Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2022 The Emperorʼs presence

In the streets of the Guardsʼ Quarters-

A massive man, his body riddled with scars and missing one eye, suddenly felt an unnatural shift coming from the direction of a house several buildings away. ”Hmm? What the-”

Before he could finish, a force struck him. He fell to his knees immediately, trying to push himself up, to look around and see who-or what-had caused the attack. ”Su—... I—...”

But consciousness abandoned him. His face slammed into the hard stone of the street as darkness closed around him.

And he was not alone.

Thud Thud Thud

Every guard inside the quarters felt it at the same moment: an unbearable, oppressive weight that pressed down on their bodies and minds. Darkness filled their vision instantly. Some collapsed in the streets, others fell during training exercises, some even while preparing meals. Even the two gate guards were thrown to the ground. Panic rippled silently through the air.

It was as if the very atmosphere had been crushed by an invisible hand.

In the streets of the Educational District-

”Huh...?” The students froze mid-step, their eyes turning toward the northwest, the direction of the sudden disturbance.

”What... is happening?”

”Is that... killing intent?”

”What is going on over there? Isnʼt that the Guardsʼ Quarters?”

”Itʼs impossible... that canʼt come from there! The Guardsʼ Quarters are dozens of kilometers away!”

”My heart... itʼs pounding... it hurts...”

”Alright, everyone, quickly enter the academy buildings until we can understand whatʼs going on!” Several teachers and supervisors rushed into the streets, herding students toward the nearest structures. Some faint-hearted students-girls and boys alike-collapsed in fear, overwhelmed, but they were swiftly carried to safety.

Other teachers ran to report the situation to the academy director, their faces pale with alarm.

Amidst all this chaos-

”Tsk- a foolish academy, and an even more foolish academy lady who cannot see what lies beneath her feet. How could those idiots even think to replace me?”

Royal Soul Master Barouk moved through the streets, anger radiating from his every step. It was clear he had just emerged from the office of the academy director.

He turned toward the northwest, furrowing his brows. ”Hmm? This presence... could it be that a significant figure is visiting the academy?”

A wide grin spread across his face, sharp and predatory, as he launched into the air, flying toward that direction.

”Finally... an opportunity. At last, a Sovereign existence who can purchase my works for the true price they deserve!”

Guardsʼ Quarters, upper floor-

Leonid, the imperial guards, the Shadow Swords, and even the person who had waited for Robin here for decades...

All of them froze mid-motion, their breaths caught in their throats. Each had faced countless hardships, battled through innumerable fights, and stared death directly in the eyes more times than they could count. Yet, in this moment, they felt as helpless as newborn kittens before a colossal, coiled serpent.

Their pupils contracted until they seemed nearly invisible. Heartbeats raced uncontrollably. Bodies began to chill as if an invisible frost had settled over

them.

Thud

The person who had waited decades for Robin fell completely, unconscious. Several of the Shadow Swords seemed on the verge of collapsing themselves... /What unimaginable killing intent!!/ Leonid clenched his teeth, barely holding on to his resolve.

This was the killing intent of conquering emperors-the kind whispered about in legends. And now, in front of their eyes, it was no longer a story. It was reality.

Killing intent is not something material, something you can gather like a weapon. It is not something spiritual that accumulates over time like stars of karma. It is intangible, immeasurable... it is the weight of absolute power, the pressure of unrestrained domination.

The more one kills, the stronger their confidence becomes that they can kill again, without hesitation. This is the thirst for blood, the insatiable drive-the pure essence of killing intent.

When a killer has slaughtered enough, human life becomes no different to them than that of rabbits or rats. Life loses all value, all meaning.

And this is exactly what the observers feel-the victims. They feel the cold, absolute certainty in their enemyʼs gaze. They are seen not as people, but as moving meat. Fragile, expendable, worthless.

Every fiber of their being screams that at any moment, they could be erased... snuffed out as if they had never existed.

But this is not a universal rule... because it is said that the most hideous, most merciless, and most overwhelming killing intent under the heavens has always belonged to the conquering emperors, even though they usually never rise from the comfort of their golden, cushioned thrones.

Why is that?

Because with a single word, they can turn rivers into rivers of blood.

Without even moving from their thrones, they can crush entire mountains down upon the heads of all living creatures.

They might not need to strangle a single soul with their own hands, yet with that one word... they can bury entire civilizations alive, erase kingdoms, and

turn thriving worlds into nothingness.

One word.

That is the sheer weight of every word that comes from the mouth of a

conquering emperor.

That is the unbearable gravity and absolute authority that each syllable carries.

And it has happened...

The conquering emperor Robin Burton has unleashed wars with no beginning and no end-wars whose details he himself only knows as numbers, dates, and

statistics.

Wars that drained the blood of billions, altered the lives of trillions, and reshaped the destinies of countless civilizations, all while he sits here in the academy, calmly observing and enjoying the work he loves.

Leonidʼs eyes shifted toward the lower floor, filled with a deep, creeping fear... It seemed that His Majesty fully understood the weight of his own existence, fully understood the sheer magnitude of his power, fully understood that with a mere motion or gesture, he could overturn this entire section of the universe, leaving reality itself trembling.

This was the only explanation for the terrifying, almost supernatural presence in the room-the kind of presence that great figures throughout history had always whispered about in awe and terror.

And yet, even amidst this paralyzing fear, Leonid managed to show a hesitant, uneasy smile, as his mind raced...

/Among all the Behemoths that have ever existed, how many could truly rival

His Majesty in that presence?/

It was terrifying.

Downstairs-

”....!!” Richard slowly lifted his head, every function in his body thrown into

chaos, his heartbeat erratic, muscles trembling uncontrollably.

At any other time, he could have endured this oppressive presence with difficulty, managing to speak with some weight and composure. His personal strength, his pride, his stubborn resilience-these were not things that could be easily broken. Even before the most formidable of Behemoths, he would not have collapsed merely from their presence alone.

But today, in his already fragile, shattered mental state... even opening his

mouth required a miracle.

”...F-father?!”

”Hm?” Focus returned sharply to Robinʼs eyes as he heard that one word. He

studied Richardʼs expression for several long, tense moments. Observing the tension in his sonʼs features, the rapid irregularity of his vital signs, Robin frowned deeply. For a moment, he could not comprehend why Richard appeared this way... but in less than a second, he understood. He himself was the cause.

He raised his right hand to his face and began to breathe in measured, controlled breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly, forcing himself to calm the crushing weight of his own presence.

”Forgive me. I was lost in thought... momentarily distracted.” ”Lost in thought?” Richardʼs voice was now steadier, the ability to speak returning as his fatherʼs overwhelming aura was restrained. ”About what exactly? And who... who were you directing that killing intent toward? The giants have already been dealt with! Itʼs over! Thereʼs nothing left to fear.” ”....” Robin allowed himself a faint, self-mocking smile, his eyes narrowing slightly as he shook his head. ”Most likely... at myself”