Lord of the Truth

After five long years—Year 435 After the Coronation—

Within the depths of Robin's soul domain—

Click

At that faint yet clear sound, Robin's soul embodiment slowly opened his eyes. A broad smile stretched across his face, glowing with satisfaction and relief. He rose to his feet with a sense of accomplishment, his posture straight, his gaze wandering across the vast domain around him. "Finally… the easy part is over." His voice carried both humor and pride.

"Boss!" Evergreen came rushing over, her tone bright and filled with anticipation. "Tell me you're done! Did you really finish it? Did you manage to shape a domain structure strong enough to support one million full units?!"

"Mm." Robin gave a firm nod, his expression calm yet confident. "From eight hundred and ten thousand to one million in five years… honestly, it took a little more effort than I first expected, but it's still faster than most of my peers could ever hope for."

"Pfft! Enough bragging, old man!" Evergreen covered her lips with her hand, bursting into laughter. Her cheerful voice echoed across the domain, full of genuine joy. Then, just like Robin, she turned her head, slowly scanning the surroundings with shining eyes...

Her heart stirred with memories. She had accepted Robin as her master when he had possessed barely three thousand units—an insignificant foundation compared to the towering strength he wielded now. Centuries might have passed for the world outside, but for them it was only a stretch of diligent years, a span filled with relentless effort, danger, and victories. To see him finally cross the threshold of his first million made her chest swell with both pride and gratitude.

But that was not the only cause for celebration. What truly made their smiles brighter was the transformation of the soul domain itself.

Before their fateful visit to the Specter Valley, Robin's domain had been like a peculiar miniature world: dotted with countless lakes, wild forests, and scattered lifeforms. Tiny creatures scurried everywhere—children's laughter, playful pups, worms burrowing, beetles buzzing; all of them thrived within. In truth, any passing soul that drifted too close to Robin, or stumbled accidentally into his net, would inevitably be drawn inside, beginning a new existence within this bizarre, lively realm.

That paradise, however, was shattered in Specter Valley. Robin's domain was nearly annihilated. The specters had polluted everything with their corruption, and the cleansing flames of the purifier burned away whatever remained. Weak creatures vanished entirely—no more rabbits, no trees, no glittering lakes. All that was left behind was an endless, empty white expanse, barren and silent, with only a handful of stronger soul creatures enduring, like Pythor and his loyal retainers.

Yet now… things had changed beyond recognition.

During these five years, Robin had established and activated several great soul altars. Each altar became a vessel to house and stabilize the specter souls he had captured on that terrifying day, binding them within his domain instead of letting them disperse into nothingness. But he hadn't stopped there.

During his secluded cultivation sessions, and often at Evergreen's gentle requests, he dispatched hunting parties of soul creatures to capture the souls of trees, birds, rabbits, and other gentle beings. Those beings weren't taken for strength or combat—they were brought here to fill the domain with companionship, laughter, and harmony.

The soul domain was no longer as chaotic or overflowing with random life as it once had been. Instead, it had grown refined, carefully structured, and perfectly balanced. Everything had its own place and order. What truly stood out, however, was the explosive growth of the stronger soul creatures. Their numbers had multiplied manyfold, their skills honed day after day under Robin's strict training regimens.

The transformation was breathtaking: the soul domain had evolved from a small, silvery pocket world into a grand utopia, a shining city-like sanctuary where powerful soul creatures lived side by side in an atmosphere of discipline, serenity, and order.

"Can you begin now, and press the star?" A voice drifted toward them from behind, light yet filled with playful anticipation. "I can hardly wait to witness the changes in your royal domain!"

"Hm?" Robin turned sharply, his body stiffening. His eyes flew wide open in astonishment. "What in the world!!" His breath caught for a moment, then his gaze narrowed with disbelief. "Neri… is that truly you?!"

There, standing quietly behind him, was not merely a girl but rather a woman—poised, radiant, and arresting in her presence. She looked no older than her early twenties, yet carried herself with a confidence that belied her youthful appearance.

