Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2012 Hero

Bam..... Bam

With hearts pounding and nearly stopping from sheer, paralyzing fear, all the new soldiers instinctively turned toward the source of the deafening sound. In that instant, time seemed to slow; for several heartbeats, they completely forgot to breathe, frozen in awe and terror.

At first, in the distance, there appeared a massive, ominous shape, like a dense black cloud blotting out the horizon. Slowly, the horrifying form began to take shape, revealing its full, monstrous silhouette...

It was a creature with five grotesquely uneven arms, a torso vaguely humanoid in structure, and nine pairs of enormous, jointed legs capable of supporting its gargantuan bulk. Its head... its head was bizarre, mushroom-like, grotesque in the extreme.

Its color was absolute black, a darkness deeper than the surrounding night itself. Its height approached an unimaginable 300 meters. Its movements, though appearing slow and ponderous, were deceptive-each step spanned hundreds of meters, crushing the earth beneath it.

Beneath this unimaginable titan were dozens of smaller entities, each with mushroom-shaped heads. Their bodies were wildly diverse, their limbs differing completely from one another. Their stench was nauseating and fetid, as though they had grown over the rotting corpses of countless creatures for centuries. From their forms emanated a black, thick mist, swirling and spreading with every step, covering the ground like an advancing plague.

”The... Black Plague!” one young soldier stammered, pointing with trembling fingers, a shiver of pure fear running through him.

”Correct,” the Attendant nodded slowly, his gaze steady.

”This is the Black Plague. Their movements are slow, and they lack fangs or claws, but their bodies are incredibly resilient. Their consumption of the planetʼs metals over countless generations has made them nearly indestructible. A single swipe from one of them could crush any of you instantly. The black mist you see is actually microscopic particulate matter under their control-it can destroy flesh from within if inhaled, and even corrode the strongest epic-grade armor.”

His eyes then fixed on the largest of them, a colossal, nightmarish entity. ”...The bigger the body, the stronger and older the creature. It has reached the planetʼs deep subterranean layers, absorbing the rarest minerals as it moved underground. That enormous one seems as if it has nearly reached the planetʼs core, or perhaps it already has. Yet, for reasons unknown, it refrains from attacking or consuming further... Its raw power is equivalent to at least a Mid Sector Nexus State, if not more.”

”How... how could we possibly stand against something like this?” the girl whispered, raising her eyebrows in pure terror.

”You cannot. Ordinary infantry will not approach the Black Plague for the reasons I just mentioned,” the Attendant shook his head gravely.

”In areas where this level of corruption spreads, we have alternative methods... other solutions.”

”Other solutions... like what?” one soldier asked, voice tight with urgency and anticipation.

”...” The Attendant continued scanning the sky, his eyes narrowing as he focused on a distant point. Then, a faint smile crept across his face.

”Overwhelming force. Absolute, unrestrained force.”

Swoooosh

In that instant, a small, streaking object descended from the heavens like a meteor, moving with blinding speed. It pierced the massive Black Plagueʼs head with the force of a cannonball, entering cleanly and exiting from the other side as if the colossal entity were made of air.

Then, Clang!

The Black Plague staggered violently, its gargantuan legs trembling as if the world itself had struck it. Moments later, Baaaaaam, it collapsed face-first onto the battlefield, sending shockwaves across the entire area. The sheer force of its fall crushed half of its own followers in an instant, leaving destruction in its wake.

The small, blazing meteor-now revealed as a living being-halted in midair, standing still to observe the colossal Black Plagueʼs descent, its fall as if it were part of a grand, living canvas, a masterpiece of chaos and destruction.

Yet the meteor itself did not realize that it was simultaneously the focus of admiration a living work of art even more magnificent than the scene it had created.

It was not a mere projectile, but a person: clad in resplendent white armor adorned with intricate, crimson patterns that shimmered in the dim light. Behind him, a heavy crimson cloak flowed like molten silk, its edges trimmed with white fur reminiscent of royal mantles. Upon his smooth, white helmet was a single crimson circle, perfectly centered over his faceplate, marking him as both warrior and sovereign figure-a herald of overwhelming power descending from the heavens.

