Lord of the Truth

Nine Days Later —

"Nyahahaha! I've won the auction! Take that, you despicable Dorphire scum!"

"But… isn't 550 energy pearls way too much for that chunk of dirt? I mean, sure, it's from a planet imbued with a minor Law of Life — perfect for growing premium medicinal herbs and flora — but still, that price is excessive..."

"If shutting the mouths of the Dorphire clan costs 550 energy pearls, then so be it! I'd spend it all over again with absolute satisfaction — Nyahahaha!"

…

On the top floor of a quiet hotel, Robin sat hunched over his work table. Several times his hand froze mid-stroke, his brow twitching with irritation. He turned toward the window, his voice laced with frustration:

"That damned loudmouth again! I'm at the final and most delicate phase of this Rune, and he's bellowing like a drunken ogre! What do I care about his petty rivalry with the Dorscum family!?"

Just then, a calm and unfamiliar voice sounded behind him.

"Allow me to assist with that."

Whoosh—

Robin blinked. "Hmm?"

A moment later, the rowdy voices from downstairs — the laughter, the shouting, the clinking of mugs — vanished, as if someone had snuffed out the sound itself.

He closed his eyes and tilted his head upward slightly.

Then murmured, "Flawless… Thank you."

An eerie, profound silence blanketed the room. Robin couldn't hear a single thing — not the distant hum of street chatter, not the flutter of insect wings, not even the rhythmic beat of his own heart.

It was a perfect silence.

A silence so complete, not even the underground laboratories he once used for his deepest research had ever offered this level of stillness.

But one voice broke through — lighthearted, casual.

"No need to thank me. It was really quite simple. If you'd like, I can keep this sound barrier active around you permanently."

"Ah, I'll have to remind you of that la—" Robin opened one eye mid-sentence, only to pause in confusion.

He turned his head sharply.

"…What are you doing in my room?!"

"I brought breakfast!" Pitso beamed cheerfully, raising a small table up to Robin's eye level. It was loaded with a variety of steaming dishes — warm bread, rich soups, roasted cuts of meat, fresh fruits — and a fragrant hot drink.

"I noticed you haven't eaten in days. Every essential nutrient is right here!"

"…Oh. Thanks." Robin accepted the table with both hands, his eyes drifting over every plate and bowl with curious hunger. He studied the food as if preparing to decipher its secrets, then suddenly remembered something.

He turned quickly to his side, surprised.

"Hey— It's been several days. Why are you still—"

But the words stopped. The boy was already gone.

"…Well, at least now he's actually doing something to earn his meals," Robin muttered, shrugging with reluctant approval. He allowed himself a slight smile, basking in the pure, serene silence.

He took a bite — a single bite — and as the food touched his tongue, his eyes widened slightly.

A familiar fire lit within them.

The flavor triggered a focus so sharp it was like a blade.

His gaze returned to the canvas.

What was once a pristine, untouched sheet had transformed over days of tireless work. Now it was covered in layer upon layer of intricate inscriptions — swirling glyphs, geometric arcs, and interwoven arrays — each etched in a different color, stacked upon one another with mathematical precision.

Robin raised his hand gently.

The colored layers floated apart, separating like the steps of a celestial staircase suspended in midair.

With piercing concentration, he focused solely on the final layer.

"Hooo~"

Deliberate and steady, Robin's hand traced a single, near-invisible line between two microscopic points — the distance between them less than a hundredth of a fingertip. The margin for error was practically nonexistent.

When it was complete, he exhaled slowly, a smile touching his lips.

"Hooooh~"

He lowered his hand.

The layered inscriptions instantly collapsed back into one another —

Shwalaaaaa!

As the final stroke fell into place, the surface of the paper erupted in a silent burst of violet fire, dancing for a few seconds before fading. When it vanished, what remained was a new formation — simple in design, almost elegant in its minimalism.

A formation even a low-level Soul Master could replicate.

"Hehe… I've enhanced the array's power and streamlined the repair protocol." Robin raised the parchment triumphantly in one hand and took another bite with the other.

"Damn… I'm a genius."

He gave the formation one last glance, eyes scanning over it with satisfaction.

Then he leaned back and muttered,

"Well then… time to collect my payment."

"Hoo~"

He closed his eyes.

--------------------------

— Within the Soul Domain —

As Robin's eyes fluttered open, the veil of silence around him was pierced by the presence of two familiar figures standing before him.

Like radiant twin stars orbiting his world, Neri and Evergreen beamed with warmth and pride.

"Welcome back, Master!" they chimed in perfect harmony, their voices laced with affection and playful reverence.

Robin's lips curled into a smile, his expression a mixture of ease and authority. He stepped forward, ruffling their hair gently, as if greeting loyal daughters after a long campaign.

