Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2214 Seeking help

Hooooof

Robin swung his dark spear powerfully, the surrounding void splitting faintly under the force of the movement while his eyes radiated naked killing intent. ”Killing me will not be that easy, Lady Executioner. I suggest you reconsider, otherwise you may be forced to leave an arm and a leg behind here.”

Was Robin afraid? Of course.

Afraid that he would never finish the path he began toward eternal glory, afraid that his legend would be severed halfway through before reaching its peak, afraid that everything he built, all the blood, suffering, wars, and sacrifices, would end here inside a cold void no one in B-14 could even see.

But... he had already made up his mind moments ago when he revealed his cards and prepared for battle.

If the executioner wanted his life, then he would fight!

Even if he had to tear flesh from her body with his own hands before falling.

”You are undoubtedly powerful, human, but it is obvious you opened the shell through tricks and techniques rather than your raw strength, and those tricks will not be enough to save you today.” The dark-skinned executioner continued advancing calmly, her white hair drifting behind her like feathers in water. ”Still, your threat is not entirely mistaken. You may indeed inflict some unwanted damage upon me, yet there is no escaping the matter.”

”Why is there no escape?!” Robin raised his voice furiously, his anger no longer entirely fake. ”Are lives a game to you? Are you gambling on the idea that I possess no other cards capable of wiping you from existence?!”

”There is no escape because I have already decided to report the breach and the old incident, and I will leave the higher authorities to deal with Universe B-14 however they see fit...”

The executioner spoke calmly as she continued approaching him step after step, her tone carrying no cruelty, no pleasure, no excitement.

As though she were merely carrying out paperwork.

”I believed your words regarding the old incident and the surviving individual. It is the only explanation for why you are not overly shocked by us... for why you were prepared for us...”

Then she continued in the same emotionless tone.

”However, my failure to enter the guilty universe and complete my duties is already a serious problem for which I will be punished. Even if I speak of the entity that killed the executioner long ago and remains alive until now, I will still be judged as negligent and punished. But at the very least, I will not lose my life and status because of the information regarding a universe advancing to a higher rank.”

Then she stared directly into Robinʼs eyes, her gaze completely steady.

”But what excuse could I possibly offer for failing to kill the person who broke the shell this time?”

Then she pointed toward him with the pointed mace in her hand.

”I must take your corpse as proof that I fulfilled my duty, then destroy this portal. Only then will I survive after reporting the old incident... and my failure to enforce the universe punishment this time.”

”.....”

Robinʼs expression slowly transformed into a smile.

A dangerous smile.

”So I am your sacrifice then? The weaker side you intend to use to save yourself from the danger of Athena and Sevar?”

”I do not know who those people are, but yes.” The executioner answered calmly without hesitation. ”Thank you for being considerate enough to inform me of Universe B-14ʼs dark history. Reporting it will expose me to investigation for some time and perhaps punishment, but I will receive a promotion and better treatment once your universe is dealt with. After all, the advancement of a universe is not discovered every day.”

Then she narrowed her white eyes slightly.

”Especially since that universe already suffered severe punishments in the past according to your words... such a case has never been recorded before.”

”You will receive a promotion after finishing us?” Robin stepped back slightly while speaking, secretly trying to absorb every piece of information possible before the battle began. ”How exactly will that happen?”

”Me?” The dark-skinned executioner shook her head lightly. ”An Executioner Brigade will arrive to investigate, eliminate unexpected factors, and impose the necessary punishments. Naturally, a proper number of Reapers will accompany them in order to carry out the orders.”

The dark-skinned executioner waved her mace.

Immediately, the surrounding space beasts began moving once more.

Thousands upon thousands of enormous bodies shifted within the void, slowly surrounding Robin from every direction like a tightening sea of monsters.

Even the adult beasts moved this time.

Then she continued while raising her head slightly.

”But you need not concern yourself with that. Our round trip, in addition to preparing the brigade and the Reapers for the mission, may take ten thousand years or so. If you have children inside B-14, they will likely be dead by then.”

”Our trip?”

The smile returned to Robinʼs face, though his heart sank deeper.

”Of course. Your body will come with me.” The executioner answered as though it were the most obvious thing imaginable. ”Unfortunately, I will most likely be required to return alongside the brigade in order to prove my report in their presence and present them with evidence.”

Then she revealed an extremely faint smile for the first time.

”But that is fine. Once the claim is verified and the punishment carried out, I will return as a heroine.”

”Those are beautiful dreams you have...” Robin laughed lightly, though his eyes had already grown colder. Then he gestured around him with his spear. ”Why donʼt you prove your strength face-to-face and take my head proudly instead of sharing the work with your companions?”

