Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2058 Power ”The Cursed... Manifestation?” Richard muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He then looked forward again in silence, still resting his chin on his knees, his body unmoving as if frozen in thought. ”I canʼt deny anything you said. Not a single word of it. But it still feels like some kind of fantasy revelation, something pulled out of a dream rather than reality... Did the Law of Will abandon everyone and choose me alone? Me, of all people? Me, who am nothing. Who isnʼt special. A trivial being, insignificant and small, just trying to carry what little remains of myself with a bit of dignity, then reach a quiet, peaceful death at the end of a meaningless road...”

Robin gazed beside his sonʼs head with a trace of sorrow, his expression heavy with unspoken emotions. Slowly, he raised his hand and gently rubbed his hair, his touch soft and careful, as if afraid to break him. ”Life hasnʼt been kind to you,” he said calmly, ”but this is the path of the great. This is always the path they walk. And your fate is to be great, Richard, whether you want it or not.” ”I donʼt want that,” Richard replied in a low voice, drained and tired, as if the words themselves weighed on his chest. ”Unfortunately, you have no choice,” Robin lifted his head slightly, his tone firm but not cruel. ”Youʼre my son.” ”...”

Richard showed a faint, tired smile and slowly shook his head. ”Even when you comfort me,” he said quietly, ”you still find a way to praise yourself.” ”Everyone has their own illness, my little friend.” Robin chuckled softly, then looked forward again, his gaze fixed on the distance. ”Anyway~” After a brief pause, he continued, ”from what I can see, the abilities tied to the Master Laws may not be so rare that only you and I possess them. They might be more widespread than we think.” ”... In fact, I wouldnʼt be surprised if all the Children of Fate have such an ability. Something that prevents them from dying. Something that protects them at critical moments. Something that smooths their path toward their unique destiny and keeps them moving forward no matter what stands in their way...”

He then chuckled and nudged Richard in the side. ”Maybe thatʼs why most of them suddenly ignite with fame and power and then suddenly disapear, most of them die young before accomplishing anything. If the Shadow Swords hadnʼt been watching over you and helping you since the very day I saw you, youʼd probably be among the dead now, another forgotten name, because of the cursed Manifestation.”

He looked forward again, pressing his lips together, his expression turning thoughtful and serious. ”As for me, I never wouldʼve expected a bad feeling to be a Master ability. Never in my life. And as for you, you never wouldʼve realized that the cursed Manifestation affected you on that level, that deeply, in that destructive way, the very thing that turned your entire life into hell.”

He paused briefly, then continued more quietly, ”I canʼt even imagine how many people out there have tendencies like this. Hidden tendencies. Dangerous tendencies. Things inside them that they donʼt even know exist.”

He stared into the horizon for a long moment, his eyes distant. ”But now that we know,” he said calmly, ”we must use it properly. We must control it and shape it instead of letting it destroy us. Donʼt you think?”

He turned to his side with a steady smile, trying to reassure him, but the smile vanished almost instantly. ”...” ”...

Richardʼs face was overtaken by sadness and regret, his expression collapsing under the weight of his thoughts. ”Father, do you think...” he whispered, his voice shaking, ”...that my mother died because of the cursed Manifestation?” ”.....

Robin studied his face for a few moments, carefully, deeply, as if searching for the right answer. ”For now,” he said slowly, ”letʼs believe that you gained the cursed Manifestation after the captivity. There is no conclusive proof. No evidence that you had it since childhood.” ”But I was born without finding you,” Richard said, his voice breaking. ”The Burton family was already broken. Completely broken. And they were in wars throughout the ten years I lived there. Then what happened to us in Nihari happened...”

Richardʼs eyes filled with tears. ”I was just a little child then. I didnʼt understand anything. Maybe I wished for a cake, or some trivial, stupid thing like that, and it led to all those disasters. Maybe I caused it all. Maybe--”

Bam

Robin slapped the back of Richardʼs head. ”There is no... conclusive evidence.”

He stared into his eyes intensely, his voice sharp and commanding. ”I donʼt want to hear you say those words again. Ever. And donʼt you dare think them. Not even in your mind. Donʼt carry a guilt that is beyond you. Donʼt bear a sin that was never yours to carry. Do you understand me?”