"Good to see you both. So—how are things progressing here in my absence?"

"RRAAAAOOOOORR!!"

BOOM! BOOM!

Before an answer could be given, the world around them erupted like a drumbeat of thunder. The domain, once tranquil in its silver glow, now roared with life.

It was a battlefield.

No… something beyond that. A war-tempered crucible forged to sharpen the edge of potential.

All around Robin, chaos surged with unnatural grace. Countless beings—ranging from savage monsters to humanoid warriors, from spectral spirits to ancient hybrids—were engaged in a symphony of battle. Their strikes echoed like war chants, their growls like ancient hymns of survival.

And amidst this storm of fury, the fallen were many. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, lay sprawled across the glimmering ground, chests heaving, limbs trembling, eyes glazed from fatigue. The spiritual weight of the domain was suffocating to all but the strongest.

Robin walked slowly, deliberately, through the sea of motion and exhaustion—his presence alone parting the chaos like a tide.

He chuckled softly, a mixture of admiration and amusement in his voice.

"Well… training appears to be continuing in its usual intense fashion. Though I must say—"

He glanced around with a raised brow,

"—you've really turned up the heat today."

Evergreen placed a hand on her hip, smirking with satisfaction. "Intensity breeds growth, Master. If we don't push them to the brink from time to time, they'll never evolve past their limits."

She then pointed toward one of the arena-like formations nearby, glowing with sigils of knowledge and trial.

Within that field, two mighty beasts clashed like forces of nature: a colossal mammoth with three spiraling tails, and a towering gorilla brandishing six muscular arms.

Chunks of flesh were torn from their bodies, only to be consumed by the domain's essence and returned anew moments later as emerald light rained from above to heal them.

It was a loop of endless combat—perfect regeneration feeding unceasing struggle. A training that only ended when the soul could endure no more.

Neri now stepped forward, her voice steady and wise, like that of a strategist reflecting on a long-fought campaign.

"If not for these century-spanning sessions… If we hadn't utilized the essence of my Sun to enhance the core capacity of your soul creatures… and if Evergreen's regenerative abilities weren't deployed with surgical precision… your army would never have reached this scale."

Her eyes narrowed with weighty calculation.

"The TreeFather, Hovenheim, would have collapsed under the strain of just a thousand units. Pythor, with all his brute strength, wouldn't have surpassed three thousand. Where would that have left you, Master?"

Evergreen giggled, playful again. "Hehe~ Just imagine… if you had summoned this army of half-baked soul creatures to that planet, during the battle against the fox-blooded guys. They would've been shredded!"

She pointed at Robin, her eyes gleaming.

"You should be thanking us, Uncle!"

Robin exhaled, half-smiling as he glanced at his two devoted companions. "You've both made your point. I am grateful… but that will be enough for today. I need a moment of stillness."

His voice had softened, but the authority it carried was unmistakable. The laughter faded from his face, replaced by an air of introspective solemnity as he strode toward the heart of his domain.

"Understood!"

The two girls responded in sync, bowing slightly before beginning a coordinated maneuver that only they understood.

Above, the massive blue sun that floated over the domain like a celestial guardian dimmed, its blinding azure radiance slowly withdrawing. The silver landscape began to return to its original glow, freed from the aquatic hue that had drenched it moments before.

"NgghhhAAAH!"

As the oppressive blue veil lifted, gasps of relief echoed throughout the realm. Spirit creatures that had collapsed moments ago now stirred.

Some rose shakily, others sat with wide eyes, all breathing deep gulps of spiritual air.

The torment was over—at least for today.

"RAAAWR—!!"

Pythor the mammoth, the six-armed gorilla, and the remaining elite warriors halted mid-strike.

A sudden lightness overtook their bodies—the training gravity had lifted.

They knew instantly: The lesson was done.

"My turn!" Evergreen exclaimed with enthusiasm, clapping her hands together.

Above, the green sun pulsed with life. It unleashed a soothing wave of radiant energy that cascaded like rain across the domain. Wherever the light touched, wounds vanished, bruises healed, and shattered spirits were restored.

Strength returned.

Breath stabilized.

Eyes brightened.

The army of spirit beasts was whole once more. Ready to fight. Ready to serve.

But for the first time in a hundred years…

They would be allowed a full day of rest.

Step—

Robin reached his destination at last.

From the crystalline floor of the domain, a curious structure had sprouted—like a sacred bud blooming from the soul of the land.

It rose, split into two elegant halves that twisted upward like ancient vines, and rejoined at the top to form a gate-like structure.

In its center, a fluid void shimmered—then solidified into a mirror-like surface, gleaming with hidden knowledge.

Robin extended his hand and placed his palm gently against the surface.

His voice was calm… resolute… filled with quiet command.

"Activate: Soul Society Interface."