Lord of the Truth

"Amazing..." Robin's eyes gleamed with a mix of awe and excitement. "The person who invented Space Portals is still alive? I would love to meet him..."

Just hearing that term gave Robin an idea of the power and prestige of that individual.

He thought about the All-Seeing God, the Impatient Woman, and Volb's Overlord, known as the Empress of the Nine Paths—all of them possessed the same knowledge and methods for creating space portals. Robin had always found this strange, a mystery that lingered at the back of his mind for a long time. But now, knowing that they all traced their knowledge back to the same source, it finally made sense. It was as if a hidden puzzle piece had fallen into place.

And yet… the sheer magnitude of the revelation unsettled him. A single person had invented something that spread across the entire universe? A single being had influenced the cosmos to such an unfathomable degree? That level of power and control was beyond staggering. It was terrifying.

"Meet him?" Neri let out a light, almost mocking chuckle, placing a delicate hand over her lips. "If I were you, I wouldn't wish for such a thing."

She let the statement hang in the air for a moment before continuing, her tone turning more serious.

"A few million years ago, someone managed to obtain an ancient manuscript that contained the secrets of the Space Law, from the first stage all the way to the fifth. That person used the manuscript to its fullest potential, building an incredibly powerful clan in record time. Not only that, but he even began innovating—creating new technology based on the knowledge he gained. And do you know what happened next?"

She tilted her head slightly, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Tyrant Interas sent one of his subordinates to visit the headquarters of that clan... and reduced it to dust."

"....." Robin's eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"Do you think everyone in this universe is driven by curiosity and a love for discovery, my dear owner?" Neri smirked, shaking her head. "That man does not tolerate threats to his dominion. He has sent assassins to eliminate major clan leaders across entirely different sectors just because they were using space portals without buying it from him directly. And this hasn't happened just once or twice—it has happened countless times. Tens of millions of years have passed since his inventions first spread across the universe, and yet he still profits from them— by force. If anyone dares to compete with him, he has them eliminated. If they are particularly troublesome, he handles it personally. Do you understand now? He wasn't given the title of 'Tyrant' for nothing."

Robin took a deep breath, trying to process what he had just heard.

"To that extent?" he murmured, his brows furrowing deeply. "He made a tremendous contribution to the universe, but now he's actively holding back its progress? That doesn't make sense… Why don't the Star Academies intervene? Aren't they supposed to uphold justice and work for the greater good?"

Neri simply shrugged her small shoulders, her expression unbothered.

"They can't do anything, even if they wanted to," she said matter-of-factly. "Tyrant Interas is far too powerful, and the galaxy he has gathered and fortified over tens of millions of years is far too strong. Who could possibly dictate terms to someone like him? The best the Star Academies can do is negotiate deals with him, establish treaties, or impose economic sanctions. But stopping him? That would mean declaring an all-out universal war— something no sane faction wants."

She shook her head, as if even entertaining the thought was absurd.

"And this isn't just about Tyrant Interas," she continued. "Take the Destra Family, for example. They are a human lineage blessed with a natural affinity for the Destruction Law, thanks to the mysterious Destra Sun that radiates endless power. The one they call 'The Father' is widely regarded as one of the strongest individuals in the known universe when it comes to battle power. He and his vast galaxy could stand toe-to-toe against Tyrant Interas and his dominion."

She paused for emphasis before adding, "Perhaps The Father cannot match Tyrant Interas in wealth or in his ability to shape the course of history, but if it ever came down to direct combat, most believe The Father of the Destra Family would be the one to emerge victorious."

Robin found himself speechless once again.

"And that's not all," Neri continued, her tone turning almost amused. "Unlike Tyrant Interas, The Father of the Destra Family actively encourages his children to venture out into the universe and create their own galaxies. Of course, only the strongest among them survive. After their brutal internal bloodbath, only five of his children remain. But each one of them has achieved immense success. They have already built Centennial Empires, expanding their influence across the Middle Belt. And the strongest among them, the firstborn, has ascended to the status of a Millennial Planetary Emperor— a being of such prominence that he can walk into any gathering with his head held high, attending personal banquets with titanic figures like Morpheus The Dreamer himself!"

