Lord of the Truth

"...Oh? What's happening here? Do we have... an unexpected guest?"

"....!!!!"

That familiar voice sliced through the heavy tension like lightning through silence. Instantly, every head turned toward its source — and with it, every heart followed.

"Father!"

"Your Excellency!!"

"Lord!!!"

"Heeeeeeaah...!!!" The entire arena erupted. The crowds in the stands, who had just seconds ago been paralyzed by fear —breathless and afraid they'd be caught in a cataclysmic battle between cosmic forces— now exploded with joy and relief. Their savior had arrived.

They raised their hands to the heavens in reverence and awe.

Their voices thundered like a second storm, roaring with uncontainable emotion.

Even the kings of planets, those beings of immense pride and status, threw away decorum and shouted with the people — loud and unashamed.

"...I should've known you'd make your entrance now," Harros said with a long exhale, letting the purple energy in his hands fade into the ether.

"You'd never let a moment this theatrical pass you by."

But despite the sigh, a small, knowing smile had crept across his lips.

"Hi Excellency…? He is also the Red Plague's lord…? He's human?!"

The Soul Shard stared wide-eyed at the figure that now stood before her.

The Red Plague — it was infamous. A parasitic force of nature, one that devoured everything in its path. It recognized no rulers, no masters. In their presence nothing were safe— if a race even a flicker of weakness, the plague would consume them without hesitation.

So to hear the word Lord— not once, but repeatedly —from the mouths of these creatures…

She had assumed, logically, that he must be some ancient, mutated strain. A cursed relic from the forgotten ages who had somehow, impossibly, subdued the plague and bent it to his will.

But a human being? Impossible. Unthinkable.

And her confusion only deepened. She pointed suddenly behind Robin.

"Wait… is that… is that a spatial rift behind you?!"

Robin didn't even flinch. Instead, he simply clasped his hands behind his back with calm dignity, his smile warm and composed, "And who might you be?"

"....I am Planetary Empress Rinara," she announced, lifting her chin with regal grace.

"Sovereign of the Nine Paths Empire of the Middle Sector No.100, and as of this day— the owner of this planet." She locked eyes with him, expecting hesitation.

"Ah, the Nine Paths Empire... so you're the lady who descended upon Planet Gudah," Robin said with a thoughtful nod.

"Fascinating. I am Robin Burton— the host of today's festivities. And as luck would have it... I serve no one above me."

He chuckled lightly, then extended his arm to gesture toward the sky, the plaza, the celebrations still echoing around them.

"Listen please, Lady Rinara. Today is a day of celebration for my empire. A sacred day— the day of my coronation. Why don't we set aside conflict, just for a moment? Join us as an honored guest. Share in the joy. Afterward, we can talk— properly, peacefully. What do you say?"

"...." Rinara's eyes narrowed slightly, her brows creasing.

His response… was bizarre.

She had just declared her imperial rank— not just an Empress, but a planetary conqueror from the Mid-Belt.

She'd just claimed dominion over the planet. And yet…

He was speaking of parties and ceremonies?

Was he fearless? Or simply a madman with no understanding of what a Mid-Belt planetary empire truly was?

"No," she declared with icy resolve.

"We will speak — here and now. Do you think I'll sit idly by and watch your little performance until it ends?"

Then she pointed, sharply, toward the demons.

"And those… must die. Before we exchange even another word. I will not recognize — let alone support — any government that dares consort with the Red Plague!"

"Haha. Well, that settles it, doesn't it?" Robin said, still smiling.

"We will continue working with them. You are welcome to leave, if that displeases you."

Kill Sakaar and Amon? That wasn't just unreasonable — it was laughable.

"You... are you just like the rest of the fools here? Defending the Red Plague?!"

Her voice cracked with disbelief.

"Do you even comprehend what they are? Do you have any idea what will happen if word spreads that you're harboring them?! Or worse— if I am seen as supporting an empire that does?!"

The Soul Shard's tone turned sharp, her palm beginning to glow with rising power.

"If you won't do it yourself, then step aside— and I will deal with them myself!"

"...." Sakaar clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked.

He knew — he knew the Lord would never abandon them.

But to be the reason he was threatened…

To become his liability…

It was humiliating. It was unworthy.

Unworthy of the one who had saved them all.

