Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1206 1206: Re-evaluate gravity!

A Few Days Ago — Within Robinʼs Soul Domain —

”…Oh?”

Robin raised an eyebrow as he watched the soul statue of Theo sink back into the ground once again. The moment of stillness passed, and he turned to face Neri, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

”You heard it for yourself, didnʼt you? The coronation day has finally arrived. If I donʼt show up, those brats will pester me to the grave.”

Neri chuckled softly, her expression calm and composed. ”Thatʼs fine. Go if you must, but before that—get to know your Gift properly.”

With a flick of her finger, she summoned a small, radiant orb and sent it floating toward the forehead of Robinʼs soul avatar.

He closed his eyes, absorbing the orbʼs energy. After a few seconds, he opened them again, but this time with a look of sheer disappointment darkening his features.

”A gravitational field? Thatʼs it? Thatʼs your so-called ʼGiftʼ?” He scoffed, scratching the back of his neck.

”I mean… sure, itʼs decent. It has some uses, I guess. But come on—couldnʼt I create a gravitational field with any half-decent epic-grade artifact? Whatʼs the point of having a Gift that I could replicate with a few enchanted runes and some proper gear?”

He sighed again, shaking his head. ”Honestly, Greenlandʼs Gift was far more impressive, if you ask me.”

”Hehehe~”

Behind one of the massive soul-trees, Evergreen tried—and failed—to hold back a giggle, covering her mouth with both hands. But as soon as Yuriʼs sharp gaze landed on her, she went silent like a startled squirrel and vanished behind the trunk again.

Neri then turned her attention back to Robin, clearly annoyed now. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

”Owner, may I ask… how much do you actually know about the Gravity Path?”

Robin tilted his head, blinking a few times.

”Gravity? Itʼs one of the essential paths, right? Like fire, water, wind—basic stuff. It affects everything. Everyone is under its influence. Thatʼs why itʼs easy to predict, easy to manipulate. I know itʼs powerful, no argument there—but itʼs not… unique, you know?”

He gave a light shrug, as if brushing off a trivial detail.

”…Gravity,” Neri said, visibly irritated, ”I can forgive your lack of knowledge about the Middle Planetary Belt, or even your ignorance of the deeper cosmic truths about how the universe came to be… but how can someone who specializes in laws be this clueless about it?! Gravity is a basic path like fire? Seriously? Is that how youʼre categorizing it? Just like that?”

Robin raised an eyebrow.

”…Isnʼt it?”

”If it isnʼt one of the essential paths that governs the structure of the universe itself? Then is it something less? like the emotional paths or those auxiliary systems?”

”Hehehe”

EverGreen couldnʼt resist laughing again behind the tree.

”An even lower classification? Are you trying to provoke me on purpose?!”

Neri stomped her foot against the ground, visibly fuming now.

”Robin—ugh, Owner—listen closely. Youʼve spoken before about the Law of Blood and the Law of Energy, and how unique and different they are from the rest. Now, place Gravity alongside those laws.”

Robin frowned deeply, his tone skeptical.

”That just doesnʼt make sense to me. Blood laws are too complex—they rely on shifting molecular structures and race-specific energy transfer systems. Itʼs not about the red liquid, itʼs about how that liquid behaves in different beings. And Energy—sure, I understand its foundation. But itʼs practically useless on its own. Itʼs like raw ore—you need to smelt and shape it before it becomes valuable. Thatʼs why you canʼt classify it like the others. But Gravity? It has clear, measurable traits. And Iʼve already reached the fourth stage of its law. How is that not considered an essential path?”

Neri shook her head slowly, her tone now gentler but laced with disappointment.

”You still donʼt see it, do you?

Youʼre looking at the defined traits of gravity—what youʼve experienced so far—and mistaking that for its full potential. You think itʼs a basic essential law simply because youʼre only on the fourth stage. Thatʼs like judging the depth of the ocean after swimming in the shallows.”

She stepped closer, her gaze piercing.

”Surely youʼve noticed the vast difference in quality between the first and the fourth tier, havenʼt you?”

Robinʼs gaze darkened as he fell silent, reflecting.

Indeed, when Jabba had requested the core Law of Gravity from him, Robin hadnʼt understood why. The utility seemed limited—some increased impact speed, a bit of added weight. It felt secondary. Jabba would still rely on brute strength in most fights.

…Or maybe that was the point. Maybe that was exactly why Jabba had chosen gravity.

But back at Stage Three, something extraordinary had already happened—a noticeable qualitative leap. It wasnʼt just a slight increase in strength or reach—it was a dramatic transformation in the very nature of the lawʼs application.

Jabba, a warrior known for his brute strength, had managed—at just the third stage of gravity—to immobilize a Warlord.

