Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1845 strange body ”...I took my hour.”

Caesarʼs laugh-filled with pure hatred and deliberate provocation-made Serafinaʼs heart, the heart of a warrior standing firmly within the Nexus State, pound violently inside her chest.

What had her Lady ever done to this man to make him detest her with such intensity?! ”You... youʼve gone too far!!”

Serafina shot to her feet, wiping the tears she had shed over her Ladyʼs suffering. She then took two sharp, angry steps forward.

Woosh Woosh

Two of the four Nexus States in the room flashed forward instantly. Each seized one of Serafinaʼs arms, and then-BAM-they kicked the back of her knees, forcing her to kneel. From start to finish, she didnʼt even grasp what happened. ”What are you doing?! Let go of me!!”

Caesar, once again, wiped the blood dripping from his mouth, then pulled out a vitality talisman and began treating himself. Slowly, he leaned fully back against his seat, letting his body rest before he lowered his gaze onto Serafina, looking her up and down.

The white clouds swirling across his pupils began to dim slightly. They were still present, still visible, but noticeably calmer. His aura, too, slowly drifted back to its natural state. Even the lethal coldness radiating from him-cold enough to freeze the room earlier-started to stabilize.

Bit by bit, Caesar was returning to himself... returning to life like any other living being.

And then, with that same slow, steady motion, he raised his hand and pointed at Serafina a couple of times. ”...I admire you. Truly.” ”...?!”

Her eyebrows tightened sharply. ”Following a leader like yours couldnʼt have been easy,” Caesar explained, his tone oddly sincere. ”For about ten thousand years, youʼve served her through her recklessness, her impatience, her lack of logic. Through poverty, political weakness. Even when we placed before you every path that could subconsciously push you to abandon her and turn to us... you still went and convinced your Lady like a loyal girl who fears for her masterʼs well-being. That... must have been difficult.” ”.....!?!?”

He nodded softly. ”I know... your Lady is talented-very talented, in fact. She is the most gifted daughter of the strongest Behemoth. Had she remained by her fatherʼs side, she might have become a Monarch by now. She could have shone brilliantly, defeated young lords across distant galaxies, broken the hearts of ambitious youths. She might have surpassed her brother, Hedrick, in strength.

What business does she have building an empire and commanding armies? Tsk tsk- She walked into an arena that was never hers. Like a fluffy pure-blooded kitten stepping into a pit of fighting dogs, believing her cute little claws would amount to anything:” ”...I admire you, Serafina,” Caesar continued, clapping lightly, ”because you remained loyal to your Lady. Because you stayed beside her through the darkest of her days. Because you never abandoned her despite knowing how disastrous her administration is, how poorly she controls her emotions. Even after receiving the Hills of Pearls, you played the biggest role in developing the Pit of Destruction Empire. Truly... remarkable.”

Then, he revealed a gentler smile. ”How about this? Iʼll gift you the Pit of Destruction Empire.” ”Excuse me?!”

Rage flared in Serafinaʼs eyes. ”A moment ago you were praising my loyalty, and now you want me to betray her?!” ”Who said anything about betrayal?” Caesar shook his head. ”Your Lady is suffering from something close to a mental collapse. She cannot comprehend how she came here to request permission from a rat like me. Who knows when she will regain clarity?

During her absence... what will become of the Pit of Ruin?

My father gave strict orders to leave you alone, and he has personal interests with Lord Hedrick.”

He sighed deeply. ”...As much as I would love to destroy all of you completely, I donʼt want to anger him. And I donʼt want his relationship with Lord Hedrick to fall apart because the Pit of Destruction Empire collapses by tomorrow morning. So here we are...

Iʼll allow you to lead the Pit of Ruin Empire as a subordinate wing of the Cradle Empire. You will receive proper protection, abundant resources, and solid administrative expertise. You will finally govern the empire in a respectable way. What do you think?” ”Iʼd rather die than hand you the empire as a subordinate wing!!”

Serafina screamed, her voice shaking with fury. ”My Lady would die if she ever learned of something like this!!” ””

Caesar pursed his lips for a brief moment, clearly weighing his thoughts, then nodded slowly several times. ”You do have a point. Very well then-good luck to you and to your lady. You may leave.”

He let out a faint, dismissive smile. ”But before you go, start sounding the alarm and rally your forces. If Emperor

Gassan catches even the slightest scent of your ladyʼs disappearance, he will launch his attack that very same night.” ”And how would the Gassan Empire even-”

Serafina stopped herself mid-sentence. Her eyes flew wide open in sudden realization. ”Canʼt you ever leave us alone, you devil? Havenʼt you already done enough?!” ”The devil is your lady,” Caesar replied coldly, his eyes sharpening once more. ”She is the one who roamed the Young Belt wanting to destroy planets simply because her mood permitted it.”

Then with an indifferent flick of his hand, he added, ”Go. Since you refuse protection, go face the harshness of real life on your own.” ””

Serafina clenched her teeth so hard she could feel her jaw tremble.

That child-someone not even ten percent her age-was telling her to go learn hardship... yet she had no argument left to throw back at him. ”Hmph!”

Serafina yanked her hands away from the two elders restraining her, stood up sharply, and shot Caesar one last lingering look. ”I expected better from you...” ”No one is better than me, woman.”

Caesar scoffed arrogantly, then waved his hand again. ”Now get lost-go chase after your lady.” ”...!!”

Serafina tried to speak, but the words stuck in her throat. She swallowed them down, turned on her heel, and hurried toward the grand exit. ”Tsk~”

Caesar leaned back heavily into his seat, covering his eyes with one hand.

A pitch-black smile curled across his lips, and a chilling mist seeped out of his body like frozen breath.

In a barely audible whisper, he muttered, ”Heh- This body... Iʼm liking it more and more.” ”What was that, Marshal?”

One of the four Nexus State warriors had heard the strange murmur. ”Hm?”

Caesarʼs smile vanished instantly. He lowered his hand, revealing an expression drained by seriousness and fatigue. ”You may all leave. Just send someone to repair those holes in the ceiling... I need a moment of rest.”

The four exchanged brief looks, uncertain but obedient, then bowed and exited in silence. ”Arghh!!”

Serafina released a long, frustrated sigh as she strode through the palace corridors, heading straight toward the main gate.

How much she wished she could blast into space like her lady-fierce, reckless, blazing with anger.

But that would be foolish now; by the time she found a nearby planet with an active space portal, she might return home only to discover the Pit of Destruction already conquered.

Her lady had her reasons-irrational as always-but Serafina could not afford such luxury.

Not now.

First, she had to- ”Hm?”

Serafina halted completely. Her eyes widened again, and she turned her head slowly to the side. ”.....?!?”

There, sitting calmly on a wooden bench in the corridor, was a man.

He faced the open balcony overlooking the magnificent gardens outside, as though the world itself was beneath his notice.

His hair was long and pure white, cascading like icy waterfalls over half his body, while a thick white beard covered the rest.

Yet despite that ageless appearance, the youthfulness of his features could not be hidden-nor the burning red glow in his eyes, shimmering like carved rubies in the dark.

Even though he emitted not a single trace of aura, Serafinaʼs instincts screamed -roared-commanding her not to provoke him.

A primal warning surged within her chest:

This person...

This presence...

It resembled-

Step

Serafina took one step back.

Then a second.

And suddenly-

Step Step Step

She turned and rushed toward the palace portal, one hand clamped tightly over her mouth, her heart pounding in terror.