Robin swiftly raised his hand, cutting off both Caesar and Richard just as they began stepping forward toward the Soul Shard, tension rippling through the air like a taut wire about to snap. Then, with a calm, measured smile, he spoke, his voice carrying an air of gentle authority:

"My lady... must you insist on starting with hostility the moment we meet? Why draw your blade before words are exchanged?" He gave a small shrug, still smiling. "No matter. Very well — let's talk before the coronation proceeds. I will go back on my earlier statement, just this once. What do you say? Perhaps, in the same spirit, you might consider softening your stance regarding the demons? Let them be— just for now, until our discussion is finished."

He paused, then slowly opened his eyes — and in that brief, breathless moment, the Soul Shard felt something shift. Those eyes… they didn't just look at her — they saw through her, dissected her, laid her bare on a spiritual level. The weight of his gaze pressed down upon her soul like a mountain.

"Otherwise…" Robin continued, his tone still gentle, but carrying a cold edge like the unsheathing of a blade, "…the remaining 9,327 spirit units within your shard may not be sufficient to maintain your presence here for much longer. I imagine the strain of projecting yourself onto a young-belt planet must be quite taxing, no?"

".....?!" Rinara instinctively took a half-step back— but her pride caught her, and she forced herself still.

The fact that this man could read her soul reserves with such alarming precision meant only one thing: his soul perception was superior to hers.

That… or his strength was on a scale she had grossly underestimated.

How could someone — a human, no less — on a mere young-belt world, possess more than nine thousand soul units? The implications were staggering.

She said nothing for a moment — but her eyes swept across the arena once more, trying to make sense of the growing absurdity around her.

Hostility had reached its boiling point.

She had expected this to go the same way it always did — descend from the sky in blinding light, issue a few commanding words, and receive bows, reverence, obedience.

Even if this world had ties to a powerful high lord, they were still young-belt dwellers. They should have been overwhelmed by her presence alone!

And yet, instead of worship, what greeted her was organized military response.

It was clear now — they held no regard for a title from the Mid-Belt. To them, her presence wasn't awe-inspiring — it was a challenge.

And now, their leader — this smiling, soft-spoken Robin — stood before her, threatening her in the most elegant way possible, implying that he could erase her existence all on his own.

What... is this place?!

Still, she wrestled her frustration down.

Losing this shard, and simply filing a report about the planet, would bring her nothing.

If she truly wanted to gain something from this strange world — if she wanted to unravel the mystery of its terrifying strength, or benefit from its impossible unity — she'd have to adapt.

She'd have to play by their rules.

...The blazing energy that had begun forming in her palm faded. The intense, blinding light that had enveloped her spirit projection dimmed until, at last, her true spiritual form was visible to all.

Her eyes — sharp as a predator's, yet lined with lush lashes that gave them an entrancing beauty.

Her ears — long, fox-like, covered in soft fur, twitching ever so slightly in the light breeze.

Her nose — delicate, feline, barely noticeable.

And behind her, nine long, thick, furred tails moved with graceful, hypnotic rhythm.

These were the features that marked her as otherworldly, but even beyond that, her physical form radiated a beauty that seemed sculpted to perfection.

A small, finely shaped mouth with lips as full and inviting as those of the most breathtaking human women.

Her gown — regal, elegant, and modest — was nonetheless fitted in a way that hinted at curves most women could only envy.

Her entire being shone with a glowing, ethereal white light. Her face was stunning, yet oddly... blurred, as if part of it were veiled in mist. It only added to her mystique, enhancing her allure beyond mortal standards.

In that moment, Rinara had captured every eye — not through divine authority, but through sheer, spellbinding presence.

She placed her left hand gracefully on her hip and tilted her head ever so slightly.

"Very well..." she said, her voice now smooth and controlled. "Let us talk."

Robin blinked once, visibly impressed — then let out a soft chuckle.

"Ah, of course... yes. Please, this way, my lady. Our conversation need not be shared with the entire crowd."

He stepped aside with a gentlemanly bow, gesturing toward the elevated platform with humility, still smiling — though a flicker of caution passed behind his eyes.

Then he turned and barked toward Caesar, "What are you doing just standing there? Lead us somewhere more appropriate, will you?"

"...Y-Yes! Of course!"

Caesar, still visibly shaken by what he had just witnessed, snapped out of his daze and dashed ahead to show the way, eager to fulfill his task and avoid further embarrassment.