And now, at Stage Four, the difference was even more astounding. Gravity had become so potent, so tangible, that a mere wave of the hand from its wielder could obliterate an entire village in seconds.

Robinʼs eyebrows furrowed. ”Isnʼt that how all laws function, though?” he said, half to himself. ”Each tier is stronger than the last. Thatʼs natural, right?”

Neri tilted her head, her arms crossed, her tone suddenly sharp and instructive.

”No,” she said simply, yet with unshakable certainty. ”Itʼs not the same. The gap between stages exists in every law, yes—but not to this extent. Not in this way.” She stepped closer, speaking with the clarity of someone who had studied beyond the veil of common understanding.

”Take fire, for example. Flame is flame. From the first tier to the fourth, youʼre still working with the same essence. The change is quantitative: stronger heat, faster ignition, the ability to burn through tougher materials. But itʼs still fire, behaving the same way.”

She paused for effect.

”But gravity?” Her voice dropped slightly. ”Gravity evolves. Its purpose changes. Its reach expands. The difference isnʼt just in strength—itʼs in function. In the very nature of its role within the cosmos.”

She took a deep breath, as if steadying herself to speak of something sacred.

”Gravity in its early stages feels almost useless. Youʼve seen that yourself. But thatʼs because its true power doesnʼt exist on the scale of mortals—it exists on the astronomical scale. Itʼs the force that binds stars to their planets. That locks solar systems into elegant spirals within their galaxies. That binds galaxies into clusters. That holds the very framework of the universe together.”

Robinʼs mouth went slightly dry, his mind spinning as the implications sank in.

”Wait…” he whispered. ”Are you saying that… gravity, at its higher levels, might be just as fundamental to the universe as… as time? As death?”

Neriʼs expression softened, but her eyes gleamed like starlight.

”What do you think?” she asked. ”Close your eyes and imagine a universe without it. Without gravity, what would remain? Planets would drift endlessly, or fall screaming into their suns. Stars would abandon their systems. Life—everywhere—would cease, simply because there would be nothing to hold it in place.”

She stepped even closer now. ”Sure, the universe would still exist. But it would be a lonely place. Lifeless. Disconnected. Just scattered rocks and burning gas clouds aimlessly moving through the dark. No structure. No warmth. No meaning.”

Then she leaned in slightly, and whispered, ”Now tell me… what kind of laws do that?”

Robin blinked. Then he swallowed hard.

”…The fundamental laws.” he said, the words coming slowly, reverently.

Neriʼs smile widened, proud and satisfied.

”Exactly. The fundamental Laws. Gravity is one of them, Owner Robin. Youʼve just barely scratched its surface, but one day, youʼll understand what it can truly do.”

-----------------------------

Present Time – Planet Jura

”WHAT?!”

Helen screamed in absolute disbelief, her voice echoing across the shattered heavens as the tsunami of Ashification energy surged upward. Not downward as it should—but upward, like a reversed waterfall of destruction roaring toward her at terrifying speed.

Robinʼs heart thundered in his chest. He clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anticipation and desperation. This was it.

This was the miracle heʼd risked everything for.

It was common knowledge among cultivators: even if two warriors wielded the same element, they could still hurt one another. Fire didnʼt grant total immunity to fire. No one had perfect affinity—not even the most attuned. A punch to the face still hurt, no matter if both men were made of flesh and blood. The laws were the same.

Robin had waited, endured, and calculated.

He let the sixth-stage ashification energy pool and gather like a trap slowly building pressure… all for this exact moment.

He wasnʼt going to fight her with fire.

He was going to fight her with her own fire.

Even someone as fearsome as Helen couldnʼt possibly have full immunity to something so overwhelmingly destructive. Her body might resist, yes, but only to a certain degree. And now—with the full force of the reversed gravitational pull—her only choice was to retreat upward. Evade the torrent. Escape, if only momentarily.

And that moment would be enough.

In that sliver of time, Juri could breathe. Could relax the protective dome surrounding the planet. The planetary barrier would reset, undoing the artificial strain Helen had forced upon it.

Even if she returned immediately, furious beyond reason, Robin would have bought time—precious time to recover, replan.

Best case scenario?

Helen, already exhausted, might be forced to disengage. She might retreat to recover, unable to push her body further. That would be a massive win.

Worst case?

She gets injured. Screams. Then comes back down like a meteor of vengeance.

Even then… Robin smiled.

Even that would be worth it.

Because hurting a being in the Nexus State while still a mere Saint? That was the kind of legend warriors died dreaming of. Heʼd die laughing.

From every angle—this was a victory.

But then—

”…What are you doing?”

Robinʼs smile faded. His jaw clenched.

Helen… hadnʼt moved. Not even an inch.

And then—

WOOOOOOSH

She let the entire downpour of sixth-stage ashification energy crash into her. Willingly.

She let it engulf her…