Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2078 The Archon

Mid Sector 750 - On the surface of a planet

Here, in the vast, endless expanse of space, on the back of a solitary planet bound to a single sun... upon the seed of a galaxy that had not yet been activated. A dormant galactic core, silent, heavy, ancient.

The atmosphere was unusually tense, thick with pressure and unease.

It was extremely rare for anything to anger, disturb, or even slightly unsettle the inhabitants of this world. Their society was built on control, composure, and long-term calculation.

But today... something had happened.

And it had shaken that balance.

Inside a vast glass chamber, where sunlight poured in freely and cool, clean air flowed through invisible systems, a man stood abruptly and forcefully waved his hand at the light disc.

Bam.

The disc shattered into fragments of light.

He then took a few slow steps toward the massive window overlooking space, his back to the others. ”Iʼve heard enough,” he said coldly. ”That old man has gone mad.” ”Whatʼs the next step?” another person spoke while seated, his voice tense. ”We have countless agreements with Qarun. Strategic, economic, military... Most likely, everything will be void now.” ”It would be better for him not to use this as an excuse to cancel the contracts between us,” a third person said, frowning deeply. ”Those agreements are not small matters. Entire systems depend on them.” ”Heʼs not stupid enough to do something like that,” a fourth finally spoke. ”After losing the Cosmic Elderʼs support, he no longer has the ability to speak to us as an equal. Not anymore. Let alone evade contracts!” ”This is Qarun weʼre talking about!”

The man standing by the window raised his voice slightly, authority pressing into every word. ”Stop trying to predict his moves!”

Silence fell over the chamber.

Yes.

Trying to predict Qarunʼs actions was stupidity itself. Pure arrogance. Even without the Cosmic Elderʼs support, he would most likely not change much. Not in how he dealt with others, and not in his position within the greater cosmic structure.

It wasnʼt as if he had gained his status because of the Cosmic Elder in the first place.

His power, wealth, and influence had been built long before that. ”As it seems, the Stellar Academies will continue their operations,” the man by the window said, brows tightly furrowed. ”The problem is simple. Instead of dealing only with the Stellar Academies, weʼll now be forced to deal with another annoying entity as well. Thatʼs all.”

He paused briefly. ”Our status has not changed. And it will not change.” ”The Stellar Academies?” one of them laughed dryly. ”Theyʼll probably collapse by the end of the day. All our dealings will be with the Cosmic Academies from now on,” ”Not all of them,” one of those present stood and began walking slowly across the chamber. ”Donʼt forget that 90% of the Stellar Academies were already inactive. Most of them had stopped functioning long ago. They didnʼt even care about the original reason for their founding.”

He turned slightly. ”Will all of them really declare loyalty to the Cosmic Academy and return to work voluntarily? Will they abandon their old structures just like that?” ”Are you saying the Cosmic Academy is already doomed?” one raised his brows. ”Its supporters are not few, as you know. Its influence is massive.” ”Iʼm responding to his claim that the Stellar Academies will disappear, thatʼs all.” The man stopped walking. ”Those 90% of academies will either continue their loyalty to Qarun, or theyʼll stabilize fully and transform into independent empires or private academies.”

He added calmly: ”In all cases, weʼll still have to deal with them anyway.” ”What a headache.” ”Boss,” one of the seated men called toward the figure by the window. ”Any orders?” ”.....”

The man by the window remained silent for several long minutes, brows tightly furrowed, gaze fixed on the stars beyond the glass.

Then he spoke. ”I want the full file on Robin Burton in front of me. I also want the file on the

Sacred Covenant Academy. Complete structure, leadership, funding, ideology. And the file on every force affiliated with him, directly or indirectly.”

He turned his head slightly. ”I want all of it on my desk by the end of the day.” ”Yes, boss!” ”... Will that be enough, Leader?” one of the standing men, arms crossed, frowned. ”Weʼre talking about an alliance between the Cosmic Elder and the Great Truth Chosen of this generation. This isnʼt a normal political shift. This is a cosmic-level realignment.” ”What do you suggest?” the man by the window asked calmly. ”Go to the Archon and inform him of whatʼs happening. Perhaps heʼll tell you something we donʼt know.”