His appearance was heroic to an extreme, larger-than-life, truly awe-inspiring. Every detail of his form-the gleaming white armor adorned with intricate crimson patterns, the flowing crimson cloak with its fur-trimmed edges, even the smooth, pristine helmet-was crafted to make him look like a legendary hero emerged straight from a fantastical tale, a figure carved from myths themselves.

All the young soldiers stared at him, their eyes wide and sparkling with admiration, their faces lit with dreamy, almost naive smiles. Each one felt a surge of inspiration, their hearts swelling at the sight of this towering, almost divine figure who seemed to embody courage, strength, and unmatched skill all at once. They could hardly believe that such a being existed in their reality. Suddenly, their reverie was shattered by a strange, loud, booming laugh that rolled across the battlefield.

”Hehe... hehehe... hahahahahahaha!!!” The man in white-and-crimson armor clutched his stomach with both hands and laughed uproariously, a sound so full of life, confidence, and madness that it echoed over the hills and valleys around

them.

Then, with a dramatic flourish, he raised his hands and removed his helmet. His crimson hair caught the light, flowing with the wind, and he pointed downward, mocking and triumphant, still laughing.

”Hahaha-this is what happens when you close your path before this king, you mushroom-born fool! Ahahahaaha!!!”

”This...?” The young soldiers glanced at one another, shock and disbelief spreading over their faces. Confusion mingled with disgust, for the hero they had revered now displayed a wild, almost chaotic energy that unsettled them.

His face-so pale it rivaled the white of his armor-was veined with vivid red lines. A single large, piercing eye dominated his visage, while a single crimson-tipped horn jutted from his forehead, confirming that the horn atop his helmet was not merely decorative, but an extension of his body, a natural

weapon.

”Iʼll introduce him properly,” the Attendant said with a soft smile, gesturing toward the figure with a respectful nod.

”This is Guardian Leosar. In name, he is the commander of all our Peacekeeping Forces. Yet, unlike ordinary leaders, he rarely involves himself in day-to-day decisions. His true purpose is to hunt the most formidable enemies and defend our soldiers when they are placed in danger, stepping in where no others can.” ”But... he seems... oddly proportioned,” the Attendant added, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and respect, a subtle acknowledgment of Leosarʼs unpredictable and extraordinary form.

”Hahahaaha!” Leosar laughed again, spinning and twisting in midair with unrestrained energy, his hands rubbing playfully across his stomach and neck

as if teasing the very air.

”Ahh- delicious, absolutely delicious... deeeelicious! I want more! I want

moooore!!!”

Suddenly, his ecstasy stopped. Leosarʼs single eye focused sharply on a distant point, his expression shifting into one of intense calculation. Then, almost imperceptibly, a wide grin spread across his face. He snapped his helmet back into place and surged forward like a blazing meteor, hurtling toward a massive

nearby mountain.

This time, Leosar did not intend to pierce the mountain like a cannonball, nor to pass through it using the sharp tip of his horn as a weapon. Instead, he concentrated all his immense strength in front of him, forming a solid, impenetrable wall of force. When he collided with the mountain, the impact was cataclysmic-as if two mountains themselves had slammed into

each other.

Earthquake-like Tremor

The mountain shattered instantly, sending colossal shockwaves outward that knocked every soldier to the ground. Rocks and dust flew in all directions, some fragments striking even those at a distance.

Yet what followed was even more awe-inspiring-and terrifying.

Leosar emerged from the rubble and swirling dust, launching himself upward toward the sky once more. But this time he was not alone. Seven shadows, moving at blistering speed, chased him from behind, their motions almost as rapid, precise, and coordinated as his own.

”Ahh!!” one young soldier screamed, his voice quivering as he witnessed the

scene unfold.

”World Cataclysms! Those are World Cataclysm plague, there are seven of them chasing Hero Leosar!!”

”Foolish child,” the Attendant said, shaking his head slowly, his gaze solemn. ”Do you truly believe that Guardian Leosar would appear personally for just a handful of World Cataclysms? He would not even bother for such trivialities.”

He turned his eyes to the sky above the battlefield, where the aerial combat

now raged in all its terrifying glory. His gaze was calm but sharp, noting every

detail.

”Those seven... all seven... they are Nexus States?”