Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1972 Meeting with the Pure One-1

Medium Sector 101 - Bright Galaxy - Two Months After the Announcement of the Four Products

Step Step

With brisk, deliberate strides, Lord Orion advanced through the corridor of Pure Kaylisʼs palace-the most renowned palace in history for having received more Behemoths than any other, without question. Naturally, all those who had come before sought to ease the unbearable weight of negative karma upon themselves before daring to embark on anything truly monumental... yet, visits were still meticulously recorded, as if to ensure the balance of power remained unquestioned.

The corridor itself was impossibly vast, stretching far beyond what could reasonably be called a corridor. It resembled instead a self-contained garden, a sanctuary designed to evoke serenity and awe. The floor was covered in lush white grass that shimmered faintly under the soft lighting, while along the sides, statues of exquisitely beautiful women and small, bubbling water basins added a delicate, almost ethereal elegance. Tiny intelligent creatures-fairy-like beings-darted between the statues, while diminutive beasts of various kinds scurried and played, giving the entire space a sense of quiet life and subtle energy.

Everything within this miniature, enclosed world seemed designed to promote mental clarity, inner peace, and the purity of oneʼs soul-bearing a strong resemblance to the Hall of Contemplation in the Soul Society itself. Here, tranquility was cultivated with precision, and every corner seemed infused with an intentional, almost sacred calm.

Baah

At the far end of the corridor, which appeared to stretch endlessly, Lord Orion pushed open a grand white gate and announced in a firm, steady voice, ”I have brought him.”

”Your efforts are blessed.” A pure, resonant voice floated from within the hall, carrying both authority and serenity. ”Allow him to enter.”

”....” Lord Orion exhaled slowly, releasing a breath he hadnʼt realized he was holding, then stepped aside. ”Supreme Sword, please.”

Step

As if Lord Orionʼs shadow had split and abandoned him, a separate, solid barrier of darkness emerged behind him-imposing and absolute.

This shadow had silently followed him the entire length of the corridor, yet none of the small animals or fairy-like beings had given it the slightest attention. It moved without sound, and the white grass beneath its steps remained completely undisturbed.

The shadow advanced a single, deliberate step-silent, precise-and at last, Theoʼs striking features came into view. His sharp, handsome face, framed by black hair, was expressionless. His black eyes, normally vibrant and alert, were now dimmed, lacking any trace of the usual spark.

Theo walked steadily into the immense hall until he reached its center. He came to a stop, bowed slightly in respect, and inclined his head. ”I greet Kaylis The Pure.” He then raised his head again, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings with careful scrutiny, noting every detail.

Kaylis The Pure... could only be described as a vision of calm, almost restrained beauty, her expressions deliberately stern.

Her breathtaking appearance-the very beauty that had been envied by countless lords, and the source of admiration for her unnamed husband-was fully apparent. Around her, there radiated only an aura of prosperity, elegance, and purity; not the slightest trace of the arrogance typically associated with Behemoths. She sat with regal poise upon a small but elevated throne, hands resting gracefully on its armrests, one leg crossed over the other. Her gown, red and black, shimmered with embedded gemstones, and a large crown adorned her head, gleaming with authority.

Theo noted something else: the entire hall was suffused with Kaylisʼs calm, focused power. It was clear she actively sought to block any form of espionage or intrusion. From the moment he had passed through the gate until now, he had not seen a single guard. He had been under Lord Orionʼs direct protection and concealment the entire time.

It was evident that everyone involved took the situation with utmost seriousness.

Kaylis The Pure continued to regard Theo for several long seconds-calm, precise, and uncompromising-before nodding. ”Welcome, Master of the Shadow Swords.” After a brief pause, she added, ”I trust you have come this time with a reasonable offer.”

”Was the offer I previously sent through Lord Orion unreasonable, Your Majesty?” Theo replied evenly, his voice quiet yet piercing in its clarity. ”In situations such as this, excessive hesitation benefits no one.”

”The offer you made in response to my son Orion is no better than what Darvion and Zavaros are doing,” Kaylis The Pure said, raising her voice slightly, a note of firmness and impatience creeping into her tone.

”Not at all, Your Majesty. Far from it,” Theo responded calmly, unflinching. ”Lord Darvion seeks to uproot the entire galaxy from you, exiling you and your family to eternal labor within his own realm. He intends to absorb you entirely into his power, moving you as he pleases, selling your services to anyone he wishes, even offering your family members as personal healers to the great powers. How could my offer of assistance ever be compared to such atrocity?”