The man by the window shook his head slowly, ”... You know he stopped intervening personally countless years ago.” ”You wonʼt lose anything” another one intervened. ”This matter is too big this time. Better save than sorry with this one.”

The man by the window nodded. ”Very well. Letʼs hope he doesnʼt get angry with me...”

A faint, cold smile formed. ”...otherwise, if I survive, Iʼll punish you all.”

Then he stabbed into space before him, tearing open a spatial rift, and took a step forward into the void.

Hooom

That person appeared once again, this time at the foot of a colossal mountain that pierced the sky like a black spear.

Directly before him stood the entrance to a massive cave, vast enough to serve as the lair of an ancient, primordial beast.

The mouth of the cave was covered in beautiful climbing vines and lush, winding greenery, giving it a deceptive sense of life and calm.

But beyond that veil of nature, nothing could be seen.

Only absolute darkness poured from within, thick and heavy, as if the cave itself was breathing shadow. ”Hooo~”

The man released a long, controlled breath.

He removed his sandals, tucked them carefully under his arm, and began walking into the cave with extreme politeness and restraint, every step measured and respectful. ”My lord, I have come to visit.”

Across sharp, pointed pebbles and damp, cold soil, beneath hanging spider webs, echoing bat cries, and the distant sounds of unseen cave creatures, the Syndicate member walked slowly.

His gaze remained fixed on the ground, his posture humble, his movements cautious.

At last, he noticed a faint source of light glowing in one of the distant corners of the cavern and stopped. ”My lord, permit me to proceed.” ”Come.”

A deep, heavy voice emerged from within the darkness, calm yet absolute.

Gulp.

The man swallowed hard, his throat dry, then continued forward toward that corner of light, step by step, until he finally saw the one he had come for...

A man in his thirties, wearing wide, dark garments that flowed loosely around his body, seated on a black chair carved from damp, ancient stone.

The air around him felt heavy, oppressive, filled with silent authority.

It was Sevar. ”Keh!”

The newcomer panicked and dropped instantly to both knees. ז”

I greet The Archon.”

This was not his first time coming here, and as a high-ranking Monarch, he was not required to kneel in such a manner.

Protocol did not demand it.

Status did not require it.

Rank did not enforce it.

But the presence before him did.

The situation itself demanded it.

Sevar was not leaning on his fist with closed eyes as he usually did.

He was not resting in his habitual stillness.

He was sitting upright, fully alert.

And for the first time in his life...

He saw Sevar.

He saw The Archon.

With furrowed brows!! ”What happened outside?” Sevar asked, his voice low, heavy with restrained intensity.

His frown deepened even further. ”And what happened that involves Robin Burton in particular?”

The red thread was before his eyes now.

Visible only to him.

Existing in a layer of reality no one else could perceive.

No...

It was no longer a thread.

It had become like a colossal rope, forged to bind galaxies together, crafted to ensnare the hearts of black holes themselves.

The red color deepened, growing darker, denser, heavier, until it seemed almost black.

Crimson energy pulsed within it, and it appeared to produce its own blood-dark lightning, cracking silently through space and reality alike. ”I- in response to Your Eminence,” the current leader of the Syndicate stammered, his voice shaking, ”the Cosmic Elder has announced him as the new head of the Stellar Academies and renamed them the Cosmic Academies. He also publicly declared that Lord Human, Robin Burton, the creator of the innovations that have flooded the markets recently, will be the man leading the new Cosmic Academies...”

His voice trembled more. ”...and he also said that he is his friend!” ”Zolan?” Sevar murmured.

Then he raised his head slightly and looked again toward the crimson rope. ”Something like this happened?”

Under normal circumstances, he could not see Zolanʼs thread, and he could not see Athenaʼs thread without specific rituals and preparations.

He had never, not for a single moment, believed that Robin had any connection to that being.

But now...

It was too late to sever the connection directly.

The thread was no longer cuttable.

Still...

There were certainly other things that could be done. ”The Knower...” Sevar murmured as he stared at the majestic red rope. ”...what exactly are you weaving against me this time? What kind of design is this? Has your patience truly run out to this degree?”

Then he slowly lowered his head, his expression darkening, and looked toward the kneeling figure before him. ”...I can no longer leave him to his fate.”