Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1748 Time Chamber

Ooooom...

A vast, shimmering wall of water erupted from the tranquil stream, stretching high into the air until it formed a towering, translucent surface that glimmered like a liquid crystal. Its surface rippled gently, reflecting the ambient light in dancing patterns, as if the water itself were alive, breathing, and aware.

At the base, tiny pebbles scattered along the streambed began to tremble, quivering like they had a mind of their own. Gradually, they lifted into the air, rising slowly, gracefully, and aligning themselves on the sheer surface of the water. Each pebble found its place with meticulous precision, arranging into letters, symbols, and finally words that glowed faintly with a mystical light. The water wall was no longer just a surface-it had become a living message, a vast, flowing display of intelligence, knowledge, and opportunity.

”This is...?” Robinʼs eyes widened in awe and disbelief as he stared at the massive aquatic structure. Before him now were the missions of the Chamber of Truth, flowing down the wall like a river of light. Each mission was displayed in perfect order: the most valuable at the top, descending step by step to the least rewarding at the bottom. The hierarchy of bounties shimmered clearly, each glowing inscription highlighting the rewards in Pearls, radiating their importance like a beacon to those who dared accept them.

The last time Robin had been here, centuries ago, there were only a few hundred missions scattered across the wall. The highest bounty among them had been 375 million Pearls, which had been considered astronomical at the time, a reward worthy of a legendary master.

But now... the scale had grown incomprehensibly. The wall shimmered and quivered, revealing nearly a thousand missions, each one larger, brighter, and more valuable than the last. At the very top, the pinnacle of all offerings, gleamed a mission worth 3.25 billion Pearls-nearly ten times what the largest mission had once been. The magnitude of the reward alone was enough to make the heart race, even for someone like Robin.

”Your star has risen once again, Lord Human, Temari said with a tone that mixed pride and excitement, her tiny wings fluttering rapidly as she circled the wall of water like a living halo of golden light. ”The Colonize the Uncolonizable array you created has become a phenomenon across realms. I may have... subtly reminded the people that this array was crafted by you, through the Chamber of Truth itself. Naturally, I also let it slip that you now accept only the highest-paying, most prestigious requests.”

She twirled in midair, trailing a sparkling ribbon of light behind her. ”And as you can see, the results speak for themselves. A fresh wave of missions poured in, flowing from across the galaxies. Some-yes, some-come from the ruling elites of the so-called Behemoth galaxies themselves!”

Robinʼs eyebrows shot up in shock. ”Behemoths sent missions themselves?!” Temari let out a light, tinkling laugh and waved a dismissive hand. ”Oh, heavens no! Not the Behemoths personally, of course. But their elite underlings who are capable of offering such massive rewards. If they can stake this much money as a prize, you can be certain they command unimaginable power.”

Robinʼs gaze fixed firmly on the wall, his hand lifting slowly as he hovered over the topmost mission. The water rippled beneath his touch as the mission details unfolded before him like a glowing holographic scroll:

”Seeking a technique or artifact capable of slowing down the cumulative damage inflicted upon the body by prolonged use of Time Chambers.”

Robinʼs brow furrowed immediately. This mission was no simple favor, no polite request meant to curry influence or earn gratitude. The request was serious, technical, and urgent. And the bounty? Generous, but he could easily demand more. Much more, in fact.

Time Chambers -sometimes called Temporal Acceleration arrays, or by other names depending on the realm- were designed around the same principle: creating a sealed capsule around a personʼs body, a space in which the Law of Time flowed at a dramatically accelerated rate. Days could pass in hours, years in a single breath, and centuries in mere moments. Within such capsules, a person could master skills, absorb knowledge, and train at a pace impossible in the outside world.

The acceleration itself was not inherently dangerous; those who used Time Chambers were often experienced masters with millennia of life left to them.

The danger came upon exit.

Once a person left the chamber, the effects of the accelerated time violently clashed with the flow of the primary timeline. Their body, mind, and soul, having aged or experienced far more than the universe intended for that duration, suddenly collided with the natural flow of time.

The physical and mental age no longer matched the environment. Pain, fatigue, and temporal shock struck immediately. The body would groan under the pressure, muscles, bones, and organs rebelling as they struggled to recalibrate. The mind, overloaded by decades or centuries of experience, could falter, faint, or even lose fragments of memory temporarily.

