Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2254 Check

When the Archon was still merely a Fourth-Stage Causality user, disasters followed wherever he went, as though calamity itself had become attached to his shadow. Entire star regions would descend into chaos shortly after his arrival, and every force that crossed paths with him inevitably paid a heavy price.

No matter how hard the Behemoths tried to surround him, hunt him down, and kill him for being one of the most savage candidates nurtured by the Knower, or whatever name that existence happened to be using at the time, he only caused more catastrophes, more destruction, and more horrors with every attempt made against him, often leaving behind consequences that continued to spread long after he had already moved on.

Then one day, after years of conflict and pursuit, he broke through to the Fifth Stage.

He fought three Behemoths and defeated them after an extremely difficult battle that pushed all sides to their limits, a battle spoken of for ages afterward because of the devastation it caused and the sheer impossibility of the outcome. Yet despite his victory, he did not kill them.

Instead, he announced that he would abandon his former activities, that he would no longer continue down the same path he had walked for so long, and that he would isolate himself to contemplate the world and seek his own answers. Before departing, he left behind a number of disciples and followers to manage his affairs peacefully in his absence, claiming that he no longer wished to involve himself directly in the endless struggles consuming the universe...

And naturally, those very disciples and followers were the ones who eventually established what was known today as The Syndicate, the most despicable organization ever to appear in the history of the universe, an organization whose influence seeped into every major civilization and whose reach extended far beyond what most people could even imagine, though even that organization remained preferable to the Archon personally returning to action.

Naturally, that was from the Behemothsʼ point of view.

Because of that, no one attempted to block The Syndicateʼs expansion as it spread throughout the universe. On the contrary, many actively assisted it, opened doors for it, exchanged favors with it, and quietly tolerated its growth, hoping to earn favor and goodwill with the rapidly growing organization before it became too large to ignore.

Did they regret that decision today, now that The Syndicate had become so vast and powerful, with influence stretching across sectors and generations?

Most of them did.

But it was far too late.

Even without the Archon making a single move, even without any confirmation regarding where he was or what he was doing, The Syndicate by itself had become a monster that could not be negotiated with, pressured, threatened, manipulated, or controlled by conventional means.

”The Archonʼs decision to intervene saved the universe from falling under the control of the All-Seeing God and his followers, and gave us the opportunity to continue fighting so that our rule would remain in our own hands.” Marlik tilted his head slightly, and it was obvious he was reciting words he had memorized rather than speaking from the heart, as though repeating an official statement distributed from above. ”However, he has no desire to fight directly. All of you know his history with the All-Seeing God and the reason he has not appeared for millions of years. That is no secret to anyone, nor is it something anyone within our circles can pretend not to understand.”

”Of course, of course. We appreciate that greatly.” Zargul leaned even farther forward in his seat, his previous excitement gradually giving way to seriousness. ”That existence is taking increasingly obvious and drastic actions now. I never imagined the Cosmic Elder would choose his side as well.” Then he revealed a tense smile. ”But... where exactly is our front? Hehehe, weʼll fight evil and all that, certainly, but ten thousand fleets may not be enough against that strange creature and all of its followers, especially if the rumors regarding their recent expansion are even partially true.”

”You havenʼt even begun your war yet, and youʼre already trying to extort additional benefits.” Marlik laughed and turned his head slightly, looking at him with a narrow, gleaming eye whose lazy appearance vanished for a brief moment. ”And of all targets, you chose The Syndicate as the organization you wanted to extort? That takes a certain level of courage.”

”...!!”

The blood in Zargulʼs veins seemed to freeze instantly, and the smile on his face stiffened as he suddenly realized how his words might have sounded from another perspective.

”My brother didnʼt mean it that way.” Darvion stepped in quickly before the situation could deteriorate. ”Heʼs merely asking whether we have additional allies or further plans. After all, understanding the overall situation is important before committing resources on this scale.”

”Hmm.”

Marlik turned his gaze forward once more, appearing unconcerned by the exchange as though he had already lost interest in the matter.

”And if heʼs asking about reinforcements, then thatʼs fine. There is indeed more to come. Weʼll provide you with a number of Nexus State experts and World Cataclysms to operate alongside your armies, as well as several ancient weapons and ancient arrays recovered from old eras. The Archon has no intention of leaving the outcome of this war to chance, nor does he intend to watch from afar while others gamble with the future.”

Then a small smile appeared on his face.

”Not after the two of you were already defeated so thoroughly.”

”....”

Darvion and Zargul fell silent.

From a military and strategic standpoint, they had unquestionably lost. Had it not been for the overwhelming personal power possessed by them and their descendants, had it not been for the fact that their individual strength remained sufficient to alter battlefields on its own, they would have already been completely eliminated from the board and reduced to historical footnotes.

But based on everything that had become clear so far, this was not truly a failure on their part.

They were fighting a front that included both the Cosmic Elder and the All-Seeing God, two existences whose mere involvement transformed any conflict into something entirely abnormal.

Then Marlik continued.

”...As for allies within our front.”