Her short hair barely brushed her shoulders, gleaming softly under the domain's light. It was adorned with delicate pearls and glistening jewels, beginning with a graceful ornament crowning her head and extending down to a slender anklet. With every step she took, the anklet chimed, scattering crystalline notes that rang through the air like tiny bells.

Her figure was elegant, balanced perfectly between softness and strength—not overly full, yet not fragile; not towering, yet far from petite. Her features shone with a luminous warmth, and upon her lips rested a smile so pure, so tender, that it resembled the radiant expression of a newlywed bride stepping into her new life.

"Yes, Neri—who else would it be?" The girl's voice carried a sharp edge of irritation, clearly displeased with Robin's question.

"What… what happened to you?!" Robin's eyes widened as he took two hurried steps closer, studying her carefully. "Aren't planetary souls supposed to all appear as children?!" His voice wavered with disbelief, then he drew a sharp breath. "Wait… is this because you've been transferring planets into your orbit?"

"Mm." Neri gave a small nod, her expression calm yet tinged with weariness. "I grew along with every planet that entered my orbit, and by the time the number reached ten, I had already taken on this form. Now I have fifty planets revolving within my orbit, and yet… I don't feel myself growing any further." Her shoulders rose and fell as she let out a long sigh. "I'm not even sure I like this new form. It feels strange—alien. But… I suppose this is simply what the spirit of a galaxy is destined to look like."

"A… galactic spirit…" Robin's voice grew quiet, his eyes glimmering with a mix of awe and intrigue. "Have you… learned to harness all of your abilities yet?"

"Not completely," Neri admitted. She shifted her gaze to the side, unable to fully meet his eyes. "I'm still learning—still adapting. Every day brings something new. The truth is, I wasn't given any guidance, no knowledge about how this process unfolds. I'm practically stumbling through the dark." She pressed a hand gently against her chest, her voice softening. "All I truly know is this… I feel stronger now. Power surges through me, more than I ever held before."

"Stronger?" Robin raised a brow, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean by that?"

"Ugh…" Evergreen's face twisted into a sour grimace the moment she saw Neri step closer. She jabbed a finger in Neri's direction before whipping her head toward Robin. "Do you see this? She's bullying me already! With just a glance she can lock me in place, and I haven't even stepped into her orbit yet!!" Her voice cracked with frustration.

Then, with a dramatic gesture toward Neri, she groaned, "And look at her—seriously, look at her! Am I supposed to call her my elder sister now? Or… or my mother?!" She puffed her cheeks, crossed her arms tightly, and huffed. "Master, I demand you bring me another little girl to play with instead!"

"…?!" Robin narrowed his eyes slightly, incredulous. "You—you're the one trying to push me into refining another planet? You?!"

"Patience, Evergreen." Neri clicked her tongue softly, then reached out and ruffled Evergreen's hair as though she were a child, making her squirm in protest. "Wait until we actually find a worthy candidate first. Don't go pestering the master over something like this." Her gaze then shifted back to Robin, her expression turning serious. "Right now, I have perfect clarity over every planet that enters my orbit. If one comes along that carries affinity toward a fundamental law, I'll inform you immediately so you can refine it."

"…I've already seen for myself how much your soul domain can endure," Neri continued, her tone calm yet firm. "After absorbing all those specters, its resilience has far surpassed what I expected. Refining one or even two additional planets shouldn't place you in danger. But we need to be wise—we must select planets that enhance your strength, not ones that drag you down with unnecessary burdens. And there's another point…" She lifted a hand and pointed toward a far-off part of the domain. "The stronger you are before refining a planet, the greater the benefits you'll reap once the refinement is complete."

Robin turned his gaze slowly in the direction she indicated.

That place was vast, stretching across nearly half of his domain. There, titanic whirlpools of soul units churned endlessly, swirling together with countless unused proto-souls—an immense reserve he had risked his very life to amass back in the perilous Specter Valley. The storms raged, chaotic yet contained, a silent promise of future growth and power waiting to be unlocked.

His lips curved into a smile, and he nodded with steady determination. "I understand. Just let me hope that when I refine a new planet, my royal stars will multiply alongside it!"

Lifting both hands high into the air, his voice rang out with thunderous force as he gave the command—

"Compress!!"