”I am an executioner, not a duelist.” The dark-skinned executioner continued approaching him with the expression of a statue carved from ice. ”There is nothing in this work worthy of an honorable duel.”

”....”

Robin slightly raised his head in disgust.

He remembered the reports regarding the first ancestral beast that attacked Athena from behind waves of space beasts and assaulted the Cosmic Elder while he was completing the banishment array. Then later, the Cosmic Elder spoke of meeting them in the void, saying they chased him while using the other space beasts as shields.

No...

Rather, it would be more accurate to say the executioners used the space beast , or the Reapers as she calls them, as shields and cannon fodder.

Disposable tools.

Nothing more.

”I wanted one final honorable duel worthy of me, but...” Robinʼs eyes filled with blazing fury while the Eye of Truth above him shone brighter, ”if you insist on using assistance, then I will do the same.”

”You have someone to rely on?” The dark-skinned executioner smiled slightly for the second time, then pointed toward Blokan and the others in the distance. ”Them?”

Blokanʼs face twitched instantly.

Altheraʼs expression darkened.

Even Asir subconsciously tightened his grip on his weapon.

Then the executioner revealed a small smile toward Robin.

”Go ahead and call them. Gladly do.”

”Iʼm ready.” Morgana shouted immediately, her voice trembling with tension and fear alike, yet her shadow above her was clearly refusing to move forward, shivering unnaturally as though even it sensed the monstrous danger ahead.

Clang

Althera moved her short sword with difficulty, the exhaustion visible across her face after everything that had happened, while Blokan and Asir also understood the situation and pressed their backs against one another instinctively, preparing themselves for the final battle.

The atmosphere had completely changed.

No one still believed escape was possible.

”Them?” But Robin held a different opinion entirely. ”They have already done more than enough.” Then he pointed toward himself with his right hand despite the blood staining his fingers. ”This is my battle, and even the one who will help me... will be myself!”

”...?”

The dark-skinned executioner stopped mid-step, genuine surprise appearing on her face after hearing those strange words.

But her surprise did not last long.

Robin waved his right hand.

Hooom

A small Space Portal opened beside him, space folding inward silently before a human-sized figure stepped out from within it, a muscular man with long hair wearing loose robes... it was Arkalon.

The former specter king emerged calmly at first, yet the moment he saw the surrounding void and the endless sea of beasts surrounding them from every direction, his brows immediately furrowed.

Then—

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Purple stars began appearing in the sky one after another.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Until the total reached ten enormous stars suspended within the darkness above them like ancient omens.

TEN.

Those stars immediately began pouring heavy violet matter directly upon Arkalon alone, waves of dense purple energy crashing down over his body like waterfalls from another universe.

His robes began fluttering violently.

His muscles swelled slightly.

The aura radiating from him rapidly intensified at a frightening pace.

Then something even stranger happened.

Hoooosh

The gigantic Eye of Truth released its golden light upon Arkalon, covering him in an additional layer of presence and authority far greater than before.

Golden lines spread faintly across his body.

Reality itself seemed to acknowledge him for an instant.

”...?!”

The dark-skinned executioner halted completely this time, genuine shock finally appearing openly upon her face.

Not because another fighter had appeared.

But because she recognized the nature of what she was seeing.

That golden blessing...

”Arkalon, todayʼs battle may very well end in my death, and I donʼt want to die just yet.” Robin spoke with extreme calmness despite the madness surrounding them. ”What weapon do you want?”

”....”

Arkalon slowly looked around himself again, staring at the hundreds of thousands of beasts of every imaginable size surrounding them from every direction like a living ocean of monsters.

Then he let out a long sigh.

His expression did not contain fear.

Only irritation.

Then he extended his hand toward Robin.

”Give me Seraphim and I will handle the rest.”

Woosh

The feather-pen instantly flew from Robinʼs side directly into Arkalonʼs hand as though it had been waiting for that moment.

The instant his fingers wrapped around it, the surrounding purple matter exploded violently around him.

Arkalon raised the pen slowly and began spinning it between his fingers with unnatural familiarity.

Then he started laughing.

”Hehe, I have not experienced a battle in a very long time... hehehe...”

His laughter gradually became sharper.

”I have been craving the chance to test this pen, you stingy bastard, hehehe.”

Robin merely smiled faintly without answering.

Meanwhile, the surrounding beasts had already begun reacting violently to Arkalonʼs appearance.

Especially the adult beasts.

Some of them instinctively retreated.

Others lowered their bodies slightly.

Even the executionerʼs eyes narrowed subtly as she observed him more carefully.

Then Arkalon slowly turned his head toward the largest adult space beast among the surrounding hordes.

His smile widened.

And then he shouted loudly enough for the void itself to tremble:

”Khhh, looks like the heavens are about to rain shit all over your fucking heads today!”