Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2137 Plague control ”Pardon?” Robin Burton revealed a strange, faintly amused smile that carried a trace of curiosity, ”I wonʼt be the first to try what exactly?” ”There are many before you who tried to tame the Crimson Plague, little Robin,” the Cosmic Elder said as he slowly rearranged his papers randomly, his fingers moving with absent precision, then continued in a calm, measured tone, ”the Crimson Plague is extremely tempting for those who walk the demonic path, far more than most would expect.” ”...Could you explain more?” Robin frowned slightly, his expression tightening as a hint of unease crept into his thoughts. ”Itʼs quite obvious” the Cosmic Elder sighed, leaning back just a little, ”the power of the Crimson Plague, its ability to reproduce at an alarming rate, and its Savage execution of orders without question or hesitation make it the finest raw material for building an army. That is why evil clans and individuals who walk the path of corruption and curses have all attempted to exploit them in one way or another, whether by raising and training their young through fear and intimidation, through a specially crafted soul oath designed to bind them, or by making the Crimson Plague feel indebted to them through fabricated favors and manipulation.” ”Things always begin well for them, deceptively so. Any of those three methods works for a time, sometimes even longer than expected. That person or clan gains a great force of the plague, using it in secrecy to crush their enemies far from the eyes of authority and the watchful gaze of greater powers... but it always, always ends in catastrophe, without exception.”

The Cosmic Elder shook his head slowly, his expression growing heavier. ”No matter which path you take with them, the demons forget quickly and acknowledge no master. They know nothing but destruction and devouring, driven by instincts that cannot be rewritten. Even souls crafted in special ways remain unstable and lack a fixed imprint, making it impossible to bind them with an oath for any meaningful length of time. And of course, they do not care for family, homeland, or anything you might attempt to threaten them with. Such concepts simply do not exist for them. There is no leverage, no weakness to exploit. There is simply no way to subjugate them. Thus... the outcome is always the same, the plague turns on its master sooner or later.” ****** ”The only way to make them listen to you, even temporarily and without a true method of control, is to secure a constant and overwhelming source of food for their insatiable hunger that never fades. But who could possibly do such a thing? Even demonic powers at their peak cannot provide enough worlds to satisfy the hunger of the plague or feed the countless new mouths that emerge every single day without pause. And if you try to kill their young to limit their growth, they will hate you, remember that act, and eventually turn on you for restricting the evolution of their race!”

The Cosmic Elder exhaled slowly, as though tired of repeating a lesson learned too many times. ”Communicating with those creatures is possible, and some have even believed they reached an understanding with them, but no matter how you look at it, keeping them under control is impossible. No matter how special you think you are, no matter how confident you feel in your methods, it all ends the same... you playing with fire that will inevitably consume you.” Then he raised his head toward Robin, his gaze steady and piercing, ”Unless, of course, you intend to let them reproduce as they wish and devour as they please without restraint...” his tone turned grave and heavy, ”in that case, we will have a problem far beyond your control.” .......

Robin threw down a card with a quiet motion and lowered his head, his thoughts sinking deeper as he carefully weighed every word.

The Cosmic Elderʼs words did not seem entirely impossible or exaggerated. He could clearly recall several moments throughout his long history where a catastrophe involving the demons had nearly taken shape, moments that could have spiraled out of control if even a single detail had gone differently. Yet Amonʼs unwavering loyalty and Sakaarʼs timely support, along with a streak of fortunate coincidences, had played a decisive role in saving the situation from collapse.

At the moment, however, there was nothing apparent linking the plague to Robin in any direct or traceable way.

The three planets given to them all lay outside Nihari Galaxy, isolated enough to avoid unwanted attention, and they had already been driven out of all other worlds where suspicion might arise.

Perhaps there were a few scattered traces left behind here and there for those who searched with enough determination and patience, subtle clues buried within events and movements, but beyond that... he remained, for now, safely distant from all the crimes the demons had committed over the years, hidden behind layers of circumstance and misdirection.

As for the current crimes?

Things had become far better... far more stable than before.

