a high-tier application of the Law of Waves.

It allows the user to return, instantaneously, to a previous location they occupied less than one second ago...

By following the lingering waveprint of their own presence.

And where had Latania chosen to return?

Exactly where she had struck before—

Directly behind the World Cataclysm’s exposed back.

BOOF.

Her palm pressed against his spine, fingers splayed over his heart.

Her other hand rested lightly on his shoulder for balance, her grip calm... almost gentle.

She leaned forward, lips brushing against his ear.

Her voice was low. Controlled. Furious.

”We were ordered to hide our power.

To keep our strength a secret.

But you...

You dared to strip one of our own naked and film him.

You dared to shame a guard.

You’ve chosen your doom.

And your empire—

will fall screaming with you.”

”SHUT UP!”

The World Cataclysm bellowed in blind fury, swinging backward with all his remaining might.

But when the blade cut through air—

he realized she was already gone.

He looked down—

And his blood stopped flowing.

There were at least ten of her now.

Ten identical Latanias.

Each making strange, arcane hand gestures.

Each wearing the same look of manic joy on her face.

Each laughing with a different flavor of madness.

”Hahaha! Today, I’ll kill a World Cataclysm!”

”Kh—!”

He froze.

Him?

A warrior who had lived over thirty thousand years.

A being who had crushed empires and broken armies.

One of the pillars of the Imperial Order...

And now—

He felt an ancient, primal instinct rise within him.

Fear.

No...

This wasn’t pride anymore.

He had to flee.

He had to run—now.

But just as he readied himself to dash skyward—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

The imperial palace exploded behind him.

Not collapsed.

Not cracked.

Exploded.

Flames swallowed the sky.

Stone and blood and bodies rose into the heavens like falling stars in reverse.

His heart stopped.

”No... no no no no no no—”

His voice cracked as he watched the tower crumble.

Today had been a holy day for the empire.

The entire royal family had gathered.

Dukes, generals, heirs, wives, children—all of them.

”NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

He stumbled forward, hand over his wounded chest.

He could barely breathe.

”His Majesty... surely His Majesty must surviv—”

BANG.

Something struck the back of his skull.

His vision exploded with white.

And a voice—

Smooth. Terrifying.

”Memory Echo~”

”AAAAH! AAAAAAHHH!!”

The World Cataclysm clutched his head with both hands.

And suddenly—he saw everything.

Every face he had ever killed.

Every soul he had condemned.

Every betrayal, every lie, every scream.

His loved ones...

The innocent...

His victims.

It was as if his own sins had become a tidal wave crashing down on his mind.

He screamed.

And she didn’t stop.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

”DIE!

DIE!!

DIIIIIE!!!”

Latania lifted her mid-grade epic warhammer and brought it down with devastating force.

Every strike released a resonant pulse, amplified by the Law of Waves—

Focused.

Concentrated.

Deadly.

Each blow had the power to flatten a small village.

And she didn’t stop.

”HAAAAAAAAAH~~!!!!” Latania gave a final war cry, he body and helmet already drenched in blood.

BANG! BANG!

She struck.

And struck.

Until the World Cataclysm fell from the sky slowly, very slowly.

He couldn’t tell— why was he falling? Why was he dying?!

Was the agony from the memories shredding his soul?

Or the thousand-ton warhammer cracking open his skull?

She struck.

And struck.

Until his face was no longer above the ground—

It had become part of it.