Short sessions often caused little more than mild discomfort. Hours inside could leave a person with searing headaches, joint aches, or fatigue immediately upon leaving the formation. Repeated use accelerated the aging of certain organs unevenly, causing long-term deterioration.

And for those bold-or reckless-enough to remain inside for weeks, legends described the consequences as near-catastrophic. When the formation was dispelled, the body felt as though it were crushed under a pressure far beyond normal limits. The exhaustion coursed through every fiber of their being, often inducing fainting, convulsions, or a sense of drowning, as if pulled from the oceanʼs deepest abyss and hurled into the blazing sun above. Every heartbeat felt as though it carried the weight of centuries, every breath a battle against forces beyond comprehension.

But what about those who spend even longer inside the chambers? Months, perhaps? Or those who accelerate time a hundredfold, stretching years into mere hours? Such users often suffer permanent, irreversible damage-injuries inflicted directly by the Law of Time itself.

These arenʼt ordinary wounds that can heal with rest or medical skill; they are temporal scars, disruptions to the very fabric of oneʼs being. Healing them requires laws of equivalent level, such as the Fundamental Law of Life, and even then, such laws are incredibly rare, precious beyond measure, and almost impossible to acquire. The higher the level of temporal distortion, the more extraordinary the remedy must be.

Time Chambers were considered the most prized and critical commodity of the Behemoth of Time, theoretically the most essential resource in the galaxy. In truth, however, only a select few Behemoth galaxies and Millennial Empires had actually purchased such chambers. The majority of Time Chambers were used sparingly: to accelerate recovery from injuries, to hasten the assimilation of techniques, or to prepare for an imminent event with unparalleled speed.

Typically, time acceleration was capped at tenfold and used for no more than a week or two, making the chambers largely impractical for extended use. In effect, they were more ornamental than functional-luxuries and symbols of prestige. Like precious gems, they were meant to be displayed in royal treasuries. Behemoths and the affluent rulers of Millennial Empires loved to boast of owning them... but in practice, they contributed little to real power or

efficiency.

”Hmmm...” Robin murmured thoughtfully, rubbing his forehead while a faint smile spread across his face. ”No one will truly care about this problem except the Sand of Time Galaxy. If they can find even a partial solution, their sales and influence will skyrocket across multiple sectors.” He tapped twice on the water wall, the sound echoing faintly as the missions shimmered in response. ”Even if this request is only for a method to delay the onset of symptoms, rather than a complete cure... 3.25 billion Pearls? If I create exactly what they want, they could easily make ten times that amount without even trying.”

He sank into a reflective silence, his mind tracing possibilities and probabilities. ”...Iʼm already on my destined path toward confrontation with the Intiras Galaxy. Perhaps it wouldnʼt be such a bad idea to establish a positive relationship with another Behemoth galaxy in the meantime.” He looked upward and waved decisively, the water wall shimmering with a ripple of light. ”Very well. I will accept it.”

Turning toward Temari, he added firmly, ”Fairy, remember this-when I deliver

the solution later, you must tell the requester that I could provide even more effective solutions if they are willing to pay more. Make sure they understand that. Do you follow me?”

The mission itself was deliberately vague. It did not specify the exact artifact,

technique, or method required, nor did it indicate the desired degree of symptom delay. Even a modest solution that postponed the effects for a few hours would technically fulfill the assignment-though Robin knew he could easily exceed expectations and create something far more valuable. ”Registered!” Temari exclaimed, raising a tiny finger in confirmation, her wings fluttering with excitement.

”Good. Next!” Robin said, beginning to open the highest missions one by one. Although none of the subsequent missions had the immediate allure or audacity of the first, each was undeniably more challenging, requiring greater ingenuity, skill, and resources. He even rejected one, instructing Temari to demand a higher reward from its requester.

After carefully selecting ten missions, he waved his hand, and the remaining inscriptions shimmered faintly. ”Thatʼs enough for now. Iʼll choose the next batch after I complete these.”

”Why ten, Lord Human? Why not tackle them one by one? Youʼre here to work

anyway” Temari asked, tilting her head curiously.

A broad, mischievous smile spread across Robinʼs face. ”Hehe... not this time. I have a new pen I want to try, and I intend to savor the process.”