Kaylis tilted her head slightly, studying him with keen intelligence. ”Then I must ask-how is your offer different in practice? Once you assist us in expelling the mercenaries, correcting the arrays, and helping us build a new army to operate our fleets-assuming you possess such capabilities-”

”Of course, the decision will ultimately be yours to do what ever you want,”

Theo replied in his usual calm, measured tone, though there was an underlying weight in his voice-a quiet acknowledgment of the immense responsibility she

bore.

Kaylis raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp and unflinching. ”And then what?” she asked, her voice carrying a subtle edge of impatience, as if demanding he think

further ahead.

”You will gain the ability to defend yourselves,” Theo explained slowly, gesturing deliberately with his hand as if painting a scenario in the air, ”instead of remaining idle, waiting like defenseless sheep awaiting slaughter. You will no longer be forced to rely solely on chance or the goodwill of others.” Kaylis lifted her chin slightly, her expression composed yet probing. ”And then?”

”Hm.” Theo paused, weighing his words carefully. ”You could forge an alliance with Lord Hedrick-a formidable coalition, strong enough to resist the brutal onslaughts of Zavaros the Savage and Darvion the accursed.” He opened his hands briefly, letting the image of potential strategies linger in the air before closing them again with serene composure. ”An alliance strong enough to drive out all opposing forces without question, to restore some measure of stability

to your sector.”

”And then?” Kaylis repeated the question, her tone hardening with each word, the subtle tremor of authority beneath her composure now unmistakable. ”...I see you are projecting too far into the future, Your Majesty,” Theo replied gently, though his voice was firm, carrying the quiet authority of experience. ”One must remain rooted in reality. Perfect outcomes are rarely guaranteed. A flawless result is not always possible, and striving solely for it can blind one to the steps needed in the present.” He placed his hands behind his back, standing straight, his calm posture contrasting with the storm in her eyes. ”And then?” Kaylis struck her armrest lightly, a seemingly small gesture, yet

waves of power radiated outward from her in all directions, a subtle display of the control she wielded effortlessly. ”What happens after I ally with Hedrick and successfully drive out the forces of Darvion and Zavaros? What becomes of my people, my children, my empire?”

Theoʼs eyes lifted, meeting hers with unwavering composure. ”What do you believe will happen then, Your Majesty?”

Kaylisʼs voice dropped, deliberate and full of weight. ”What will happen is this: Mid Sector 101 will be left in ruins, its cities and fleets scarred and destroyed. Most of my fleets will be lost in battle, countless soldiers slain. I, myself, will likely bear serious injuries, perhaps life-threatening. Half of my children-or more-may not survive the chaos. Hedrick, though allied, who commands the sectorʼs forces, will emerge from the conflict in an even worse condition. The result: every empire within the sector will be disarmed, stripped of soldiers, stripped of hope, left vulnerable to any who might exploit the aftermath.” She paused, letting the weight of her words sink into the room, then pointed deliberately at Theo. ”And in that state, enraged and vengeful, Darvion and Zavaros will personally intervene. They will arrive with what remains of their armies, fueled by anger and the desire to reclaim what they have lost. This time, there will be no one to oppose them. We will either surrender entirely-or we will face certain death.”

Her gaze sharpened, the intensity in her eyes now bordering on feral. ”And then your master-the one who guides and supports Hedrick-will step onto the field. He will send reinforcements or devise a brilliant plan that compels Hedrick and me to act in his favor, in the name of justice or strategy. Perhaps he will even offer us sanctuary outside the sector, protecting us while he consolidates his control over Mid Sector 101. And just like that, he will claim command of the sector, presented to him as if on a silver platter.”

Kaylis leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with a combination of determination, anger, and piercing clarity. ”At the end of this path, I will be isolated. My forces destroyed, my galaxy ravaged, my children wounded or dead. I will have fled or survived only in name, my reputation as a wise and formidable ruler shattered. Under your masterʼs authority, whoever he us, my family and I will face the same fate that Darvion intended for us: subjugated, bound forever to his will. The Pureheart family will be prisoners of his commands for all time, while he assumes control over Mid Sector 101, greeted with cheers and celebration, pretending that he only take the heavy role in the name of preserving peace. Isnʼt that... the inevitable outcome?”