Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1386: Fate of a Multi-Empire

...Slowly, ever so slowly, the Nexus State Planetary Emperor lifted his eyes upward—toward the colossal vault that loomed like a god’s monument. It was the very same vault he had stolen from the legendary Empire of Blooded Glory over a million years ago, a vault that had once symbolized the pride and honor of that ancient civilization... and the very same vault he had used as the foundation to build his own mighty dominion—an empire that now spanned across seventeen planets across a single galaxy.

Even after all these ages, that vault still held the remnants of the Empire of Blooded Glory’s once-limitless resources. Inside it rested their cutting-edge technologies, their lost arts, their world-shaking achievements—and most importantly... it held the sweat, blood, and sacrifice of his own life. A lifetime of struggle, of conquest, of obsession!

”Remove your hand!!”

The Nexus State Planetary Emperor burst forward in a blazing streak of light, charging directly toward the vault, completely ignoring the dozens of illusionary copies of Latania scattered around the battlefield like ghosts of war. What he failed to realize was that the real Latania had already positioned herself behind him—standing right between him and the treasure he cherished more than anything.

SWOOSHSWOOSH

Suddenly, two claws of Echo Decay—dripping with corrosion and black energy—shot toward him from beneath, one after the other like venomous serpents.

Realizing he couldn’t afford to ignore such an attack, the Nexus State Planetary Emperor skidded to a halt, extended his hand—BAMBAM—and with a flick of his will, the claws were shattered into nothingness.

Then, raising his arm high into the air, he formed a monstrous blood-forged fist and slammed it down with unrestrained fury. ”DIE!!”

This time, he released all his power—he held absolutely nothing back.

Now that the imperial vault was exposed, there was no longer any reason for hesitation or restraint. The capital city? It was expendable. He could build ten more with the wealth locked inside that vault. The civilians? Let them be reduced to ash. He could purchase millions more after this was over—just as he had done countless times before.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

His titanic, blood-drenched fist collided with the ground, triggering an apocalyptic explosion that shook the heavens and split the earth. Shockwaves tore through the city in every direction. A monstrous handprint, etched deep into the crust of the planet, now lay at the heart of the capital—a yawning abyss that swallowed nearly half the metropolis along with all its towers, infrastructure, and unlucky inhabitants.

SWOOSH

”What!?” The Nexus State Planetary Emperor spun around with lightning reflexes as he sensed something fast approaching—only to see another claw coming straight for him.

BAAAM

With a flicker of contempt, he dispelled it effortlessly, then shouted into the void, ”Where are you?!” His voice echoed like a thunderclap. He turned left, then right—his eyes wide, his senses raging. ”WHERE AAAAARE YOOOOOOOOOOOOOU?!”

”Keh keh keh... now we’re finally getting somewhere.”

Wade licked his blood-slick lips with his long tongue, slowly wiping away the remnants of gore. With a heavy breath, he took a staggering step toward the vault. His voice was low, mocking. ”Come to daddy...”

”Ahh!! STOP!!”

At that very moment, a World Cataclysm Realm warrior descended from the sky like a flaming meteor. Towering, battered, and soaked in his own blood, his body barely held together from earlier battles. He had originally planned to flee and tend to his wounds in peace... but the instant he felt the presence of the imperial vault reawakening, he turned back without hesitation.

But just as he descended, he heard a whisper in the wind—faint, yet chilling:

”Circle of Oblivion.”

”NOTHING will stop me!! Stay away from the vault, you parasites!!”

The Advisor roared as he shot downward with insane speed, aiming directly for Wade like a missile.

”...Huh?”

Within seconds, confusion gripped him. By his calculations, he should have already reached the vault. Yet—he was still falling. Something was very wrong.

”Keh keh keh... I’ll let you two have your little dance.”

Wade smirked, turned his back on the chaos, and opened a shimmering rift in space itself. He stepped forward through it—and without hesitation, closed it behind him.

He had entered the vault.

”NOOOOO!!”

The Advisor screamed in frustration as he increased his speed again, but he only inched closer. ”What in the name of all the stars is happening?!”

Finally, he came to a full stop in midair, fury boiling within him.

”HYYYYYAAAAAAAAAH!!”

With a primal scream, he unleashed his true power. A high-tier World Cataclysm-class eruption exploded from his body—obliterating the very air around him in all directions. Space itself trembled slightly.

Then, like a missile, he descended once more—this time reaching the vault in a split second. ”DAMN IT!!”

Without pause, he began hammering against the vault’s outer wall like a madman, but it was in vain. This was no ordinary vault—it was forged for a multi-planetary empire. Even the State of Union would need a full-power, reality-breaking strike just to crack it!

But the Advisor refused to back down.

”RAAAAAAAAAH!!”

He gathered every last drop of strength into his hand and smashed down—BOOM!—a small dent appeared in the mighty gate. He gritted his teeth and prepared for another strike.

And then... from behind him came a calm, almost gentle voice:

”My friend... this vault now belongs to us. Why damage it and reduce its worth? Please... step away.”

”Huh?!”

The Advisor whipped around sharply, only to find Malik standing leisurely, gazing at him with half-lidded, sleepy eyes—calm and composed as if the chaos around them meant nothing.