First, because of the absolute and unquestionable control of Amon and Sakaar, a control that left no room for rebellion or disorder. Second, because the corpses of space beasts had become a consistent and abundant resource, enough to satisfy the hunger of the vast demon hordes while also granting them the strength required to fight, grow, and reproduce for years without interruption.

The flesh of intelligent beings had gradually lost its necessity, becoming more of a luxury consumed out of indulgence rather than for the sake of gaining power. Instead, the countless bodies that fell across battlefields in every sector were collected and devoured, recycled into strength and sustenance. As a result, no large-scale planetary extermination had occurred for centuries, something that would have once been considered impossible.

The demons who had grown under his influence... had changed.

Deeply and irreversibly.

At their core, and in their form alike.

The demons had become organized, their chaotic nature tempered into something structured. Their cities had begun to resemble human cities to a surprising degree, not only in architecture but also in the deliberate planning of roads and districts. They now possessed clear hierarchical chains to enforce laws and judgments, along with organized systems that mirrored police forces, judicial authorities, and standing armies. What once was a scattered and destructive race had begun to form something resembling a true civilization, one ruled firmly under Sakaarʼs authority.

And in form... those purple scars that had begun appearing on those who fed on space beasts were nothing short of astonishing.

The moment Robin Burton saw images of them, a sharp and immediate idea surfaced in his mind... to conduct controlled experiments on the plague.

He would wait patiently for years, allowing the transformation to spread naturally, and then reveal the scarred demons as proof that he had ”refined” them. Their altered appearance alone, so distinct and visible, would grant his claims a layer of undeniable credibility, even to the most skeptical observers. ”Have you changed your mind?” the Cosmic Elder tossed a card casually, a faint smile forming when he saw Robin staring downward with a somewhat dimmed expression, ”Itʼs alright, this is the correct choice. Tampering with the plague is no trivial matter... they are one of the darkest secrets this universe holds.” ”And that is precisely why I will continue pursuing my goal and attempt to control them!” Robin slowly raised his head, his gaze sharpening with a clear and unwavering resolve, ”As long as you have not used your power to put an end to them, then I must rely on my own brilliance to find a solution for the sake of all humanity!” Then bam he slammed a card onto the table with force, ”If I do not sacrifice my time, my wealth, and my effort for the greater good... then who will?” ”.....” the Cosmic Elder examined Robin carefully from head to toe, his expression narrowing ever so slightly, ”...I feel like Iʼm missing something important here.” ”Of course.” Robin revealed a confident and almost playful smile, then gestured lightly toward the pile of cards between them, ”Iʼve already won!” ”...?” the Cosmic Elder paused, then checked again, ”No!” he leaned forward, inspecting the cards more intensely, ”Cheater, this card is still in my possession!!” ”How do you even know itʼs still in your possession if all the cards are face-down and weʼre playing randomly? Are you cheating?” Robin immediately flipped the accusation back at him without hesitation.

Bzzzt

At that very moment, a space portal abruptly manifested beside the glass house, its sudden appearance distorting the air around it and drawing both Robin and the Cosmic Elderʼs attention instantly toward its center.

Step

Step

Heavy footsteps echoed as a figure began to emerge.

Then, at last, he appeared.

A massive man, standing nearly three meters tall, clad in striking black armor that seemed both elegant and imposing at the same time. His long, thick black hair flowed wildly like a lionʼs mane, framing a face marked by a calm yet overwhelming presence. Above it all rested a confident gaze and a faint smile that seemed eternal, as though it had never once wavered or broken throughout his existence. ”Holak? What brings you he-” Robin allowed a small smile to surface as he spoke, but his words abruptly halted midway.

Holak had not come empty-handed.

Resting over his shoulder was an object wrapped tightly in a piece of cloth, the fabric stained with old, dried traces of food and time-worn marks that hinted at something carried for long.

The instant Robin sensed what lay hidden within that cloth... his expression stiffened ever so slightly.

A cold, creeping realization spread through him.

And then-

Sweat began to form rapidly across his forehead, growing heavier with each passing moment.