Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2252 Support

Three Weeks Later — Mid Sector 98 — Spell Galaxy

”Things have been quiet since Marshal Aroʼs last attack on the galaxy, and ever since then we havenʼt had to deal with any major assaults or large-scale military operations. Itʼs true that we still encounter isolated attacks across the sector from time to time, and occasionally lose patrols, scouts, or transport groups to sudden strikes, but they arenʼt anything like before, when every day felt like the beginning of another disaster.” One of the people inside the throne hall spoke calmly.

”That doesnʼt mean Aro is actually dead like youʼre claiming. Maybe this is simply the calm before the storm, the kind of silence that appears right before everything collapses.” Another replied with knitted brows. ”We havenʼt managed to injure Aro in any way whatsoever despite all our efforts. In fact, I can still hear the sound of his laughter from the last attack ringing in my ears even today. Every time I remember it, I feel like that monster could appear outside this hall at any moment.”

”Believe me, heʼs dead. Heʼs still just a Martial Emperor and doesnʼt possess much Soul Force, so how could he possibly endure that amount of negative karma? Especially after the curses we planted throughout the galaxy to intensify the effects of the Karma Aura and ensure that every action he took would come back to haunt him. For all we know, he might have choked on a grain of rice while running away!”

”Have we truly fallen so low that weʼre gambling on whether a Martial Emperor is dead or alive?!” One of the men raised his voice in anger and embarrassment. ”Does any one of you have actual information that we can work with instead of guesses, hopes, and fantasies?”

”.....”

”...The individual raids carried out by Royal Soul Masters and Nexus State cultivators have completely stopped during the past two weeks for some reason, and that hasnʼt happened in a very long time. Usually, even during periods of relative peace, there are still probing attacks and assassination attempts.”

”The forces of the Time Sands Galaxy are still stationed along the borders of Mid Sector 98 even after destroying our reinforcements and killing our brothers. They havenʼt attempted to reclaim control over Sector 97 any faster either, despite having every opportunity to do so... theyʼre simply standing there. In fact, theyʼve spread out even more heavily along the border, and no vessel will pass through and enter Sector 97 without colliding with them or being detected by their surveillance network.”

”And who even wants to go there in the first place?!”

”I wanted to send some reinforcements there. If we could shift the battlefield into the neighboring sector, weʼd reduce the pressure on whatʼs happening here and force our enemies to divide their attention.”

”....”

”Young Sector 98 is also in a massive crisis. The forces belonging to the True Beginning Empire attacked our strongholds there, and afterward the forces of the Time Sands Galaxy entered as well. If not for that group withdrawing when they did, we would have lost everything there without exception.”

”We already lost everything in the Young Sector. The resource and troop supply chains have been severed, and weʼve been surrounded from below by a massive number of fleets. From there, they can attack us easily whenever they choose. In another month or two youʼll see all those vessels roaming freely through Mid Sector 98, moving through our territory without resistance and establishing forward positions wherever they please... our sector!!”

”No, they havenʼt done that... Even here thereʼs stagnation. A state of silence. A state of waiting. Everyone seems to be preparing for something, yet no one is making the first move.”

”.....”

”The Supreme Sword of the Shadow Swords, Theo, appeared in the Grand Space Gate region exactly two weeks ago.”

”.....”

The atmosphere inside the throne hall instantly became heavier.

Several people exchanged glances.

Others lowered their heads.

No one laughed.

No one dismissed the information.

Because everyone present understood exactly what that name represented.

Theo rarely appeared personally without purpose.

And if he appeared, it usually meant that someone elseʼs plans were already in motion.

”How in the hell did things reach this point?!”

Beside that group of men and women, in a deeper voice, a voice dripping with disappointment, frustration, and the exhaustion of someone forced to listen to the same arguments over and over again, a set of words was heard:

”My, what a joy you all are.”

Everyone lowered their heads and turned their bodies toward a certain direction without hesitation.

There, three identical thrones stood side by side upon an elevated platform that overlooked the entire hall.

The owner of the voice sat upon the throne to the left.

”In front of our honored guests, this is how you choose to behave?” he said, his voice growing heavier with every word. ”I asked you to gather information regarding our condition in the war, and this is what you brought me? An argument between children?! Complaints, speculation, and pointless bickering while the sector burns around us?”

”Father, our situation can only be described as deep shit.” One of the people standing beneath the throne platform spoke without any attempt to soften his words. ”Even if we set aside everything that has been said so far, we have confirmed information that the Grave Empire is currently gathering an enormous force that includes all of its Wings, and is conducting a military display involving an overwhelming show of strength intended to intimidate its enemies and remind everyone of the gap that now exists between them and the rest of us... and who are those enemies if not us and the Continuous Chaos Empire?”

Then the man knitted his brows more deeply.

”A terrifying military force appeared during that display. We can even set aside the terrifying Note fleets for a moment, because the Wingsʼ fleets and armies alone are enough to concern any power, no matter how strong it is or how secure it believes itself to be. Thousands of fleets, countless soldiers, and a level of coordination that should not be possible between former enemies... Whoever came up with this Wings system is a devil! A devil!!”

Twitch. Twitch.

The veins upon the forehead of the man seated on the left throne, upon the forehead of Zarghul the Sorcerer, began throbbing violently.

Even he did not know whether he was this angry because of the current situation and the steadily worsening state of the war... or because of his son, who possessed absolutely no talent for making things sound better and somehow always managed to describe reality in the most infuriating way possible.

”There is no need to be angry, Brother Zarghul. Our situations are similar, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.” The man seated upon the throne to the right spoke with a measure of calm, though even he seemed tired beneath the surface. ”May a curse fall upon the Cosmic Elder who afflicted us with that filthy gang and turned the balance of the entire region upside down!”

The man wore black clothing and possessed a powerful build. He appeared to be in his forties, with long black hair, a clean-shaven face, pale skin, and eyes that inspired little confidence or comfort. There was something unsettling about the way he sat there, as though he were constantly suppressing irritation.

”Brother Darvion, it is a conspiracy. A conspiracy prepared by the Cosmic Elder, and he clearly intends to use it to bring down everyone beneath his authority, though by indirect means, while that friend of his carries it out on his behalf.” Zarghul ground his teeth together so hard that several people in the hall could hear it. ”It just so happened that we were the first two standing in the path of the Cosmic Elderʼs descent onto the path of evil, the first obstacles he encountered while expanding his influence... but we shall be the final obstacle as well!”

”Well said, both of you!”

The man seated in the center clapped once loudly, the sound echoing throughout the hall before he straightened himself upon his throne once more and looked down upon everyone with satisfaction.

”The Archon was not mistaken when he chose to teach you the truth and support you so that you could stand in the path of tyranny and evil! Few remain willing to oppose corruption once it becomes powerful, yet the two of you continue to stand firm.”

”Ah, of course he was not mistaken, and we shall undoubtedly cut off the path before him and his equally obvious partner.” Zarghul revealed a flattering smile that he had not used since the days when he had been an ordinary Royal Soul Master struggling for opportunities and favor. ”But we are in need of some support if we are to continue carrying this burden on behalf of everyone else... Master Marlik the Butcher.”

”And support...” he replied, leaning slightly forward upon his throne as the corners of his lips rose into a peculiar smile,

”...is exactly what you shall receive.”