Marlik emphasized the word before continuing with a smile that returned to his face once again.

”We are currently speaking with a number of Behemoths surrounding your territories in an effort to bring them into the war officially, and several discussions have already progressed farther than expected.”

”...Speaking with them?” Darvion immediately noticed the wording, his expression shifting slightly. ”They didnʼt simply agree to your orders directly?”

”The Archon has instructed us to proceed cautiously in this matter.” Marlik nodded slowly, his expression remaining as relaxed as ever despite the seriousness of the topic being discussed. ”Our opponents are the All-Seeing God and the Cosmic Elder, after all. Their front remains attractive enough to draw additional supporters, especially among those who only see the surface of the situation and not the dangers hidden beneath it, and we do not wish to pressure the other Behemoths into joining them out of foolishness, fear, or political necessity, unaware of the schemes being orchestrated by that evil existence and the consequences that may follow once they have committed themselves.”

Then he continued.

”Our negotiations with the Behemoth of Relativity are progressing well, and the Behemoth of Gravity is moving steadily in the right direction as well.” He raised an eyebrow toward Zargul. ”If the Behemoth of Gravity joins us, it will be an enormous advantage for you in particular.”

”...”

Zargul nodded vigorously, the seriousness in his face easing slightly.

With the Behemoth of Gravity positioned opposite the Behemoth of Time, Arkail, he would be capable of harassing him continuously, disrupting many of his movements and strategic options while simultaneously relieving the pressure placed upon Zargulʼs forces. It would be tremendous assistance, perhaps enough to alter the balance of an entire battlefield and create opportunities that currently did not exist.

After that, Marlik continued.

”As for Savage Zavaros, he remains stubborn as ever. He refuses to open proper paths for negotiation, yet he doesnʼt close them either. Itʼs as though heʼs waiting for something, observing from the sidelines and refusing to reveal his intentions.” Marlik rubbed his forehead lightly. ”As for the Behemoth of Oppression, he stated that he has no intention of involving himself in this mess, regardless of who wins or loses.”

”What about Helmor?” Zargulʼs brows knitted tightly together. ”What did he say regarding the two fronts? Surely he didnʼt remain silent as well.”

Marlik laughed and remained silent.

That silence alone was enough to make both Behemoths exchange glances.

”Why is that bastard Zavaros still playing games in a situation like this?” Darvion raised his voice, frustration becoming increasingly difficult to conceal. ”After everything weʼve been through together, after all the battles, alliances, and risks we shared, he still canʼt decide on something this simple?” Then he pointed in a certain direction. ”He left the war we started together to burn on its own while he went off to play around with Helmor, while I—”

Darvion suddenly stopped speaking.

His expression darkened almost immediately as he noticed something hidden within the conversation, something that had escaped him until now.

”...What exactly is going on here?”

”Heh~”

Marlik laughed and turned toward the Sorcerer.

”We helped you gather everything that remained of your forces in Young Sector 98 some time ago and secretly move them toward Young Sector 99.” His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Zargulʼs reaction. ”What happened to them?”

”Theyʼll arrive within a few days.” Zargul revealed a sinister smile that seemed full of confidence. ”And based on the orders theyʼve been given, the winds of this war will undoubtedly change even before your massive reinforcements arrive. Some people are about to learn painful lessons.”

”It would be best if that were true.” Marlik nodded twice without showing much emotion. ”Robin Burton is proud to the point of stupidity. After your last message to him, he sent almost all of his armies in Young Sector 99 to fight in Young Sector 98. Every one of their wars over there has come to a halt as a result. Every planet under their control, as well as every hostile planet within their sphere of influence, has been emptied of soldiers and warships belonging to the True Beginning Empire because everything was redirected toward the larger conflict. Outside the Safe Zone, the only forces still functioning on their worlds are those planetary police units, and such forces are useful for maintaining order, not stopping invasions.”

Then he smiled.

”...The Safe Zone itself, which contains the Nihari Galaxy, is nothing more than a paper tiger now. It still appears intimidating from a distance because of its reputation, its history, and the names associated with it, but appearances do not always reflect reality. Once the defensive forces amounting to little more than thirty fleets are broken through, once the outer layers are pierced and the illusion of security collapses... your troops will find themselves standing directly within the heart of Nihari.”

Then he chuckled.

”At that point, it will truly be checkmate, at least as far as his presence within the Young Belt is concerned, hehe. Even if he wins elsewhere, losing the foundation beneath his feet will be a devastating blow.”

Then he grasped the armrest of his throne and rose to his feet in one smooth motion.

Immediately, every one of Zargul the Sorcererʼs descendants bowed deeply, their reactions almost instinctive as they lowered their heads without the slightest hesitation.

As for Darvion and Zargul themselves, they hurriedly stood as well, their movements noticeably faster than before.

”Where are you going, Lord Marlik? Your presence continues to honor us, and there are still many matters we could discuss.”

”Continue planning your coming wars.” Marlik ran a hand through his smooth hair, speaking casually as though discussing something entirely ordinary. ”...As for me, Iʼll be paying a visit to your future colleague.”