”Get lost. I don’t have time for you,” the Advisor barked, irritated.

”I’m afraid that’s no longer an option,” Malik replied with a sigh, as if genuinely apologetic. ”Look, I know you’re a top-level World Cataclysm, and I honestly can’t do much to hurt someone like you... so how about a compromise? Chase me around the battlefield for a bit? It’ll be good cardio.”

”Are you out of your damn mind?! Who in hell’s name would care to chase you?! Move. Now!!”

The Advisor snapped and hurled a powerful strike backward with brutal force.

SWOOSH!

But in the blink of an eye, Malik had reappeared—just a few steps away from the impact zone, completely untouched, as if he had danced through the strike like wind slipping through cracks.

”Well then,” Malik said with a gentle, almost childlike smile. ”It seems I’ll need to encourage you a little more.”

He raised both hands innocently, palms open. ”So, tell me: would you prefer I hit you with a stick... or just slap you with my bare hand?”

”...?!”

The Advisor froze for a moment, genuinely stunned—not just by the words, but by the calm arrogance they carried.

Such disrespect. Such audacity.

His eyes widened, his rage bubbling beneath the surface. ”Come. Slap me, if you’ve got the guts! I dare you!”

”A wise and honorable choice!”

Malik smiled warmly, as if they were playing a friendly game, not dueling in the heart of a war zone.

From a distance of over thirty meters, he casually raised one hand and swung it downward with deliberate flair.

WOOOSH

”..!!”

The Advisor instantly lifted his arm in preparation, ready to block a massive blow—but nothing came. The air remained still.

”...Hmph?”

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ”You think this is a joke?! After everything your people have done, you think you can just show up with your smug little tricks and—”

BAAAAAAAAAAM!!

A deafening slap exploded across the side of his face—so sudden, so forceful, and so unexpected that it echoed through the ruined city like a thunderclap.

Malik’s voice followed, calm and teasing:

”The Echo of the Past... one of my favorites. You really must stay alert at all times, my friend.”

He chuckled softly to himself, clearly pleased, as if the humiliation had been part of a carefully prepared performance.

”I... I’LL KILL YOU!!”

Driven by sheer rage, ego-shattering humiliation, and deep-seated hatred, the Advisor erupted like a supernova. His aura exploded as he hurled himself at Malik with terrifying speed and fury.

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

Elsewhere... far from the chaos of the central battlefield—

Specifically, atop one of the lower mountains in the northern region of the city...

SniffSniff

Holak sniffled, drawing back the snot clogging his nose, then lazily reached for the nearby corpse of a fallen World Calamity—one of those who had left earlier to hunt down Latania’s copies. Without a second thought, he used the body’s sleeve to wipe his teary eyes.

”The boys... they’re really growing up...” he murmured emotionally, his tone somewhere between sarcasm and fatherly pride. ”They’re not kids anymore. Look at them... causing mayhem and stealing imperial treasure like pros.”

From behind him, the sound of a footstep—then a respectful bow.

”Supreme Guardian, shall we intervene?”

The voice came from a fully armored imperial guard, clad in the signature complete black armor. Even while standing tall, he barely reached Holak’s shoulder as the massive man sat on the rocky ledge.

”No need to steal their thunder,” Holak replied with a nonchalant wave. ”They’ve got this. The three of them will wrap it up. Once Wade finishes draining the vault dry, Malik and Latania will escape smoothly. And if they end up needing backup... well, I’ll jump in myself.”

His eyes narrowed as he gazed down at the battlefield below, watching the unhinged Nexus State descend into a full-blown spiral of madness.

A slow smirk formed on Holak’s face.

”When that mad clown finally realizes he’s been played from start to finish... the only thing he’ll have left is to collapse under the weight of his own shame—or leave the planet altogether. Unfortunately killing, or even hurting a Nexus is not within our reach yet.”

He let out a heavy sigh.

”Uggghhh... Theo really needs to secure a couple of Nexus Being for our side—and soon. Having to restrain myself like this... it itches. I can feel it in my damn bones.”

He shrugged, almost casually. ”Well, at least robbing those other fools might net us enough loot to buy one.”

”Supreme Guardian,” another soldier stepped forward, armor glinting in the sunlight. ”Do we have permission to spread out and begin raiding the remaining cities on this planet?”

”With pleasure~” Holak said lazily, waving his hand as if dismissing a child.

”And while you’re at it—clean out the other planets under the Empire of Ancestral Blood too. Don’t leave a single stone unturned. If it sparkles, shines, glows, or even feels expensive—bring it back!”

”Understood.”

SWOOSHSWOOSH

Behind him, more than sixty elite Imperial Guards split off, darting in all directions like trained predators, vanishing into the wind and smoke.

Silence.

Once they were gone, only Holak remained on the cliff—seated between two corpses, arms crossed over his chest, and eyes locked on the ruined city below.

He stared deeply, almost contemplatively, at the figure of the Planetary Emperor who had lost all reason.

His brows furrowed slightly. It was difficult to tell what he was thinking.

”...I wonder...”

After several moments of complete stillness, Holak finally muttered in a surprisingly serious tone—his expression unchanged:

”...Is that really his hair? Or is it dyed?

Pretty damn stylish.”