Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1523: The end of the shepherdess

”...I’ll make it worth your while!”

”...?!” Robin stiffened. His first thought was that a powerful specter had discovered him, but as his golden eyes focused on the frail newcomer, realization struck like lightning. ”...A planetary spirit?!”

The instant the words left his lips, he snapped his Eye of Truth shut, diverting his gaze away in alarm.

”Yes, I am the spirit of the Planet, Fai is my name. There’s no need to conceal yourself. That golden eye that lit up the heavens burned brightly enough—I recognized you, candidate. I hold no enmity toward you.” The pale spirit of the planet extended a wavering hand toward the Shepherdess. ”But please...”

Damn it... Robin cursed within. Another one now knew of his secret—another witness added to the tally he had tried so hard to keep small.

He wasn’t shocked at the manifestation itself; planetary spirits in the Mid-Belt could incarnate freely, even without a master. He had been warned countless times that his golden eye drew their notice, but the thought of constantly hiding behind masks or lenses had seemed absurd, beneath him. Besides, he had never believed any planetary spirit would pursue him so closely, nor openly declare that his was indeed the Eye of Truth.

Until today. The sheer boldness of this incarnation unsettled him—her embodiment technique was far more potent than what he’d read about.

”Aaahhh!!”

A fourth blade pierced Morgana’s body, ripping another cry of anguish from her throat.

”...Make it worth my while, you say?” Robin glanced back at Morgana for a moment, then at the planetary spirit. ”How?”

”I can feel your hesitation, yet also your desire to intervene. Please—do what you can. Grant her a swift, merciful death. Depending on your choice, I will reward you with a gift, something to cover your losses.” The translucent girl’s voice rang with urgency, her eyes shimmering as she turned again toward Morgana. ”She was the first who ever reached out to me—a dead, ghostly planetary spirit—hundreds of thousands of years ago. She helped me cleanse an entire quarter of my surface. At the very least... she deserves a clean end.”

Robin raised a brow. ”Oh? And what if I pulled her out alive instead?”

”Do it... and imagine what awaits you.” The spirit’s reply was short, her expression fierce, her eyes burning with grave sincerity.

”...” Robin studied her intently for several seconds, then shrugged faintly. ”Very well.”

He had already resolved to act. If fate itself offered him aid, why not seize it?

”You would truly attempt it?” Even the planetary spirit looked startled by his casual tone.

”Yes. But be prepared—I’ll need a touch of support.” Robin nodded, a thin smile ghosting his lips. ”Now listen carefully...”

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BAAAM!

Two World Cataclysms lunged forward, seizing Morgana by her bloodied arms. They dragged her mercilessly toward the top of the towering structure, slamming her down into a forced kneeling position.

”Ehhhhh!!” Her shriek tore the air as more blood splattered from her lips. Her torso was already lanced through by at least five different blades of varying size and sharpness. Each pierced a vital point—yet cruelly avoided her heart and lifeline, prolonging her agony with surgical precision.

Sliiish—

A high-level Nexus State cultivator drew a crescent-shaped dagger from his spatial ring. Two casual strides folded through space, and suddenly he stood beside the broken Shepherdess.

With two fingers pointed at her forehead and the blade hovering at her throat, he spoke coldly, his tone bored: ”One last chance. Surrender the secret techniques for controlling specters, and we will spare you. Our Syndicate bears no childish grudges. Reconcile with us today, and tomorrow your sins will be forgotten.”

”Bfffhh...” Morgana retched, vomiting thick clots of blood that looked more like torn flesh than liquid. With staggering effort, she lifted her head, her lips curling into a blood-smeared grin. ”...Even as a specter... I will never submit to you!”

”Pity.” The Nexus State sighed, his eyes empty of care. His blade hand twitched, preparing to slice clean through her neck and seize her spiritual domain in a single stroke.

CRAAAAAACKLE!!

The sky convulsed. Thunder detonated above, a booming roar that made even hardened warriors flinch. The winds twisted wildly, gathering into a furious storm. Black rain poured from the heavens, sizzling as it struck the blood-soaked ground.

”What?!” Dozens of warriors turned their eyes skyward, brows knitting in confusion. Even the high-level Nexus State froze, his strike interrupted. No one could sense an assailant, yet the phenomenon was undeniable. The weather of this half-dead planet had no precedent for storms such as this.

