Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2032 The northern barrier ”You have the first stage of causality?” Altheraʼs voice was sharp, tinged with disbelief. ”You want to bring down the Sorcerer Behemoth?!” Richard added, his eyes wide as he tried to grasp the enormity of what was being proposed. ”Hmm” Robin barely reacted, as though their words were distant echoes. His attention remained entirely fixed on the task before him. ”Mid Sector 100 or Mid Sector 98... a decision of weight. A choice that will shape years of strategy, of conquest, and of foundation-laying for the next era of my empire.” He paused, furrowing his brows deeply, the golden engravings on his skin subtly flickering with anticipation. ”If I choose Sector 100, the coming years will be years of consolidation, reinforcing my empireʼs foundations and carefully expanding influence. If I choose Sector 98, the next years will be scorched by war, burning everything in sight, yet bringing me long-term advantage and positioning for future dominance... Which path am I truly prepared for?”

He turned his gaze to the Die of Judgment, resting atop the chaotic swirl of energy. ”I will rely on you to show me which direction to take... the far east, or the far west. Your guidance will decide this first critical step.”

Robin then began channeling an immense torrent of soul force into the black necklace at his chest. The energy surged outward, transforming into a visible storm of natural power that enveloped the die. It trembled, vibrating violently as the raw power coursed into it, the golden light around Robinʼs body flickering and swirling in response.

And in that moment-amidst the swirling storm, with the die suspended in midair-Robin opened his mouth with effort, his words slow and resonant, echoing across the space: (”Which direction should I take with the wormhole corridor to gain the greatest benefit?”)

Hoooom

The die responded immediately, flashing with blinding intensity. The energy it absorbed from Robin multiplied manyfold, making it levitate higher and higher. ”..?!”

Althera, Richard, and even the Shadow Swords and Imperial Guards standing at a distance watched in tense silence, their breaths caught in their chests. The die hovered, quivering as if alive, turning slowly in the air for a long, deliberate moment before finally falling-

Bang!

Unlike normal dice, it did not shatter upon impact. Instead, it bounced sharply from the ground, twice more, the sound echoing across the empty expanse. Each impact reverberated within the onlookers, a subtle tremor felt deep in their chests, as if the dieʼs motion carried weight beyond its size.

Finally, it landed on the face marked with three arrows, all pointing in a precise direction. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the die vanished. ”What?!” Robinʼs head snapped up sharply, eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze in the indicated direction. ”...Whatʼs wrong?” Althera whispered, her tone cautious, almost like a child trying to understand a fatherʼs anger without provoking it. ”No... something is wrong here,” Robin muttered, his expression tightening. Golden engravings began to glow and gather along his body once again. ”I need to repeat the experiment.”

In full view of everyone, Robin poured an enormous surge of soul force into the necklace. The die appeared again, hovered, bounced, and once more landed on the same arrows, pointing in the same direction-unwavering. ”What is happening here?!” Robin shouted, frustration lacing his voice. ”Tell me whatʼs happening-I might be able to help interpret it,” Althera interjected quickly. ”Then explain this,” Robin said, pointing east and west with meticulous precision. ”Mid Sector 100 lies there, and Mid Sector 98 lies there.” Then he indicated a specific direction north of his stance. ”So why in the hell does the die point that way?” ”This...” Althera fell completely silent.

She knew the Young Belt lay behind them-south of this point. Therefore, north should point toward the Ancient Belt, long unknown and uncharted.

But that direction was empty. Absolutely empty.

Several ancient planets drifted slowly toward the north, approaching the known borders of the mid belt, but beyond those planets lay only a vast, yawning void-the Desert of Emptiness.

A region where no celestial bodies, no stars, no spatial anomalies existed. A void stretching across incomprehensible distances.

At the far edge of this nothingness stood a dense spatial barrier, impenetrable by any means.

Not even the Tyrant Interas had ever breached it.

He had tried, and he had failed spectacularly.

Althera, Richard, and the rest could only stare, wide-eyed, at the dieʼs impossible indication, their minds struggling to comprehend that the path of greatest advantage pointed into a void no empire, no civilization, and not even the mightiest tyrant had ever conquered.

The weight of the moment settled on them all: this was not merely a choice of sectors-it was a choice that could defy all known reality itself.

The spatial barrier that loomed there, at the very end of every Mid Sector, formed the ultimate frontier of the known universe-a line that no ordinary force could breach, a cosmic boundary that had remained untouchable for eons. ”Impossible...” Altheraʼs voice trembled slightly as she took a careful step forward, her eyes widening in disbelief. ”Could the Die of Judgment actually be suggesting that the wormhole corridor-your artificial wormhole-might penetrate that barrier?!”

Robin tapped his forehead slowly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. ”And what if it is hinting at that? What benefit would heading north provide me in my current position? Sometimes I make decisions that seem utterly foolish because of the luck of fate... but this one, this one might just be the most foolish of them all, without any doubt!” ”...Are you absolutely certain the die is genuinely urging you to go there?” Altheraʼs voice was calm but edged with tension, as she attempted to reason aloud with him. ”Why do the arrows even carry different implications?” ”No, no... the arrows can indeed signify multiple things, but this time-this time specifically-I am asking about a geographic direction, Althera. Would it even have any other meaning in this context?” Robinʼs brows furrowed, his focus sharpening. ”Secondly... were all three arrows truly intact, or did I misinterpret them in both instances?” ”They were three, completely intact,” Althera replied firmly. ”Do the numbers themselves hold significance?” ”Of course,” Robin exhaled slowly, a mixture of calculation and admiration in his tone. ”Each number represents a different measure of potential. According to the nature of my inquiry today, these three arrows indicate the magnitude of the advantage waiting for me there... three points, precisely.” ”Middle between one and six... that doesnʼt seem particularly encouraging... right?” Althera said, her mind racing to comprehend. ”No, itʼs actually extremely high,” Robin countered, narrowing his eyes, the golden glow around him intensifying. ”In causality, nothing is absolute. Consider it a stroke of luck even to receive a single intact arrow. Even when Richardʼs thread was linked to Serene, I sensed only a modest fortune- equivalent to just two arrows.” ”Father,” Richardʼs voice cut through the tension from behind, sharp and steady, noticing Robinʼs hesitation. ”You didnʼt ask the die to simply point east or west. You asked it for the best possible direction, and it delivered. If this is truly the law of causality, then why the hesitation?”

Robin remained silent, his mind working furiously, the weight of the decision pressing down on him.

Richard continued, glancing back over his shoulder at his son. ”Between launching an assault on Sector 98 and consolidating my foundations in Sector 100, now I must risk a location that is completely foreign and untested?” He smirked, a mixture of challenge and amusement in his expression. ”Yet with you at the helm... it would be absurd to defy a Die of Judgment that you yourself have set in motion.”

Then Hoo--he exhaled a long, controlled breath, lifting both hands toward the dormant wormhole gate once more. The immense soul force surged in a tangible current toward the black necklace at his chest, making the air hum with latent energy.

Rreeeaaap

The six ancient wooden panels began moving violently once again, spinning and shifting under the force of Robinʼs command.

This time, Robin pressed his hands against the sides, forcing the panels apart and stretching the gap even further. The breach expanded from a mere ten meters to dozens of meters, wide enough to allow the Note of Destruction-4 to pass through. He continued to adjust, stretching the space slightly more until it stabilized at a size that could accommodate the Note of Supremacy-4 with ease.

Then, with a deliberate pull, Robin retracted his hands, gathering an immense surge of energy, and thrust it forward with all his strength: ”Letʼs see what lies at the northern barrier!!”

Fwoooom