"As for the youngest and seemingly weakest among them, the little daughter, Helen— she has yet to make her mark on the universe. No one knows much about her. Some speculate that she has already ventured out into the unknown, quietly building an empire of her own in some uncharted region of the cosmos. Others believe she remains by her father's side, continuing to train and accumulate strength in preparation for a future emergence. But what is universally agreed upon is that this girl, in particular, possesses the greatest talent and natural affinity for the Major Law of Destruction among all five of her siblings. That is precisely why her father dotes on her so much and expects great things from her. And, quite frankly, every major power that holds dominion over a sector prays that she never chooses their territory as the starting point of her journey!"

Robin felt a chill run down his spine as he processed the information. "The Father of the Destra Family can stand on equal footing with Tyrant Interas, and on top of that, he has three children who have established Centennial Empires, one who has built a Millennial Empire, and another—more talented than any of them—who has yet to even step onto the stage? That is... terrifying."

It was a sobering realization. To stand against such an entity was not just reckless— it was utter foolishness.

Neri chuckled at his expression. "That's just how things work, dear owner. Power is everything in the Young Belt, and it remains everything in the Middle Belt as well. There may not be an officially recognized governing force in the Middle Belt, but make no mistake—entire sectors are ruled with an iron grip by dominant factions. And you are not less than any of them."

She pointed directly at him, her golden eyes gleaming. "I saw what you did above the Sea of Lava when you opened that new dimensional space to imprison Pythor's heart. I know what you are capable of, even if you have yet to fully recognize it yourself. All you need is time... and patience."

Robin exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "...In your opinion, what should I do next?" He felt overwhelmed—like a mere speck caught in the tides of a cosmic storm.

Neri raised a single delicate finger. "First, refine me. That is the foundation of everything. Only then will you begin to truly reap the benefits of my existence. Extract my resources, forge superior weapons, and elevate your army to its next stage."

Then she lifted a second finger. "Once your army has developed for a few thousand years, and you've raised at least ten thousand martial emperors, you will be ready for the next step—acquiring an Exploration Spaceship. With it, you can initiate simultaneous expansions into Sectors 99 and 100. Ideally, you should also be keeping an eye on naturally occurring galaxies in the region, conquering the planets there is far more efficient than claiming rogue planets, as they are much closer to another"

She raised a third finger. "This second phase should last no less than fifty thousand years. During this time, you must avoid direct conflict with centennial empires. Do not engage them. Instead, focus solely on expanding your territory until you reach your first major milestone: establishing a centennial empire of your own."

Then, she lifted a fourth finger. "At that point, you will have to personally venture into Middle Belt Sector 99—along with a select few trusted companions—to retrieve a planetary transport artifact. This will be an essential component in your preparation for constructing your artificial galaxy. You MUST gather all your planets in Young Belt Sector 99 around me before I am forced to ascend to the Middle Belt!"

Robin frowned slightly. "Why is that so important?"

Neri placed her hands behind her back, her expression turning serious. "Because I am a Galagtic Seed."

The words hung in the air for a moment before she continued. "A planet classified as a Galagtic Seed is an incredibly rare existence. We manifest from the primordial chaos only once every few million years, and our numbers across the entire universe are exceedingly small. If I were to suddenly appear in the Middle Belt, it would trigger a cataclysmic war over my ownership. Literally every major force in Middle Belt Sector 99 would converge upon me. Why? Because whoever claims me will likely dominate the sector for the next million years!"

Robin's pupils contracted. "W-WHAT?! Wait a second—are you telling me that everything I do for the next tens of thousands of years will be solely for the purpose of protecting you once you ascend? No, even worse—it means I'll be waging an all-out war against the entire Sector 99!!"

Neri nodded without hesitation. "It will be for the sake of protecting your future, Robin." She lifted her chin, her expression resolute. "Yes. From this moment onward, your sole priority must be to ensure my safety. Because if you lose me, you will never get another chance. I am the only one who can elevate you into a true cosmic powerhouse. But first—you must prove that you can keep me safe."

Robin let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off an impending headache. The sheer scale of what lay ahead was monumental. Yet, after a moment, his expression shifted to one of quiet determination.

Without another word, he turned and began walking toward the planetary conduit. "...Let's start with the first step, then. We'll deal with the rest as it comes. It's time to refine you... but first, there's something I need to take care of."