Richard lowered his head again and returned to resting his chin on his knees, silent, broken, and still. ”...From today onward,” Robin spoke harshly, his voice heavy with authority and resolve, ”I want you to devote yourself completely, entirely, without distraction, while in your soul body form, to recovering your memory stream up to the very day your second personality appeared. Dig through everything. Relive it. Remember every detail, every fragment, every shadow of memory that might help you study the cursed Manifestation. After that, find ways to control it. Search for methods. Build them. Shape them. And if you are driven into a corner with no path left, then wish for a method. Wish for one even if thatʼs the last thing you can do!” ”I donʼt want to wish for anything else!” Richard shouted, gripping his arms tightly, his fingers digging into his own flesh as if trying to anchor himself.

Bam

Robin struck the back of his sonʼs head again. ”Wish however you like,” he said firmly, ”and I will steady your steps. I will guide your path. If the ground collapses beneath you, you will find my hand waiting for you to stand on. You will not fall alone. Believe this with all your heart!”

Then his tone grew heavier and more serious. ”To control the cursed Manifestation with your own will, and to know how to use it while we are prepared for the consequences, is far better than leaving it to control you blindly, and having disasters come to us from places we never expected, from directions we never saw.”

Richard nodded slowly, silently, the weight of the words settling deep inside him. ”Good” Robin nodded firmly in return. ”Now switch with your other half”

Whoosh

Richardʼs hair stood up like a hedgehog instantly, and his entire expression shifted into sharp defiance and challenge. Even his posture changed, becoming more open, more aggressive, more confident. ”What do you want?” ”Heh~” Robin shook his head lightly. ”Richard didnʼt hesitate for a single moment to switch with you. Not even a second of doubt...” ”Well, dealing with you isnʼt very fun.” Richard laughed dryly, a sharp edge in his voice. ”He needs to learn that thereʼs no time for depression and sorrow in this world,” Robin said, waving his hand dismissively. ”Everything takes its time, passes, breaks, heals, and then we must recover and get ready for what comes after. Thatʼs how life works.”

He continued more seriously, ”The world is a place of suffering. A place of pain, struggle, and loss. You must understand that!”

Then he tilted his head slightly. ”Or should I say, your brother must understand that?” He waved again. ”Talking to you is extremely confusing.” ”Mutual feeling” Richard nodded firmly. ”So, what do you want?” ”You said you want to become stronger, right?” Robin sighed deeply. ”I can arrange that.” ”Youʼll find a way to help me break through?!” Richard opened his eyes wide in excitement, his voice filled with hope. ”There is no way to do that.” Robin shook his head slowly. ”In the Competence Trial, you are alone. Completely alone. No weapon, no armor, no array will help you. No one can face the trial on your behalf. Not a guardian, not an ally, not even me. Even your soul force cannot be used in the trial. The test simply ignores all of that and attacks your body anyway. It bypasses everything and goes straight for you. All those things can only help you escape if you fail. They are tools for survival, not for victory.” ”So how will you make me stronger then?” Richard frowned deeply, his brows tightly knit. ”Donʼt tell me youʼll give me more planetary weapons. I donʼt care about external power.” ””

Robin looked his son up and down slowly, carefully, as if measuring him. ”That anti-life ability of yours,” he said calmly, ”do you like it?” ”Of course.” Richard nodded. ”It suits the nature of my power that Iʼve been used to for centuries. It feels natural to me. It pushed me forward without forcing me to change anything in my fighting style.”

Then he scratched his head thoughtfully. ”But I donʼt understand it very well.

Not deeply. I tried to control its range, its depth, its structure, and even change its form, but all of it was useless. Nothing worked. My progress with it is completely stuck.” ”How will you do any of that when you donʼt even know what itʼs made of in the first place?” Robin chuckled. ”How can you shape something you donʼt understand?”

Then he smiled faintly. ”Itʼs fine. Iʼll strengthen you through this way too. Iʼll make this part of your growth as well.”

He raised his hand and struck Richardʼs thigh firmly. ”Tell your energy gathering center to prepare to receive a new Law. A real one.”