Disturbance—

From amidst the howling storm, the air condensed, compressed tighter and tighter until it shaped itself into a frail young girl. Her hair flowed like mist, her body of translucent wind. And then, with a voice that split the skies and rattled the bones of all who heard it, she cried:

”Release her at once!!”

”Fai?” The high-level Nexus State groaned, glancing upward with faint irritation. ”Why involve yourself? Did this girl refine you?”

”She refined me partially,” the planetary spirit bellowed, her figure glowing brighter against the storm. ”Let her go, and I will force her to hand over every secret you desire! But if you refuse... then I will act with the strength I possess!”

Her words thundered across the battlefield, her voice carrying the weight of ancient fury.

”Hmph. You shouldn’t even be interfering, not with such meager refinement. Has loneliness eroded your mind to this degree? Very well. I’ll find you a proper owner, shall I?” The shaggy-haired Nexus State scratched the back of his head, his scornful smile cutting across the storm’s howls.

Around them, soldiers of the Dark Hand Syndicate whispered nervously, shifting in their ranks. For the first time, hesitation seeped into their expressions—planetary spirits were not foes to be provoked lightly.

”(I don’t want anyone else—I want her!)” The planetary spirit’s voice rose to a shriek, thunder crackling through every syllable.

Lightning gathered in her small palm, coiling and writhing like a living beast eager to be unleashed.

The soldiers within the range of a Martial Emperor staggered; some even collapsed outright, their weapons clattering to the ground as terror drained the color from their faces. The oppressive resonance of a planetary spirit’s will was not something they were prepared for.

Yet the Nexus States and the World Cataclysms stood unmoved, like statues carved of stone. What could a planetary spirit truly do against them, especially one only partially refined? Their eyes were cold, unconcerned—at most, mildly curious.

”Hmm...” The high-level Nexus State

scratched his tangled hair with annoyance, his tone faintly mocking. ”You’re behaving strangely today, Fai. What is this? Very well, what if—”
Then his eyes widened suddenly, pupils narrowing to pinpricks. He looked sharply downward at Morgana.

There she remained, half-conscious, her body still pierced by five blades, blood pooling beneath her like a crimson lake. Her chest convulsed as she hacked up clumps of torn flesh, every breath shallow, ragged.

”...Did you all feel that just now?” His voice, normally dripping with contempt, now held a thin thread of caution.

”You too? Yes—without question, I sensed a strange ripple.” A mid-level Nexus State admitted, frowning deeply.

”I felt nothing~” one of the World Cataclysms sang carelessly, shrugging his broad shoulders.

”Perhaps it was the planetary spirit playing some trick?” another suggested flatly.

”Speak to me like I speak to you!!)” Fai’s voice thundered from above, laced with fury and desperation. Her cry was like a storm’s wrath incarnate, but the high-level Nexus State ignored her entirely.

He crouched down, grabbing Morgana by her tangled, blood-soaked hair, jerking her head up with brutal force.

”Arghhh!!” Morgana’s face twisted in agony, her vision swimming, eyes threatening to roll white as her life ebbed away. For a fleeting instant, she locked gazes with him. Summoning the last of her strength, she spat. ”Tch—pfah!!”

The spittle mixed with blood landed across his cheek.

”....” Slowly, deliberately, the Nexus State wiped it away with the back of his hand. His eyes darkened, fury flashing beneath the veil of confusion. He released her hair, straightening with predatory calm. His two fingers leveled at her temple while the short crescent blade pressed against her throat, its cold edge gleaming with anticipation.

”I don’t know what trickery is happening here, and I don’t intend to linger to find out. Go to your end.”

”(NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!) ” Fai screamed, her wail exploding like a divine bell struck by thunder. The soundwave ruptured the eardrums of dozens of Battle Emperors, driving them to their knees, clutching their heads in torment. Even seasoned warriors grimaced as the cry shook their bones.

But no scream, no storm, no lightning could halt what came next.

SLAAAAASH!

The crescent blade carved its merciless arc.

Morgana’s head was severed in a single motion. Her body trembled once, then slumped forward like a puppet with its strings cut.

Her head rolled across the cold stone floor, bouncing once, twice... leaving behind a jagged trail of blood.

Slowly, inexorably, it reached the edge of the towering structure. With a final lurch, it toppled into the abyss below—swallowed by shadow.